Cygnus

COAST leader apologizes for “insensitive’ 9/11 reference in streetcar tweet Proponents of a proposed Cincinnati streetcar were outraged Sunday when they saw a tweet from an officer of COAST (Citizens Against Additional Taxes and Spending) which compared the deaths of New York City firefighters on 9/11 to brown-outs at Cincinnati fire stations. COAST treasurer Mark Miller, author of the tweet, apologized for the reference Monday morning. “Invoking 9/11 was a mistake,” Miller told the Enquirer. “It was stupid. That was insensitive. And I apologize.” The tweet, which showed up on Twitter Sunday morning read: “3% of FDNY died 10 years ago by terrorism. Today Cincinnati lost 17.5 percent of fire companies by brownouts to pay for a streetcar. Which is worse?” About $7 million has been spent so far on streetcar studies, route signage and other items related to the streetcar, but all of that money has come from the city’s capital improvements budget, according to Vice Mayor Roxanne Qualls, who chairs council’s finance committee. The fire department is funded by the city’s operating budget. “It was in bad taste, showed poor judgment and is simply not true,” Qualls said. “It is enough to make your jaw drop.” Cont

Good ol Barry Hostman is on top of this on Twitter: 9:26 AM "In ballot campaign with plenty of over-the-top rhetoric, new COAST tweet comparing streetcar to 9/11 widely seen as especially bad taste." via Barry Horstman 9:29 AM "COAST tweet: 3% of FDNY died ...by terrorism.Today Cinti lost 17.5% of fire companies by brownouts to pay for a streetcar. Which is worse?" via Barry Horstman Nothing yet on Cincinnati.com though...

The subway and riverfront transit center are not streets. And yet for ANY passenger vehicles operated on rails to access the center, it'll have to run on existing public streets.

Anyone at the Council session today? Just saw these on Twitter: 3:40 Debate over wording of streetcar ballot measure. Winburn wants it rewritten, but deadline to elex bd is tomorrow via Jane Prendergast 3:47 Council postponed original streetcar ballot language. Rewriting to include "streetcar." Bd of Elex, Secy of State approval final language via Jane Prendergast 3:51 Council recessed 10 mins to wait for rewritten streetcar ballot language via Jane Prendergast

WXIX's coverage from last night: Improvements planned for neighborhoods surrounding casino site I recommend stopping the video when they get to the viewer's Facebook comments or you might punch your monitor...

City of Cincinnati, utilities miles apart on streetcar Premium content from Business Courier by Dan Monk and Lucy May , Senior Staff Reporters Date: Friday, September 2, 2011, 6:00am EDT - Last Modified: Friday, September 2, 2011, 9:54am EDT Nine months of negotiations have failed to close a funding gap for utility relocation required by the Cincinnati streetcar project. In fact, the gap has grown to more than $30 million. As the Business Courier first reported last November, the city’s budget for the relocation of gas, electric, sewer and water lines falls far short of what’s required to separate the proposed new transit system from downtown’s subterranean infrastructure. Although the budget and project scope have changed since then, the city hasn’t altered its May estimate of a $95 million “starter line” that would run from Fifth Street to Findlay Market . The project would be funded by $99.5 million in available proceeds, including federal grants and a $64 million bond issue authorized by city council in 2010. The $95 million budget didn’t include any money for utility relocation, estimated by Duke Energy Corp. at more than $20 million. Cont (premium)

New month, same ol Enquirer: Play the streetcar word association game What's the first word that pops into your head when you hear the word 'streetcar?' A proposal to bring a streetcar to Cincinnati has generated a lot of rhetoric. We want to cut through that with a word association game.

https://secure.pledgeconnect.com/donation.aspx?cincinnatiansforprogress

Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati site cleared of contaminated soil Business Courier - by Dan Monk , Senior Staff Reporter Date: Friday, August 26, 2011, 6:00am EDT Before it could embrace its glitzy future, Cincinnati’s Broadway Commons site had to confront its industrial past. Developers of the Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati removed 7,700 tons of lead-contaminated soil from the gaming facility’s Broadway Commons construction site in February and March of this year. The dirt was treated on site, then hauled to the Rumpke landfill in Colerain Township to make sure contamination from a former lead pigment plant will not come in contact with casino patrons. “We followed all the standards and guidelines that they have to make sure our workers are safe and the public is safe,” said Jennifer Kulczycki, spokeswoman for Rock Ohio Caesars LLC. Cont (premium content)

Would this then become Cincinnati's own little China Town?

Agreed. Mehring Way will eventually be a tree lined street. Same with Freedom Way. The south side of 2nd Street on the other hand could really benefit from some trees. Not to mention pedestrian friendly street lamps.

Chinese may revive Short Vine Investment could yield green cards 4:23 AM, Aug. 21, 2011 Written by David Holthaus A small group of Cincinnati developers just returned from China, where they pitched wealthy Chinese people on investing in a long-stalled redevelopment of Short Vine in Corryville. For the Chinese investors, the incentive is not only a financial stake in the project but something that may be more valuable - a permanent pass to live in the United States. The Short Vine developers are using a little-known federal program to encourage foreign investment in the U.S. In exchange for investing $1 million, foreigners can get preferred treatment to enter and live in the country. The so-called "million-dollar visa" means investors can get a coveted green card to live in the United States in a matter of months, something that normally can take years. Cont

It'll be the elevator shaft.

It is. Both the stair/elevator buildings will have this "artwork" on them as well.

Moerlein Lager House and Walnut Street Stairs/Bike Mobility Center looking good:

Over on the Bridge Block, Holy Grail's expansion is underway. Another garage door has been installed and glass installation is underway. Across the street, the entrance to what I believe is Johnny Rockets is taking shape.

The Football Block is nearing it's Phase I completion which is due in time for the Bungles season

Kevin Flynn was there too

These are now all over Main and Walnut. Tag takes you to WLW's website.

Talk about a flawed poll in more ways than one... The question was: Would you vote to block the streetcar plan? 6PM News results were: Yes 89% No 11% But on their webpage the same question shows results as: Yes 56% No 44% And then on their Facebook page it's: 48% Yes 52% No Evidently what they report on their broadcasts are only phone results.

Or call 513.345.1212

And Lippert attempts to counter today's sign unveiling... Councilman: Halt streetcar work immediately Official Release: Councilman Wayne Lippert is calling on the city to respect the democratic process and halt all streetcar activity until after the November election. “I don’t care what side you are on in this debate,” said Lippert. “To move forward with this project in the face of a legally organized and certified ballot initiative shows the arrogance of the administration.” In a memo from Lippert to the city solicitor seeking to clarify the administration’s position, Lippert said, “Based on statewide precedent, it is my understanding that ballot initiatives supersede all legislative actions. This was indeed the standard used in the LetOhioVote—Video Lottery Terminals initiative and Senate Bill 5. “The standard of ceasing all streetcar activities should be upheld until after the November election. If we do not, I believe we risk opening the city to serious legal action. I am calling upon you to help me understand why this administration is ignoring the democratic process and moving forward.” As you know, there is a ballot initiative seeking to bring an end to the streetcar project. At the same time, there is not a majority on council that supports moving forward on this project.

Agreed. Maybe one thread for Eastern Corridor: Oasis Line and another for Eastern Corridor: I-74 ;-)

NAACP’s Smitherman to step down – temporarily Should have resigned after he tried to start a fight inside Council Chambers...

While at the same time WCPO is reporting this on their homepage: More anti-streetcar referendum petitions delivered Wednesday Posted: 8:24 AM CINCINNATI - The controversy over the proposed streetcar line for downtown Cincinnati will heat up again on Wednesday when opponents are due to deliver petitions with 3,000 more signatures calling for a second referendum on the streetcar. The Cincinnati NAACP and the anti-tax group, COAST, have already delivered referendum petitions with 6,000 signatures to the Hamilton County Board of Elections office. The additional petitions may help the groups collect enough valid voter signatures before the deadline to put the referendum issue on the November ballot. Cont Nothing on WKRC...