That's So Cincinnati: Ex-mayor takes aim at Reds and Bengals on The Banks project

Former Cincinnati Mayor Charlie Luken has emerged as a leading critic on the city and county's embattled riverfront development project, also known as The Banks. 

And the former Congressman and local TV anchor didn't hold back in his criticism of The Banks on That's So Cincinnati this week, calling for new leadership on the project. Luken is a member of the city-county Joint Banks Steering Committee, which is supposed to provide oversight and decision-making power on the project. 

But the committee rarely meets. 

Here's just a sampling of what Luken said on That's So Cincinnati:

"We've lost our way," Luken said of the committee. "And I think we've lost our way for so long that we have ceased to be effective. I do not believe that group can be repaired. There needs to be a new approach, and that falls to the elected people to lead on. I hope that they do. I don’t think it’s going to change much as long as (county attorney) Tom Gabelman and (Reds owner Bob) Castellini view this as their little project. As long as that happens, I see more fighting and more difficulty in the future."