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Can anyone give me some backup on the comments on this article? http://www.wcpo.com/news/local/story/Cincinnati-Mayor-Touts-Economic-Benefits-Of/VNl2DkGLx0yr_KpY2WtNxw.cspx?rss=703

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"That's funny! People like owning cars!" The best thing my wife and I did was move downtown and get rid of one of our clunkers. We are now saving a lot of money on gas, insurance and car wear/tear. We are also helping the environment through less pollution and helping reduce America's dependence on oil (something the three car families in the suburbs seem to gloss over while they put yellow magnetic ribbons on their SUVs). The main problem we are experiencing now is that a few times a week we have to drive places due to the lack of convenient public transit options. Metro routes have terrible timing outside of rush hour and businesses are spread out all over creation since there is no permanent rail routes to set up shop along. Why are my tax dollars being spent on roads to cover the deficit in the gas tax while very little to nothing is being spent on transit my wife and I would actually use? How are the "road hogs" getting away with being so selfish with OUR tax dollars?

If you can believe it, I've actually been given a hard time during heavy snowstorms that I have a nine block walk home from work. When I point out it only takes me an additional five minutes to power through the snowy sidewalks and it will most likely take them at least a couple of additional hours on the road the smile tends to slide off their face. Makes you wonder if they really have any concept of the time/cost of their commute.

I just happened to be walking by The Banks yesterday for the first time in a few months and was impressed by the progress. The last time I stopped by the eastern part of the project I had to look down from 2nd Street and now in areas it's at street level. Seems like good progress to me. I'm guessing they have secured federal stimulus money and made the required match for the western portion of the project since there appears to be work occurring by Paul Brown Stadium. Does anyone have the scoop on that second part of the project?

My real frustration is that it appears as though we have enough money to do the original first phase now. Instead of spending time and money to fight a ballot initiative we could be donating money to actually building the streetcar. Qualls ignored the best advice of the Dohoney, Mallory and others on council and allied herself with those who obviously opposed streetcars.

I just got into a frustrating email exchange with Roxanne Qualls regarding her spamming me for campaign contributions. I told her to remove me from her list essentially since I did not appreciate her work against the original streetcar proposal. When she vehemently denied being against the streetcar I linked the the following article snippets. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't a big reason we're still waiting to start this project is the greatly increased cost of adding the Uptown connector to the first phase of the project? February 21st, 2008 Qualls circulated a motion among council offices that, if approved, would prohibit council from using money from the city's capital projects budget to build the system if it jeopardizes other previously approved projects. It would also prohibit using money from the city's general fund budget to subsidize its operation once built. Some council members said the motion’s wording requires that a streetcar loop be built that connects downtown to the uptown area near the University of Cincinnati and local hospitals at the same time that a previously discussed loop is built that travels from Over-the-Rhine to the riverfront. Such an extension would add at least $80 million to the project’s $102 million cost. Later Wednesday, however, some supporters reconsidered after discussions about the motion’s impact. A few members began expressing doubts, stating the funding restrictions could delay or kill the project. http://blogs.citybeat.com/porkopolis/2008/02/council-tweaks.html February 21, 2008 Some city council members -- chiefly John Cranley and Roxanne Qualls -- have worried that a proposed $102 million streetcar system in Downtown and Over-the-Rhine would jeopardize funding for other big projects around town and began having second thoughts. City Manager Milton Dohoney Jr. appeared before city council's Finance Committee Feb. 25 and tried to reassure the duo. There's enough money available for streetcars and other projects, Dohoney said. But he threw water on the latest complaint du jour, stating unequivocally that it isn't feasible to consider building a route to the Uptown area at the same time the Downtown loop is constructed. http://www.citybeat.com/cincinnati/article-3908-city-manager-backs-streetcar-plan.html March 18th, 2008 Cincinnati City Council has voted to spend $800,000 for environmental studies and "alternatives analysis" that could make it easier to secure federal funding for a streetcar system linking downtown to the Uptown neighborhoods surrounding the University of Cincinnati. Council debate focused on whether the streetcar line should begin with a link between downtown and Uptown, the city's two major job centers, and whether voters should be asked to approve or reject the streetcar proposal. The vote for additional study passed 6 to 3, with council members Roxanne Qualls, Chris Monzel and John Cranley voting no. http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2008/03/10/daily35.html April 24th, 2008 And the plan that council approved added a connector line between Over-the-Rhine and Uptown, including the University of Cincinnati and Pill Hill's hospitals. The line adds another $35 million for which the city currently has no source of funding.City Manager Milton Dohoney told council members the original plan to raise $31 million from private sources was "a tall order." With Wednesday's motion, he said, '"The order just got considerably taller." Council member Roxanne Qualls has been seeking a guarantee that the city will build the second phase, a loop linking UC and the neighboring hospitals. http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080424/NEWS01/804240355

Does anyone know the rules for gathering signatures on Fountain Square? There were at least seven people collecting for what appeared to be the anti-passenger rail petition circling the fountain and interrupting people eating lunch.

It looks as though the House of Representatives "Federal Streetcar Revitalization Act of 2009" entered committee almost six weeks ago and has yet to make it to the floor. Considering when these types of things get out of committee they then get voted by the House, then shuttled to the Senate, changed by the Senate, put into committee to resolve differences... it seems like the process of getting Federal dollars from this Act may be a long way off. Where else could the dollars come from (stimulus funds?)? Any thoughts? http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h2164/show

"This is true, but building this now will be a savings as the garage wasn't expected to be built until later using inflationary figures from five years out. Plus by building it now we will take advantage of the lower labor and material costs that exist now and bring this thing in under budget hopefully." Also, doing this project now will keep people in their jobs, and/or create new temporary jobs. This means increased payroll taxes and more people with income that they will use to buy stuff. Not sure on the total measure of this impact, but it is at least a positive number :-).

I was just wondering why the severe weather sirens just kicked off after a torrential downpour with hail hit downtown an hour or two ago. That's when I got to thinking, do the weather folks not care about us downtown? I just turned on the news and saw that the sirens were to warn West Chester and Loveland. The exurban folks say that no one ever goes downtown. Would that apply to tornadoes too? Were there ever tornadoes that hit downtown? It seems like we really miss out on all the major damage (not that I'm complaining). P.S. Indie Night on Friday at the Square was awesome! It's a real shame nobody goes downtown :wink:

My biggest concern at this point is time. As time goes on with no news the opposition gains strength in the vacuum. I appreciate the fact that we are waiting on federal money and that takes a while. However, I am becoming increasingly pessimistic that this project will get off the ground.

My impression is that Ghiz is having a fit over Mallory's efforts against her proposed use of stimulus money to temporarily rent GPS ankle bracelets for Hamilton County. Instead of standing by a rational decision to support the streetcar she is working against progress out of spite. It is sad that she has gone to this emotional response when she didn't get her way.

Just another example of the depths that Channel 5 will stoop for ratings. When they aren't producing negative and anti-downtown reports, they are exploiting the mentally ill. As amusing as it is on the surface, this guy has admitted serious mental issues that led to this new persona and encouraging the "super hero" behavior is going to get him seriously hurt.

I guess it all depends on strategy. Is the effort to educate enough people to keep the issue showing up on the ballot, or is it to assume they will get the relatively small number of signatures needed to get it on the ballot and just run a general education campaign from now till November? As an aside, there is no need to engage in unethical tactics that people like Jason are using. Behaving that way will do nothing but create additional opposition to the project. Along these lines we should be highlighting his methods (like terrorist instruction against public transportation) to show exactly the type of people who are against streetcars in Cincinnati.

I was at a Young Professional event last night and a high level member of the Office of Environmental Quality presented some environmental impacts of the streetcar project. The CO2 numbers were so impressive that I posted them below. A few of us went out for a beer after the event. We spent some time trying to understand the people who claim to be pro-environment, but are against the project. I mentioned the Jason/Justin mountain top coal issue, but everyone else found that argument to be just as lame as I did. Why are people who are supposedly concerned about the environment against this project? Reductions due to persons travelling on the Cincinnati Streetcar in Downtown, Over-the-Rhine and Uptown versus in cars. 4,321 tons of CO2 per year Reductions due to denser settlement patterns in 1A 17,175 tons of CO2 per year Reductions due to denser settlement patterns in 1B 8,820 tons of CO2 per year CO2 REDUCTIONS 30,316 tons of CO2 per year CO2 generated as a result of streetcar operation 2,248 tons of CO2 per year NET TOTAL CO2 REDUCTION 28,068 tons of CO2 per year http://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/cmgr/downloads/cmgr_pdf18280.pdf pg. 54

Clean and Safe Program: Adopt-a-Block? Anyone have any thoughts (positive or negative) about an adopt-a-block program in the City of Cincinnati? I'm part of a committee that is trying to find ways to make the city clean/safe and this struck me as a possibility. I've listed my random thoughts about what would be included in the program scope and implementation. Keep in mind this is a rough draft of ideas that have formed over the last 18 hours and needs a lot of work. * Scope would be dense Cincinnati areas (CBD, OTR and/or community business districts) * Program intended to build ownership and pride in Cincinnati * Promote the idea to people who live, work, and/or are just interested in a particular area * Coordinate with existing programs like CPOP by increasing access and knowledge of such programs * Give people who adopt a block(s) access to a website that would allow them to report a CPOP issue (light out, garbage, junk vehicle, graffiti, etc...) or other item by clicking a Google map type of application. * Increase community involvement and understanding of residents and businesses within their block(s) * Recognition: website metrics as well as emails highlighting groups doing the most reporting and other items that improve their block

I'm not sure if any of you were at the Bockfest parade on Friday night (started at Arnolds, went north up Main to Liberty and back down Clay to 12th), but there were two groups that had streetcar floats. As we walked along with the parade, we saw quite a few people cheering when they saw the "Cincinnati Streetcar"s go by. It was heartening to see people cheering for this project after reading so many anti-streetcar messages on the Enquirer's website :-)... Ben....

I've read the trolley document from the Windburn report. Below are my questions/concerns if anyone has any answers. 1) I am assuming this document is a just a crude preliminary. It seems like it is saying what a trolley system is not versus what it is. There are some very basic numbers, but on the whole seems to be a document sniping the streetcar versus any facts of what a trolley can do for the city (and the bizarre "Expect negative criticism from proponents of streetcar trolley" as a trolley negative?). Anyone know if there is any more meat on these bones? 2) Isn't the following just a suggested change to Metro/SORTA? How is this related to a trolley system and not just retooling Metro with new busses/routes? "The trolleys are flexible enough whereby they can be implemented and connected to any city neighborhood. The trolleys can be used to promote the neighborhood business districts. The trolleys can be used to connect citizens who live in city neighborhoods but work in Tri-county, Springdale, West Chester and Mason. This can be a great energy efficient form of transportation to improve the quality of life for all citizens living in Cincinnati." 3) Has anyone from SORTA weighed in or been included in on this? 4) Has there been any interest in sponsoring this trolley (or the streetcar)? I know this probably couldn't be confirmed, but anyone who can at least attest to interest in either would be something. 5) Which local people/groups support this idea? Anyone come out for the concept other than Winburn? All in all, I'm pretty disappointed in the lack of details and the claim that "[t]here is no concrete way of projecting significant economic impact, ridership,increased tourism, new momentum or new energies until we test it for two years with the trolleys" especially since there have been such extensive economic studies on the streetcar. With so little support from the community I guess it isn't surprising that there hasn't been the money put into researching this idea... Ben....

I was at Mark Mallory's Young Professionals Kitchen Cabinet kickoff last night and the Mallory stated in no uncertain terms that the streetcar project was the number one project in the city right now. He spent about half of his speech and Q/A discussing it. He wanted us to get informed about the project and respectfully inform/educate people who are railing (sorry about the pun) against the project. When asked about the project status he appeared eager to talk about it, but then looked over at his aides and said he was unable to discuss aspects publicly yet. It did seem like there was a lot of movement we just don't know about yet.

I am beginning to realize we cannot expect others to promote the Cincinnati. There are far too many talk show hosts, news organizations, bloggers, etc... out there with exurban, extremist and hateful bias. I have tried to talk up Cincinnati with my family and friends (I think it has helped in some small way). The only other idea I have is to flood the media with positive letters and comment posts that rise above the fray and avoid the stereotypical anti-Cincinnati rhetoric. I mean, geeeeez, would it kill the local venom bloggers to at least on occasion promote some of the bright points in our city? These guys are worse than channel 5 and Cunningham combined.

"Bottom line: the City has to gain the public trust back." What are you proposing the City of Cincinnati do to get people's trust back? Is it purely to do a better job communicating this project to the city residents? I hope you're not suggesting doing nothing until the people of the entire region shed their inferiority complex and start realizing all the great things about the City of Cincinnati. I've worked downtown for a decade and lived downtown for the last three years. During the last three years the City of Cincinnati has done a lot to promote improvements: 1) The Gateway Quarter (as well as other portions of OTR) is building up nicely effectively repopulating a nearly deserted historic area of the city 2) A new skyscraper is being built for the first time in a very long time 3) Fountain Square has become a popular and friendly place to hang out 4) The School for Creative and Performing Arts is developing a brand new location 5) Crime is decreasing every year 6) The Banks project is finally getting off the ground 7) New restaurants, bars, clubs, shops, etc... have been popping up everywhere With all this and more going on, I would expect more people jumping on board this project. In my mind streetcars would further the momentum by increasing transit options within the urban core, serve as a permanent investment which would act as a development catalyst, and promote green living. The studies I've seen so far have been well thought out and researched. All I have seen to contradict them is social rhetoric, claims of science that have not been backed by any empirical evidence, and bizarre arguments about widening I-75. I sincerely would like to get a better idea of the reasoning against this project. Please post links to studies of rubber wheel trolley projects, studies of environmental impacts of streetcar development (I'm looking at you Green Party), anti-rail studies (please no O'Toole, but real studies backed by science), etc.... All I have got lately are smug individuals insinuating I am not intelligent enough to understand where my electricity comes from. Please stop patronizing me and post/link the facts. As it stands now, this streetcar project is a City of Cincinnati project serving the people of the city. While I agree we need mass transit in the region, a majority of those outside the city do not believe as I do (or perhaps they just thought Metro Moves was not a good enough plan). City Council cannot develop a regional transit plan without the support of the commuters who would use it the most. I'd love to work with you or anyone else to help promote a regional plan, but for now all we have on the table is a small scale version - the streetcar.

Did anyone else get the following letter from Tom Brinkman, Jr.? "Dear Ben and Melanie, Thank you very much for writing me about the current crisis that Ohio's public transit systems are experiencing. Locally the Hamilton County Commissioners lead by Todd Portune, punted the local transit authority over to the City of Cincinnati. Quite frankly, it is hard for state officials to take our local transit system serious when it has been a political football for too long. After all, haven't the last two mayors appointed their fathers to the SORTA board? Resources are tight at the state level and we need SORTA to get its act together before we can just hand over more taxpayers dollars. Sincerely Yours, Tom Brinkman, Jr. State Representative" I'm guessing he's talking about the restructuring of SORTA to more closely reflect the municipalities paying the most money into the system that included some level of representation from other outlying communities. Is SORTA really that corrupt and poorly managed? Is this restructuring really making our local transit system look bad in the eyes of all the state representatives? Personally, I'm inclined to believe this guy just has an axe to grind and is just not a transit supporter (except when it comes to more/larger highways to serve suburban sprawl). Of course, that's just my take based off of the tone of the letter. Seriously, what politician takes a letter of hope from a constituent and responds with whining and such negativity anyway?

^"I don't consider them losers, but I wish they'd try harder to be tolerant and open-minded." Sorry, but I didn't mean to imply that people who disagree are losers. I do not agree with Monzel on most things, but admire him for his integrity, community activism and sticking to well thought out beliefs. The people I'm so frustrated with are those that constantly talk vocally about our how terrible Cincinnati is and when any proposal for change is made they complain then too. Just yesterday I mentioned The Banks project and some guy who constantly whines about lack of parking downtown complained that the first phase was "only a parking garage." Where do I even start with that one? I try to call people out when it comes to the misconceptions of things like the streetcar, but yesterday I was just a my whits end and probably came off a little harsher than I normally would.

My wife and I moved to a new condo on the downtown/OTR border almost two years ago. Since we both worked in the Central Business District and were looking to simplify as well as enrich our lives, it was a natural move. We were able to justify the additional cost of the condo in part with a lower cost of car insurance (walking to work lowers your insurance rate) as well as lower vehicle costs (went from two cars to one with less wear/tear mileage and gas cost). Since then we've found the sense of community, walkable shopping/dining, green living, and simplier lifestyle to be ideal. All the wonderful new (as well as old) shops that serve our community keep us from having to waste time/gas driving as well as give us some good exercise. Unfortunately, there are still some car trips that are unavoidable. While Findlay Market is within walking distance, it is difficult to walk back carrying all the meats, vegtables, fruits, etc.... Also, while most of our needs can be met by downtown businesses, there are some gaps in store items and hours. From what I've seen of the steetcar proposal, I am very hopeful there will be a development boom that will help bring extended store hours and missing offerings. Heck, just the other day I needed to go to the Apple store in Kenwood, but after 10 minutes of circling the parking lot and almost getting into a wreck I gave up and went back home. While our current home (a modest 1200 square feet) serves us quite well, when we decide to have kids we'd love to move into a somewhat larger location further north in Over-The-Rhine. However, without something like the streetcar to maintain our easy work commute and general access to OTR/downtown businesses, it will be harder to stay downtown. Given our love of city life I'm sure we'll make it work, but others interested in living downtown may not feel the same way. There are many in this city who do not believe urban Cincinnati is a great place to visit much less live. They do not see what others who move here from other cities see. Even worse, they do not believe in a vision for the future of the city, but instead work to halt any progress. I'm sure all of you have interactions with these people just as frequently as I do. They speak volumes against things like the streetcar, but when you ask them what aspects of the proposal they disagree with they admit to never having read it. These people are plainly put - "LOSERS". Call them out when possible and then move on. Cincinnati IS a great place to live. There are always things that can be improved through rational discussion of the issues and ACTION based off the discussion. I just hope that those in power continue working to improve the city for us all and not playing the political/ideological games that have hampered progress in the past. This thread has been a wonderful place to work out the facts for and against the streetcar. Hopefully the random thoughts and explanations of one new downtowner is helpful to the discussion.