The "Smither-vent" - Episode 134 - Why I don't trust this mayor or council

In this fiery episode of 'The Smith Event' on 55KRC, political commentator Chris Smitherman delivers a blistering critique of Cincinnati's mayor and city council, accusing them of systemic incompetence, corruption, and a pattern of selling off public assets without public benefit. He centers his argument on the controversial sale of the city’s 300-mile railroad and associated air rights, which he claims was a $1.6 billion windfall based on dubious math and a betrayal of long-term financial stability. Smitherman argues that the city was set to receive perpetual lease payments that could have grown to $60 million annually, and that the railroad will now profit from those same air rights. He also condemns past attempts to sell parking and control over vehicle booting, which were blocked by public resistance. Beyond asset sales, Smitherman lambasts the city’s leadership for prioritizing symbolic gestures—like establishing an LGBTQ+ commission—over urgent issues like public safety, infrastructure, and budget deficits. He ties this to a broader political strategy of distraction during election cycles and expresses deep skepticism about the integrity of City Hall. In a sharp pivot, he defends American patriotism and birthright citizenship, arguing that the Democratic Party misrepresents Black history by weaponizing figures like Dred Scott to justify anti-immigration rhetoric, while ignoring the Republican Party’s role in emancipation and civil rights. Smitherman concludes with a defiant call to action: Black Americans must reclaim their narrative and reject narratives that undermine their agency and love for the country.