NBow37

Can't wait to see the response from the Enquirer

John Schneider said in a previous post that your question is a definite possibility

Oh ya!!!!

I have noticed this too

New Enquirer blog. First subject - The Cincinnati Streetcar http://cincinnati.com/blogs/opinionati/2010/06/30/116/

So I take it the interview was yet another Anti-city rant from the host? How did Quinlivan hold up?

Yes, but the Enquirer has been horrendous at telling the whole story as of late and I've never read anything from WVXU before so I don't know their reliability. Also, I realize the two routes are being considered from the articles - I just wanted to clarify with people closer to the situation than the Enquirer and/or WVXU about the details

there are equally dumb comments on every paper's website. Oh really? Not today. Of the six comments on the Sacramento Bee, all are positive. Of the eight comments on the Cincinnati Enquirer, all but one are negative. One could point to a number of actual factors involved, not to mention my example is almost anecdotal. Regardless, the big difference in attitude fascinates me academically. Any updates on the route to uptown? Does the uncertainty have any effect on the Tiger 2 grants? Is it still between Vine and West Clifton?

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20100621/NEWS0108/6220335/City-Streetcar-work-won-t-be-wasted City officials: Streetcar work won't be wasted

Cincy Council gets streetcar update Cincinnati administrators are now providing monthly updates to City Council on plans to build a streetcar system. The first briefing was Monday at City Hall. Right now the city’s efforts are focused on several areas. One is finding the money to build the first phase of the streetcar system. The city has identified $90 million of the $128 million needed for construction. Chris Eilerman with the city manager’s office says the city could hear any day if it will get a $25 million federal grant for the project.... http://www.wvxu.org/news/wvxunews_article.asp?ID=7921

http://www.wlwt.com/news/23977450/detail.html Will Cincinnati Get Federal Funding For Streetcar? City Manager: Answer Could Come In Next 10 Days

Enquirer yet again erased my comment about the bias. I can no longer find it anywhere. This is incredible!

Oh its coming. Something is in the air. Its been WAY too quiet. First they tried to persuade public opinion with the big poll and they were criticized heavily - even by non supporters. They became quiet, retreating to the meeting room with their bullseye streetcar dart posters, and decided to attack Bortz through the ethics route without his side of the story initially. That backfired as well. They will probably try a new angle this time. My guess is they will find every remotely negative article/worst case scenario from the various cities across the US who have implemented any form of rail in the last 20 years and post it in huge headlines as a "warning." It will probably coincide with the first phase of federal funding news, especially if the feds decide to give the city what they are requesting (in effect, they will try to take the "wind out of the sail" of the supporters. Basic PR guerilla tactics they have perfected over the years). As for Luken, I'll give him some credit. The guy is persistent. He is being used as a pawn by COAST and is terribly misinformed, but he gets right back up every time John and others point out his inconsistencies and exaggerations.

Luken has hit back via letter to the Enquirer http://cincinnati.com/blogs/letters/2010/06/11/bortz-can-only-blame-himself-for-entanglements/ He says he did not hire Mara as an attorney and attacks the project as well as Bortz. There has got to be an underlying reason he is fighting this so vehemently.

They've run out of blanks. Now they are resorting to Tom Luken supplying NERF ammunition Listening and reading Tom Luken's opposition statements to the streetcar is like the No Country for Old Men Ending. Bizarre, incoherent, and leaves you with the phrase "What the h*ll just happened?"

It's been quiet around here on the streetcar front lately... That usually means some big news is coming. Either that or a slew of Enquirer "articles".

So far I'm liking the comments on that one. "I may disagree with Councilman Bortz's sentiments about the need for a streetcar system, but I agree with him 100% for calling out the Enquirer for having given entirely too much support for the petty political whining of his opponents." Enjoy it now. By 6pm it will be a madhouse. There's 1 guy with dozens of screen names who takes over every streetcar comment section

Bortz's written rebuttal to the Enquirer. I am so glad he is calling them out. http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20100608/EDIT02/6080373/Bortz-Media-cavalier-with-the-facts CHRIS BORTZ: MEDIA CAVALIER WITH FACTS The Enquirer editorial Sunday pointed out some important issues related to questions of ethical standards for elected officials, the role of the Ohio Ethics Commission and the policy implications of some of the Commission's decisions. The editorial was a fair assessment of the ethical landscape and the call for full disclosure is entirely appropriate. Another story (on the Local Life cover) has the dramatic headline, "Bortz faces new conflict; Building project poses ethics questions." But that isn't an accurate headline, and the story is incomplete. I am not facing a new conflict. I have always abstained from voting on any matters related to Towne Properties and I am not involved in any of its business with the city. Tim Mara, an attorney who was hired by anti-streetcar activist Tom Luken, has posed these questions to The Enquirer reporter. The motives of Mr. Mara and Mr. Luken are relevant...... My favorite paragraph from it: "There is no evidence of wrongdoing, but the anti-streetcar activists continue to attack me and my family, and The Enquirer continues to give them access to a powerful pulpit. It's not just The Enquirer, but other media outlets as well. WCPO-TV (Channel 9) allowed Tom Luken to go on the air and falsely state that the Ohio Ethics Commission ordered me to resign. They have also reported that Towne Properties is one of the companies building the streetcar. Towne builds apartments and condos, not railroads, and the fact that I even need to point that out makes me wonder if accuracy is still an important part of journalism."

Anyone hear this Bortz interview with Cunningham? http://www.700wlw.com/mediaplayer/?station=WLW-AM&action=ondemand&item=297601370&feed_name=bill_cunningham.xml Bortz takes some digs at Luken, Smitherman, and the Enquirer in response to these articles below http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20100605/NEWS0108/6060330/Bortz-faces-new-conflict-issue http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20100605/EDIT01/6060329/A-Matter-of-Conflicts-Full-Disclosure-Is-The-Key Apparently Tim Mara was hired by Tom Luken (not stated by the Enquirer in the articles) to attack Bortz/his family and to ultimately stop the streetcar project.

Wendell Young will be appointed to City Council. He's a strong streetcar supporter. “The streetcar will be a fantastic opportunity to improve our transportation options downtown,” explained Young. “It will fuel job creation and economic development throughout our city, and will help fund city services for our neighborhoods.” http://www.urbancincy.com/2010/06/wendell-young-tapped-to-replace-laketa-cole-on-city-council/ http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2010/05/31/daily31.html

My response to it, sent to Enquirer this afternoon: Tom Luken's complaint about the "young whippersnappers" behind the Cincinnati Streetcar is a tad off the mark. Introduced to Cincinnatians by three "fifty-somethings" several years ago, the streetcar has now become the vanguard of a multi-generation effort aimed at restoring balance and increasing travel choices in our region. Streetcar supporters range from teenagers to seniors well into their Eighties. Modern streetcars bear no resemblance to the vintage trolleys Mr. Luken remembers, just as a 1940 Packard is fundamentally different from a 2010 Prius. Modern streetcars have six doors; these enable them to load and unload faster, so they hold up traffic less than buses do. The overhead power wire is barely visible and doesn't spark like the ones you see in the movies. Modern streetcars are sleek, quiet, smooth-running and comfortable -- a joy to ride and to have in your neighborhood. Don't believe it? Go to the "PICS" section of http://www.protransit.com/ and watch the brief slide show there. You'll like what you see. John Schneider Downtown Excellent response. All eyes are on the Enquirer now to see if they publish it. There are many valid concerns against the streetcar and some of the people against the project bring up very valid points that need to be discussed(Eigth and others on here). But here are the amusing ones I've come across in the last couple weeks from the Enquirer and people in general: 1) We have different "demographics" (I.E. code word for more black people) than Portland so it won't work 2) We will have too much business and not enough people 3) The studies and research firms were paid off by pro-streetcar lobbyists 4) This is only a project to get the city council members rich 5) The city bungled Paul Brown stadium and the Freedom Center 6) Mallory is not as effective as a leader as Mao Zedong 7) Mallory is a communist 8) Supporters are "non tax paying hippies that love smoothies, hate America, and are not based in reality" 9) Streetcars have failed nearly everywhere else in the US except Portland. 10) There's a reason why streetcars failed in the past. Nobody wanted to ride them. Americans want freedom, not confinement *11) God will punish us if we build the streetcar and it will be Armegeddon (I really hope this is sarcasm on this persons part. I think it is judging by their other posts in the comment section) 12) Paint the buses as trolleys and see if it works 13) Streetcars will be safe havens for criminals to attack, rape and murder innocent civilians 14) OTR is the most dangerous neighborhood in America 15) Lets spend the money on a jail 16) Portland has different laws that are better for business. Cincinnati is anti-business 17) Portland has more hippies 18) We have as much development as the city can hold right now. Its over-saturated 19) I hate the city and hope it fails 20) It won't work. Why? It just won't. Cincinnati is different than those other cities mentioned 21) Lets just have a vote on the streetcar 22) I accept, gratefully, guest columnist Casey Coston’s undeserved accolade as lone vocal opponent (“Streetcar poll biased, misleading ,” May 30) , even though it just ain’t so. What about the 10/1 against streetcars in the newspaper’s incoming, unsolicited mail? Many, many opponents. There are precious few of us left who labored to get the behemoths off the streets and unsnarl the traffic. In the old days if we missed the bus to school (a 30 minute ride ), it took 11/2 hours on the streetcar, even 2 hours if the trolley wires got snarled, as usually occurred. These young whippersnappers at City Hall, whose main objective is to prevent citizens from getting to vote on streetcars, might benefit from a little wisdom from their elders. To be fair, there have been unusual and uncivil discourse from both sides, but the longer this thing drags out, and the longer the enquirer/a select few of prominent opponents continue to not try to educate the public in an honest manner, the more outrageous it will get with all the misinformation being spewed.

I don't think it was the tracks that made him crash but the lack of a front wheel on the bike

Tom Luken Letter to the Enquirer: I accept, gratefully, guest columnist Casey Coston’s undeserved accolade as lone vocal opponent (“Streetcar poll biased, misleading ,” May 30) , even though it just ain’t so. What about the 10/1 against streetcars in the newspaper’s incoming, unsolicited mail? Many, many opponents. There are precious few of us left who labored to get the behemoths off the streets and unsnarl the traffic. In the old days if we missed the bus to school (a 30 minute ride ), it took 11/2 hours on the streetcar, even 2 hours if the trolley wires got snarled, as usually occurred. These young whippersnappers at City Hall, whose main objective is to prevent citizens from getting to vote on streetcars, might benefit from a little wisdom from their elders. Tom Luken College Hill Purcell High, class of ‘42 http://cincinnati.com/blogs/letters/2010/06/02/tom-luken-recalls-streetcars/#pluckcomments Does he realize the streetcars of old are completely different than of today?

Cmon Federal funding!

Mo Egger from 1530 had this to say on his blog today. I think some of us can relate: Anyone who thinks this city doesn't need some sort of light rail system didn't try to drive around yesterday. Three and a half f***ing hours to drive from Sharonville, arrive in Florence, run a two minute errand, and drive back to Sharonville.