clvlndr

A decade or so ago Donovan was stricken seriously with cancer and many, if not most people, thought he was a goner. But he beat it and here he is still in the thick of Cleveland sports and life...very cool.

Very cool. I just wonder who was doing the mentioning and if the person(s) have real power to influence more TOD. ...and did the mayor buy in?

Correct me if im wrong, but was the defense not kicking @$$ in the second half of that game? browns were down huge early...didnt they dominate the second half? Hard to see them not cashing that in if they tied it Actually no. Bernie was heroic in bringing the team back but each tie he did, the D would give up another TD -- don't forget The Fumble was just one year after the Drive so the defense was essentially the same jokers that allowed Elway to drive the length of the field with less than 2 minutes left to score the tying TD whereby we then lost on the controversial FG in overtime. The main difference is that, in the offseason, safety Don Rodgers ODed on coke and died, sadly.

I agree with mrnyc, RR 88 was much worse. We had the win within our grasp. Rutigliano blew it by not kicking the short FG despite Cocroft's issue with wind. Keep in mind that, even if Byner wasn't stripped for that fumble, the best we could have done on that last second drive was tie Denver, and we likely would have ended up losing in OT anyway because our defense was a total sieve that afternoon. Both RR 88 and the Drive were much worse imho... But the cherry on top of Cleveland sports disasters has to be the Mesa Meltdown. Nothing else comes close.

Not many Greeks left in Detroit's "Greektown". Only the restaurants and, then, not all of them.

Outstanding. But we may have to drop the "Italy" from the name if old line LIers continue to feel they are losing their little enclave.

I'm skeptical of Skylift, but supporters should be excited because the PD now clearly backs the project and now is publishing a bunch of articles highlighting both Stahl and the project... For context, a decade or so ago, Cleveland was fighting for funding to rebuild the Inner Belt bridge and somebody threw in the idea of reviving a watered down version Albert Porter's Clark Freeway from the 1960s, calling it the "Opportunity Corridor." The PD suddenly started pushing the project with a barrage of positive articles and, as they say, the rest is history.

^Good points. I've noticed that Republican congressmen in the Northeast Corridor, particularly around big cities like Philadelphia, tend to be pro-rail... not as strong as a pro-rail Democrat, but still pro-rail, nonetheless; unlike those rail-hating crazies in the South and the Midwest farmlands - including Ohio!

The Cavs are like the Tortoise and the Warriors, the Hare. Last year they ran up the highest regular win total ever and the media were fawning all over them esp Steph... but the Cavs, of course, had the last laugh... I could see that happening again, given the presence of LeBron and the way he and the team are clicking right now, although it would be foolhardy to pick against GSW with Durant... ... I still would feel more comfortable if Lue was working RJ back into the lineup. I see a potential nightmare trying to deal with both Green and Durant. Love played some great spot D in Game 7, but I still feel he lacks the foot speed to keep up with those guys. LeBron, Tristan and maybe Shumpert will be called up, but I still like Jefferson given his size and (still) mobility on D... It'll be interesting if, in fact, there is a rematch of these 2 titanic teams.

^The Republican-controlled Congress increasing funding for transit and Amtrak!? How the heck did that happen? Certainly AAO's work on Bob Gibbs likely had an effect but I'm still shocked, especially with that liberty or freedom caucus (or whatever they're called) pushing that nutty, so-called health care alternative plan which, hopefully, is DOA with the Senate. A 14.5% increase for Amtrak is nice but still not enough... but at least it's trending in the right (meaning correct) direction.

^Wow, what a depressing assessment. I realize the massive housing losses in East Cleveland near the last 2 station stops, but that's only one small corner of the rail network. I thought housing areas at/near rail stations were among the more stable, even expanding, in Cleveland and close-in suburbs... Shaker Sq, UC-Uptown/Little Italy (explosive), Ohio City, Shaker Heights, lower Cleve Hts, Beachwood, Kamms Corner, Det-Shoreway, TC-Gateway, Birdtown, FEB, etc It just seem strange that while old industrial, bus-only/car-oriented cities like Detroit, KC, Milwaukee, Cincy, etc are giddy over their brand new 1 or 2 mile streetcar loops trying to catch up with more progressive mass transit cities, many in Cleveland seem indifferent to and ready to give up on its substantial (actual) rail rapid transit system. It's things like this where the 'Only in Cleveland' barb applies.

^I hear you KJP and wish we could expand the rail lines to be more better reach where the population is and where it wants to go... But I'm also a realist. As long as we have Joe Calabrese as RTA GM and as well as we have the current political mindset -- not just in Columbus but at E. 6th and Lakeside -- the idea of rail transit growth here is a pipe dream. But we can, and must fight against forces, like Calabrese, who may try and shrink what we've got behind the excuse of poor budgets. Despite the lack of operating expenses from the State coupled with higher fuel costs and shrinking Cuyahoga County sales tax revenue, the mentality of Calabrese makes things that much worse. So realistically rather than fight for rail expansion to where people are/want to go, I just want to maintain what we have and keep growing people and jobs where the rail lines already are... and we're seeing some progress. The TOD growth in Little Italy and (hopefully) continued growth at FEB is encouraging. And we can't forget the core TOD growth around Tower City like Beacon, and maybe nuCLEus and Weston (including the Public Square people-friendly makeover). The fact that core rail stations at TC and Ohio City are loaded with venues where people want to frequent (and where many are open to using rail transit to get to) is moving things in the right direction... I'm thinking, also, that multi-unit residential & retail growth on the Lakefront around/behind Browns (excuse me),... First Energy Stadium will get some more riders on the WFL even though the WFL doesn't directly go on the north side of the Shoreway. I think if the North Coast Transportation Center gets built and, perhaps, if that discount shopping complex (the term of art is escaped me at the moment) gets built in the Muny parking lot, these could also boost riding. It's beyond hope at this point of encouraging Calabrese to do anything. We need, however, to get smart-minded leaders, like Chris Ronayne to act .... it was his leadership of UCI that not only encouraged the amazing Uptown + spin-off development, like Centric which are sturdy TODs, he also pushed for the Rapid station to be relocated to Little Italy. To hear Ronayne talk you quickly access that he understands what it takes to have a positive urban environment and experience... Does anybody believe any of this would have been pushed by Calabrese? If so, you're delusional. We've got to target such influential individuals who 'get it' like Ronayne, Ari Maron and Adam Fishman. These people, and a few others, understand TOD and the value of mass transit. It still amazes me that the transit chief, himself, doesn't.

We fell asleep in the late 3rd, early 4th and nearly blew a game we were clearly in the driver's seat with a 16-18 point lead. We started that infamous stop n' pop offense and then started turning the ball over like it was going out of style; or as Tyronn Lue says: we started messing with the game. But fortunately Kyrie woke up and had one of those 4th quarters. LeBron was his usual great self ... sans the turnovers, and Korver was in a zone like we haven't seen as a Cavalier except maybe one hot regular season game. I don't want to look too far ahead, and I'm still believing that Washington will be our next opponent. But it sure seems like we're on a collision course with the Warriors. My only concern with that is that, with Jefferson now effectively out of our rotation, one of our best Warriors defenders in last year's finals may not be available ... unless Lue juggles things, but then an older RJ will be somewhat out of playing shape. We obviously need some big defenders with both Green and Durant to deal with this year... Oh well, we'll cross that bridge... Btw, I'm hoping Deron Williams wasn't seriously injured on that hard smash to his ribcage. Any word on that?

Yay Motown!! :yap: :yap: :clap: :clap:

^Correct.

Jeff Johnson is a former prisoner. The Ohio Supreme Court fully restored his law license, so calling him a felon misses the mark.

Brandon is a really, really good guy and great for the community, esp Shaker Square. His Edwins baby should be a role model for any entrepreneur looking to give offenders a 2nd chance to make useful, productive citizens of themselves. And his rehab of south Shaker Square buildings, esp along the now decrepit Buckeye corridor is also a big plus. Frank Jackson, or any of the mayoral candidates, would be smart to play up Brandon to the hilt.

Those figures seem unbelievable. How are they able to estimate ridership on trolleys when they're free and there's nothing counting the passengers boarding? Absolutely. Hell I don't see how RTA is counting or even estimating Red Line ridership accurately. I'm noticing lots of people making non-downtown, short hop trips on the West Side especially -- which is a good thing; more like traditional rapid transit. Crowds seem to have grown considerably in the last few years. I have no idea how RTA is counting this. RTA doesn't even post daily ridership numbers.

I hear you R&Rer; this just re-ignites my anger at the late Albert S. Porter who nixed our subway which would have circulated downtown... Don't get me wrong; I LOVE the Trolleys. They are fun to ride, visually interesting, have well-posted routes and the fact that they are free means not having to fumble for fares even if just a few coins. The public really likes them and keeps many out of cars, and that's a great thing... And yes the Trolley is preferable ... once you're downtown. I just look at the Waterfront Line as a wasted asset that the community, at one time, really wanted. And the fact it provides direct service from the southeast side, and an easy TC connection for Red Line passengers, seems like the WFL should be a viable option to more people... But as yet it is not ... ... and it's easy to see why... As I rode the west Red Line to the airport on a weekday a few weeks ago, I looked on upon the Flats as the train sped along the Cuyahoga viaduct; and saw a sea of parked cars, everywhere -- as far as the eye could see. While it's great to see all the new development down there, it's obvious the Flats is a, if not THE, major source of cheap and/or free parking for downtown workers. I'm hoping that with more development -- like say Phase III of FEB--this surface parking will disappear and some may be forced to take rail ... or something not involving their private vehicle. Toronto has a Harborfront Line which is not unlike our WFL. It's a electric trolley line that rides in streets along Toronto's waterfront then dives into a short tunnel where it terminates at the Union Station subway stop allowing transfers to subway trains. Though, unlike our WFL it does not provide through service like ours does over the Blue and Green lines (and the terrain is flat unlike our steep hillside in/out of the Flats), it is very well patronized. Yes Toronto has much more waterfront residential development that does Cleveland, and maybe when and if we can get even half their waterfront density (even a quarter) maybe, ... maybe people will stop thumbing their noses at WFL trains.

In the 1980s when the Flats was really coming into its own as a restaurant/entertainment district, people were crying for a mass transit solution to all the thick traffic jamming the narrow Flats roads. RTA started the Flats Flyer, small van-like buses that ran from Flats to Public Square where people could ... drum roll please: connect to the Rapid. Around this time the idea of a 'Rapid to the Flats' became popular and developer Jeff Jacobs even proposed RTA running a diesel trolley between the Flats and Terminal Tower to, again, connect with the Rapid... Then, of course, the Rapid was actually extended to, and through, the east bank of the Flats and, on crowded weekends in the late 1990s, Flats revelers lined up to ride the WFL into the Flats, many transferring from the West Side Red Line to the WFL... Then, in the early 2000s, the Flats died but is now being reborn in a big way and, somehow, the WFL has become, esp in the minds of many UOers, useless; a foolish expense that nobody uses. Use Trolleys because they are free!! ... and go to Playhouse Square, where everybody wants to go, apparently. Kind of like those folks who think discontinuing the east Red Line and running BRTs over the now a-bulding Opportunity Corridor freeway makes perfect sense. Joe Calabrese loves you... Only in Cleveland.

That's arguing against yourself. Most non-downtown residents going to the Flats come downtown and go straight to the Flats ... I don't know a ton of people who go to Playhouse Square in order to go to the Flats. Most people who hang out downtown on weekends tend to go to the Flats, E. 4th/Prospect and now E. 9th, the WHD and, often, Ohio City. Most of those areas are easily served by the Rapid. If you are at the Warehouse District, sure its easy to walk down the hill... for most of us, anyway. For many it, in turn, is a hassle to walk back up that Hill. But the key is getting downtown and unless you have magical powers and snap your fingers to suddenly appear downtown (preferably Playhouse Sq I guess), or you drive downtown like rockandroller, mass transit, especially the Rapid, would seem a viable alternative. And again I want to see how convenient the trolley is when its stuck in thick auto traffic on W. 10th or Main Ave or Old River Rd during one of those peak Flats summer weekend evenings, like Flats Friday's. The Rapid on private ROW does not get stuck in such traffic.

Probably not... I've also wondered: why doesn't Fairmount and the other FEB businesses subsidize the WFL at least expanded weekend service? On ballance it's probably a drop in the bucket and would likely increase FEB patronage. Adam Fishman was very outspoken in supporting expanded WFL service when Joe C proposed his cutbacks last year. RTA ?... reach out to get private/corporate financing of the Rapid!? Did I just imply Joe Calabrese would ever do anything to support rail transit in this town? I must have either been drinking or delusional, and it wasn't the former.

Actually, you took the Trolley from Playhouse Square to the Warehouse District (not the Flats) where your parents struggled down the hill to get to FEB... Just sayin'.

Probably not... I've also wondered: why doesn't Fairmount and the other FEB businesses subsidize the WFL at least expanded weekend service? On ballance it's probably a drop in the bucket and would likely increase FEB patronage. Adam Fishman was very outspoken in supporting expanded WFL service when Joe C proposed his cutbacks last year.

Where in the downtown core can you park free on weekends, esp if there's an Indians, Cavs game (or both in the case of 3 Saturdays ago)? We know rockandroller you dislike the Rapid, but what about the many others who are open to it? Shouldn't the goal in a major city be to reduce driving and encourage transit? And why should RTA simply ignore an existing rail line that places commutes within steps of FEB venues only to duplicate it with buses, free or otherwise, when the buses are inferior in performance (on the crowded, hilly and narrow Flats streets) to the existing Rapid and when the goal in shutting down the Waterfront Line after 7p was supposedly to SAVE MONEY and these buses, in terms of fuel and overtime, is likely to cost just as much, if not more, than the Rapid? ...