Where Most Needed

The Cincinnati Enquirer reports that the University of Cincinnati is taking its representatives off local community development boards, citing conflict of interest.   University financial support for some $325 million in redevelopment projects in neighborhoods adjacent to the university will continue.  The timing of the decision was explained as giving time to allow the organizations to find new board members and change their by-laws. 

The University of Cincinnati is a public university, part of the Ohio Board of Regents system, but it also raises funds from the public through the University of Cincinnati Foundation (EIN 31-0896555 Form 990).  The university web site informs us that "UC is the largest employer in the Cincinnati region, with an economic impact of more than $3 billion." 

An example of potential conflict of interest cited in the article was that of University Architect Ronald Kull, on the board of the Corryville Community Development Corporation (EIN 31-1456153 Form 990).  This organization had no paid staff in 2004, and of the five board members, Mr. Kull is listed as Secretary/Treasurer, contribuing as much volunteer support (5 hours per week) as the two other officers combined.  It is unclear where an organiation like this could come up with alternate volunteer support.  At the same time, the developer who is building a project associated with the Corryville CDC sits on the U of Cincinnati board (note: he is unlikely to step down from that post).  The Enquirer article points out that the publisher of the Enquirer also sits on the U of Cincinnati board. 

The projects themselves appear quite ambitious  and have as one goal "private, market-rate housing ... specifically geared to meet the needs of students who prefer to live off campus."   

This isn't New Orleans, but there is a similar trend for the largest nonprofits—universities & hospitals—to lavish attention on their island campuses within a declining urban enviroment.  Whether there is a conflict of interest or not seems to be just a matter of appearances.  The imbalance of negotiating power leaves the communities themselves with very little say, regardless of the forum or structure.