I was hoping that this announcement would be full of our accomplishments in building health and community here in Northside. But I have to “interrupt our usual broadcast” to share a problem we are having with Duke that threatens this important work.
About 6 months ago, Duke called to inform me that I had not been paying for gas on a meter that is in the sanctuary building. Without any proof, they told me that I owe $13,500 in bills for the past three years. Indeed, they don’t even have to provide me with proof.
Are you aware of any other business that can back-bill you for a mistake THEY made for the past three years, with no proof? I know of precisely none. Furthermore, in addition to back-billing businesses for errors Duke made, Duke can back-bill residents for the mistakes they made up to one year. This is all legal in Ohio.
I am still in the start up phase of this social enterprise. I know few who have this kind of money lying around. Duke said that if I did not start paying on this bill that they would shut off my gas and electricity. So, in addition to the increase in costs that we are all seeing on our bills, I have an additional minimum bill of $1,000 added to what I had been paying previously. My bills, therefore, will never be under $1,000, and if I am lucky, they will ONLY be around $2,000/month.
This is untenable. As you might imagine, I did my due diligence before I bought this property. I asked for and was sent Duke bills that the church had paid for the year prior to my purchasing the property. I carefully budgeted in the cost, and knew I could be successful at that amount, and even a little more should prices increase.
This winter, I paid Duke in excess of $16,000 for gas and electricity. Over the same time last year, I paid $7,332, about $8,700 more for the same 5 month period. And if I can’t pay this, they will shut off the gas and electricity to our business.
Regardless, I persevere so that I can continue to improve the health of Northside. We just published our cookbook, “Cooking from the Heart of Northside”, in which we provide simple recipes of healthy meals that can be made from food obtained from stores in walking distance along the business district.
We bought supplies to grow more fresh produce, this time focusing on one local restaurant – Melt Revival – to show we can provide excellent quality food at lower cost and with lower waste. We are currently working on perfecting a growing schedule to maximize food production.
We continue to mentor students throughout the city. I have projects with students from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, School of Public Health, Xavier University, and I am working to include Cincinnati State.
We continue to create connection. We hosted Santamania last Christmas season to awesome effect. We are bringing together health professionals in conference to develop a more equitable health system. We continue to have our twice-yearly Record Fair, added a Vintage Fair, as many Yart Sales as possible, as well as parties, and family events.
We are growing our cost-effective wedding program to give young couples the opportunity to start a life together without the debt from an expensive wedding, currently putting together a wedding expo that will showcase Northside and local businesses.
Last but not least, we are keeping a beautiful sanctuary that has been a part of our community for 140 years vibrant and healthy. Just this week, a delightful student and neighbor started working on her project to help me create a museum honoring the church that occupied the space for the 136 years prior to my ownership.
Here is my ask: if any of you have legal and/or political expertise to help fight this, please reach out. If there are any neighbors who can help organize to push back on the laws that allow Duke to rob us and threaten our communities, please reach out. We are stronger when we organize. Thank you all for your support and kindness, and, if we have not met yet, I look forward to meeting you.
