On November 7, Cincinnati voters will decide the fate of the last municipal-owned railway in the United States. Cincinnati Southern Railway has been owned by the city for nearly 150 years and is and sought to be purchased by Norfolk Southern for $1.6 billion. Citizens are leading a bipartisan campaign opposing the sale, citing numerous red flags including safety concerns…
A Midwestern city facing a large deficit with deferred maintenance decided to sell off a public asset for over $1 billion dollars. Sound familiar? This story is not only about the Cincinnati Rail Sale, but a similar situation with Chicago parking meters in 2008. The Chicago story did not end well – a cautionary tale of the worst privatization deal…
The last municipal-owned railway in the United States is up for sale, with voters in Cincinnati, Ohio set to cast ballots on the decision on November 7. Citizens are leading a bipartisan campaign opposing the sale, citing that the railway purchase price has been undervalued and urging leaders to renegotiate the current lease. Cincinnatians need to look no further than…