Steve Goodin - City's $29M Budget Deficit

In this episode of the 55KRC Morning Show, host Brian Thomas interviews Steve Gooden, former Cincinnati city councilman and attorney at Porter Wright, about the city's looming $29.5 million budget deficit. Gooden delivers a scathing critique of the city's fiscal mismanagement, highlighting the irony of approving an $8 million allocation for the Riverbend music venue while simultaneously planning to cut $6.6 million from the police department. He argues that these decisions reflect a pattern of 'soft corruption,' where city leaders prioritize appeasing wealthy donors and nonprofit boards over essential public services. Gooden traces the deficit back to years of chronic overspending, including wasteful projects like solar farms, subsidized streetcars, and politically motivated initiatives, while also criticizing the city's reliance on federal COVID relief funds that have now expired. He warns that raising the income tax—though being proposed—may not generate expected revenue due to the rise of remote work and residents/businesses fleeing the city. The conversation underscores a broader crisis of accountability, with Gooden emphasizing that elected officials are avoiding responsibility by blaming Republicans and external forces, despite decades of Democratic control. The episode ends with a call for fiscal responsibility, transparency, and a reevaluation of what truly matters to Cincinnati residents: public safety, infrastructure, and effective governance.