It's time to start acting like a 600-pound gorilla. Councilman Charlie Winburn reported to council that HUD officials are growing impatient with the lack of progress in Cincinnati. He said the group could lose its federal designation unless it is forced to make the recommended changes. Before it comes to that, though, the city will ask HUD for permission to form a new organization to replace the empowerment zone, he said. Part of the problem, according to Mr. Winburn, is the board's mandated voting method has left it powerless.
Council wants to see the super majority replaced with a simple majority.
But Cincinnati has ultimate power over the zone's board because it originally applied for designation with the federal government. The Cincinnati Enquirer , a Gannett Co. Inc. newspaper.