marcc “…to forgo the luxury of separate ways when a common path can be found…”

Metropolitan 14 May 2018 Area Religious Coalition of The Honorable , Mayor

30 W. Garfield Pl, Suite 730 Christopher Smitherman, Vice Mayor Cincinnati, 45202 and Members of Phone 513.721.4843 Fax 513.721.4891 Email [email protected] RE: Independent Legal Counsel for the West End Coalition Web www.marcconline.com

Dear Mr. Mayor, Vice Mayor Smitherman and City Councilmembers Dennard, Landsman, American Baptist Churches USA Miami Association Mann, Murray, Pastor, Seelbach, Sittenfeld, and Young,

Archdiocese of Cincinnati MARCC is concerned about the lack of participation by the residents of the West End in Baptist Ministers Conference the potential location of a Major League Soccer stadium in the West End Community. of Cincinnati and Vicinity After attending meetings, listening to West End residents, FC Cincinnati and City Council, Cincinnati Conference MARCC has concluded that there needs to be a robust Community Benefits Agreement, (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) that is supported by the West End Community, if the project goes forward.

Cincinnati Islamic Community Center City Council has taken a first step towards this goal by approving independent legal Diocese of Southern Ohio (Episcopal) counsel for and chosen by the West End Community. This legal counsel would advise

Disciples of Christ – SW Ohio them on negotiating a meaningful and enforceable Community Benefits Agreement. In addition, MARCC requests that City Council commit funding to the West End Community Interdenominational Ministers Alliance for a legal counsel retainer, to be used on an as needed basis, as part of the Community JCRC of The Jewish Federation Benefits Agreement.

Ohio River Valley District (United Methodist Church) If funding for a legal retainer is not done, then the West End Community will not be able

Presbytery of Cincinnati to challenge the CBA if it is violated by FC Cincinnati, the City of Cincinnati or Hamilton County Commissioners. To do less is to repeat the past, that is break a trust between local Religious Society of Friends government and the residents it is elected to serve. Unitarian Universalist Council of Greater Cincinnati

United Church of Christ Respectfully submitted,

Volunteers of America Of Greater Ohio

Chelsea Bennett President Chelsea Bennett, EdD Margaret Fox, MA Nancy Walters Vice President President Executive Director Reverend Robert Dye Vice President F. Lee Meyer Secretary Cc: Patrick Duhaney, Acting City Manager Assistant Secretary David Tietsort Robert Ehrsam Treasurer

Margaret A. Fox Executive Director Angela Wright Office & Technology Manager