clvlndr

^I saw this, and am not totally surprised. One thing we know about Mo, he's a very intense competitor who is very thoughtful and emotional (and he wears that emotion on his sleeve). Remember, he took it personally that LeBron abandoned the team in 2010 and only since reuniting with LeBron this season, has he come to terms with it. Remember when Mo jumped up onto the scorer's table when he nailed a winning shot in that horrible season after. Even this year, Mo stated that his heart just wasn't in the balance of the preseason games; that he was bored and ready to get on with the season... So, yes, I'm not surprised by this. Unfortunately, despite his point guard skills and sweet shot/ability to score, Mo's defense makes him a liability and makes Matthew Dellavedova more attractive, particularly since Delly has improved his offensive game considerably in the off season. I also agree with the article that, if Mo can't pull out of it, buck up and accept his role, Griffin may have to consider dealing him before the deadline... But that's very unlikely (or desirable). Hopefully Mo will be a pro and accept his new role.

Actually, I do think the Rapid is still a major selling point for Cleveland. For US cities of our size, density and (sadly) Rust Belt/no-growth status, such a system as ours is a rarity (other than Pittsburgh, St. Louis and, now, Minneapolis, no other Midwest/Great Lakes city has anything close to what Cleveland has). And even the new(er) systems in Sun Belt/growth cities like Charlotte, Miami, Norfolk, VA, Houston and Phoenix (that latter 2 being MUCH larger than Greater Cleveland) are much to write home about (at least Miami's is heavy rail and they do have commuter rail which is expanding). Cleveland's airport-to-downtown ((airport) indoor-to-indoor/underground downtown office/hotel/retail connection) is still a gem and, despite what someone posted earlier, was absolutely a selling point to both the DNC and RNC, and part of the reason the RNC chose Cleveland for it's 2016 convention, esp following transit/logistical nightmares in the last RNC in Tampa (oh yeah, add Tampa-St. Pete to the list of major metros with no rapid transit at all). As for expansion of RTA's rail system; yes, it's been frustrating. But at least, per KJP's reporting, there's at least a tiny sliver hope that all or part of the Red Line's proposed extension to Euclid can be built.

RTA GM Joe Calabrese responded flatly denying the rail system is on the brink of shutdown especially highlighting the 100-year-old Blue and Green lines. As for Cleveland's lack of development, esp downtown, compared to places like Detroit and Pittsburgh, I'm not sure which Cleveland you're looking at, because development in Cleveland is everywhere esp downtown. The fact that Cleveland won the 2016 RNC, and was hotly pursued by the DNC, should tell you something.

Cavs appear to be rounding into shape, now, especially with Kyrie starting to look like Kyrie (aka "Uncle Drew") once again; he was simply ridiculous last night, esp in the 4th quarter when we ran away from Toronto. We all know the Cavs are perhaps THE deepest team in the league and conventional wisdom is we can throw any lineup out there and should be able to beat most anybody. (the fact that, during the 4th quarter of the Orlando game Saturday, we put in Mo Williams and Andy during garbage time is absurd, since both those guys could start for certain NBA clubs)... But the reality, of course, is otherwise. What seems like an embarrassment of riches actually can, and has, pose[d] problems. Blatt is going to have to settle on a rotation and he's going to have to know which players to use and which to sit, depending on unique and difficult opponents (ie: Golden State). Moving the troubled Mozgov to the bench seems like it's paying off; the big guy seems like a weight has been lifted from his shoulders and he's playing more like he did last year... Thus Blatt's really going to be under a microscope from here on because the expectations are through the roof this season. Yesterday was a rugged test and we passed it pretty convincingly. One problem, though, is we allowed way too much dribble penetration for the 1st 2.5 quarters, which can be a problem against a very difficult team like Toronto, esp if we hadn't been playing at home and the Raptor's hadn't been on the 2nd night of a back-to-back.... This difficult game plus the upcoming bizarre 6-game road trip is the next major gauntlet/measuring stick for the team. How they fare may say a lot about what we can expect in the playoffs.

^Then this will be a 3rd facility, as they are already at the old Bob Stop jazz club at around 32nd & Detroit. They will occupy considerable space in this new facility - 19K sq/ft. I didn't realize the Settlement had this large of purse. I'm glad they're not relocating out of U. Circle since the Circle is such a huge cultural resource.

^While I'm happy for Ohio City, I hate that University Circle is losing this gem institution, which counts yours truly as an alum.

^^I guess I was thinking, Cleburger, that maybe since people actually live there, they may opt to take the bus into town (and the Rapid, where I believe one of the Crocker Park buses goes), themselves, as opposed to it just serving visitors/workers from other places and that, maybe, this might make a difference. But, naaa, you're probably right, the same mindset would likely apply anyway.

Maybe I'm reading it wrong, but this particular post (and other articles I've read) indicated Brown will have the "final say" over personnel decisions, including coach, GM, etc. (whereas Alec Scheiner will have no say over the coach or GM hiring). However, I don't interpret "final say" to mean Brown will be making these determinations without input from the football people. To that extent, even though the Browns (read: Haslam) don't explicitly say it, they very well may (and I think it's likely) they will employ the kind of "collaborative process" in hiring these football people as they expressly state they will for making draft picks.... Again, I could be wrong. btw: as for Mike & Mike, don't forget (and I'm sure you haven't forgotten) that Golic is a dyed-in-wool homer who is passionate about Cleveland sports, especially the Browns, even though he does a pretty good job of masking it on the show. That's part of the reason why I think Golic is kinda cool.

WKNR was going nuts last night because Haslam named Sashi Brown as head of football operations. What's the big wup? Brown is not GM personnel man, but is in charge of handling the biz side of things. They guy was a partner at Wilmer Cutler, one of the DC power law firms, general counsel for the Jacksonville Jags before Haslam scooped him up just over a year ago. And he's still not 40; obviously Brown is light years from being a dumb guy... Brown is a cap/numbers guy. Carmen Policy was not a football guy either and was also a top lawyer. Dwight Clark was the player personnel guy... Policy was quite successful in with the Super Bowl winning 49ers before submitting himself to the curse of the Browns. KNR hosts grossly overreacted.

^Justine stated that the relocated stop has no shelter or bench, so it very may well be temporary. I hope this is the case.

... btw, kudos to RTA for running all-night Rapid service on New Year's Eve. I'm not certain this service was brought back last year, but I know it had been stopped for about a decade or more in recent times. Before it was stopped, it had been an RTA staple. It's key, worthwhile service with all the drinking going on NYE.

I don't know Crocker Park, but I do know upscale malls have traditionally treat bus riders like they're pariahs because they're seen as low-income individuals who can't afford cars. These malls often successfully relocate bus stops away from the mall building and onto the street. A decade or so ago there was a horrible case of a young mom in, IIRC, Buffalo who was struck and killed running across the street to catch a bus from a suburban mall during a snowstorm. There was a civil lawsuit and a settlement with the family if memory serves. Crocker Park is a little different as it is a lifestyle center with mixed-use, multi-unit residences so it may not be the same situation. But I wouldn't be surprised if a similar mindset is at play.

My understanding is that the original concept for the first CTS Rapid segment depended heavily on bus transfers and that automobiles and parking were not major components... But that obviously quickly changed and giant lots were built at stations in the late 1950s, especially near the ends of the line. By the time the NW and SE branches were planned in the 60s (as KJP's excellent exhibits demonstrate), it appears park 'n ride with, essentially a self-feeder system-- became the rage for CTS. Back then, though, it appears that TOD was a foreign concept. You could tell what CTS' priories were by just looking at it's stations. Stations in built up urban areas like Ohio City, Detroit-Shoreway and Slavic Village, were cheap wooden platforms with narrow stairwells... The current, soon-to-be replaced E. 79th Street station is one of the last of that breed. More elaborate stations served suburbanites, W. 117, like University Circle and Windermere which had large concrete canopy-covered bus loops and (excepting U. Circle) had large parking lots.

More sprawl. At least Drury's downtown BOE HQ-converted hotel will best this new one in Sprawlville by 19 rooms.

Yes, McDonald's has been seeing plenty of red ink lately and it seems there's been some movement toward, at least, a partial re-imaging -- it has been leaving other downtown areas in recent years, including thriving ones, like Philly's Center City, where there is 1, maybe 2 left... while Mickey-D's has exited similarly seemingly thriving locations in Center City, like 30th Street Station, Suburban Station and the Gallery Mall (which is being remade, anyway).

Love looking at these old schedules' ads. Thomas J. Unik used to have ads on lower fan-o-gram at the base of the upper deck. We used to joke about the name, because from a distance it looked like "Thomas Junk." ... Also interesting is Shaker Rapid's promo of CTS' new quick/direct route to the airport, as well as the "shortcut" to the campuses and "Upper Euclid," via the "new" E. 34 station.

Buses and I guess "special" vehicles, like cop cars. Sorry, but I don't want any of them. I was really hoping Public Square, as a giant bus depot, would become a thing of the past. As long as there are any vehicles traveling though the center of PS it can never, truly be pedestrian friendly imho.

I just hope the City comes to its senses and closes off Superior to through traffic. Having cars or buses go through there defeats the idea of creating a totally unified people-friendly public park. Even though Public Square's a construction mess now, downtown is getting along just fine without having through traffic in any direction. So if traffic can be blocked of now, why not keep it that way when the Square is finished, open and beautiful? It just feels like we're bowing to rubber-tire interests once again.

^... and most importantly, the station will improve passenger accessibility.

^Nice to see. RTA should be all smiles about the Lee-Van Aken station project. It's a high-quality project that was extremely well done. It will enhance passenger safety and comfort by light years (the crumbling concrete, shattered bubble station was bad enough, but I'm old enough to remember the old, unprotected spindly wooden stairs with those standard green Van shelters at the bottom). The new station will also enhance the streetscape of this key intersection as well, melding nicely with the beautiful old Kingsbury mixed-use building along with Shaker City Hall and the set-back-from-the-curb-by-a-football-field Moreland School-turned Shaker Library.

^ ^^^ The plot thickens. Muchas gracias for the intriguing update.

^Even stranger given the fact the $Millions spent by the state about 10 years ago to upgrade/construct the hulking Darth Vader the traffic signals at each Shaker Heights LRT grade crossing, complete with the train-triggered big red arrow pointing to the tracks signaling a train is coming. ... You wonder, if such train tripped/triggered technology was developed simply to warn drivers of oncoming trains, why did they not spend a bit more to trip the traffic signals to red-lights to stop all traffic when trains approach each grade crossing? That would surely help curb the problem. Seems like that major public-works job done a decade ago has turned out to be rather half-a$$ -- as well as ugly -- I've always felt those huge, black traffic signal pole support arms look like the tentacles of some metallic octopus. And those damn things are all over, and uglifying beautiful Shaker Heights imho.

I would imagine that right now, it is still too far away in terms of plausibility. Although, Cervenik is not running for reelection, so he really could speak his mind as much as he wants now, I would imagine. But that's the point. Such a project becomes more plausible the more politicians speak out about it. Keep in mind, RTA hasn't even chosen the Red Line as its Locally Preferred Option. If politicians in the impact area of this line, including Cleveland City councilmen, like Mike Polansek and Jeff Johnson (in upper and lower Collingwood, respectively), don't speak out then RTA can quietly opt for buses with little or no pressure. This should not be what we want.

I'm just curious, has the Euclid mayor spoken out in favor of RTA's Red Line extension proposal? If he has, I sure haven't heard him. And if not, why not? ... especially given the potential for economic, TOD development in Euclid this extension could spawn.

Very sad news. His was a great player during a great era for the Cavs. And yes, he was a really good and unassuming guy, too. R.I.P. Hot Rod...