surfohio

Here's some info on Issue 3 you might not know. Your pal always, Nick Lachey http://ballotpedia.org/Ohio_Marijuana_Legalization_Initiative,_Issue_3_(2015)

Build better housing for who? We have 22,000 vacant homes in Cuyahoga County, and it's not like people are lining up to get the next, nice, habitable home that hits the market. Demand is fairly low, housing is fairly cheap based on other markets. We just need jobs, and a lot more of them. Too many people, not even documented, in this region are out of work. Too many people have given up on looking. We need to come up with an innovative way to attract companies to our region. The Manitowoc plant closing yesterday was terrible news. That's 224 more jobs gone. It's not like we're creating 224 jobs a day around here. The more I read on the awful statistics of it, the more I am hoping for a dramatic shift in immigration policy to remedy this level of urban decay. Perhaps something on the level of the old Civilian Conservation Corps to kick things off. The banks are "too big to fail" but evidently our our urban heritage is not?

True. And by the way, how did these 10 upstanding free-marketers agree to the wording "MONOPOLY" featured so prominently in the ballot language? Yeah, oligopoly is the correct word, but talking about the "monopoly" language is still good enough for democratic politics. Economically, you can say an oligopoly or cartel is "less bad" than a monopoly, but the debate over Issue 3 would sound basically identical if you took every post, op-ed, etc. that uses the word "monopoly" and replaced it with "oligopoly." It wouldn't change the argument and I doubt it would really change many people's minds ("oh, I was going to vote against it because I thought it granted a monopoly in the strict economic technical sense of the term, but I'm OK with it since it only constitutionalizes what economists call an oligopoly or cartel ..."). But if you used the language "Grants a small, shared market of a limited number of producers..." that is much more benign sounding.

^ ^^ Thanks. Virtually everyone I know who is taking the time to actually read Issue 3 is immediately repulsed by this language.

True. And by the way, how did these 10 upstanding free-marketers agree to the wording "MONOPOLY" featured so prominently in the ballot language?

^ I am pleasantly surprised, and dare I say slightly optimistic.

It's because we have very few leaders in the legislature. They are either 1. deathly afraid of the political consequences for supporting marijuana or 2. completely beholden to major corporate interests or 3. both. A few gutsy pols have been pushing reform for years and these bills simply die year after year.

The Browns are still undefeated in the division. Silver lining?

SD and LA beer scenes couldn't be more different. Even most brown ales in SD are aggressively hopped.

Here's hoping whatever they build can "wrap" the adjacent parking garage (the one due west) with some retail.

Bryant Park in NYC creates a "winter wonderland" and it's very effective. However I'm concerned that Public Square won't have enough programming or retail options to create critical mass.

Don't hold your breath waiting for "Terry." I'm pretty sure he/she's merely a graph-posting robot.

The victim was a very likable guy. I'm going to miss seeing him around.

How much revenue do you think the cafe will produce? Will it be enough to justify the space and investment? Someone should ask Zack Bruell how his Dynomite Burgers is doing at Playhouse Square. The retail component is probably the most sensible addition to PS. There needs to be more reason to hang around the Square, not less.

Was by there today. The whole block has a real air of prominence.

^ I pedaled through an alley from W9 to W6 today and was admiring a few patches of exposed cobblestone.

Thanks Terry S. I'll keep my kids out of Colorado!!!!

When she's dealing with other agencies within government I'm sure she's great. But if she ever tried to appeal to the public no one would care because they've never heard of her before. When Frank Jackson holds a press conference, people listen whether they agree or not. He may care profoundly, and I think he needs to share that publicly. Politicians can be hard heads though. I agree, Mayor Jackson has the bully pulpit and, quite frankly, aside from him holding a giant pair of scissors at a Rapid station ribbon cutting, I have never heard him comment, vocally or in print, about the needs of mass transit, locally. Ms. McCall is apparently very, very good in her work for transit, locally and nationally, but we really need to hear more from Frank. Even if Jackson did comment on RTA he would only put people to sleep. He's just not an effective advocate, at least not in that way. RTA needs someone with a great deal of good energy to help sell their merits.

Perhaps I can direct you to McCarthy's on the West Bank. While not quite downtown it's awful enough to be worth that extra mile.

It looks like Downtown Pacers on E. 12th has finally bit the dust. If you love unclean beer lines, high turnover in staff and absentee ownership, you will greatly miss Pacers.

I already have Baroco and Greek Village (same gyro's as Santorinis) in my hood or I'd definitely hit those places up. Ya know I'm glad you mentioned Taza as the building renovation seems really impressive. I've kinda forgotten about it, but I'd go check it out just to get a good look inside. Anyhow, I wonder just what kind of growth we should realistically expect for WHD until those big lots get filled?

True. The Bill O'reilly's of the world will spin it that "the people of Ohio had the good sense to think of the children."

True. I'm still bent out of shape about Phoenix Coffee closing. I'm not quite sure there's any place left in the WHD that could lure me there. Oh - Johnnys and the Mermaid.

The Burkhardt Brewing Co. in Akron used to own bars for this reason. And for other reasons they located the brothels upstairs! Anyhow, I'm wishing Mr. Malley the best of luck. He's got good taste in music and a has been a strong presence in the local music community for some time. Here's hoping the food offerings and customer service come close to what Glazen & Company would have provided.

Amazing how so many regulations born to help competition often have the complete opposite effect. Distribution is a racket. Anyone want to think of a compelling reason why I can't Uber/drive kegs of beer all over the place? Does it have something to do with the Horse Safety Act of 1827?