Dora Bronston Interview

Journal story...excerpts

ELECTION 2013: MIDDLETOWN CITY COUNCIL

Q+A with Dora Bronston, Middletown City Council candidate

MIDDLETOWN —
Dora Bronston is a lifelong Middletonian and, like her political opponents, is passionate about the city.

Bronston is one of four people running for two open seats on Middletown City Council.

She said the economy has taken its toll on the city, just as it has with other cities, but her hometown is turning the corner

Q: The city has been pretty active in recent years in Economic Development over the years, from tax incentives for industrial businesses along Yankee Road to buying buildings for Cincinnati State’s downtown campus. But there’s also been new interest in the city from the new owners of the Towne Mall, companies expanding or planning to expand into the city, and a proposed business park in the East End. Where do you see the next great push of economic development in the city?

A: “I think people are now in a sense of expectation to see who’s going to be moving into that space out (in Towne Mall). There’s plenty of parking. Depending on their interests, you have to ask the people what they’re interested in and what they’re willing to go out and support or purchase and spend money. I would like to do some kind of survey in the city with the people because that’s what council does, that’s the role: find out what the people want and represent the people. I think if we bring something at the Towne Mall, there’s going to be more activity out there and it sits at the gate of the city, it will draw people from neighboring communities. I’m in this sense of expectation as to what the new owner will be bringing into Towne Mall that will bring more people into Middletown, and also more jobs. That’s just one thing I have going right now. We need companies expanding, yes, but we also need to draw new companies to the area. And of course tax incentives will do that

"YOU HAVE TO ASK PEOPLE WHAT THEY'RE INTERESTED IN"...."I WOULD LIKE TO DO SOME KIND OF SURVEY IN THE CITY WITH THE PEOPLE BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT COUNCIL DOES, THAT'S THE ROLE: FIND OUT WHAT PEOPLE WANT AND REPRESENT THE PEOPLE". WONDER WHY THE CURRENT COUNCIL MEMBERS DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT MS. BRONSTON? IF THE EAST END IS "WHERE THE ACTION IS", WHY ARE THE CITY LEADERS PLOWING SO MUCH ATTENTION AND MONEY INTO THE OTHER END OF TOWN, JUST TO PROTECT THE MAIN STREETERS?

Q: It looks like Middletown will spend upwards of $2 million for the second straight year on roads for 2014. But for the previous few years, mainly because of the economy, roads weren’t given that much money to be repaired. Where does the city’s infrastructure rate in your priorities?

THE REAL ANSWER IS THAT THE CITY DIVERTED THE CITY STREET REPAIR FUND BACK IN THE 80'S, TELLING THE VOTERS THAT THERE WAS A MORE URGENT NEED AND NEVER STARTED THE FUND BACK UP NOR ASKED THE VOTERS TO RE-INITIATE THE PROGRAM. THE STREETS HAVE SUFFERED EVER SINCE. MONEY FROM THE GAS TAX WAS SUPPOSE TO BE GOING FOR STREETS ALL THESE YEARS TOO, BUT THAT MONEY HAS BEEN DIVERTED ALSO. JUST RECENTLY, THE CITY, USING GRANTS IN PLACE OF THE MONEY THAT SHOULD HAVE ALREADY BEEN IN THE STREET REPAIR FUND TO SHOW ANY REPAIR WORK TO DATE. THE CITY GETS NO PAT ON THE BACK FOR THE MEAGER REPAIR WORK THAT HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED IN THE LAST FEW YEARS. TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE. NO REASON TO PLAY NICE AND DANCE AROUND THE ISSUE HERE.

Q: The Public Safety Levy was just approved in August 2012 where it would supplement about $3 million to the public safety budgets. Can the city justify proposing cuts in public safety for the 2014 budget after asking the voters to renew that levy to avoid just that?

A: “There would have to be justification in that in saying what you are going to do with the money. The citizens would want to know if this is permanent, and we’re paying our tax dollars for this, we have a right to know where our money is going. Why are you laying people off when you have this money. It’s a valid question for people to ask and have a response. Tax payers want to know.”

NO, THE CITY CAN'T JUSTIFY THE REDUCTION OF SAFETY SERVICES WITH AMBULANCE RUNS NEEDED TO SERVICE AN AGING CITY POPULATION, PLUS ALL THE OVERDOSES ON DRUGS FROM THE SOCIAL LEVEL OF PEOPLE INVITED INTO THE CITY. JUST READ THE POLICE BRIEFS AND THE ANSWER IS QUITE EASY. AN INCREASE IN DRUGS, THEFT AND ROBBERY TELLS US WE NEED TO MAINTAIN THE POLICE FORCE. THIS AIN'T ROCKET SCIENCE. IF THE CITY REDUCES THE FIRE AND POLICE, THEY SHOULD EXPECT ANY NEW SAFETY LEVY TO BE THROWN BACK IN THEIR FACE. PROMISED NO REDUCTION....NOW, MAY REDUCE. ANOTHER LIE ON TOP OF MORE LIES TO THE PEOPLE. VOTERS WOULD BE WRONG TO APPROVE ANOTHER LEVY IF YOU REDUCE PERSONNEL. IT WOULD SHOW YA COULDN'T HANDLE THE MONEY WE GAVE YOU TO MAINTAIN THE FIRST GO-AROUND. YOU SCREW UP EVERYTHING YOU TOUCH.

I NOTICE NOTHING FROM THE JOURNAL FOR MS. BRONSTON ON HER OPINION CONCERNING THE DOWNTOWN AREA AND THE WASTED TAXPAYER MONEY SPENT FOR THE CLOWNS TO LIVE THEIR DREAM AND PROTECT THE S. MAIN ST. EGOS. WHAT'S THE MATTER JOURNAL, IS THE DOWNTOWN TOO VOLATILE IN NATURE?

MS. BRONSTON, YOU'RE TOO GENTLE ON YOUR ANSWERS....BUT, THEN AGAIN, I MAY.....NO, I AM TOO BLUNT ON MINE.   

I agree Mort could step right in to Kay's position,better than another term on council. Let's give Bronston a shot at it,can she do any worse than what we already have?

Over the Hill,

I hear Laubaugh actually works a full time job rat AK ight now.  Might be a bit busy with life's demands.

And picking up donuts and groceries every Sunday for an hour or more at Krogers or Marsh's.

Don't know just my opinion. I think Laubaugh missed the fire and FOP meeting but what you said makes since in that they all have similar mind sets on fire and police.