Cincinnati's mayor has solicited money from Bill Cosby and Whoopi Goldberg to pay the plaintiffs' lawyers in a racial profiling lawsuit against the city.

        The two comedians are perhaps the most famous performers to honor a boycott of the city called by the Black United Front and other groups demanding better treatment of African-Americans by police.

Goldberg

Cosby

        But now that the city has signed a settlement to a racial profiling lawsuit, Mayor Charlie Luken said the “collaborative agreement” represents a new era in police-community relations strained since before last year's riots.

        He has asked Mr. Cosby and Ms. Goldberg to help with the one item not addressed in the agreement: how to pay $600,000 in fees to the lawyers for the plaintiffs, the Black United Front and the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio.

        The mayor agreed to help raise money for the lawyers after he insisted that no taxpayer money be used. So far, city officials have raised at least $200,000 for the “Friends of the Collaborative.”

        “Two months ago, Mr. Cosby was unable to perform in Cincinnati because of racial tension,” Mr. Luken wrote Mr. Cosby's agent, David Brokaw. ""Today, I firmly believe that he will find Cincinnati to be a city that is on the forefront of racial healing, and a city that is committed to progress. Should Mr. Cosby choose to be the force that "seals the deal' on the collaborative, our city would be eternally grateful.”

        Mr. Luken also offered a “personal invitation” to Mr. Cosby and Ms. Goldberg to return to Cincinnati.

        Neither performer has responded. In fact, the only confirmed contributor to the effort is television host Jerry Springer, a former Cincinnati mayor, who gave $25,000.

        The mayor's office released the two fund-raising letters Wednesday in response to a public records request from State Rep. Tom Brinkman Jr., R-Mount Lookout. He said the city shouldn't be using public facilities to raise money for boycott groups, and taxpayers should have a right to know who's donating.

        “I'm afraid there's a lot more going on. I'm afraid of the quid pro quo going on here, and what kind of favors these donors are getting — especially when you have a $50 million neighborhood development fund sitting out there.”

        Mr. Luken said he was happy to comply with the request for information, but added: “I think we'd be better served if he would worry more about the $1.5 billion deficit the state is facing.”

        Mr. Brinkman said he requested the records not as a state legislator, but as a taxpayer of the city. But he also said he would ask Ohio Auditor Jim Petro whether setting up a non-profit corporation to receive the funds violates state law.

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