FakeCinEnquirer

At this point, I wouldn't be surprised if its Chris Finney as well. The guy is seemingly everywhere suing everyone. Herpes thinks he flares up too much

That's a personal favorite of mine. It shows up in the comments frequently. Another variation is the "Mark Mallory Trolley Folly Communist Marxist Crime Train CHOO CHOO!! Boondoggle to Nowhere" My favorite anti-streetcar phrase was "Anarchist socialist marxist trolley folly to nowhere sacreligious crime train boondoggle" 'Best' worst argument I've heard for voting yes is "God does not like rail and He will punish us all if we don't obey His Will"

Final stretch guys... This is my opinion of COAST's gameplan from here on out. Its quite simple and obviously Mark Miller has a lot of time on his hands since he is one of the few that can actually circumnavigate the web. 1) They will flood the Enquirer articles with comments. Dozens of fake names, fake profiles, and others have been created since the Enquirers endorsements. For example, 'MiddleClassGuy' is Mark Miller himself. Any article you see that name pop up, you will see 5-6 others that magically also pop up (Like every other article MCG posts in). These same names mysteriously pop up in every article MCG posts in. (Bugsmom is an example) 2) Expect non stop bombardment on 700wlw. This tactic worked tremendously to even get the issue on the ballot. They were something like 6k away at the final week and a non stop bashing/interviews on 700 helped push them over the edge. Darryl Parks called everyone who didn't support issue 48 "dumbasses" recently. Doc Thompson has allowed every 48 supporter on. They've created signs to put over the streetcar signs. I would expect them to get even dirtier. I don't know what Cunningham will do but he's in a bind since he came out strong against the issue in 2009. How would it look if he didn't come out against an even more restrictive issue? 3) Twitter. Nothing New here. The COAST twitter feed has been exploding now to about 20-30 tweets a day about streetcars from toronto. What he does is RT someone from Toronto complaining on a streetcar and add some childish remark. It really is incredible how much time this guy has on his hands 4) Letters to the Enquirer. We've seen it since sunday. "It only bans the streetcar" , "You fooled me once city commissioner with the language", etc. These are all direct COAST talking points and I would be willing to bet money that these characters, when researched, do not exist and were also created by a certain COAST member(s). They are desperate at this point. They certainly aren't confident. The more I hear and see them yell "Rail is communism" or "streetcar will destroy cincy" or any of the 'trolly folly crime train choo choo boondoggle' phrases, the more confident I feel. Now is the time to finish strong

Darryl Parks on 700wlw just called everyone who doesn't support issue 48 'dumbasses' and he just called everyone who supports the streetcar 'dumbasses' (10 o'clock hour) Dusty Rhodes on with him now

My favorite line was: "Issue 48 is a bad, bad, bad idea" EDIT: I will bet money that a member of COAST (probably Chris Finney) OR Chris Smitherman are on 700wlw tomorrow during Doc Thompson, Bill Cunningham, or both's time slot.

Don't worry Nati, Its coming. Whether its today, sat, or sunday, the Enquirer election piece is not going to be kind to COAST or Smitherman. Also CityBeat released an article yesterday ripping Smitherman http://www.citybeat.com/cincinnati/blog-2573-smithermans_strange_assertions.html Enquirer released an article talking about Issue 48 finances http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20111027/NEWS01/110280352/Streetcar-proponents-far-outspending-foes?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE

Mark Miller of COAST is whining about the Enquirer left and right on twitter. I assume he knows what John knows Enquirer coming out strong against issues 47 and 48 and endorsing very few/if any of COAST's puppets GOCOAST COAST And we can't wait until @Enquirer bashes Issues 47 & 48, but they offer no solutions to derailing Streetcar they know is a disaster as well. GOCOAST COAST @Enquirer 's predictable Council endorsements due soon. Tell us to re-elect folks making problems, and then complain about same problems GOCOAST COAST We wonder if @Enquirer really wants to sell papers or not. Best stories are either not covered or or on bottom of Pg. C-5. It's a yawner! Karma is great sometimes. Jake called this one perfectly. The enquirer fanned the flames for revenue, didn't ask the proper questions purposefully to keep citizens in the dark, and then ultimately sided with rationality over entertainment With gems like this, I can't imagine why no one takes COAST seriously: GoCOAST Witches prefer streetcars to brooms cuz they're more evil. RT@vanessalioness: I think streetcar driver thought I was a witch #witchhappens

Chris Smitherman now blatantly lying to get votes. From his FB wall: "‎550 AM had a great debate on the Streetcar this AM. The host was Brian. If you get a chance listen to the POD cast. I can not call the show because I am a candidate for Cincinnati City Council. However, Attorney Chris Finney called and did a great job! Remember Issue 48 DOES not STOP light rail but it does force City Council to ask the citizens permission before spending $144 Million. City Council does not want to ask the people permission. VOTE YES on 48 to STOP the Streetcar. Politics 101."

I've heard rumblings as well that this will be the case. I honestly dont know what will happen with this election in regards to Issue 48 passing or failing. I don't know if the constant bombardment of the Enquirer and 700wlw have done serious damage. I don't know if people are voting emotionally. I don't know what the FOP turnout will be. Does Chris Smitherman have everyone hoodwinked? Hopefully people take a step back from the soundbytes and "Trolly folly" slogans to look at the issue objectively. So far this year, Ive had a guy yell at me on the elevator "Kill the trolly folly boondoggle to nowhere!". I've had a cop say 'The streetcar is taking money from us'. We've all collectively seen Chris Smitherman restrained from attacking a woman in City Hall, Chris Smithermans campaign throwing citybeat articles away, COAST members putting bullet hole stickers on the streetcar signs, 700wlw putting advertisements over the streetcar signs, etc. The big media in this town refuses to call them out. Now, the misinformation campaign has been and continues to be in full force. How will it effect the vote? I guess we'll find out.

Just heard Tom Luken go "Issue 48 is...an issue"

Good Lord. Who is this Barry Horstman? Absolutely going after the project this morning. 3 Different articles

Yes, Mark Miller runs that account. Its a series of weird tweets. They come at me every once in awhile Anyways, today is the deadline for Novembers election to register to vote!

It is interesting to note that two former NAACP leaders are against Issue 48. Dr. Milton Hinton and Judge Nathaniel R. Jones So what is the exact reasoning behind Chris Smitherman's opposition? Pride? Ego? City Council campaign? Revenge? Power? All of the above?

They believe the COAST propaganda. They believe that the financial woes and layoffs they are facing is directly related to the streetcar money. They believe that the city is more interested in a streetcar than fire/police. Its discouraging and factually incorrect, but they are sticking to it. What's even more unbelievable is that they are endorsing Chris Smitherman.

Early voting starts today... Enquirer has reported on Issue 48 but will it change anyone's minds? Hopefully the word is getting out. I am more nervous going into this election than the last one because of potential turnout from SB5 http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20111003/NEWS0108/111080306/Issue-48-Streetcar-rail?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|s About Cincinnati Issue 48 What it's about: Stopping Cincinnati from building a streetcar system through 2020. What it would do: Halt rail projects in the city limits through 2020. How things are now: The city is building an electric streetcar route to run a 4-mile loop through Downtown and Over-the-Rhine. Roughly $7 million of the projected $95 million-plus budget for the project has been spent on planning and engineering. City officials have said they hope to break ground this fall. What happens if it passes: The city must stop building the project and legal experts say the charter amendment could also prevent subsequent rail projects inside the city limits until the amendment expires on Dec. 31, 2020. What happens if it fails: The amendment is not added to the charter and the city continues to build the project. Argument for: The city simply can't afford to build and operate a streetcar when a $33 million deficit looms in the 2012 budget. Also, the project won't be the catalyst for economic development touted by city officials and project supporters. Argument against: The streetcar will jump start economic development by creating jobs, attracting new residents and boosting tax revenue. Some opponents are against adding this new rule to the city charter because they believe it as overly broad and puts undesired restriction on city government for nearly a decade. Who's for it: Citizens Opposed to Additional Spending and Taxes (COAST) and the Cincinnati chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Baptist Ministers Alliance of Greater Cincinnati Area, the Fraternal Order of Police, the Firefighters Union. Who's against it: Cincinnatians for Progress, League of Women Voters of the Cincinnati Area, Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, Cincy PAC, Cincinnati Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, Charter Committee of Greater Cincinnati, Laborer's Union, Ohio Environmental Council. Web sites for more information: gocoast.org, cincinnatiansforprogress.com, cincinnati-oh.gov

Somewhat streetcar related since its the same opposition. Its scary that these people have a legit shot in deciding Cincinnati's future for the next 20-25 years http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20110929/NEWS0108/109300346/Quinlivan-pays-13-cents-settle-dispute "Quinlivan pays $.13 to settle dispute. COAST attorney's complaint cost city 'several thousand dollars' to investigate"

http://www.citybeat.com/cincinnati/blog-2402-does_naacp_approve_of_coast_hijinks.html "Does NAACP approve of COAST Hijinks?" Apparently one of Amy Murray's volunteers for her campaign, who is black, posted this picture on facebook tagging Mark Miller of COAST. Inserted into the picture description he wrote "This is actually might happen lol" This just 9 days after Mark Miller's infamous tweet of : "On Sept. 11, Miller generated buzz on Twitter with the following post: “3% of FDNY died 10 yrs ago by terrorism. Today Cincinnati lost 17.5% of fire companies by brownout to pay for a streetcar. Which is worse?” 'When informed about the photo, Murray acted quickly to tell Farris that she didn't support it and thought it was improper. “I don't think it's appropriate at all and I told him he needs to take it down,” Murray said. Farris has no official connection to Murray's campaign, she said, adding. “He's a college volunteer who will come and march in parades.” '

He has been endorsed by FOP, and FOP is officially against the streetcar. I figured they were against the streetcar, but what about his amendment? How can the FOP support Smitherman after all the chaos he caused when he was at council?

Smitherman is claiming he has the full endorsement of the FOP and that they support his anti-rail amendment. Any truth to that?

Mark Miller's interviews about his tweets are going to be aired on channel 12 and ONN tonight for those interested.

WLWT seems to agree with Neville: http://www.wlwt.com/politics/29154591/detail.html "A charter amendment is on the November ballot that would ban the city from putting money toward a streetcar for several years, as well as ban the city from investing in any passenger rail project"

We have to get a better at getting John's message out. I have talked to numerous people who are for light rail and against the streetcar but were planning on voting against their own beliefs. I talked to one ex cop who basically echoed the 700wlw stance. "Its a boondoggle, waste of money, trolley folly, streetcar to nowhere etc" I basically told him. "Listen. Our views on the streetcar are irrelevant now. You have your beliefs thats fine. But This initiative has wording that is murky enough to effectively stop all rail, including planning and private/public funds, for a decade" He told me he thought I was wrong. I simply told him "There's nothing really I can say to change your mind. But please Read the language for yourself. If you still feel the way you do now, then by all means vote with Chris Smitherman and COAST. But be warned, if you want light rail inside city limits, you are voting against your own interests. Read Judge Painter's article in the Enquirer if you don't believe me" And we moved on with our conversation. No animosity, no insults, no childish catch phrases (after his 700wlw exchange). I doubt I changed his mind but at least I made him think. The enquirer isn't going to report on the amendment until the last second. They want to draw the streetcar out as long as possible for revenue. 700wlw is worthless. They won't even acknowledge anything remotely bad about the amendment. So its up to us.

Our very own Hamilton County Auditor called a City Beat author a "Resident Marxist" via twitter for this article: http://www.citybeat.com/cincinnati/article-24009-streetcars-help-fuel-job-growth-in-seattle.html This is the mentality we are dealing with. Emotions are high this election with SB5 and other issues and, as we know, logic does not always prevail. So far we've had: - The Enquirer release hit pieces and cheerlead to get the issue on the ballot -we've had 700wlw give unlimited guest spots to Smitherman and Mary Kuhl in addition to their bashing -we've had COAST tweeting everyday that the local brownouts are because of the streetcar and that police are getting cut because they need a streetcar -We've had COAST members caught under multiple screen names on Cincinnati.com, fox19, wkrc, wlwt, and other sites railing against all forms of rail -We've had COAST members caught putting up bullet hole stickers on streetcar signs -We've had 700wlw put up promotional anti-rail flyers on streetcar signs -We've had Chris Smitherman claim that the Mayor and city council wrote their own ballot initiative -We've had Chris Smitherman and his friends throw entire papers of City Beat in the trash -We've had Chris Smitherman and his friends accost homeless people for signatures on initiatives -We've had claims that this streetcar line will cost anywhere from $2billion - $195 million -We've had COAST members on twitter make jokes and laugh about people being shot in OTR -We've had Bill Cunningham say the operating expense would be $18 million annually -We've had The Enquirer intentionally neglect to mention the actual wording of the proposed amendment -We've had our own Hamilton County Auditor call a local reporter a 'Resident Marxist' because he dared mention that Seatlle's line is exceeding expectations. This is just a fraction of what they've done. We are dealing with an inordinate amount of misinformation coming from all angles including big local media.

In other news- ARE THEY EVER GOING TO START CONSTRUCTION! And I mean just utility work, moving manholes, etc. Have things gone out to bid? anything??? I feel like we've gone silent. Therein lies the problem...Should emotional loudmouths override logic and an anti-rail amendment passes, I can't help but think of all the missed opportunities for construction. I realize jumping through the federal hoops takes awhile, but good grief.

Oh ok. Thanks for the clarification. I of all people should know better than to take a COAST tweet as fact