Caseyc

it was pretty unbelieveable....

I think if you were to weigh the bias in the Pro v. Con, it tips towards the Pros. The Cons uses qualifying words such as "could." In the "how things are now" segment," (which should be neutral) saying officials can simply move forward now with any rail plan they please is a bit of an overstatement for such a sound bite. That's all.

do you want me to parse it out? For example, this section looks like it was written by COAST: I think the League of Women Voters does a much better job. Just cite as Opponents Say/Proponents Say... http://www.smartvoter.org/2009/11/03/oh/hm/issue/9/

agreed. That is an absolutely horrible (and biased) synopsis.

and you'll get a "common man" response. To wit, "Oh these lawyers and their fancy wording...capital budgets..operating budgets.....our city needs help and they want to engage in wordsmithing! Money is fungible. Let's put the moeny where it will do the most good. In our neighborhoods, in my pocket (oh wait...)"

Did Smitherman finally come out against Issue 9? I'm about to hear Smitherman come present to a class I'm in at UC in 30 minutes. There's always Q&A time, and I'll have a question or two about his issue 9 stance.. here is his reponse: "what is wrong with voting? we just want the people of this great city to have a chance to vote...especially when it comes to boondoggles like a choo choo to nowhere when , in tough times like this, we need more police on the street, and help for our neighborhoods..blah blah blah..."

Even if you do that, they will fill up the rest of the space with mammoth not-so-vertical parking structures.

In any event, cross-post that sentence to crap journalism du jour. It's not Issue 9 that would be a stimulus package, I can assure you of that.

I did as well. He said it will be out tomorrow. and online today, apparently... http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20091027/NEWS01/910280320/Groups+debate+street+car+measure

I did as well. He said it will be out tomorrow.

I second comments re the absolute aesthetic crapulence of the recently constructed child care facility. It has all the charm of a 1970's era soviet bomb shelter.

ah...well....maybe a new one is in order?

we need to get the Banks thread up and running. 1. Article in Biz Courier today quotes Trent Germano as saying construction of the apartment buildings and retail will begin within 60 days, and tenants could be in within a year. Grand Opening being planned for opening day 2011. As far as construction dollars are concerned, garages/platform is 54% done and on budget. Lots of other good tidbits in the article--still having difficulty landing retail tenants, including a "limited service hotel" with a "great bar" for the next phase; development podium on north section is ready to build upon; part of garage will open by June 2010; 2. They have fenced off the eastern end of the lawn south of the Freedom Center and are excavating it with a couple of backhoes as I type. So far they have removed a large chunk of sidewalk.

If you can do it (and I have a station wagon) keep a stack of signs in the car. Put them up anywhere any time. re the Hitler and Stalin references, that is somewhat ironic coming from referenda proponents. Historically, and more in Europe than in the states, opposition to the referendum process has arisen because of use by dictators such as Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini who used the plebiscite (referenda) to disguise oppressive policies in a veneer of populism. Hitler's use of the plebiscite is argued as reason why, since World War II, there has been no provision in Germany for the holding of referendums at the federal level. British politician Chris Patten summarized many of the arguments used by those who oppose the referendum in an interview in 2003 when discussing the possibility of a referendum in the United Kingdom on the European Union Constitution: “I think referendums are awful. They were the favourite form of plebiscitary democracy of Mussolini and Hitler. They undermine Westminster [parliament]. What they ensure, as we saw in the last election, is if you have a referendum on an issue politicians, during an election campaign, say oh we're not going to talk about that, we don't need to talk about that, that's all for the referendum. So during the last election campaign the Euro was hardly debated. I think referendums are fundamentally anti-democratic in our system and I wouldn't have anything to do with them. On the whole, governments only concede them when governments are weak. (BBC, 2004)

To be painfully candid, whenever I go into a Quizno's it smells like puke to me (maybe it's just the downtown 4th street one, although I am not so sure).

Folks....take a little initiative here re yard signs. I realize that CFP has not been crystal clear re distribution of signs. But just go to the office at 1344 Vine and grab some. Give them a call. They aren't hand delivering them to everyone. I also saw a lot of people taking them home from the fundraiser last night.

have not heard about John's but I know a Chinese restaurant is supposedly going into the old Seny/Simone's space.

For those looking for signs--I made regular stops at 1344 Vine over the weekend (Trinity Flats block) where you can grab a bunch of signs and stickers. I just keep a few in back of the car and plop them down wherever looks good. I put some up around North Avondale, Mt. Adams and on Gilbert yesterday. On Saturday I left a few in the foyer at Grammer's for anyone to grab as well. I saw 2 "Yes" signs, the aforementioned one at Peebles Corner, and one on a trashy lot at McMillan and Highland, across from Taco Bell.

We are in Atrium II on 28-30 (top 3 floors). That building will absolutely block the views, at least for those on the east side. Me not so much....I face directly south on 28 (I can see the pitcher's mound at GABP while at my desk). QCS II only blocks sort of the left corner of my view. But we also have those outdoor terraces, and that will dominate that view, although you still have Mt. Adams and Northeast to turn to....

Yeah, especially the ones parked in front of fire hydrants (see #19). Great photos.

I can't seem to find the Banks thread.....am I missing something? I guess I will post here for now... In any event, after another big pour in the wee hours, I would estimate that they have 1/8th of the surface area left to complete (including Freedom Way, it is basically 16 squares...they have two left to complete). They also put globes on the lamposts that went up recently on freedom way (along with the sidewalk pavers). Although this is in some ways premature, I think it is more for PR. People look at it and see a real street with lights, bricks and everything. Helps the average pedestrian or sportsfan visualize what is going on and what it will become.

they're working so fast it scares me! BTW the garage is coming along nicely. Looks as though they've hit a plateu? How thick is that sheet metal they're laying down for the floors? It looks mighty thin to be consider a floor? I thought they would lay concrete down or something. How are they doing the floors? They reinforce the sheet metal plates with steel rods and then pour the concrete (from my observation). They have concrete floors up to 13 or so now. Once the concrete is down these guys ride these fun little hover-bumper cars over it to aid in evening out the drying process (?). Whatever....they were on those things today and they look like a carnival ride.

From my office, I can see that they have extended it the length of the west side, one floor, with a slight wraparound on the north corner. I can't see what it does on the southern exterior. They are starting a second floor as well.

get ready for the inevitable media onslaught.....It already started in Sunday's Enq. Shoes! Service! Seattle! repeat ad nauseum.

Cinci rail debate tonight at the uptown consortium. Not sure if this was publicized earlier but didnt see anything. http://hosted.verticalresponse.com/156220/55206b47d5/50003081/43478a5818/