To Cincinnati:

Museums are vital to great communities. By revealing the insights of history, museums inspire us to become better people. The potential loss of any museum should never be taken lightly. To lose the internationally regarded National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, when a sustainable operating structure can be created, would mean that Cincinnati has missed an opportunity to demonstrate the resourcefulness and creativity of our great community.

Tomorrow we will present to the community a financially sustainable plan for the Freedom Center which includes economic benefits for Cincinnati Museum Center. This plan, without operating subsidies from Cincinnati Museum Center or a special Hamilton County taxpayer levy for the Freedom Center creates a new platform to fully deliver on its national and international potential through increasing its efficiency and growing its local and national private sector support.

Cincinnati Museum Center knows the benefits and efficiency of bringing great museums into a consolidated operating structure. Its current museums are healthier today and serve many more people than ever before in their 194 year history. Resources not consumed by administrative expenses are available for programs which give insight and bring inspiration.

We are committed to our community, to its being one of the best places to live and raise families in the world. To be regarded as the Queen City of the West in the 19th century is not enough; with a sustainable operating structure for the Freedom Center, we are preserving a community asset which is vital to Cincinnati being the Queen City of the world in the 21st century.