City Blights

Last week was the first time Geno looked anything like himself, and not coincidentally, last week's game was almost a year after he tore his ACL. I've been saying for a while that Geno won't be making a lot of plays before December, but with the way he looked last week, I might have to push that date up a couple weeks. As long as he's right for the Denver game.... Any over/unders for how many bogus flags will be thrown to benefit New England against Denver today? They can't be beaten at home in the reg season partially because the refs make sure it doesn't happen.

Browns should be able to win in Jacksonville...but will they? Is the on-field product finally worth the public's trust?

U-Square has brought energy to Clifton. Uptown is a jobs hub, but it should be a more competitive destination of recreation. Mixed-use projects fulfill that priority, so, conceptually, U-Square is doing it's job. Real transit is coming to Clifton within a decade I would surmise, and of course that's the real key to Clifton becoming a privileged community. In big cities that aren't named Paris, outside of the strict residential areas (that are overpriced) there are mediocre buildings all around. The density, accessibility to leisure and culture, and general fabric is what makes one excuse the warts within a city labyrinth. Uptown has a lot of room to become more dense and dynamic, so we notice the new stuff, which is pretty cheap.

Jack Painter, like many appointed board members, is probably there for his intelligence. We don't know yet if his wisdom agrees with ours.

FWIW, Boston regional transit serves some pretty low-density, squiggly suburbs like Framingham and Stoughton, which are physically identical to many little Ohio towns and some of our older suburbs. When examining regional transit and what might work in Cincinnati, Boston is the best example I can think of for comparison. Beantown is a little more sprawled, but not by much. It's a selling point for the region and very attractive to middle class families to be able to live in a bedroom community and be within a 5 minute drive of a train that can get you downtown, avoiding that hour and ten minute traffic jam that Civvik went through and of course not seeking or paying for parking. Just because a family chooses to be suburban doesn't mean they should be cut off from the vitality and economy of the core.

This is effectively what I was suggesting could happen. I am perfectly fine with surface rail on Central Parkway connecting to I-75's preserved ROW for LRT. I don't want the City to even consider building a citywide subway. Labor costs too much. Even in Madrid, the expanding lines are surface rail. I mentioned the Parkway Subway because the City of Cincinnati has already paid for those tunnels. If they fit into a reasonable, affordable plan to expand transit along the spine of the city, they certainly should be used.

Cokehead execs don't have their board meetings televised. Pro sports is a public forum and the leagues don't want any surprises on-camera. Not saying it's fair, just pointing out the facts. So now people who make a lot of money on TV don't do drugs? Please..... And what surprises? Do you think Josh is gonna fire up the bong during a timeout? Are you determined to take my comments out of context? I am saying that if players were not subject to drug testing, some would of course use drugs. Some of course would abuse drugs. The fear may be that erratic behavior could potentially occur on-camera, damaging the brand of the NFL.

Why don't you think the Parkway Subway will happen? ^ Just my considered guess. Do I smell inside information, sir?

For construction to begin on the Central Parkway subway in 10 years (I'm talking about beginning, not being built) there would need to be plans and design work actively starting now. For the Cincinnati Streetcar, we started in 2007, It will open in 2016. Were there delays? Yes. Will those same attack tactics happen for rebuilding something in the Central Parkway Subway? Yes. Hopefully, Phase 2 of the Streetcar has just opened 10 years from now. Design work is at 30%, and there are no funds to move it forward. I think Design gets finished, maybe by 2016. Then there's a huge fight during the next mayoral election on how to fund uptown's connection. Then maybe, if a pro streetcar mayor wins in 2017 (democrats are unlikely to run a major candidate against Cranley unless he really becomes a failure) Council will look at funding in 2018, maybe with work beginning in 2019 and taking 2+ years, opening revenue service n 2022. That's a tight schedule that doesn't allow for referendum's etc. That's phase 2 for the streetcar opening in 8 years from now, which I think is the absolute best case you can hope for (I wouldn't put much money on that). Central Parkway subway isn't going to happen in the near future. I misspoke...I meant to say that I think it will be under construction within 10 years. I wouldn't compare the timeline of Streetcar Phase I to anything because it's the initial reintroduction to real city transit in Cincinnati and the first fight is usually the toughest, like John Schneider is always saying. I think it only gets easier from here to get a line from concept to reality. The alternative to not using all of that tube we have in place underground is to file a streetcar along Central Parkway. Either way, I think Central Parkway will be used for rail within 15 years because it's the easiest way to connect the West End with downtown. All of that precious housing stock in the West End will not sit there and rot much longer, comparatively speaking. OTR's renaissance is showing the City how to do business.

Why don't you think the Parkway Subway will happen?

The Reds are pathetic. I'm more disappointed that when I check the barometer of the fanbase on forums, fans aren't blaming Bryan Price like they did Dusty, which was from Day 1. I said for years that Walt Jocketty's roster construction hamstrung Baker (no leadoff hitter until Choo, no protection for Votto, overpaying for bullpen, the Chapman fiasco) and that commentary was generally received as not factual. People were constantly insisting that the talent was there to win it all. Now that Price is the manager, all fingers are pointed at Jocketty and those same people that blasted Dusty even after a win aren't saying a peep about how flat the Reds are playing. They're losing to Arizonas, Colorados and Bostons! I have to admit, I sense a racial bias and it's sad.

^Man, Cincinnati has some grand structures....Central Parkway is going to be such an imposing boulevard in the not-too-distant future. The Streetcar + the Parkway Subway (which I think will happen within 10 years) are really going to force the evolution of that street.

Cokehead execs don't have their board meetings televised. Pro sports is a public forum and the leagues don't want any surprises on-camera. Not saying it's fair, just pointing out the facts.

You can be as talented as possible and still not earn like Gordon because he's a member of a closed industry. Closed to the free market, closed to all but a select few that all are there by good fortune. One injury and nobody ever hears of a guy that got kicked out of three or four colleges. You and I would put up with random drug testing for $1.3 mil, Gordon's scheduled salary this season. All you have to do is not do drugs and the check clears.

Not entirely true. A google search of code violations in the City show outstanding orders that are not completed and seem to be past due. I'd assume he's been fined because the dates imply he didn't do the work in the allotted time. If I see code violations, I report it. Unfortunately, too many buildings have gone into shambles by people who "meant well" but didn't do the appropriate maintenance on their buildings. Wow, talk about snitching...that is, unless it's your job. How do you know these proprietors aren't in the process of correcting? You're directly attacking people's wallets, but I guess you knew that.