Cygnus

Jerry Thomas filling in for his son Brian today (and next week) reviews the Enquirer article on Chabot's proposal in the 5AM hour - KJP gets a shout out. Jerry is starting to sound like Tom Luken: Doesn't understand why it won't stop the streetcar. It's passed the House and the Senate. Either the amendment is written wrong or the city found money from another source. Goes on to say the city got either $7M or $10M to get the project off the ground. Then focuses on ferries asking why would there need to be new ferry routes. Completely ignores buses. Can't remember the route. Asks who would go to/leave the casino with a pocket full of money and ride the slow streetcar past people looking to rob you? Gets funny in the 6AM hour when he starts talking about uninformed/mis-informed people. Which is exactly what he's creating via his radio program...

Looks like the 24th occurred last night: Man arrested in Millvale homicide

23 as of June 25th

I was last over there 2-3 weeks ago and no change. Will try to make another pass this week.

Anyone aware of any work going on in this area? Enclosed four-story stairwell collapses in OTR A four-story enclosed stairway collapsed this afternoon at Main and 13th streets. The building department has been called, and the area has been cordoned off to pedestrians.

Correct: McClintock (R-CA) – The amendment prohibits funds for phase two of the “Third Street Light Rail Central Subway” project in San Francisco. The amendment was adopted on a vote of 235-136. Denham (R-CA) – The amendment prohibits funding for any high speed rail project in California. There are currently no funds in the bill for high speed rail. The amendment was adopted on a vote of 239-185. List of the 21 floor adopted amendments can be found here: http://appropriations.house.gov/uploadedfiles/06_29_12_thud_floor_adopted_amendments.pdf

Brian Thomas this morning, he's been telling his listeners that it's been passed, it essentially defunds the project, and that there will be no streetcar. Dusty Rhodes was on at 7:30 and believes the same, but he thinks there possibly could be ways around it. Then he went on to rip the Enquirer editorial on Chabot's actions.

Days before thousands of visitors from all over the world arrive... Ruby: Walnut St. Grill's closing Jeff Ruby closed his year-old Walnut Street Grill for good on Saturday night, saying he plans to focus on his other restaurants. The downtown eatery across from the Aronoff Center for the Arts opened in spring 2011 replacing Bootsy’s, another Ruby venture that struggled to turn a profit. “Tonight’s the swan song,” he said Saturday. Ruby has other restaurant projects in the works, including a Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse in downtown Lexington. He said he’s feeling pretty confident that he’ll reopen The Waterfront, the floating restaurant that closed in spring 2011 after breaking loose from its Covington moorings during Ohio River flooding. He’s also working on a new location in either West Chester or Springboro. Cont

And COAST shows their hand in their latest blog post

Congress approves transportation, student loans bill WASHINGTON | Fri Jun 29, 2012 2:16pm EDT (Reuters) - A bipartisan bill to fund a massive job-creating transportation bill, renew low-interest rates for student loans and provide flood insurance won final congressional approval on Friday, clearing the way for President Barack Obama to sign it into law. The House of Representatives and Senate passed the measure before heading off for a week-long holiday recess.

From the Congressional Record of the 112th Congress (2011-2012) ( via http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/F?r112:1:./temp/~r112axDfK0:e107449: ) TRANSPORTATION, HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2013 -- (House of Representatives - June 27, 2012) Ohio is recognized for 5 minutes. [Page: H4147] GPO's PDF Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Chairman, this Nation cannot continue spending money it doesn't have. It is imperative that Congress end the borrow-and-spend mentality that created our staggering national debt and that we put our Nation on a sustainable path to a balanced budget. Now, more than ever, we need to be pragmatic in our approach to transportation, ensuring that every dollar spent represents a long-term investment that will improve the flow of commerce and create American jobs. My amendment this evening is about priorities. The city of Cincinnati has been in the planning process of constructing a streetcar for years now. The primary funding for this project came in the form of an urban circulator grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation in the amount of $25 million. Earlier this year, city of Cincinnati officials came to my office looking for even more funds for the Cincinnati streetcar project. The total cost is expected to be well over $120 million for a 4-mile loop connecting only two Cincinnati neighborhoods with little-to-no positive impact on traffic congestion, freight, or our aging infrastructure. Far from a necessity, the Cincinnati streetcar is a luxury project that our Nation and our region simply cannot afford. Imprudent and irresponsible spending of taxpayer dollars on discretionary projects like this must stop. For too long, taxpayers have been footing the bill for frivolous projects that reap little to no benefit. Much like the ``bridge to nowhere,'' this ``streetcar to nowhere'' is yet another instance of wasteful government spending. My amendment simply says, no more--no more funding for this streetcar in my own district. Unlike the Cincinnati streetcar, however, there are a number of other infrastructure projects that are of high priority and far more worthy of Federal infrastructure investment. In particular, there are two ready-to-begin projects that would have a direct impact on Cincinnati's economy and create permanent jobs, and those are replacing the Brent Spence Bridge and completing the I-71 Martin Luther King interchange. The Brent Spence Bridge carries two major interstate highways that connect Ohio and Kentucky and serves as a major thoroughfare not just for Cincinnatians, but for the entire Midwest region, and in fact the Nation at large. Furthermore, this bridge rests on one of the busiest freight routes in North America and is estimated to carry 4 percent of the Nation's gross domestic product annually. The Federal Highway Administration has declared the Brent Spence Bridge functionally obsolete, indicating that the current state of the bridge does not meet today's standards. Currently, this bridge carries 170,000 vehicles on average per day, which is more than double the 80,000 it was designed to carry. Replacing the bridge would save an estimated $748 million in congestion costs annually, savings that would grow in real dollars to $1.3 billion annually by 2030. The other worthy project I mentioned, the Martin Luther King interchange plan, has long been on the minds of businesses and citizens in our region, so much so that stakeholders have their own money in this plan. Unlike the streetcar to nowhere, the completion of this much-needed project would have a direct impact on one of Cincinnati's most important economic hubs. The Martin Luther King interchange would free up traffic congestion around the University of Cincinnati, Children's Hospital, and the uptown region of Cincinnati. [Time: 22:10] This proposed interchange would directly impact 60,000 people who work in the area and allow far greater highway access, generating an additional 2,000-plus permanent jobs. We need to focus our limited resources on projects that are practical, impactful, and that will deliver results. Those of us in Congress must make responsible choices and invest in projects on their merits and nothing else. We owe it to the American people to invest only in those projects that will produce real results, keep us competitive, and, most importantly, create American jobs. I yield back the balance of my time. The Acting CHAIR. Does any Member rise in opposition to the amendment? The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Chabot). The amendment was agreed to.

Chabot will be on Cunningham at 2:06

Chabot Amendment Prohibiting Federal Funds for Cincinnati Streetcar Passes Rep. Steve Chabot (R-OH) authored an amendment to prohibit any federal transportation dollars from being used for the Cincinnati streetcar project. The amendment was offered Wednesday night during debate on the House Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2013, and was passed by a voice vote. "My amendment is about priorities," Rep. Chabot said. "The total cost of the streetcar is expected to be well over $120 million for a four mile loop connecting only two Cincinnati neighborhoods with little to no positive impact on traffic congestion, freight, or our aging infrastructure. This project is far from a necessity while projects of high priority like the Brent Spence Bridge and I-71 MLK interchange are left on hold." The amendment itself is only 25 words and would stop in its tracks the federal grant money sought by the city of Cincinnati for the streetcar project. The primary funding for this project came in the form of an Urban Circulator Grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation for $25 million. Then, earlier this year, city of Cincinnati officials were on Capitol Hill seeking even more federal assistance. "This nation cannot continue to spend money it doesn't have," Rep. Chabot said. "Now, more than ever, we need to be pragmatic in our approach to transportation, ensuring that every dollar spent represents a long-term investment that will improve the flow of commerce and create American jobs."

CVG plans single terminal Concourse A would handle all flights First, flight schedules were significantly reduced at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. Now, plans show some unused airport buildings coming down as well. Master plans obtained by The Enquirer show that officials are studying consolidating all passenger flights into one main concourse and building a new rental car facility adjacent to the one remaining terminal. CVG’s federally mandated master plan shows almost all passenger services consolidated in and around newly renovated Concourse A. It would be expanded to accommodate dominant carrier Delta Air Lines, which currently operates out of Concourse B. Cont

From the Washington Park Facebook page:

Pedestrians at this intersection (also Race & 2nd) generally ignore the no cross walk sign as many drivers also ignore the no turn on red and left on arrow only signs. Rush hour on game days is particularly awful. Several vendors set-up on the four corners and they (illegally) park their vans/trucks on Walnut just south of 2nd, eliminating a lane for traffic headed to the Suspension Bridge. Drivers regularly block this intersection which in turn snarls traffic at all N/S streets that cross 2nd. The closest officers are at Main & 2nd.

Music Hall group: We'll just rent it Ending a stalemate over the fate of one of Greater Cincinnati’s iconic buildings, a group hoping to revitalize Music Hall late Friday backed down from demands that it buy the building from the city. The Music Hall Revitalization Co. submitted a proposal to the City of Cincinnati on Friday to lease the historic 134-year-old hall from the City for 99 years in order to move forward with its $165 million renovation project. The nonprofit group has asked that its proposal for a long-term lease between the city and the Revitalization Co. be placed on the agenda of the city’s Budget and Finance Committee on Monday. The proposal will allow the nonprofit to move forward, the group said in a statement sent late on Friday to Music Hall supporters. Cont

So, it was a split series. However, there was a clear winner on the attendance side. Attendance at Great American Tue 24,758 Wed 27,428 Thu (D) 34,193 86,379 Attendance at Progressive Mon 19,948 Tue 17,213 Wed 23,544 60,705

SouthShore developer starting second phase Business Courier A more than $15 million apartment development is breaking ground in Newport Thursday, adding 93 residential units along the Ohio River. Capital Investment Group Inc., the Cincinnati development company that developed SouthShore Condominiums, is starting on the second phase of the development, to be called Vue 180. The 93 rental units will be built above structured parking. A groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for 9 a.m. Thursday, June 21, at the parking lot of the SouthShore Condominium, 400 Riverboat Row. Cont

And on the Toast blog: "...Well, the largess of Mayor Mallory, who cares deeply about the little people, will drive more of them to fiscal ruin, just so he can have his toy streetcar, and his glass atrium on top of City Hall. COAST is working on a strategy to encourage the PUCO to stop this looting of Cincinnati ratepayers dead in its tracks. This Council, this Mayor, this Manager, are very simply bat shit crazy."

Cafe has opened up in the building at the corner of 3rd & Sycamore, M-F 7AM-3PM. http://simplygrandcafe.com/ Also, a work permit is in place for a convenience store. It'll be in the middle of the building near the elevator bank.

Apartment design draws criticism A prominent corner in Columbia Tusculum will soon be home to new apartments aimed at young professionals – but not all residents are happy with the design. Al. Neyer Inc. and Towne Properties are working together on Delta Flats, a proposed 76-unit apartment development on the northwest corner of Delta Avenue and Columbia Parkway. The companies plan to start construction later this year. More than a year ago, the Columbia Tusculum Community Council provided design suggestions so the apartment complex would fit in the neighborhood and look similar to the nearby Precinct restaurant, Junior League of Cincinnati and the Lincoln School Professional Building. Cont

Hyatt Regency Cincinnati to undergo $17M renovation Business Courier The Hyatt Regency Hotel in downtown Cincinnati will undergo a $17 million renovation. The city of Cincinnati is selling its ground lease on the downtown property to New York-based Lamco LLC, a subsidiary of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc., for $2.1 million, according to a city news release. The city will put in the remaining $1.55 million of the property value to the deal. In exchange, all 485 rooms, public spaces and hotel support areas will be upgraded and renovated. Renovations are scheduled to begin later this year. Cont

Smitherman made a comment on one of the AM entertainment shows last week that he's not going to run for Mayor and that he'll be putting his support behind either Winburn or Cranley. He'll "let them work out which one will run".

Cranley's opinion on the property tax increase: "let’s call this what it is – a streetcar tax" The facts about Cincinnati taxes John Cranley is a lawyer at Keating Muething & Klekamp and served on Cincinnati City Council from December 2000 to January 2009. City Hall just released a budget that proposes property and income tax increases. It’s important that citizens know the facts. For several years, I chaired City Council’s finance committee that oversaw the bipartisan passage of seven balanced budgets without raising taxes. I know this budget and have to tell you that the way these tax hikes are being justified is not transparent in a number of important ways. Council Member Roxanne Qualls says the 25 percent property tax hike is “necessary” on the premise that such an increase is needed to borrow $27 million to pay for new police and fire houses, and to finish the riverfront park. Cont