CINCINNATI — Campaigning is underway in Cincinnati on an initiative to get voters to approve the sale of the city-owned Cincinnati Southern Railway to Norfolk Southern, with Mayor Aftab Pureval taking the lead role in a new TV commercial urging passage of the measure, and five former mayors joining Pureval in supporting the sale.
The Cincinnati Enquirer reports that Pureval appears in an ad urging a yes vote on Issue 22 on the November ballot. That ad (which can be viewed here) is paid for by a pollical action committee, Building Cincinnati’s Future, funded at least in part by Norfolk Southern, and says funds from the proposed $1.6 billion sale would help address a backlog of $400 million in repairs to city infrastructure. Before taking the measure to voters, the city succeeded in getting a change to state law allowing the proceeds to be placed in a trust fund specifically for infrastructure work; it otherwise would have had to go to general debt service [see “Ohio legislature passes bill …,” Trains News Wire, March 30, 2023]. Funds from the current lease by NS are also used by the city for infrastructure projects, but the sale would increase the annual amount available.
Meanwhile, former mayors John Cranley, Mark Mallory, Charlie Luken, Roxanne Qualls, and David Mann, were scheduled to appear with Pureval this morning to announce their support for the sale, WLWT-TV reports. That group includes Pureval’s four immediate predecessors, dating to 1993, and a pair who served split terms as mayor: Mann served from 1980 to 1980 and again in 1991; Luken served from 1984 to 1991 and again from 1999 to 2005. All, like Pureval, are Democrats.
The sale is opposed by a group, Derail the Sale, that says the city should retain ownership and increase the rent it charges Norfolk Southern [see “Derail the Sale opposed …,” News Wire, Sept, 12, 2023].
Maybe they ought to ask CSX or Canadian Pacific what they would buy it for. Keith Creel seems to have unlimited funding (in his mind) and CSX also serves Cincinnati. Maybe what we need is good old fashioned competition as CP and NS are always complaining about the lack of when something doesn’t go their way.
Norfolk Southern is skirting conflict of interest by financially contributing to this ad. At the very least, borderline unethical.
Not a good image for the sale, Politicians are not noted for their veracity.