Either former Procter & Gamble CEO John Pepper doesn't do his research before taking on new projects or he’s misleading the public about the request to score taxpayer funding for the troubled National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.
Pepper, the Freedom Center's volunteer CEO who is trying to help the museum solve its financial problems, states in an article in today's Cincinnati Enquirer that he doesn't remember anyone connected with the facility ever promising not to seek public subsidies once it opened.
Au contraire.
Spencer Crew, the Freedom Center’s president, made the claim to reporters several times when the facility opened in 2004, as a simple check of The Enquirer’s own archives will prove.
Here is an excerpt from an Enquirer article published June 14, 2004, titled, “It’s Built; Will they come?” and written by reporter Dan Horn:
Spencer Crew, the center’s executive director, says finances are on solid ground and should continue to improve once the center opens and shows private donors and the ticket-buying public how much it has to offer.
Although some other institutions, including the Cincinnati Museum Center, have turned to taxpayers for help with annual expenses, Crew says he doesn’t expect that to happen with the Freedom Center.
"We see ourselves as raising the necessary money,’ he says. ‘I’m not going to say it’s a piece of cake, but I think it’s doable."
As a reporter for The Cincinnati Post at the time, I also remember Crew making the claim. Moreover, Freedom Center staffers are also aware Crew made the statements because, privately, they concede that he was never authorized to make such statements at the time and the fallout has caused them headaches. Certainly The Enquirer’s editors could’ve looked to see if such claims were ever published before letting Pepper’s statement go unchallenged in today’s article.
Initially, Freedom Center backers sought $1 million from the city this year to help pay off about $25 million in debt that remains from its $110 million construction. That request was supported by Democrats Jeff Berding and Laketa Cole, Republican Leslie Ghiz and Charterite Chris Bortz.
But Charterite Jim Tarbell is pushing an alternate plan that would give the Freedom Center $800,000. That proposal is supported by Democrats John Cranley, David Crowley and Cecil Thomas.
City council’s ninth member — Republican Chris Monzel — doesn’t want to provide any taxpayer money to the museum, citing Crew’s earlier promises. A final decision likely will occur next week.
As Cincinnati City Council continues its bickering about whether to give the Freedom Center a public subsidy, all involved should take extra care to be honest and upfront about the debate. Playing fast and loose with the facts will only cement opposition to any financial aid and increase public cynicism.
— Kevin Osborne
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