Does anyone on this board support Cranley? I haven't heard one positive about him.

He's not a good dude.  He went to my high school and was the golden boy.  The administration loved him.  He's one of those guys. 

I am not a fan. Have had to deal with him on random occasions for work, my company uses his firm, I don't really trust him. There's always something very insincere about him.

He caused the 2001 riots.

I remember her being popular but I am a bit too young to remember what made her so popular (aside from the things that make her popular now). Does anyone recall specific moments or aspects of her agenda that contributed to her popularity at the time? She first ran for council in 1987 and placed 14th. In 1989 she placed 10th and in 1991 she made it on coming in 8th. In 1993 she was number 1 which made her mayor. Is that rise entirely due to her amazing campaigning ability and general like-ability, or was she front and center on some issues that I can't remember?

 

Earliest I heard of her, it was in regards to work she did in Northside to make it the community it is today.  Though this is just vague memories and rumor, can anyone confirm that?

I just looked at Cranley's facebook profile for the first time.  Tons of photos of him in the company of country club-type situations.  Also his wife is quite obviously from a very wealthy family as well.  What's really disturbing about the guy is the way he advertises his "concern" for human rights, etc., so disingenuously. 

^ He really is a caricature of the term “bleeding heart liberal elite.”

His only campaign issue is "I'm anti-streetcar".  He's literally basing his entire campaign on one issue and hoping 700wlw/Smitherman/Enquirer go to bat for him

I remember her being popular but I am a bit too young to remember what made her so popular (aside from the things that make her popular now). Does anyone recall specific moments or aspects of her agenda that contributed to her popularity at the time? She first ran for council in 1987 and placed 14th. In 1989 she placed 10th and in 1991 she made it on coming in 8th. In 1993 she was number 1 which made her mayor. Is that rise entirely due to her amazing campaigning ability and general like-ability, or was she front and center on some issues that I can't remember?

 

Earliest I heard of her, it was in regards to work she did in Northside to make it the community it is today.  Though this is just vague memories and rumor, can anyone confirm that?

Not sure of the timeline anymore. The neighborhood got 'facelift' funding from the city. The north end of the business district got cleaned up but the second half of the funding didn't come through so the southern half kept limping along.

There was the decades long battle to stop the "Colerain Connector"

I forget if she was involved in those issues in Northside.

She started an environmental organization. I forget the name.

Biased Barry Horstman and his magical hair piece strikes again. He is the Cincinnati's version of Tokyo Rose, Lord Haw Haw and Axis Sally all rolled into one. Cranley might as well put Horstman and the rest of the Enquirer's so-called "journalists" on his campaign payroll or employ them as his PR agents, because that's what they essentially are. Cranley gets nothing but positive PR from the Enquirer and has never once been asked a tough question by the Enquirer, such as how he plans to serve as Mayor when he was forced to resign from City Council after the Ohio Ethics Commission ruled that his conflicts of interests as a developer would prevent him from working in City Government. Cranley is still a developer and still has those same conflicts of interest:

 

http://www.naacpcincinnati.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=421&Itemid=42

 

Cranley's constant criticism of spending on the streetcar makes him the biggest hypocrite in Cincinnati. John Cranley's Incline Village has been the recipient of millions of City Taxpayer funds, including $3.3 million from the Neighborhood Stabilization Program 2, $1.8 million from the Cincinnati Community Reinvestment Area LEED tax exception, as well as $1.7 million City HOME loan, among other City funds. Cranley's development is also directly benefiting from the $60+ Million rebuilding of the Waldvogel Viaduct, which City Taxpayers are funding. At his law firm, attorney/lobbyist John Cranley orchestrated the $35 Million renovation of the Vernon Manor in a project that used TIF and City bond financing at the People of Cincinnati's expense.

 

John Cranley's pet projects dwarf the amount that will be spent on the streetcar, and now he wants to cry about the City spending on a project that was approved by the voters TWICE, when none of the projects that he's benefiting from ever got put to a vote? John Cranley is a rank hypocrite.

Furthermore, Cranley's Incline Village development, which has cost City Taxpayers millions of dollars, is a boondoggle in the truest sense. The one business to open there, the Bayou Fish House, has already gone bust:

 

http://westside.fox19.com/news/restaurants/95366-bayou-fish-house-closed-price-hill

 

The Incline Public House was to have opened in Autumn 2012, and so far there's no sign that this establishment will open its doors anytime soon:

 

Incline Public House to open in Price Hill by October

 

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/newintown/2012/07/13/incline-public-house-to-open-in-price-hill-by-october/

 

John Cranley is long on promises and short on delivery.

This morning, the Enquirer reached a new low with its biased fluff-piece on Cranley--I really didn't know whether to laugh, cry, or gag.

 

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20130112/EDIT03/301120123/IN-DEPTH-John-Cranley-feisty-faithful

 

(The fact that this trash is being featured in the large and popular Sunday paper is also disturbing.)

Nice fluff piece indeed. And while tough questions are mentioned (like where all the money would come from for his "Marshall Plan") they aren't directly stated/asked. For example - why does the Enquirer not mention the city's homicide rate is at (at least) a 10-year low?

looks like the only positive comments are from a guy on Cranley's payroll.

Nice fluff piece indeed. And while tough questions are mentioned (like where all the money would come from for his "Marshall Plan") they aren't directly stated/asked. For example - why does the Enquirer not mention the city's homicide rate is at (at least) a 10-year low?

 

Hiding current information that doesn't support their hypotheses is a popular trick these days.

Carl Weiser ‏@cweiser

“@ryan_mcgoron: @janeprendergast @cweiser is a Republican going to run for mayor?”///Possibly @greghartmann, per reporter @SharonCoolidge

 

Should Hartmann run, I'd have to think he takes a lot of Cranley's support(and takes his media endorsement from Enquirer and 700wlw)

The problem with Cranley is for all his weaseling he picked the completely wrong strategy for his political career.  He decided to be a Luken in a city and especially a country that is moving rapidly away from that.  By being so spectacularly old-fashioned he painted himself into a corner and I really don't see obvious places for him to go except perhaps county commissioner. 

 

Fact is the only thing he has going for him is that he knows how to use the media to promote himself.  But when people meet him in person he's an exceptionally strange and off-putting person.  He's the kind of guy who you know will tirelessly work to be "the boss" and if he's your boss you know he'd delight in firing you.  People don't invite such people into their homes. 

 

This is the complete opposite of Roxanne Qualls, who the media doesn't like, but who got to where she is by getting to know individuals and organizations. 

The project also sought to "stand the test of time" through the use of quality materials and quality designs – and by honoring the neighborhood's architectural history.

 

"These are people who understand what it is to build a great urban environment," said Vice Mayor Roxanne Qualls. "This is a model that, quite frankly, I hope we can replicate in other neighborhoods."

http://www.building-cincinnati.com/2013/01/second-phase-of-stetson-square-breaks.html

 

This is exactly what bothers me about both Qualls and Mallory. They are willing to go to bat for developers who want to build crap. Stetson Square is not the worst of new construction in the city. Not even the worst of new construction in Corryville. But it's not something I want to see replicated anywhere, and the praise is completely unnecessary, unwarranted, and untrue.

 

4 to 8 years of Qualls will mean 4 to 8 years of the status quo, when it comes to demolitions and ugly/boring infill.

^Actually Qualls fights against boring infill type stuff but it's private investment (for the most part) and she is not, as some people paint her out to be, an overbearing commie tyrant. She's fairly serious about personal property rights.

I could say build your own but I understand few people can - it takes $$$$$.

Qualls understands that.

I'm sure Cranley & Hartman will have much grander visions.

At the very least she doesn't need to hype it up as something it's not.

^Actually Qualls fights against boring infill type stuff but it's private investment (for the most part) and she is not, as some people paint her out to be, an overbearing commie tyrant. She's fairly serious about personal property rights.

 

As much as I don't like the awful developments in Corryville espicially, I actually think Qualls policies will in the long term help Cincy move away from that.  Being a champion of Form-Based code is totally a step in the right direction towards getting more appropriate infill for Cincy.

^ Except that form based codes produce exactly the type of development that people here are complaining about.  The Stetson Squares and U-Squares of the world are what form based codes try to emulate.

They're always going to be developers looking to find ways to cheap out and property owners willing to do anything possible to avoid having to be residential and commercial landlords simultaneously.

^ Except that form based codes produce exactly the type of development that people here are complaining about.  The Stetson Squares and U-Squares of the world are what form based codes try to emulate.

 

No. FBCs can produce that type of development because developers go cheap. They are not designed to emulate Stetson Square-style developments. FBCs try to emulate what OTR is like in terms of form. FBCs do not specify style or level of detailing.

^ Except that form based codes produce exactly the type of development that people here are complaining about.  The Stetson Squares and U-Squares of the world are what form based codes try to emulate.

 

No. FBCs can produce that type of development because developers go cheap. They are not designed to emulate Stetson Square-style developments. FBCs try to emulate what OTR is like in terms of form. FBCs do not specify style or level of detailing.

 

There are already setback and height limitations in existing code.  There are definitely aspects of the current zoning code that should be revisited, and I think many areas should be rezoned and/or have various overlays, but swapping the whole thing out for a form based code will definitely lead to monotony that more closely resembles The Banks or UPA than OTR. This discussion belongs in the codes thread, though, and I think I’ve already had it a few times there. FBC’s are really one of the only qualms I have with Qualls, though.

The project also sought to "stand the test of time" through the use of quality materials and quality designs – and by honoring the neighborhood's architectural history.

 

"These are people who understand what it is to build a great urban environment," said Vice Mayor Roxanne Qualls. "This is a model that, quite frankly, I hope we can replicate in other neighborhoods."

http://www.building-cincinnati.com/2013/01/second-phase-of-stetson-square-breaks.html

 

This is exactly what bothers me about both Qualls and Mallory. They are willing to go to bat for developers who want to build crap. Stetson Square is not the worst of new construction in the city. Not even the worst of new construction in Corryville. But it's not something I want to see replicated anywhere, and the praise is completely unnecessary, unwarranted, and untrue.

 

4 to 8 years of Qualls will mean 4 to 8 years of the status quo, when it comes to demolitions and ugly/boring infill.

 

^I completely disagree with this post.  Remember that 15 years ago there were still demolitions but there were few new developments. And seriously, Stetson square is in no way a bad development for Cincinnati. It's actually possibly one of the best infill developments since 2007. And certainly the best in Corryville.  The Mayor can't jus unilaterally stop demolitions. And if its not in a historic district there is almost no control the city can have. There's this thing called property rights and sometimes it means someone can tear down a building. If you wan more rules on those things being a proposal to a Councilmember and see if they would pass a change.

 

Here is the building Cranley was the developer of:

 

 

 

Yeah I can understand people not liking the "fortress" feel of Stetson Square, but the units are the highest quality in the area, and much nicer than what we're seeing from Cranley. 

I think you guys are looking at my post in the wrong way. If you read the article, you'll see this:

"These are people who understand what it is to build a great urban environment," said Vice Mayor Roxanne Qualls. "This is a model that, quite frankly, I hope we can replicate in other neighborhoods."

 

I disagree with Qualls here. Stetson Square does not exemplify a great urban environment which I wish to see replicated in other neighborhoods. And I don't appreciate Qualls, assuming she knows what a great urban environment looks like, blowing a bunch of hot air and endorsing Stetson Square as the pinnacle of what Cincinnati developers should strive to produce. Because I really do want to see great urban environments, and I want those environments to be recognized as such by our leaders, rather than something that is arguably-better-than-average-for-contemporary-Cincinnati-development.

 

Some people here are taking my statement and warping it into an endorsement for Cranley, which is completely wrong. I like Qualls, but here she demonstrates something about her and Mallory which I don't like.

Stetson Square was a step in the right direction for urban infill (albeit a very small one) but the development highlights two things, one the limitations of traditional zoning and two the lack of vision from the developer. I think Qualls' support for the city's new Comprehensive Plan and Form-based code shows that she's willing to take steps in the right direction for contextual infill in city neighborhoods, whereas Cranley is not.

This is called you disagreeing with how all politicians act. They all go to ribbon cuttings and say things like this. Hell you could go through all of Obamas speeches and say, I don't like how he's presuming Americans want _____.

 

Also, what would you have preferred here? The townhome part of Stetson is very good. These new ones are very good too.

 

What did you want instead?

Incline Village; Price Hill

 

Incline Village; Price Hill

 

Terrible..

Wow, that's a beauty.

 

/snark

Anybody know of any interior shots of these 2 developments?

I am not even finding a website for Incline Village. (I have the cheesy Stetson Sq music jangling in my head now)

I like the weeds in the steps at Cranley's place.

Incline Village; Price Hill

 

 

 

That went up in the late '80s, right?

Libertarian Jim Berns has filed his signatures.

In this clip from WLWT, I particularly like the guys flanking Berns in the interview section.

yeah, I know it's cold out, but....

also notice in the end, how much bigger Cranley's head is than Qualls'

That's a propaganda technique but I'm guessing it's just laziness on the graphics department here.

http://www.wlwt.com/news/local-news/cincinnati/Jim-Berns-files-paperwork-to-run-for-mayor/-/13549970/18246496/-/khgmt1z/-/index.html

John Cranley raised $176,000 by the end of last year for his Mayoral run

 

Roxanne Qualls raised $94,000 and had $60,000 on hand bringing her total to $154,000

Wow! That is not a lot of money for Cranley. I would say he definitely needs more than Qualls, maybe even twice as much more. Very interesting.

The official money totals raised thus far are:

 

Cranley - $176,471

Qualls - $154,780

 

 

 

Robert Castellini gave both candidates $600.

 

Some Cranley Donors:

-Albert Smitherman

-Columbia Square Properties LLC and Joseph Enterprises both in the name of Ronald Joseph

-Glenway Land Company/Mike Brandy

-Former Macy's CEO James Zimmerman

John Cranley's finance report

 

Roxanne Donors:

-Douglass McDonald, President and CEO of the Cincinnati Museum Center

-Marylin and Martin Wade, restaurant and real estate investors

-James Hatfield of Cincinnati Bulk Terminals

-Phillip Castellini

Roxanne Qualls' finance report

 

 

 

Cranley supporters I've gathered thus far:

-Oscar Robertson

-Chris Smitherman

-Charlie Winburn

-COAST

 

 

I think Qualls' streetcar statement will energize her supporters but won't change anybody's mind.

My hardcore police union nephew told me Qualls doesn't have a chance.

I've never heard anyone say Cranley stands a chance until that post. 

 

Again, Qualls and Cranely were 1-2 council votes, but for mayor voters can't vote for both.  Cranley's been out of the picture for 2-3 years. 

Wow! That is not a lot of money for Cranley. I would say he definitely needs more than Qualls, maybe even twice as much more. Very interesting.

 

After flipping through the report it looks like Cranley got most (95%+) of his contributions in December.  Qualls, who raised less (council carryover doesn't really count), was raising hers over a 3-month span.  Cranley also has spent less of his war chest so far.  Assuming these trends continue, and Cranley is a voracious fundraiser, he will drown Roxanne in a sea of green by September.  Hell, he almost doubled up her three-months of fundraising in one month, $172K to $94K.  That does not bode well...

Cranley, Qualls throw jabs at each other

 

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/politics/2013/02/01/cranley-qualls-throw-jabs-over-finance-reports/

If the City wins the settlement between Duke and them regarding the relocation of the streetcar utilities then Duke is forced to pay the ~$15 million in costs associated with the project.  According to the Business Courier article from today PUCO has either determined/recommended they can then pass those costs on to the citizens who live in Cincinnati.  (I believe i am understanding this correctly, if not I apologize). 

 

Cranley's entire election process is based upon bashing the streetcar and this would give him some serious ammo saying that all citizens of the city will have to pay for the relocation of the utilities and I feel this would have a say in the way many people vote, even if they are not against the streetcar.

 

I know that Qualls is the favorite to win the election, but I also feel this issue is one that could playout and get pretty nasty come election time.

Do the math.  It's going to cost each citizen, if each citizen were actually equal, about $50.  Except wealthy people and businesses pay WAY more in taxes, so a minimum wage worker is paying virtually nothing, maybe $10. 

 

Meanwhile Cranley's advocacy for more police officers after the riot has cost Cincinnati about $150 million, or each citizen, if they were equal, about $500 over the past 10 years. 

Yes I certianly understand where you are coming from, but many voters will not think rationally about it.  They will hear or watch and advertisement saying it is going to cost them more money.  The ad will be ambigous and wont be specific. But people will react blindly to it.

Cranley is quietly piling up some endorsements:

 

Laketa Cole

Oscar Robertson

Bootsy Collins

Smitherclowns(and probably naacp)

COAST

55krc

700wlw

 

David pepper seems to be leaning cranley as well (although he hasn't officially endorsed anyone yet)

 

If a conservative decides to run, most likely he or she will take votes from cranley

Cranley is quietly piling up some endorsements:

 

Laketa Cole

Oscar Robertson

Bootsy Collins

Smitherclowns(and probably naacp)

COAST

55krc

700wlw

 

David pepper seems to be leaning cranley as well (although he hasn't officially endorsed anyone yet)

 

If a conservative decides to run, most likely he or she will take votes from cranley

 

Half of those "endorsements" are probably albatrosses. And what, exactly, has WLW championed recently that actually won at the ballot box?

Bootsy Collins?

Jim Berns has challenged city council to abolish the mayoral primary.

"Let’s see if they can do something as easy and sensible as this," he wrote.

Can the council do that? The voters enacted the primary when voting to directly elect the mayor.

 

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/politics/2013/02/07/berns-why-spend-so-much-on-mayoral-primary/