It looked like another scandal: A January financial report shows that Cincinnati's Empowerment Zone spent nearly a dollar on administration for every dollar on programs — and those included hip-hop, crafts, karate and boxing for “anger management.”

        But the “EZ” is not so easy to follow.

        Created by Congress to encourage business and help poor neighborhoods, Cincinnati's independent Empowerment Zone has nearly $20 million in federal grants. But “only” $3.7 million has been spent, and boycotters are demanding, “Show us the money.”

        “After almost three years, promised corporate and government funds have not materialized,” it says on www.cincyboycott.org.

        It's true. But it has nothing to do with racism, as the boycotters claim. Two-thirds of EZ board members are black and so is director Harold Cleveland.

A bad start

        It was board members who stalled the start-up by plotting to hire as director Stanley Broadnax, the convicted drug dealer who was fired as Cincinnati's first black health commissioner.

        They failed, but the battle angered city manager John Shirey, so City Hall let the EZ almost die of neglect for two years — until the boycott demands surfaced.

        A meeting was quietly held recently, involving a few City Council members, Mr. Cleveland and a representative of Rep. Steve Chabot, R-Cincinnati. The politicos warned that federal funds will dry up if the Zone doesn't show better results.

        Criticizing it is easy. The January report includes:

        • $100,000 for martial arts job training.

        • $500,000 for Creative Wellness, Holiday Crafts, Puppets, Rhythm and Movement and arts programs.

        • Resilient Adolescent Partnership (RAP): $377,500 for self-esteem building, “hip-hop, choir, karate” and other programs.

        Part of the Zone's mandate is to improve quality of life in nine poor, predominantly black neighborhoods. But the city and county already spend tens of millions of dollars on social services — not including another $50 million that burned a hole in council's thin pockets.

No handouts

        What the Zone needs is jobs, Mr. Cleveland admits. “We understand that,” he said. “This is not about handouts.”

        He says tough accounting will prevent rip-offs. And Mr. Cleveland, who has been director for only a year, is “extending an olive branch” to local corporations that promised 10,000 jobs over 10 years. Those jobs, and the city's pledge of $200 million, are still missing.

        Mr. Cleveland says the ratio of programs to administration is now 3:1, and better programs are on the way.

        The Empowerment Zone was meant for more than crafts and hip-hop. But now that it's finally turning around, federal cuts may be on the way.

        Some think the EZ is a cash drawer. Some say it's a waste. It's neither. But if it dies, it will be killed by blunders, not bigotry.

        E-mail pbronson@enquirer.com or call 768-8301.

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