Anonymous flyers accuse Cranley of racism, mismanagement

Racist. Weak on crime. Bad with the city's money. Mayor John Cranley isn't sure exactly where the flyers bearing these accusations are coming from, but he knows where they're appearing: In voters' mailboxes and Cincinnati street corners in bright red, black and white. "This is the worst of politics," Cranley said Thursday. "It's outrageous." The full-color flyers criticize Cranley's financial leadership and claim he has "acted aggressively against black leaders" such as ex-police chief Jeffrey Blackwell and Councilman Wendell Young. Although many use a screenshot of a WCPO story about Blackwell's firing and include the logo of USA Today in an upper corner, neither organization is involved in their creation or distribution. Neither, according to campaign manager Amanda Ford, is Cranley's mayoral opponent, fellow Democrat and Councilwoman Yvette Simpson. In a statement, Ford denied any involvement with the Cranley flyers and cast aspersions on past pro-Cranley ads.