OCtoCincy

Rail is socialist!!! Because even if you're rich, you could stand next to a poor person, and that sort of equality just won't fly here in Uhmurrica! Freedom says I can drive my $80,000 Mercedes SLK next to your $3,000 used 1992 Toyota and you can't touch me. In fact, IF you try to touch my car with yours, I can sue you! I can't sue someone for bumping up against me in a crowded train. Go Freedom! - Is that the "failed experiment" you were talking about? Because I don't think enough people have realized it failed.

I could be mistaken, but I'm pretty sure what will happen is that broadway will be closed, but Eggleston between Broadway & Central Parkway will become two way. It will add a minor 1 minute inconvenience to drivers. I'm not saying I'm for it, I was originally strongly against it- now I'm a bit more moderate. Also- Can anyone explain what these two parks are? 12th and Broadway doesn't seem to have a park on Google Maps and I'm not sure what the East 12th Pocket Park is either...

She actually made it on the ballot...again? How the heck did she get her signatures? She turned in over 2500 (more than any other candidate) but only just over 500 were valid, the lowest validity of any candidate. With such horrible validity as that, it's likely she either faked 2500 and got 500 scribbly signatures right, or just stood for days and days asking anyone she saw for a signature. For perspective. Most candidates turn in 800-900 and get 500 valid. Smitherman turned in ~650 and got 500, by far, one of the best validity rates of anyone.

Can't figure out if she's for it or against it. Over the next few months, I'm sure we'll learn. She's a joke candidate, so her position doesn't really matter. Remember, she ran against the mayor in 2009 and she ran for Congress in DC in 2010 while suing the "Stolen United States of America" for $994 Trillion in reparations. http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/politics/Norton-Challenger-Seeks-994-Trillion-In-Lawsuit-105177494.html

^ The few times I've brought this up as a major concern on this forum I've been shut down by people telling me I don't understand how this works. Can someone people explain why this single issue wouldn't cripple the entire project??

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/politics/2011/09/01/paved-streets-or-streetcar-is-there-a-link/ Wow... This is silly...

Jobs & Progress are leading the pack

basically, their questions is, do you want to ban all passenger rail construction in the city limits for the next generation? YES stops the streetcar, no means it continues. I've seen lots of conservative COASTers/westsiders on FB posting about how horrible it is that the "Mallory Mafia" has made it a No vote to keep building the streetcar. I really don't get their problem. Look at the amendment- it's asking voters to ban. Yes to ban, no to not ban. Really simple. In other news- Are they going to start construction before the election! And I mean just utility work, moving manholes, etc. Have things gone out to bid? anything??? I feel like we've gone silent.

^ yes.

Oh ok. Thanks for the clarification. I of all people should know better than to take a COAST tweet as fact Understood, now if you were the REAL Cincinnati Enquirer, you certainly would take a COAST tweet as fact.

^ Ogden UT is a city of 80,000 45 minutes north of Salt Lake City. Salt Lake City has nothing to do with the Ogden Streetcar.

Updates on City Home! They're making a lot of progress!

^ Thank you!! Has there been a posting on this page about the Cincinnatians for Progress fundraiser Thursday night? I don't remember all the details.

So the private citizens pay to have the petitions counted and ensured that they are accurate? I thought the city had to ensure that the signatures weren't fraudulent? Ah, the petitions are verified by the County Board of Elections. Since these people are salaried and it's their job, it would be very hard to figure out how much one ballot measure costs. Also, remember Smitherman is actually collecting signatures for the trash fee ban, the mayoral recall & the police merger ban all at the same time all being checked by BoE employees.

BTW- Councilmembers at Streetcar event: Laure Quinlivan Roxanne Qualls Candidates at Streetcar event: Chris Seelbach Kevin Flynn And of course the Mayor & City Manager were there.

Petitions are paid for by private citizens or groups. City will only have to pay to have it on the ballot- it WOULD have been a huge cost if it was on the ballot in May, since it would have forced an entire election around just one issue- because it's on the november ballot, the only cost is adding Streetcar ballot language to ballots.

Jake is right-- I would drive by and see the big OPEN sign, but the lot would be empty and the gate half closed... I actually never went because I couldn't tell if they were ever open!! They STILL have a giant Open sign up...

Judge is considering dismissing a lawsuit brought on by W&S to stop renovation citing zoning violations.

Anyone see the YP Candidate forum last night at the University Club. Personal opinion, Seelbach & Simpson were strongest, followed by Hollan & Riveiro, then tied for last Mills, Sittenfeld & Lippert (who wasn't there.. but had Kitt Higgs his campaign manager speak for him). PG also officially came out against the streetcar.

There was a YP Candidate Forum at the University Club last night. Great event actually-- Simpson & Seelbach came across as strongest. Also PG went on record saying he no longer supports the streetcar. With a very very long wordy answer that explained he's against it because it's shorter and not the original. Simpson then responded that you have to start somewhere and it will eventually be the full route, and Seelbach followed up that the money has been designated & all federal funds would have to be returned and can't help the budget.

They will have the signatures-- According to Smitherman's FB page they have turned in ~2800 signatures that have yet to be verified and are only about 1600 short.

^ Which is why there has been no rush to do 5th and Race, But with a continued influx of residents from a good tower (places like 4th and plum & mcalpin, and other downtown apartments or condos are doing very well) i think the "slow apartment stores" and other things downtown could improve dramatically. At the same time, I agree that since the energy is in GQ and at the Banks right now, there is no rush to do 5th and Race

No more office buildings in downtown!!!! We've already got pads for future office buildings at the banks, dozens of older buildings that need renovating and a sky high (no pun intended) vacancy rate. We need more residents downtown- I think it should be a really nice condo or apartment tower that's between 20 and 25 stories. Just my personal opinion :)

Well... The Port Authority partnered with Western & Southern to do it, and the City issued $300 million in bonds to pay for the construction. So they are loosely correct...

^ ya, well in OTR 3CDC has only been acquiring empty buildings (or buildings with no residential tenants). The Fulda is Full...da. so I doubt they'll be buying it up anytime soon.