osogato

Council approves $2.8 million in funding for the Streetcars. Bond issues held over.

Luken really is out to lunch. I can't believe that anyone would still listen that that man. He is obviously going senile.

Meeting is streaming online: http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/artikkel?Dato=99999999&Kategori=NEWS01&Lopenr=90617007&Ref=AR&template=livestream

Do you think a streetcar will help Cincinnati? Vote here: http://www.wlwt.com/money/22589966/detail.html

It's not bad news. They are investing more than the $775k eventually, the rest is still earmarked for the streetcar. They're just giving themselves an out in case the feds don't come through. The $775k is a starter, a show of faith. And it gets the work started. The environmental studies can begin with this and the project is underway.

http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/blog/2010/01/things_looking_good_for_streetcar.html Chris Eilerman, special projects coordinator in the city manager’s office, has said he expects to recieve a grant in the next few days that would cover a "significant" portion of the streetcar cost. Anyone else have any other info on this???

Unfortunately I'm still at work. Bortz is voting no? What's his reasoning?

any word on council's decision on the streetcar funding today?

How was the turnout at the open house?

Wow. Issue 9 failed by 3 votes in my precinct! That's my wife and I, plus 1. Crazy.

Ok, it's not so interactive, but still shows the precinct breakdown.

Interactive voting map on Issue 9: http://dunes.cincinnati.com/election2009/map/issue9/

Ram23, I really hope you're right, but to me it looks like we'll still have 5-4 splits, they'll just go the other way with Bortz, Ghiz, Windbag, and Berding as the majority. Fortunately, the streetcar should have majority support, depending on how Cole actually decides to vote. Great job on getting the word out on Issue 9 everyone. It's a great day!

It drives me crazy waiting for the returns to come in. Makes for a very long day. Even though there's really no news until the polls close, I can't keep myself off the local blogs and message boards...

It's safe to say this has been one of the most unproductive work days I've had in a long time Agreed.

Interestingly, Anitra Brockman is the Green Party candidate. Her website states she is in favor of the streetcar, so I emailed her to ask her stance on Issue 9, since the SW OH Green Party supports the measure. Her response is below: 'Thank you for taking the time to send me an email before election. Although the green party is saying "Yes" to issue 9, I am saying "No" to issue 9. I believe that we are only getting in the way of the city progressing if we say "Yes"...'

For the streetcar: Bortz/ Brockman/ Fixcher/ Flynn/ Harris/ Hollan/ Qualls/ Quinlivan/ Thomas/ Watson/ Young

Unfortunately, this is probably the type of demographic that will be voting in the largest numbers today...

^ Nothing much. I just handed her literature back to her (though I should have thrown it in the trash) and told her I'd be voting no on both. She accepted that and was friendly about the whole thing. Sorry, no drama!

Someone from the NAACP was at my polling place in Pleasant Ridge urging people to vote yes on 8 & 9. Hopefully it's just my own pessimism that comes from living in Cincinnati for the past decade, but I have a really bad feeling about this vote today...

Smitherman is a real piece of work: "City retirees, city workers, and metro employees your jobs and pensions are on the line. This is not an exaggeration. The city will build the streetcar and fire metro workers by December 31, 2009." http://cincinnati.com/blogs/politics/2009/11/02/smithermans-last-words-before-election/#more-1061

^ Press announcement regarding what?

VERY good point. But then again, what about this measure isn't ridiculous?

^ I hate these teasers...

^ Thanks Thomas, I do realized that, I just forgot to use the "sarcasm font".