FakeCinEnquirer

When the streetcar is finished and everyone starts to like it, will he change his tune (probably) and will his voter base stay with him? To be honest, with the streetcar, there's never going to be a time when "everybody" likes it. Just like OTR development, there are plenty of people who don't like what's happening. A majority does, but MANY people think it's a huge waste of money. There will still be people in Cincy, and especially in Hamilton County, who think the Streetcar is a huge waste of money no matter what happens along the line. They will be people who live far from downtown and work far from downtown and don't come downtown. They will dislike it no matter what, and they will love Smitherman still. he won't change his tune. He will play to the people who don't like it forever. And it's also important to note that there are major grumblings of chris smitherman running for hcc soon. I've heard it from 3 different people. This is Precisely why he's appealing to the conservative crowd on 700wlw. I think it's a huge reason he's still so vocally anti streetcar and is a huge reason for his extreme change in political beliefs He is not term limited on city council. He is technically able to serve 10 years because the 4-year terms charter amendment did not apply to those who were first elected in 2011. However it's worth noting that there are no term limits for county commissioner, so he'll pounce when he senses that the time is right. However that position does not necessarily lead to state office, and at some point he's going to mess up so big that he will be done. I mean, if just one person had video'd him going berserk in council chambers in summer 2011, right before he was elected, his career would have been finished. Local news tv recorded it. I believe channel 5. Then they buried it and never showed it for some reason

When the streetcar is finished and everyone starts to like it, will he change his tune (probably) and will his voter base stay with him? To be honest, with the streetcar, there's never going to be a time when "everybody" likes it. Just like OTR development, there are plenty of people who don't like what's happening. A majority does, but MANY people think it's a huge waste of money. There will still be people in Cincy, and especially in Hamilton County, who think the Streetcar is a huge waste of money no matter what happens along the line. They will be people who live far from downtown and work far from downtown and don't come downtown. They will dislike it no matter what, and they will love Smitherman still. he won't change his tune. He will play to the people who don't like it forever. And it's also important to note that there are major grumblings of chris smitherman running for hcc soon. I've heard it from 3 different people. This is Precisely why he's appealing to the conservative crowd on 700wlw. I think it's a huge reason he's still so vocally anti streetcar and is a huge reason for his extreme change in political beliefs

When the streetcar is finished and everyone starts to like it, will he change his tune (probably) and will his voter base stay with him? I actually went back and looked at his election history, but the only thing I really concluded is that total votes cast for everybody has just been falling as the population shrinks in the city. For instance, Amy Murray got on council this time with a number of votes that would put her in 18th place 20 years ago. I think with that kind of demographic volatility from election to election, it's kind of hard to say what's going to happen to a candidate in the future. Smitherman was publicly against Washington park and the fountain square renovation using the exact same arguments as the streetcar. "Bankruptcy", "we don't have the money", "gentrification", "takes away public services", "less cops", etc. He's managed to completely switch voter support as well

Chris Smitherman said that SORTA will cut bus routes to pay for the operation of the streetcar http://www.700wlw.com/media/podcast-big-one-weekends-weekends/lisa-wells-82314-25202826/

Chris smitherman was on 700wlw.again with lisa well railing against the streetcar again. The guy is literally going off the rails He hit his 100th appearance on 700wlw talking about the streetcar mark well over a year ago.factor in 55krc and I bet he's over 150

"Just think, had we not spent money on the streetcar, we would have a new music hall, union terminal, Brent spence bridge, mlk interchange, every pothole filled, more cops, more firefighters, and fort Washington way capped"

Hopefully, they'll at least mention the increased foot traffic following construction, but I doubt it. "Construction causes inconviences". That's right up there with "dog bites man". Nice work, channel 12. They interviewed a disgruntled business owner

You are probably right but Never say never. This issue has brought out some downright weird scenarios. I remember people saying that a public streetcar vote would never happen for a second time. 'This is one thing we've said from the beginning...I don't know if it helps air quality bc its not taking people from where they live to where they work' Amy Murray 'PG has laid low on all of the streetcar...He was talking about a tif district but now He hasn't been involved in that at all' Amy Murray 'Other ppl are already talking about phase 2...were talking another 150-200million dollars in operating costs' Amy Murray http://www.700wlw.com/media/podcast-bill-cunningham-bill_cunningham/kenwood-purge-ferguson-81914-25183545/

Smitherman is also demanding another vote from council on the streetcar.

Chris Smitherman just revealed the game plan for the opponents here: http://www.55krc.com/media/podcast-brian-thomas-morning-show-55krcMornings/55krc-morning-show-25185661/ He indicated that he is preparing to put the streetcar on the ballot again if the project moves one penny over budget...He's already notified cranley, murray and winburn. So I would expect any and every trick to drive costs up(Delay or otherwise) Smitherman said if the issue goes to ballot again, construction would cease until election day He also claimed operation costs could be as high as 10m/year. Said supporters need to get their heads out of the sand

Derek bauman will be on 700wlw tomorrow to talk operations and all the economic development along the streetcar route at 1105

What do you mean? He's been everywhere with kincaid.

Smitherman will literally say and do anything to advance his political career. He's gone from one extreme politically to the other in less than a decade. I've never seen anything like it. Smitherman has said in the past that if they don't find the operating money, they will just park the streetcar and never run it

Chris Smitherman said a vote to shut down the streetcar from council could happen again soon http://www.700wlw.com/articles/local-news-119585/millions-in-federal-funding-unlikely-to-12683574/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

A low voter turnout in a hcc election would guarantee a.monzel win. As we saw in cincinnati and other elections that's how tea partiers and conservative dems get elected. Tarbell has a shot if cincinnatians show up and moderate hc voters are mad about the museum vote, but will they actually show up and vote? I doubt it. The tea partiers and ultra conservatives Will regardless

where? Radio? Twitter

Their game plan is so simple and so predictable. I'm still shocked people take them seriously in this city after they've been proven wrong so many times & exposed as lying for political gain Smitherman, Cranley, Murray, AM Radio, COAST.

The first crack in the Smitherman/Cranley alliance? Doubt it. Those two are practically inseparable.

Smitherman just endorsed tea party darling chris monzel in the hamilton county commissioner race

Cincinnati streetcar did not receive the 5 million dollar grant it applied for. Expect the usual wave of negativity/anger from the same characters. Expect cranley, smitherman and murray on various am radio outlets to speak to the echo chamber

The politics is not favorable at the moment We currently have 5 votes to plan for the uptown phase. We need 6. Cranley is going to veto until the sun comes In favor of Phase 2 extension planning/construction Mann Simpson Young Sittenfeld Seelbach Against: Flynn Murray Winburn Smitherman Cranley(Veto) Never going to happen unless UC(Santa Ono) &/or the big time Uptown businesses step up. That's the only hope we have of putting the pressure on cranley/black & planning an uptown extension Flynn was/is our best shot to turn on council but he's said he wants to see how phase 1 does before even thinking about phase 2. Lets hope Winburn wins his senate seat & a streetcar supporter wins council's open seat in 2015

Cranley and his aides are still ragging against the streetcar. Seems bizarre city employees are rooting for it to fail to save political face.

During the last two Presidential election cycles, the Republican primary race has been a extremist d***-measuring contest. Kasich will be competing against folks with credentials such as not believing in Evolution, still opposing gay rights, and that the United States should still be in Iraq...and Republicans voters that eat this stuff up. His first step is to win their approval and it's not going to come from being a moderate. In fact, that may even be held against him by some of his opponents. He has no incentive to showcase his supposed moderate bona fides in the months leading up to the Presidential race. Kasich has zero chance of winning the GOP nomination in 2016, even with Ohio playing host to the RNC. Maybe he could have done so two or three cycles ago ago, but he's far too moderate, and the ascendant Tea Partiers steering the GOP want someone as foaming-at-the-mouth bats*** Reactionary crazy and conspiracy-driven as they are. They want someone much more like Ted Cruz or Sarah Palin. Mitt Romney tried to emulate them, but he couldn't pass it off. I can't see Kasich faring any better because he doesn't even try to be the chameleon the way Romney does. I don't know...if the field is bachmann, santorum, paul, carson, perry...he won't win in the deep south but neither did Romney in 2012. I would have never thought a mormon would be nominated last election I never thought Obama would beat Hillary... You never know.

I would venture to guess that the reason you haven't heard much about it is that they are limiting the time for the COAST/Smitherman types from f*cking it up with ballot initiatives

I'm no kasich fan by any means but this does not look good Even if nothing happened like Fitzgerald said(which I doubt), it still looks bad. I'm surprised Kasich leaked this out there now & not closer to the election. But still, Smart political move by Kasich and the GOP. Dirty, yes. But now no one is talking about kasich and his record