Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Qualls Joining Music Hall Board; Streetcar Operating Funding In Discussions

Sarah Ramsey

Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley announced Wednesday he is appointing former Mayor Roxanne Qualls to the Music Hall Revitalization Company board.  

Cranley said he approached Qualls about the idea and the two discussed the appointment during lunch Tuesday.  

He said they both share the same concern that funding be in place in the future after the Music Hall rebuild so that routine maintenance and repairs are not ignored.  

Cranley defeated Qualls for the mayor's seat in 2013.  

City council is expected to approve her appointment next week.

Cranley also said during the lunch he asked her to speak at the kickoff for streetcar passenger service.  That is expected sometime in September.

Meanwhile, Council Member Kevin Flynn said he is working with city administrators on an ordinance to fund streetcar operations that he can support.

Last week, he voted against a proposal because he said it used general fund money for operating expenses, and he is opposed to that.  

Flynn said the city manager's office presented a draft proposal to him Tuesday evening that he reviewed and sent back to officials for more work.  

Flynn said the discussions are moving in the right direction.  

His vote is important because it would provide six votes for streetcar operations funding.  Without six votes Mayor John Cranley will likely veto the plan.  

Flynn said a final vote needs to happen next Wednesday.
 

Jay Hanselman brings more than 10 years experience as a news anchor and reporter to 91.7 WVXU. He came to WVXU from WNKU, where he hosted the local broadcast of All Things Considered. Hanselman has been recognized for his reporting by the Kentucky AP Broadcasters Association, the Ohio Society of Professional Journalists, and the Ohio AP Broadcasters.