tedolph

Thanks KJP. That makes a lot of sense and confirms my suspicions. What I don't understand is that Strickland is going to have $400,000,000.00 of candy to pass out. It all doesn't have to go to Democrat donors. Why can't he offer some of it (half of it?) to Republican road contractors? Is building/repairing rail bed really that different that laying down asphalt/concrete? Couldn't he waive some retooling/retraining money in front of these people? This doesn't seem all that complicated and makes me think that Strickland is a bit politically naive. After all, he has years to get all these pieces in place. What is it I am not getting? A final thought. These road contractors have to know that the Eisenhower era of freeway construction is over. Wouldn't they like to be transitioned to the new federal cash trough gently rather than through the cold, hard market system?

Then they are fools. The Democrats themselves should be crucifying Strickland. He didn't deliver on anything he promised (fixing transit funding? economy?-Honda lost on his watch, etc.). There are much better things to hang on him than $400,000,000 of free money.

There must be something more to the Republican opposition to this plan than meets the eye. As I said before, this program is justifiable solely based on its improvements to the freight rail corridor. The commercial carriers would not be "on board" if it weren't. So why the blatant partisanship? If this is an issue the Republicans chose as a poster boy for excessive government spending they could have picked a far better issue and I don't think they are that stupid. Are they holding out for something in trade? Any speculation?

Sad. When it comes to economic development I wish Ohio was more like Texas. Our small towns, the countryside, etc. are so much prettier.

Cleveland had a number of things going against it other than market forces. Cleveland's political class did not make sufficient efforts to retain those companies for fear of a populist backlash by the Dennis Kucinich types, as well as necessary efforts to repace them a la Atlanta. Cleveland's investor class still saw the ability to make money by investing in legacy industries rather than newer, "riskier" industries like semiconductor fabrication (Harris Intertype), specialty chemicals (Diamond/Shamrock) and other high tech. Cities like Minneapolis had no legacy industries to invest in so it invested in new things like medical devices, computers, etc. Finally, nobody saw NAFTA coming and this hit companies like TRW from behind leaving only the nonautomotive parts of the company viable which had no historical or investment links to Cleveland. I continue to believe that a general anti-business pro-labor political attitude combined with a reactive investment philosophy doomed Cleveland. Sadly, those things are only attitudes which are the easiest of structural things to change. All the other raw materials (capital, intellectual property, technological capacity) were in place for success.

As a recent releasee from administrative action I can say with some authority that the Moderators should be cut a lot of slack, even if their decisions are not perfect. It is a thankless job that allows us to have a discussion in a moderated forum. The advantages always outweigh the disadvantages.

Well then, that makes it OK.

If they go that route, are you thinking Metroparks? I'm just hoping. I can't imagine that a public course with a new country club-style clubhouse couldn't do well in that area (plenty of golfers/people with money and a complete lack of public golf courses on the east side inside I-271). Bingo. Metroparks could eventually sell the small portion set aside for the stalled housing development when the market impoves to pay off the purchase.

Very nice.

The jig is up. WASHINGTON -- China trimmed its holdings of U.S. Treasury debt 1.3 percent in February, the fourth consecutive decline. Those reductions are raising concerns that the U.S. government could face higher interest rates to finance its soaring budget deficits in the future. The Treasury Department said today that China's holdings dropped $11.5 billion to $877.5 billion. That still leaves it as the largest foreign holder of U.S. Treasury debt. Japan retained the No. 2 spot with $768.5 billion, a drop of 0.4 percent from the January level. more: http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2010/04/china_trims_us_treasury_debt_h.html

And Mayor Prosperity's Economic Development Office did.....?

There is no rational objection to this project on the merits. If all it did was improve the freight corridor using federal funds it would be worth it. The passenger aspect is merely a bonus. The basis of the objections have an alternate motive.

From a stockholder perspective the transition was not seamless.

Article in today's Seattle Paper says Wa MU was railroaded by Feds. If that is true NCB was triple railroaded.

Very Nice. After cleaning, will the facade colors match?

You mean jump across Euclid (515).

Possibly the worst example of complementary uses I have ever heard of. What were they thinking! Maybe they can put a temporary crematorium next door!

Nope, wide red suspenders with OCL on the leather patch in the back.

Not all prejudicial stereotypes are negative, incorrect and unwise perhaps, but not negative.

While you were outside having drinks on East Fourth Street, those of us here in Seattle have been enjoying the 30 degree mornings and the 40's/50's rainy outdoor cafe scene. We still haven't hit 70 degrees. Not atypical for a Seattle spring. Although, we can still go skiing!

"Ohio’s only excuse for not having a quality passenger rail system is a lack of initiative." False. Ohio's primary excuse is the power of it's automobile/freeway construction lobby.

No matter what store I am in, but most often in a hardware store (lowes, home depot all the time), people always ask me for help. I give it to them, take them where the stuff is or tell them what to use and they walk thinking I work there. happens 50% of the time. What race do they think I am?

As a former teacher at an Associates degree granting college (Electronic Technology Instute, 40th and Euclid-now gone) of students predominately from the Cleveland Public School system circa 1980 I can tell you that there is a lot of unrecognized, undeveloped potential in students from underclass neighborhoods. Motivation, which often accompanies having to pay tuition out of your own pocket and a goal, i.e. getting a specific type of job have a lot to do with realizing that potential. An iron fisted instructor who recognizes that potential also helps. Matering complex material can become addictive to students who have never done so before.

Cleveland architecture really puts down town Seattle to shame.

Out of all of Ohio's cities I (as do many others) think of Akron as the little city that could. Cleveland could learn a lot from its south eastern sister.