natininja

Riiiight, it was from the airport sale. How could I forget? Probably because this saga is so ridiculous and has so many twists. Anyone know any news about the COAST lawsuit against the airport sale?

Where did you get these numbers?

So the city lost the negotiations with Duke? Where is this money going to come from? I can see a major outcry if it's from an even somewhat controversial source. I think they passed bonds with the expectation of using casino revenue, with the hopes that eventually it will be decided that Duke must pay for the relocation. But it is my understanding that Duke has said they will not move anything, even with city money, until the situation is settled in court. So that's why I was wondering if they were just going to build. Because I don't see how anyone will be able to move anything without Duke's authorization, even if someone other than Duke is footing the bill.

Wouldn't it be great if that type of business philosophy came back and what Wall Street thought had less value? Matter of fact that might just be some of those underlining structural economic issues. Also exemplified in micro-trading, versus Buffett-style investment of taking stock in good ideas. That technology enables micro-trading, I think, is not a coincidence. Technological advancement has given us all short attention spans and a craving for instant gratification.

Very nice story! (I mean your personal story, though the news story is cool, too.) Welcome to UrbanOhio, and good luck! Maybe you can look south for some inspiration, as there is a lot going on in Cincinnati at the moment. You are probably aware. Great to hear Middletown is getting some well-deserved love! :)

After the past week, I was definitely ready to see him go. Honestly, if it weren't for a few bad coaching moves, UC would be in the Sugar Bowl. Attempting to ice the kicker at the end of the Louisville game was idiotic. As was sticking with Munchie Legeaux for so long before switching to Brendon Kay. Point being, he might be a good coach, but he's not great. UC can do a lot better.

Hope those damned construction contacts are signed by now. I guess the plan is to just start building over Duke's utilities, similar to MSD's?

I don't think this is inherently a bad idea, as a private company can streamline the funding process for various upgrades, or do any number of things more efficiently. But the devil here is in the details, and the city could get totally screwed if they don't do all their homework. See Chicago. I think they are off to a bad start with the capping of price increases, because I would like to see Shoup-style market pricing implemented. Let the private company bankroll the upgrade to smart parking meters, and get the system all set up. And don't put an absurdly long time period on the lease. 15-20 years max.

In the comment section on this article, some guy linked to a NKY Tea Party page which opposes user fees (tolls) for the bridge: http://nky.cincinnati.com/article/AB/20121204/BIZ/312040140/Governors-uniting-bridge "It is estimated 63-65 percent of the daily commuters who use the bridge are from Northern Kentucky; therefore a disproportionate burden of the tolls would fall on the residents of Kentucky who use the bridge." Clearly, the TP is against hand-outs unless they are the recipients. When they have to pay for something in direct proportion to the amount they use it, the payment is "disproportionate". Kasich, Beshear uniting for Brent Spence 2:31 AM, Dec 5, 2012 Written by: Jason Williams The Ohio and Kentucky governors are scheduled to publicly sign an agreement next week intended to demonstrate their shared determination to replace the Brent Spence Bridge. Ohio Gov. John Kasich and Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear plan to officially agree during a joint appearance in Covington on Dec. 12 on a study that will map out how to pay for the $2.5 billion project, The Enquirer has learned. The $4 million study – conducted by a leading toll-project firm – is expected to conclude that tolls will need to be the centerpiece of a finance plan. Kasich and Beshear both have said the bridge probably will not get built without tolls. Read more

^ Looks like it's still down to me. And up for sale.

Powerful.

^ Why would just the downtown residents vote? Or did the whole city vote? In which case, we all want to know the city-wide results.

Looks like there is real work going on:

I would just think it would be a computer vision nightmare, with all the possible plates (constantly changing) as well as frames and things which alter their appearance a bit. Maybe they have a person whose job it is to look at all the plate pictures and ascertain the state, but that would require a lot of labor for a bridge which sees over a hundred thousand cars per day. Maybe it's just not as tough a problem as I imagine it to be, with the rudimentary knowledge I have of computer vision.

For real? That seems like it would indeed be a problem with out of state plates. Are you joking?

There would be traditional toll booths for them beside the express lanes. Our local infrastructure should be for our benefit, first and foremost. Their time wasted subsidizes the safety and maintenance of our bridge (which they still get to use).

^ It looks like the cumulative distribution function of a bell curve.

Wonder if Ludacris would like to have it said he looks just like the kid from Boondocks, lol. Nice Walgreen's.

^ <Enter Henry George>

There has been a significant upgrade to the design on this project: Read more and see a construction photo: http://victorianantiquitiesanddesign.blogspot.com/2012/12/overlook-project-design-revisions-mr.html

^ I basically agree with you. Though I would say tolls should be put in for the current bridge. Then in several years, if a new bridge is still needed, there will be some money in the pot to start off. Modern toll booths do not need to slow people down, since regular commuters can get EZ Pass transmitters which collect their toll as they ride through express toll lanes at regular speed.

Apparently, for some, happiness is based on economic disaster. Or at least reading articles about it!

Moeller won state.

Wonder how he feels about the parking privatization.

Yeah, he's pretty amazing. LOL. I can see why they would want to get rid of him, though. He did some pretty crazy stuff like smoke drugs on the air and get his..err.."red wings".