Cincinnatians for Progress Launches Website; Announces Endorsements from 8 of 9 City Council Members

  Cincinnati, OH - Today, Cincinnatians for Progress is proud to launch our new website at http://www.facebook.com/l/;www.cincinnatiansforprogress.com where we also formally announce the endorsements of Mayor Mark Mallory and eight of the nine current city council members. Council Members Cecil Thomas, Jeff Berding, Chris Bortz, David Crowley, Laketa Cole, Greg Harris, Roxanne Qualls and Leslie Ghiz have endorsed the Cincinnatians for Progress effort.    Mayor Mark Mallory has also agreed to serve as Chairman of the organization.   Cincinnatians for Progress was formed to promote awareness of the dangerous implications of the proposed Anti-Progress Charter amendment.    "I am proud to be the Chairman of Cincinnatians for Progress," said Mayor Mark Mallory. "Along with thousands of supporters from neighborhoods across the City, we are leading the drive to defeat the proposed Charter amendment that would put up a roadblock to future progress and hurt future economic growth in our city."   This charter amendment would amend the city's charter, the city's Constitution, to require an expensive, divisive and time wasting public referendum every time Council wants to improve or invest in passenger rail transportation in Cincinnati. This charter amendment would put our city at a competitive disadvantage and erect barriers to job creation and economic development. This is at a time when the City will need to move quickly to take advantage of federal or state dollars available to stimulate the economy. It will mean our tax dollars go to help some other City, not our own.   "While I cannot support building a streetcar in Cincinnati at this time because of the City's current economic condition, I am fully opposed to this ballot initiative," said City Council Member Leslie Ghiz. "This Amendment could have unintended consequences with regard to the growth of Cincinnati as well as to any rail systems that could possibly run through our city."   Residents from across the city are joining Cincinnatians for Progress to show their support for the city's future. Since the group's launch on March 25th, over 2,000 Cincinnatians have joined our cause through Facebook and our email list.    Cincinnatians for Progress is hosting a "Rally for Progress" on June 11th at the Verdin Bell Center from 5:30pm-8:30pm to raise funds and awareness for the campaign against the Anti-Progress Amendment.   For more information on Cincinnatians for Progress, please visit http://www.facebook.com/l/;www.cincinnatiansforprogress.com.