A panel tasked with suggesting reforms to Cincinnati's economic development process is refining its first draft of recommendations. At a meeting Friday,
Warren LeMay / Flickr Creative Commons
In many Cincinnati neighborhoods, nonprofit organizations called community development corporations work to represent residents as they engage with local government and developers to bring housing, commercial spaces and other economic development. But how well do these groups represent their communities and how much say do they have in the changes happening in their neighborhoods?
Do local governments and developers give these groups their due? And given the recent allegations of corruption around development in City Hall, can CDCs be part of a more transparent development process?
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JOHN MINCHILLO / AP
U.S. Rep. Steve Chabot s (R-OH) former campaign manager pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court Friday to charges he embezzled more than $1.4 million from Chabot s congressional campaign.
Jamie Schwartz faces a maximum of up to 20 years in prison on each count of wire fraud and falsification of records. The plea agreement recommends no more than 32 months behind bars. He also must pay the $1.4 million back.
The 41-year-old worked for Chabot from at least 2011-2019.
Court records allege that while acting as the de facto campaign treasurer he wrote checks to his companies - Fountain Square Group LLC and Prime Media LLC - and himself out of campaign accounts.