gottaplan

Step up my game? Sorry but I wasn't aware this was a competition. I thought it was a free exchange of thoughts and ideas. Perhaps I was mistaken? And I'm not defending anyone so quit trying to classify me as a Kasich supporter. Go back and read my posts with an unbiased eye and you'll see that it's more accurate to say that I'm sick of all politicians, right & left alike. With every other thread on this board saying "OMG! We're all doomed under Kasich!" That may be, but get real, what has any democrat or republican majority done to significantly advance things away from the status quo. Whether you're a righty or a lefty, a senator, governor, president or city mayor, most of these politicians have to answer to those who put them in power. So why be surprised when they make it plain as day after getting elected who they plan to dole out favors to. Is that defending Kasich? No. It's business as usual for both parties. So back to my original comment, what's everyone gasping at?

What's everyone gasping at? The fact that the ex director of ODOT got a cushy job as an asphalt lobbyist? Before you gasp any further, hold your breath till you see what position the current director accepts, and all of Strickland's other ex-appointees...

Hts just gets pissy when people disagree with his all-knowing-mastery of all things urbane

Fair question. I wouldn't mess with any monetary fines since they aren't likely to be paid and everyone is afraid of further impoverishing this group. I would set up a Saturday morning work program and make these first offenders come to RTA stations, pick up trash, pull weeds, clean up graffiti, etc. Repeat offenders get more work, sort of like detention. Probably a much more effective deterent than a fine, teaches kids some work ethic, and also does a public service without costing the kids or parents. That's all assuming the ACLU doesn't object of course.

Over dramatics? I don't think so... This reaction from RTA isn't even a slap on the wrist for the violators and both sides know it. How can you realistically encourage people from the suburbs or otherwise to park their car and pay to take this system when that is RTA's approach? You can't. Don't brush off the comparisons to Detroit, it's the very same mentality and approach that crippled that city.

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2010/11/rta_votes_to_support_a_50_fine.html "Despite pleas from the American Civil Liberties Union, the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority board voted 7-1 to support a new fare policy that includes a first warning to juvenile fare-jumpers and a $50 fine for a subsequent offense. The board voted after amending the policy presented by General Manager Joe Calabrese and his staff. The fare crackdown won't take effect until Feb. 1, leaving time for RTA staff to educate Cleveland-area schools and community groups about the new policy." So the new RTA policy basically says you can jump on the bus for free until you get caught, at which point nothing will happen. You can continute to ride for free till you get caught again at which point you'll get a $50 fine, but nothing will probably happen if you don't pay that either. As long as the city keeps protecting the rights of the underpriveleged, pretty soon that'll be all that's left. Hello Detroit?

We're all aware of the guy who had his external bladder knocked loose by the security worker. What's the point you're trying to make by quoting it? I think the security worker probably felt/saw something out of place and was doing his job making sure it wasn't a threat. Unfortunately it spilled all over the guy's pants. These things will happen when tens of thousands are getting frisked. What percentage of those are going to have some type of external medical device? I ask the question because I would argue that it's probably less than 1% and therefore not worth training all your people in how to handle the situation. Given the current rapidly changing conditions, safety is #1 priority. Urine soaked pants on a single guy are a bit further down the line of priorities.

Fondled/felt up through your clothing for a few secs in a clinical manner by a trained security worker... Funny, I don't hear people up in arms about getting fondled during breast exams or while checking for hernias, prostate cancer, etc? Those are much more invasive, last longer, clothing removed....?

Sorry but comparing rape to an airport patdown might be the dumbest correlation ever posted here at urbanohio, and that's saying alot.

Since this thread seems to be stalled out on anything but "Kasich is a jerk" comments, I thought I'd post this article which might be relevant for some worthwhile discussion. Interesting points about what works in China won't work here in the US. http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2010/11/why-the-us-will-not-get-chinas-high-speed-rail/66863/

I've been following this topic in the PD articles, but referred back to this thread assuming it would be discussed and it was! How big of a problem is this really? 5-10% of riders jumping on for free? Only certain routes is it a problem? What sort of enforcement measures are even in place to keep this from occurring? In Chicago there was no way to get on the train really without paying, there was a security person at each gate. Getting on a bus without paying & the driver would throw you off. Not sure why things should work differently in Cleveland. Not sure about Foraker's comments that it should be free within the city either. I see some benefits to that, reduced auto traffic, more people riding provides greater level of presence, but what does it do to the budget?

Who thinks RichRod keeps his job after OSU throttles em in the Horseshoe next week? I think chances are 50/50 but he needs to keep it close against OSU or he's probably gone. I know they have a young defense, but he hasn't won a meaningful Big 10 game in 3 years.

^WTF are you talking about? This thread is about who watches Rachel Maddow, quit junking it up with your comments!

Any facts or sources to back up that claim?

^no, I don't think that was the problem. And apparently neither does the real estate expert who was quoted in the article as saying that "the market is so weak..." Housing demand is a function of population and population growth. Have you seen Cleveland's population numbers? Have you seen how much we've declined from 2000 to 2010 as a city and a region? Not trying to get off topic, but still defending my original point about how we need significantly more hiring and higher gas prices...

It's all about market demand, this whole thread is about market demand. Developers pay alot of money to generate market demand data and use it to obtain financing. If the market demand was there, the lenders would be lined up, but they aren't. I mispoke on the Bingham but I think your faith in the FEB residential is unjustified. From Crains, September 2010: "Jim Anderson, an agent at the Progressive Urban Real Estate brokerage in Cleveland with substantial sales experience downtown and in Ohio City, said the real estate market is so weak that some fine projects are failing to register no sales in a calendar year. He said 15 downtown and Flats condos have sold so far this year — none at the Avenue District." http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20100906/FREE/309069963

I don't agree. If they are done right, there is a market. Look at 668, it completely rented out before it even admitted the first residents. You can't pick & choose and name a successful project here or there, or I can sit back and pick dozens of rental/condo projects that failed & are sitting vacant. What about the Bingham going bankrupt? What about the Avenue District project drying up? What about the Flats East Bank residential portion being cancelled? You have to look at the overall picture and I stick with my original statement that Cleveland needs a big time hiring increase and gas prices need to get higher before you see a real change in demand. I have to admit, the 668 building's success is a big surprise to me and many others I'm sure. How many units in that building by the way?

For the record I can't stand O'Reilly either. I actually laugh everytime I see him on because he predictably falls into one of two formats: interviewing someone he disagrees with, whom he immediately gets into a shouting match with and usually wins, or someone he agrees with and sits back casually smiling and letting them have the floor. Nice format Bill.

Tax credits can be generated in a number of ways on a real estate development project, historic preservation is one of them. How they are used to make money is all the same though - they are sold at auction in a bidding process ahead of the closing for the financing. That's what generates the cash back to the developer for closing on the project.

Historic tax credits were popular among developers when things were booming, because large corporations who were PROFITABLE then, were purchasing those tax credits for almost 1:1. Now, those same corporations are no longer posting large profits, therefore aren't looking to offset their tax bills, and the tax credits are selling for maybe 30 or 40 cents on the dollar. That difference is nearly impossible to make up in the Cleveland arena of real estate development. The new market tax credit program will probably be done away with but most developers won't miss it. As a program, it came with so many strings attached, developers spent nearly as much in attorney fees as they did getting the actual "free" money. Not to mention, the entire intent of new market tax credits had become so bastardized that it was being used pretty much anywhere & everywhere because the law was written so vaguely. Any discussion on redeveloping residential downtown is futile until Cleveland seriously adds thousands of jobs downtown and gas gets significantly more expensive. Only when both of those things happen, will you see people seriously consider living downtown in a large enough group that it warrants redevelopment projects.

Yeah unfortunately my mother who is retired & living in FL watches Fox news and was telling me about Obama's $2 billion trip to Asia. "Mom, it really didn't cost that much"... "But it said so right on the news..."

I don't usually turn on the tv till about 9pm and I like to get some sort of news. Regular networks don't offer anything then. CNN has Larry King on now, interviewing Mel Gibson's ex... Fox News has some sort of shout-off about Nancy Pelosi... I guess I just have to skim a little relevance from each?

I try but I just can't get into it. 10 mins have passed already and all she's done is spin Republican's movements and twist their words and comment on their comments. Not trying to get into a political debate, but this is hardly news. I guess she must get the ratings and alot of folks must like her or she wouldn't be on. Her & Olberman are both so revved up in their segments it's distracting to even listen to let alone watch especially with those ridiculous zoom in closeups on Olberman's mug. For the record I can't stand Fox news either and CNN is just plain lame.

So true!!!

I was at the opening on Friday night. It was a blast. The place was packed, probably 250 people there. Of course it's not going to be like that on any sort of regular basis, but I do think people are really excited about it and it should be a nice addition to the neighborhood. The interior is very basic with exposed brick, ductwork, concrete floors, etc. The retail is going to be very nice and I guess an outdoor patio will be built in the spring. The otherside is still in negotiations/leasing but I hear rumors of some type of brewpub potentially???