'We need to tear this up and start all over again': West End fights over stadium deal

The president of West End Community Council is facing possible impeachment in the midst of the fight over putting an FC Cincinnati stadium in the neighborhood.

On Monday, President Keith Blake signed a community benefits agreement (CBA) between FC Cincinnati and the Greater Cincinnati Redevelopment Authority. But many members of the community council said they had no voice in the agreement.

In a meeting Tuesday night that lasted about 2½ hours, members of the community council railed against Blake and the agreement. Blake has publicly voiced his support for a West End stadium despite the community council voting overwhelmingly against it.

"We did not get an equal opportunity to take part in a legitimate CBA. We have a right to be a part of it,” West End resident Ernestine Hill said. “We need to tear this up and start all over again.”

Hill tore her copy in half, calling out Keith Blake and Councilman Jeff Pastor – who was in attendance at the Carl H. Lindner YMCA on Linn Street – to discuss the agreement.

More: FC Cincinnati: City Council OKs deal for West End stadium by 5-4 vote

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Before City Council passed a financing plan for a West End stadium Tuesday, it was Pastor who called a news conference to announce the agreement. He had previously said his vote for the stadium plan required a CBA in writing. Pastor voted Monday for a stadium development plan, which passed City Council by a 5-4 vote.

"I want you to see my face," Pastor said. "So I can own up to what some may consider a mistake and some may consider a blessing."

The agreement announced by Blake, Pastor and other would set up an affordable housing trust, entrepreneurship classes for neighborhood residents, hiring preferences for West End residents and more. He attempted to go through those benefits, but was mostly met with anger.

When he explained Over-the-Rhine was not included in the agreement, he was met with an indignant shout from crowd: "It doesn't include us!"

An ad hoc committee tasked with drafting a framework for an agreement on behalf of the community council only met once for two hours. Members of that committee accused Blake of breaking off contact after that.

Blake explained that his signature only approved the agreement pending ratification by the full community council. Cincinnati City Council must also approve the agreement before any city money is distributed to FC Cincinnati.

“There is still time for the community," said Alexis Kidd with Seven Hills Neighborhood Houses. “Nothing has gone through that can’t be corrected.”

John Curp, a lawyer retained by the executive board of the community council, made the same argument and said signing the agreement kept the community council "at the head of the table" for negotiations. He was shouted down and jeered when he admitted Keating Muething & Klekamp, the law firm representing FC Cincinnati, recommended him to the executive board.

In the end, a resident suggested meetings be held Saturday and again on April 24 for further discussion about constructing a community benefits agreement. It was unclear if anyone supported using the agreement Pastor backed as a foundation.

After the dates were set and few agenda items were voted on, Blake turned the meeting over Vice President Alicia Townsend, who read the petition for Blake's impeachment.

Blake put on his jacket and left.

The petition states Blake engaged in conduct unbecoming of an officer and failed to conduct meetings in an orderly fashion. It accuses him of speaking out on issues in the name of the community council without authorization. It also claims he failed to submit business he transacted to full community council for ratification.

Townsend will now serve as interim-president of the community council while a five-person committee is appointed by the executive board to oversee a hearing on the impeachment within 30 days, under the council's bylaws. The committee will make a recommendation, and the full community council will vote on whether to remove Blake.

All positions of the community council executive board, including president, are volunteers.