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Elder Michael Reeves, Pastor of Corinthian Baptist Church, led off a January mayoral candidates debate co-sponsored by the Coalition of Concerned Black Citizens and elder stateswoman Ann B. Walker by saying “we did this forum because we have not seen a political agenda for Black Columbus, and wanted all the candidates to know that we expect them to address issues of interest to the Columbus black community.” The most surprising thing about this statement coming as the city’s first Black Mayor is preparing to retire, is that it was not a controversial statement whatsoever to the audience.
In response to the challenge from Elder Reeves, City Council president and mayoral candidate Andrew Ginther talked about the reasons he claimed that he should be mayor to the mostly black crowd at a forum at Corinthian that evening. Ginther’s statements seemed to revolve back to him, claiming that he would continue the Coleman policies and legacy. The conversation after the forum was centered on whether Ginther even suspected that many Black folk in Columbus are severely conflicted by the Coleman years: while there was tremendous growth in some areas of the city, the issues affecting Black Columbus were left largely untouched, fueling a deep ambivalence about the Coleman years in Columbus’ Black community.
Hearing Ginther’s pitch to Black Columbus raised our curiosity at The Free Press since it seemed off-kilter, so we figured it made sense to check in with people who understand Black Columbus and see how they felt. In an unscientific Survey Monkey survey, we contacted a broad spectrum of 60 people who are active in Black Columbus’s political and social life, by email and Facebook, sending them a short narrative and a link to the Survey Monkey questionnaire. We neither tracked responses, nor did we follow up with any respondents or non-respondents, although all were invited to leave their name in the survey along with an indication of whether their comments could be published for attribution. The vast majority of people did not want their comments for attribution that was the same response this writer got when I made phone calls to individuals seeking comment. The most commonly-cited reasons for not wanting to be named in print were fear of retribution and a desire not to hurt a friend’s feelings.
Thirty people completed the survey, of whom 24 identified their race as Black/African American (native born). These 24 responses by people who identified themselves as African American are the only responses listed below.
To begin to assess the self-described knowledge level of respondents, all respondents were asked: “with what level of intensity do you follow Columbus civic affairs?”
Seventy-six percent rated their intensity level as Medium-High or High, defined as follows: Medium-High: I'm very interested in following Columbus civic life and know the names of a good number of the actors, though they may not know my name. 30 percent (n =9). High: I follow very closely and I am active in Columbus civic life and I know many of the people and many of the people know me. 46.67 percent ( n= 14).
Respondents were then asked, “Overall, on a scale of 0-10 (low to high), please rate Mayor Coleman's performance for Black Columbus over the past 15 years he has been in office”:
Rate
0
1
2
3
4
5- Avg
6
7
8
9
10
Pct.
0%
0%
33.3%
10%
13.3%
6.67%
20%
10%
6.67%
3.33%
6.67%
No.
0
0
4
3
4
2
6
3
2
1
2
The weighted average rating of all 30 responses was 4.93 – a shade below 5, which was marked “Average” on the scale.
The survey asked respondents to “Please list what you believe are the three most significant initiatives or accomplishments of the Coleman era administration (2000-2015) that positively impact Black Columbus? (Please explain each, focusing on the impact on Black Columbus)” The responses below seem to indicate a general agreement on Mayor Coleman’s specific impact and legacy for downtown, but overall were remarkably nonspecific about accomplishments for the Black community.
Responses for three most significant accomplishments question (reprinted verbatim)
“1. Development in King/ Lincoln district... 2. Hiring of a few more young African American peace officers... 3. Can't name it... I don't think black community was ever a priority to him. He was there to keep the city's status quo and downtown investors happy and he did that well.”
“We should ask the power players because nothing stands out for me, the common guy.”
“Putting money into our neighborhoods, like new sidewalks, street improvements and city facilities. Early childhood education money. More diversity at the city government.”
“I can't think of anything that benefited the Black populace specifically”
“I do not know of any, other than supportive or development initiatives that impact the whole community that blacks might be able to participate in along with those the project was intended for”
“N/A ... I do not believe there is any significant initiatives or accomplishments of Coleman era administration that positively impact Black Columbus. I have lived in Columbus for 10 years and can not believe that Columbus has a black mayor that has had a BLACK struggle.”
“I can’t name three things to be honest. I would if I could, but I just can’t. I mean he got the Black Mayor’s Conference here, got Columbus rated as the Best city for Blacks to Live In and saw majority black folk on council, school board, fire chief, safety director and all that. But thing is Black folk didn’t benefit from it. All we got was symbols over substance. He did a helluva lot for gays, white women and immigrants but little for us. I mean think about how he gentrified Olde Towne East, the Short North, Near East Side and all that area displacing hundreds of black folk. Ain’t nothing to celebrate 'bout that.”
“1) Down town living 2) Demolishing raggedy property 3) Bike lanes”
“Can't think of any.”
“Jazz and Rib festival” (Ed. Note: pre-existed Coleman administration)
“One. Mayor Coleman developed this Scioto mile – it did make downtown Columbus more attractive. Two. Mayor Coleman began the development of a complete streets program in downtown Columbus (but not all parts of the city). This effectively demonstrates Coleman was capable of forward thinking. Three. Mayor Coleman encouraged the development of bicycle paths in Columbus– But again, these efforts were limited to privileged areas of town. Lower income struggling areas had more limited attention.”
“1.tourism initiatives 2.neighborhood revitalization 3.supportive of arts initiatives”
“1) Downtown Revitalization 2) Park/Recreation Center improvements 3) Gang initiatives, Job development”
“1) Historic infrastructure, like renovation of Lincoln Theater and the Long Street Bridge Cultural Wall 2) Neighborhood Pride 3) Administrative diversity”
“Exposure and Visibility - In the sense that several key positions in city government and public safety were held by African Americans during the administration. Mobility - The completion of the bike lanes and trails had a positive impact on those in the Black communities that do not have other means of transportation and promoted bikes as a safe healthy alternative”
“1) Building up low income areas King/Lincoln and South side areas. 2) Job creation 3) Reentry programs”
“Neighborhood improvement and revitalization efforts City-wide recycling customer service within all city agencies”
“My thoughts are vague in identifying which specific efforts you are speaking about here. Projects that come to mind as not fulfilling mission: Columbus Urban Growth- Taylor Avenue and Four Corners; CMACAO debacle (Ginther too); King Lincoln- Lincoln Theater $$$; 750 Long Building$$$; The 'Not so Great Wall' and its omissions; Poindexter/PACT anti-climactic implementation; The neighborhoods left to rot: East side, East Columbus, Linden, South side, The Bottoms etc. preferences to Weinland Park gentrification.”
“Representation, Roles on City Council, Positions in his cabinet”
“Creation of the Department of Education, Cap City Kids GO GREEN, Green Spot Columbus Early Start- Focus on early childhood”
“Inclusive Economic Development (Business development, access, infrastructure, etc) – poor. Sustainable impact to the Black communities in greater need - Very poor. 2. Affordable comprehensive Housing Infrastructure in Black Communities - Poor 3. Living wage employment - sustainable, comprehensive opportunities, for 25-50 year old chronically unemployed and underemployed; not just youth or displaced workers (COWIC).”
“1)The electric slide 2)The cha cha slide 3) The Bridge”
“Can not think of any.”
“His efforts have done nothing to improve the lives of Black folks who owned businesses in Columbus. Dog and pony shows. No significant contracting opportunities. No certification goals. Black women can't be FBEs, Wasted opportunity.”
“The community level of SWAG has risen to an unprecedented high (form swagy to swagalicious) during the Coleman admin. CPS Children are now reading chapters and rapping about it!”
“Improve Downtown.”
General comments about Mayor Coleman’s legacy for Black Columbus (reported verbatim)
Finally, survey respondents were asked for General Comments about Mayor Coleman’s tenure and legacy.
“Our first Black mayor understands our community. He made a huge difference for us.”
“Look after the interest of downtown.”
“His efforts have been dog and pony shows. No significant progress except for his friends.”
“The loss of civil rights gains. Especially of those positions that controlled direction and resources. The behavior may be worse than "worthless"rather a deliberate set of actions to give back those civil rights gains.”
“Mayor Coleman has been a wonderful mayor. He is Columbus' mayor. I'm not sure how anyone can fill his shoes. I am saddened (and worried) that he is leaving.”
“There hasn’t been black wealth created under his leadership.”
“The first black mayor of Columbus invested in our whole city. A big part of investment has been in our community”
“Exceptional.”
“He has no Black agenda.”
“He has been directly responsible for many doors opening in the Black community.”
“For the Black elite he did a lot and I’d give him a 10 for what he did for them. That’s the part of the Black community he served best. But for grassroots Black folk, he either ignored or fought against. He took away access TV, cut off public comments at city council and gave Stephanie Hightower a $25 thousand check so she could help keep Bill Moss and Bob Fitrakis off the school board -- the people that were supported by the community. He was friends with just about every black on city council and school board that were hostile toward the Bill Moss, Jerry Doyles, James Moss, Mike Fairs and Barry Edneys. When we had an election hearing about the 2004 election he was MIA. He was a no show in council chambers, but (he) was there a few hours later. Then, during the Black mayor’s Conference when Minister Farakhan was here, he cut and run but was there for all the other events. That was just plain disrespect so basically what I’m saying is that his moves didn’t benefit the black community, just the elite black folk that he was friends with and the ones he liked. That’s just the cold hard truth and I can’t sugarcoat it.”
“If we are going to rate Mayor Coleman on his accomplishments over these 15 years we must be honest. Our beloved Columbus has seen growth as well as Cooperate/ Private reinvestment in long forgotten neighborhoods under Mayor Coleman's leadership. African Americans were appointed to positions of power during his terms as Mayor, it is unfortunate many weren't able to use the opportunity to create real change at the grassroots level on most social issues. Many in our city feel they are fighting against a machine of power and money just to be heard on issues important to our Community. I am grateful for Mayor Coleman's service to Columbus, I'm also happy to see the people who've gotten comfortable hiding in his shadow being challenged to weigh in on issues important to the Black Community as well as try to effectively discuss their platform and vision for our Great City.”
“I don't think the black community was ever a priority to him. He was there to keep the city's status quo and downtown investors happy and he did that well.”
“He was power broker not a people's Mayor.”
“Coleman has done a decent job in getting Columbus back on track and in the national spotlight.”
“Exceptional”
Conversations around the kitchen table
So what are people saying as they sit around the kitchen table? The Free Press conducted several phone interviews to get more contextual information from leaders in the Black community who have been visible and involved in community affairs. While Mayor Coleman received several highly positive survey reviews, overall the survey found his legacy for Black Columbus to be average. Former State Representative and State Senator Ray Miller seems to sum up a good portion of the ambivalence, saying, “I can reflect back on my tenure and can point to a number of major accomplishments that affect African Americans for every year that I served. If I minimalized it and picked just one a year, which I think is reasonable, there would be at least 15 major accomplishments. I’m not sure I’ve seen that from the Mayor. I’ve seen accomplishments that the downtown community can be extremely proud of, but not in our community to that extent.”
Willis Brown, President of the Bronzeville Neighborhood Association says, “The first indication to us was when he denied the history of Bronzeville in favor of his own moniker, the King Lincoln District. Bronzeville predated and encompassed what he chose to call the King Lincoln District. There was no jazz heritage in anything called King Lincoln – it was in the historic Bronzeville, which had its own Mayor, Rev. Scarborough, pastor of Trinity Baptist Church, who was elected in 1937 and served two terms; we had a Black-owned bank in Adelphi Savings & Loan, and a thriving Black business community – and this rich Bronzeville history is ignored on the Long Street wall in favor of the Mayor’s King Lincoln creation. We have also lost any number of historic buildings under this administration, again diminishing our link to the past. There has been some investment in projects that don’t benefit the indigenous people of the neighborhood, like the Whitney that received a $7 million subsidy because it had to be rushed to impress non-citizens as the Black Mayor’s Convention was coming to town, and the Gateway Building, which was a lot of public money spent that houses only a coffee shop for the benefit of this neighborhood, and which came into the market government subsidized and competed immediately against private investment a few blocks east, and the Lincoln Theater was certainly not rehabbed to serve residents of this community. But most tellingly, the same number of people who were unemployed in the neighborhood in 1990 are unemployed today. So while there was some investment in bricks and mortar, there was never a corresponding investment in the indigenous people. Instead, the Mayor packed them up and moved them out – removing about 1,300 Black men, women and children from the historic Poindexter Village as part of his gentrification plan, and history will judge him poorly for that.” Nana Watson, the member-nominated candidate for President of the Columbus NAACP, said “Mayor Coleman’s'major accomplishments are positioning Columbus as a major convention designation, curbside recycling; downtown development; and the gentrification of the Near East Side. However, when I regard legacy, my mayoral prototype is the late great Maynard Jackson of Atlanta. Removing barriers and enhancing growth with minority businesses have not occurred to the level that perhaps could have transpired under Mayor Coleman’s watch. That accomplishment would have launched him in the league with Mayor Maynard Jackson and improved the stability/growth of minority businesses. All major city mayors have stumbling blocks and vast constituents to appease. Therefore, it is imperative that members of the Black community hold elected officials accountable. When there is a disconnection in accountability, progress is stymied particularly in our community. If we only hear from Black elected officials, at election time, they are failing us and we are failing the community in which we live, serve, and work by giving them a pass because they are Black.”
There is a deep ambivalence in Black Columbus about the benefits of 15 years of Columbus’s first Black Mayor, with some describing it positively but many describing it as a disappointment and a missed opportunity. This disconnect was certainly causal in the defeats of Issues 50 and 51 and Issue 6 – all of which were viewed with deep skepticism and not broadly believed to be in the community’s best interests, despite the Mayor’s strong endorsement of all of these issues and the amount of money backing those campaigns. It also manifests itself in the skepticism about Mayor Coleman’s endorsement of hand-picked Andrew Ginther to replace him as Mayor and in Ginther’s pronouncements he would continue Coleman’s policies (“Coleman-lite” in the words of one interviewee). Further, with concerns about the #BlackLivesMatters agenda – most notably the lack of any consideration of a civilian police review board supported by (among others) the Columbus NAACP, Columbus Action Network, Ohio Student Association and Citizens for a Civilian Review Board, which is now circulating a petition seeking to put the issue on the ballot, being unmet by both the Mayor and City Council at this point, Black Columbus is increasingly growing restive about the current political climate.
Interesting, the several respondents identifying themselves as non-Black in the survey (whose views were not included in other parts of this article) were harshly critical of the Mayor’s record for Black Columbus, pointing specifically to redevelopment efforts that took place in predominantly Black neighborhoods of Columbus that they did not believe provided benefit to Black Columbus residents. There appears to be some consensus that Mayor Coleman could have done more than he did during his tenure, and that has left deep resentment in some quarters of the community. The trickle-down theory that improvements for the general public flow to Blacks as well has not endeared the mayor to Black Columbus. Mayoral and council candidates seeking Black votes would be well-served to develop a specific agenda to promote the interests of Black Columbus, much of which feels like it has been used and neglected for quite some time.