JohnClevesSymmes

Nothing to run for until 2016. County Commissioner is a possibility.

Knowing that the Democrats have a deep bench in the city and with a strong desire to hold the seat for their coalition, Murray and Smitherman will likely do their best to pick a candidate with some chance of winning. Crazier things have happened but I would be shocked if they picked Sam Malone.

I'm very distracted by the election even though there is absolutely no worthwhile information yet. Anyone care to speculate who might run for council if Winburn wins today? Landsman, Dillingham, and Wegman have already been named upthread. I've heard Edith Thrower, Sam Malone, or Crystal Falkner as possible replacements for Winburn. The Winburn-Thomas race is so difficult to call. The weak top of the ticket and lack of national political stakes in Ohio would lead me to guess that the Democratic turnout operation will be less substantial. On the other hand, I would imagine Pillich and Pepper put a fair amount into turnout in the 9th district. I guess it comes down to the obvious: has Winburn managed to convince enough African American Democrat or Democrat-leaning voters to forego the straight ticket for him? I'm also assuming that the "strategic" voter looking to capture a new city council seat next year will have a negligible impact. We'll know the answer soon enough!

"I really can't decide who to vote for in the 9th Senate district. Better wait for Mayor Cranley's endorsement." - said no one ever

My uncle who retired to florida 10 years ago JUST told me that the streetcar is never going to happen. That was a fun conversation.

Or it shows how great they are because parents are so satisfied with the program, they would prefer to continue to use vouchers rather than send their kids to even an "excellent" rated public school.

Meet the new boss... www.youtube.com/embed/zYMD_W_r3Fg

^That font tho

Are you just calling the Republican Party the Tea Party now? Murray is about as establishment as it gets. I do think that getting Republicans and the business community on board (in addition to the usual rail-supporting suspects) is a great way to actually make something like this happen. On the other hand, didn't Cranley support one of the early streetcar studies?

There is no actual $300 pass or nothing proposal in existence right now. This is all part of a negotiation and discussion to find the right funding mechanism for the streetcar. Is $300 per year with no other changes a good idea? Probably not. If you could be guaranteed a spot within a block of your apartment? More attractive. What if we added meters but residents with passes could park at all or certain metered spaces without paying? If the residential permit is an amenity then I support it, if it is just a fee that doesn't make it any easier to find on street parking then I don't. Most property owners in OTR (including myself) that I have talked to would gladly pay a bit more in taxes as part of a SID to help fund the streetcar and even better if we can add amenities like the downtown ambassador program. The fact is that the streetcar is adding value to my property so in the long run that should mean that my property taxes go up anyway. But that could take years plus many of us have abatements.

http://www.joeotis.com/

^ So it is a fact that Stough bought the building to turn it into a parking lot? They didn't hope to save it but have decided that it can't be done in a cost effective manner? This is something they admitted openly or are you just reading their minds? There is obviously no need for more parking right there on Main. They don't need parking for their existing buildings because they have direct, covered access to the Alms & Doepke Garage behind them. The one fact I don't have is the nature of these "crazy" agreements they are requiring. Is this something that is far outside the norm of real estate negotiation?

^ I can't fault the Stough group for not selling their property for all their costs thus far (so not at any profit) just so 3CDC can sit on the property for a few more years. Stough doesn't get a free pass just because they have been good stewards of the Hanke and adjoining buildings, but they deserve a little respect for it. I hope that the Davis building doesn't get knocked down, but I don't plan to buy it. Also, what's wrong with requiring a non-disclosure agreement?

I agree that 300 is too high, but it is far cheaper than any monthly pass for off-street parking. I would gladly give up my monthly spot for a $25/mo permit if I was virtually guaranteed a place to park. Maybe the solution is cut that price in half or more, but make every available on-street parking space in OTR 24-hour metered. Then anyone with a pass just doesn't have to feed the meter. As a property owner in OTR, and as many others have said before in this forum, I would gladly pay some kind of reasonable assessment as part of a special taxing district to help fund the streetcar. I consider this part of that conversation.

Is the issue over the price or the permits themselves? In theory, permits in OTR make a lot of sense - keep the on street available for residents and forcing visitors to use garages. I would be curious about how much residents in Pendleton and the Clifton area near Cincinnati State are paying (maybe that was in one of the articles and I forget) and I would hope that the OTR Neighborhood Council would push back on the price but not on the concept. I agree with ProkNo5, there is a workable plan in here somewhere. We don't have to go to war over every detail. Residential permits can be a gift to the neighborhood if priced right.

^Well it was built by German immigrants and named for the Rhine River.

Yea there is really not much to complain about here. It is going into a vacant building, will be run by proven local operators, and helps connect the two OTR entertainment districts. As long as the reality show isn't: "famous brothers take pity on forgotten corner of their tired, nothing-to-do, conservative hometown..." then great.

Cincinnati has a diverse and complex bro population (bropulation?) due to our unique geography and regional placement. In the wild you can spot preppy-bros (both affected and inherited), nascar-bros, all-boys catholic high school alumbros, and much more. I look forward to analyzing this delightful yet frightening category with all of you. I also relish the opportunity to learn more about bros in other corners of our state and throughout our great nation.

Looks like Feeney is staying in.

If what you are saying is true, then it is smart that they have kept quiet. After all the talk over the years, everyone is going to be skeptical until the construction is significantly underway. That includes myself.

He says something like "I understand the struggles of people in rural ... and Urban Ohio"

He certainly could have. If he had started laying groundwork statewide when FitzGerald did, and then they battled it out in a serious primary. Just like some have suggested that this recent series of negative coverage for Fitz will actually boost his recognition, a contentious primary could have done the same thing. Constant coverage of the primary would have been a huge chance for the Democrats to get their message out, with nothing exciting on the Republican side to balance it out.

^ Nice shout out for "Urban Ohio" in there! I met Fred a few years back when he was running in the 2nd district Republican primary. Seemed like a nice enough guy. Comes off fairly polished in this video. I wonder if he is getting any DCCC help.

^ Martina is the agent (lawyer) for the LLC, not necessarily the owner.

Would the position of "Council President" be decided by council vote? If so I could see a member or two looking at the creation of that position as an opportunity.