OCtoCincy

Regardless, I still don't see how this benefits the city. We're spending $8 million to make $4 million. Again, what am I missing? The CITY is spending $2.4 million over 7 years to make 4.4 million over 10 years, plus additional revenue for having 500 new bodies working, parking & spending downtown. Also, downtown vacancy rates drop. The City gets to say another Fortune 500 company is located in downtown, etc. The state is paying $5 million.

Moves like this are good for the City, but do nothing for the region. I'd rather have a company get pulled from Minneapolis, Indy or Salt Lake City than simply hop across the river. Those are the moves that have long term impacts to the region.

http://www.kypost.com/dpps/news/region_central_cincinnati/downtown/omnicare-moving-from-covington-to-cincinnati_6747283 http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2011/09/19/general-health-care-us-omnicare-cincinnati_8688566.html http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2011/09/19/omnicare-will-move-to-cincinnati.html http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/morning_call/2011/09/omnicare-bringing-hq-back-to-ohio-from.html http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20110919/BIZ01/309190041/ The Business Courier article you cited states rumored offers from 10 days before the announcement. The WLWT is simply mistaken. The offer was $8 million in tax incentives, NOT $30 million.

Can you site that? I can't find those numbers anywhere and the article said $8 million. "Enticing Omnicare to move is more than $8 million in tax breaks from Ohio and Cincinnati." Where is $30 million written??

I have no idea where you got the $30 million number.... "Omnicare will receive job creation tax credits from Ohio worth $6 million over seven years. It will receive an income tax break from Cincinnati worth $2.4 million over seven years." That's the total package.

I've also heard lots of talk about the law school being demolished as the next major project on campus.

What I meant was, a larger portion of Casino revenue will probably go to the streetcar, than the caps, since no one wants to cut police and fire, etc. to fund the streetcar and the caps seem like a pie in the sky dream that only affect a very small number of people (perception). I think the most likely option of getting caps started (to be planned, let alone built) is the Jobs Act or other federal funds. The Banks will feel less like an island when blocks 3 and 4 open (3-4 years away) and that will almost certainly happen BEFORE the caps are built.

^ These incentives to get businesses have been going on for decades and decades. In the 80's incentives are how we even GOT Chiquita in the first place, AND how Covington got Omnicare. This is nothing new, and KY is not getting Chiquita.

Um.... Omnicare is 600 jobs moving to Cincinnati (300+ from KY, 250+ from West Chester). Plus, Omnicare ALSO did a national search to consider leaving. They're both very important, this was still a good thing. The Omnicare move is GREAT for the City and state, but not a big deal for the region. I agree that Chiquita is important, but if their number one problem is the airport, that's not going to change in the short term.

Good!!! They needed more tenants signed on before they could get enough financing to start. I would be surprised if they even make a Fall 2013 deadline at this point.

^ ya, it was about 20% of the money? And that was based at the original $20 million a year estimate. Since councils vote, the estimate has been revised to "Between $12.5 and $16 Million" due to "seat" cuts that the casino is planning (opening with less tables/slots). So conservatively $13 million for the first few years. So even if they KEPT the ~20% for caps, it went from $4 million a year to about $2.6 million. And with police and fire jobs on the line and no one wanting the streetcar to cut into anything, I doubt that will stay in the budget!

BTW- Omnicare's move adds ANOTHER Fortune 500 company to the streetcar route.

^ Omnicare is crossing the river!

^ There is no timeline and there is no funding anywhere for it. Unless they get some in the presidents Jobs Act, then those highway caps will be the last part of the entire banks project.

Wait-- Are you saying someone who likes cars can't own a spa franchise???

Very diner like...

I don't know their official stance on Issue 48- and Smitherman made the "I won't fire a single police officer" pledge along with all other FOP endorsed candidates. That's good enough for them!

He has been endorsed by FOP, and FOP is officially against the streetcar.

^ sorry- Jacqueline Allen is a candidate who is running, but I meant Kathy Atkinson, another candidate who supports the streetcar. Neither of those women have a chance at winning, but I didn't want to be the one to decide who you should contribute to by leaving out any streetcar supporters.

BTW- Charlotte has a great light rail line, of which the downtown portion rides along the street.

This is why I've been saying it's CRUCIAL to donate to candidates who support the streetcar! Several people on this forum keep saying it's done, nothing to worry about from the council side- Please, TODAY consider a $25 donation to either Cincinnatians for Progress regarding the No on 48 campaign, or to a pro-Streetcar candidate since it's crucial we elect more of them, not just keep the 4 we already have! Keep: Quinlivan Qualls Thomas Wendell Elect: Simpson Seelbach Flynn Riveiro Hollan Atkinson Please contribute $10 or $25 to any of these people. OR volunteer for them, or something. The streetcar issue can still be killed by council if 1 more conservative gets on after Nov. 8.

THIS JUST IN: <b>New Conservative Attack: Rail Raises Property Taxes!</b> IDIOTSVILLE - Local conservatives note that the rise in housing values for homes along rail lines also leads to higher property taxes. "Here in Idiotsville, we pride our selves on our low taxes. These socialists have used rail as an excuse to bring in more tax revenue by tricking people with higher property values" said local conservative leaders Ima Fuhl. See more on Page 12/

Ya-- eighth and state, you're entire argument failed. All you've proved, is that before a rail plan can be implemented, a city owned right of way must be dedicated for public use and, ta-da then it would be banned by this amendment.

Ya, very strange- They haven't even started grading, or clearing the site, etc. even the most BASIC beginnings of construction haven't started.

I'm pretty sure he's talking about the Highway vs. rail experiment. Most American Cities have chosen highway over rail while european cities have chosen rail. That really is the simplest argument. Anti-streetcar/rail people say there is no need for "expensive" rail because everyone can drive in Cincinnati and it's cheap- They ignore the massive expenses Cincinnati government has spent on Parking structures, subsidized parking, etc. The Streetcar is the first, small step towards reversing that trend and creating a mixed-tranist network in our City. He wasn't saying Cincinnati is a failed city-- but that the model of highway only with minimal transit is a failed experiment.