FakeCinEnquirer

Looks like Salt Lake City stopped their streetcar project http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/cfa9e5fb70ca4db49d0554d4b76449e6/UT--Ogden-Streetcar/

Would love to read a recommendation letter from you about Mark Miller for that job

Or simply report them to the proper authorities... That should end it quickly EDIT: I saw the pics. One was on top of the streetcar route. Grown men acting like they are 12

I had no idea Albert Smitherman, Chris Smitherman's brother works for or partially owns Jostin Concrete Construction Company. Jostin Concrete is a development partner of....The Cincinnati Streetcar. This article explains it pretty well http://blackcincinnati.blogspot.com/2009/06/smitherman-shakedown-explained.html Here's another: http://blackcincinnati.blogspot.com/2009/06/open-letter-to-mayor-mallory-city.html I realize these are from the first ballot initiative but what is the exact reasoning for Chris Smitherman being against the Streetcar? We know its not fiscal responsibility...Can anyone shed light into this? Is he proposing this amendment purposefully to fail?

Considering its Chris Smitherman and COAST we are talking about, I would feel more comfortable if all of these signatures were at least double checked by independent personnel with experience and/or streetcar supporters EDIT: They were only over by just shy of 400 signatures. We should request the count be re-checked...

Are they all valid? Many of the 10,878 signatures are/were probably invalid but the Cincinnati.com front page headline and 700wlw push helped them collect enough to get the required signatures. Now it is all about politics and PR. With SB5 on the ballot this november, it can create a potential problem with the fire/police vote. For some reason, many are die hard against the streetcar thinking essentially "The money for the streetcar will cost us our jobs" - which we all know is complete BS but thats what COAST is pushing via twitter and email to everyone right now. I'm also hearing unconfirmed rumors that Chris Smitherman has stepped down temporarily from his position at the NAACP. If true(which I'm not 100% sure it is) I assume thats to focus solely on killing the streetcar (unless he was nudged out). Either way, it means he'll be out and about in the local media even more than he already has been. EDIT: Smitherman has stepped down and will probably run for council. Forgot about that option

It's already official. It will be on the ballot

It's truly bizarre that anyone would have been against the 2009 amendment, but for this one. This one is even stronger in its effect! Its just an estimated guess on my part. Seeing that the Enquirer has refused to cover the language (aside from Judge Painter's editorial) and that 700wlw has had Smitherman on nearly everyday for the last 2 weeks begging for signatures, I'd say its pretty safe to assume that both will be solidly backing Smitherman Pretty cool image below of Walnut Street (1910):

I wish it would too. But politics and transportation have always been bedfellows, even in America's laissez-faire era before 1890. Its coming on the ballot. This issue will come down to PR from both sides. Smitherman has already revealed what he will say via 700wlw: "Its not a vote against light rail. If it was light rail, we'd be for it. This is about the streetcar" COAST could care less. They've said essentially: "It will kill the streetcar right? Then vote for it" Don't know what the police and fire mantra will be for sure but I imagine it will be something along the lines of : 'We're buying streetcars at the expense of our jobs and the safety of the city' All of these positions are easily thwarted with facts but the problem is the media. The Enquirer, 700wlw, and others were both on the side of CFP in 2009. I would not expect the same support this year. They've been blatantly obvious they want this project dead at any cost

the email to smitherman was returned saying "Temporarily over quota"

We, The Fake Cincinnati Enquirer twitter, just tweeted your link JMecklenborg and sent emails to Media Matters, The NAACP, Huffington post, and working on a contact at CNN