Citizen Watchdog with Todd Zinser

By: Joe Strecker Productions
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  • Summary

  • The city of Cincinnati and Hamilton County are run by the same party. There is no overight or dissenting voice....this is where Todd Zinser comes in. Todd bio is below

    https://docs.house.gov/meetings/AP/AP19/20150225/102984/HHRG-114-AP19-Bio-ZinserT-20150225.pdf

    He will keep an eye out on all the shenanigans in Hamilton County and the City of Cincinnati. Nothing gets by Todd Zinser...the Citizen Watchdog
    Copyright Joe Strecker Productions
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Political Science Politics & Government
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Episodes
  • Cincinnati's Green Ambitions Part 2 - Financial Dilemmas in the Pursuit of a Green Agenda

    Cincinnati's Green Ambitions Part 2 - Financial Dilemmas in the Pursuit of a Green Agenda
    May 6 2025
    Can Cincinnati truly afford to go green in the face of monumental fiscal challenges? We're putting the Green Cincinnati Plan under the microscope, scrutinizing its ambitious pursuit of carbon neutrality amid a staggering $824 million pension liability and $400 million in deferred maintenance. With public service vehicles, like fire trucks, in dire need of updates, we question whether the plan's focus on equity and carbon neutrality truly serves the city's most vulnerable populations—or merely adds to their burden. Join us as we dissect the financial intricacies and weigh them against the potential environmental gains, all while pondering the impact of federal climate policies like Justice 40 on local initiatives.

    Our conversation takes a turn to ethics and transparency within city governance, where we face the tangled web of relationships between city officials and nonprofits. With a lens on a nonprofit board that the mayor once served, alongside city funding, we raise critical questions about ethical boundaries and transparency. The temporary prohibition list, birthed from the 2021 corruption scandal, comes under fire as we debate its actual impact in preventing conflicts of interest. We challenge whether these measures are enough to restore public trust and ensure that city officials remain accountable. Tune in for a candid discussion on the balance of ethical governance and civic duty.
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    20 mins
  • Cincinnati's Green Ambitions: Sustainability Challenges and Budget Mysteries

    Cincinnati's Green Ambitions: Sustainability Challenges and Budget Mysteries
    Apr 23 2025
    Unlock the secrets of Cincinnati's ambitious journey towards sustainability with our latest episode on the Green Cincinnati Plan. Explore the intricate evolution of this environmental roadmap, beginning with the pioneering Climate Protection Plan of 2008, courtesy of Mark Mallory, and how it has morphed through the years into a complex, far-reaching strategy for 2023. From the target of 100% renewable energy for city operations by 2035 to encouraging a shift towards plant-based diets, we dissect the bold visions and the challenges of maintaining consistency and accountability. Join us as we spotlight Mayor Aftab Perval's unique focus on equity and climate, and the transformative goals driving the city's environmental ambitions.

    Yet, the journey isn’t without its mysteries. We unravel the enigma of the missing $5 million originally meant for green initiatives, now puzzlingly rerouted to the city's fleet needs, with no clear explanation in sight. Despite poring over Cincinnati's epic 186-page Green Plan, we find it conspicuously empty of cost indicators, raising questions about the financial transparency of these initiatives. For those eager to understand the broader implications and priorities of the city's environmental strategies, we recommend a visit to their website for a more digestible perspective. This episode is just the beginning, with more revelations and discussions promised in upcoming installments.
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    17 mins
  • Cincinnati's Missing Audit

    Cincinnati's Missing Audit
    Apr 1 2025
    City corruption exposed: the forensic audit Cincinnati didn't want you to see. Our latest episode brings you inside the tangled web of local governance, examining the unfinished forensic audit that was meant to shed light on murky economic development projects between 2018 and 2020. We unravel the story behind the critical draft report by audit firm Crowe, which the city dismissed as unsatisfactory, likely due to its damning insights into current practices. The episode questions the city's transparency and accountability, with a spotlight on the secretive use of emergency ordinances and discretionary funds, drawing connections to historic corruption scandals in Washington D.C. and Columbus.

    Exploring the realm of forensic audits, we highlight their necessity in providing a thorough investigation that goes beyond balancing the books to ensure no stone is left unturned. Our discussion underscores the importance of completing such audits to uncover unresolved issues and the need to hold city officials accountable for leaving this particular forensic investigation unfinished. With captivating insights into the Economic Development Reform Panel's recommendations and the continuing influence of lobbyists and developers in Cincinnati, this episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the mechanics of city governance and the public's quest for transparency.
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    15 mins

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