Great, I will go read it here in a minute.  Someone needs to start a topic that is a tip sheet of sorts so we will know to go to these sites as soon as they pop up and rebut either false information or even overly negative information like was found on this site. 

I will get googling again and make a list michael.

Thanks Max, I think this will be helpful.  It will allow us to proactively advocate for OTR and change a few opinions here and there.  Unfortunately, I am afraid we are going to have a long, long list but we will take it one at a time.

 

Great idea. Nice job with your post on that site. I just added my own.

Both of your post were great, and I think that specifics like these with the links directly to the information is very powerful.  Also having several people backing up the information and adding to, lends tremendous credibility to our side.  Good work!

 

I am having to go back and forth with this person on here that keeps on insisting that it is not safe and somehow irresponsible to say otherwise.  Fortunately, we have the truth on our side and a recent news story to help prove it.

 

"Not good advice from you to them. But, now, that said, travelers, just ask your hotel. Be careful of first time posters."

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60993-i402-k986562-o30-O_T_R_your_opinion_please-Cincinnati_Ohio.html

 

and this in response to facts, not opinions.  We have been on the defensive too long, time to confront everyone with the facts, figures, and honest data that is proving us right more and more everyday.

New type of project would help Cincinnati's chronically homeless, but not everyone's a fan

Business Courier of Cincinnati - by Lucy May Senior Staff Reporter

Friday, March 7, 2008

 

The Over-the-Rhine Community Housing Network is working with the Cincinnati Center City Development Corp. to develop a new type of housing for the city's chronically homeless.

 

The $3.2 million development would be the first of its kind in Greater Cincinnati and would cater to the most difficult to serve among Cincinnati and Hamilton County's homeless population. There were 9,448 homeless people in Hamilton County in 2006, according to the "2006 Homeless Information Management System Demographic Report" produced by the Cincinnati/Hamilton County Continuum of Care.

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Does anyone know anything about Wikipedia?  I looked up OTR and under the revitalization efforts section, it is somewhat thin.  Can we get more info put into this section and pictures?  The revitalization section is about the same size as the Riots section yet it is the revitalization that is most dominant in todays OTR.  Even the attractions could have more info on bock fest etc. and community organizations has the DIC and chemical dependency but doesnt mention the OTR Chamber, OTR Foundation, etc.  Anyone have any suggestions on how to add to this?  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Over-the-Rhine

 

Community organizations

 

In April 2006, the low income housing organizations ReSTOC and the Over-the-Rhine Housing Network, merged to create Over-the-Rhine Community Housing. This organization works to develop affordable housing in the neighborhood. The neighborhood is also home to the Drop Inn Center, a homeless shelter which offers chemical dependency treatment.[6]

 

 

Also is it possible to do one for each section of OTR?  Ie Findlay that goes more in depth, Main Street, Gateway, Brewery Dist?  We should have enough information just on here to pull from to have one of the most comprehensive wiki pages out there.  But I need some help.

I agree that this endeavor is worthy of its own thread, but I just want to point out that the City Data forums (http://www.city-data.com/forum/cincinnati/) could use a few more balanced viewpoints.  For those not familiar with the site, it's similar to Tripadvisor, but more focused on relocation than visiting.

 

Nice work Michael.

Ok, found it.

 

Here is the direct link.  Everyone jump in and give your two cents.

 

http://www.city-data.com/forum/cincinnati/261119-over-rhine-looking-good-3.html

^^^That sounds like recipe for disaster here.  This sounds like the projects for the homeless. However, this does bring about a good point which is where do you move the poor into the city.  Do you place them in Avondale, move more to Price Hil?  Also what types of skills and jobs can these people get.  If rent is at $500 a month where do they get the money to pay for this unless they get $13 -$17 an hour jobs; I work with kids whose parents are dealing with these issues right now and beating down the hope of these kids while at it.  Some are working two jobs to get it done but many don't have that network of hope to get their stuff together easily.    I'm waiting for the city to put some visible leadership behind these issues and it seems like I'll be waiting for a long time.

The goal is to see an economically diverse community in OTR and this is the replacing of an already existing level of low income housing but at a much reduced overall percentage.  We can absorb low income housing so long as it is properly managed, and is not at a disproportionate amount of the total.  Bortz has it right when he says "We have to be very, very careful about creating additional subsidized housing in Over-the-Rhine," Bortz said. "A neighborhood can only sustain so much of a single demographic, especially if that single demographic is a high-risk population."

 

Now with Landlord accountability, hopefully the management will be better than in the past.

Have fun with this one........http://community.local12.com/forums/thread/2389689.aspx

 

 

A few degrading OTR posts here.

http://patdollard.com/2008/02/video-motel-clerk-with-ccw-surprises-robber/

"So if crime is down 25% then for every 4 shots that are fired, i only have a chance of getting hit with 3 now"

 

Hummmm? toughy.

 

Did you see Brian's remarks?

District One, which includes downtown and OTR, has had 18 consecutive months of double digit decline in crime.  When you compare 2007 to 2006, crime was down 25% and when you compare 2007 to 2002, crime is down 41%.  In fact, District One now has the lowest crime statistics of Cincinnati's 5 districts.  That means that downtown and OTR are now the safest neighborhoods in our city.  What I find most offensive is that the one voice that should be supporting our city is instead perpetuating the perception based entirely on hearsay and talk when clearly the facts demonstrate otherwise.  To date, private investment in the last two years totals nearly 80 million dollars in OTR.  That investment, along with the hard work of the CPD, the Hamilton County Sheriff, and our entire community, significant positive changes have occurred in the lives of everyone who live, work, shop, and play in OTR.  Clearly, we have more to do to make our entire city clean and safe, however, now is the time to embrace the significant changes and positively reinforce the progress we are making together.

I went to the channel 12 thread.  I laughed, I cried, I left astounded.  Just unreal. 

 

There was one post that was insightful, but other than that it was a lesson in ignorance, groupthink and abhorrent English.

Lets fill this blog up!  I will put one in tomorrow and I hope to see dozens more from here posting on there.

What is the purpose of this little crusade? It seems quite stupid to me, seeing that the majority of negative posters on these boards will never go downtown anyways, and I doubt anyone will be able to change their minds.

Edale,

 

For far to long misinformation and negativism about both OTR and Downtown have gone unopposed.  I refuse to sit back and read things like OTR is the most dangerous place in Cincinnati when it isn't, or the prosecutor making statements like he would never let his kid venture into OTR.  We complain that there is a negative perception about this neighborhood that is not always backed up by the truth.  How can we complain if we do not do everything we can to right the wrong?

 

Will this do any good?  I have no idea, but at least if someone googles OTR and one of these sites pops up, both sides are represented.  They have been good at getting the negative word out, but we have not been as active as we should be about getting out the positive word to balance them.

 

Should we let this just go unopposed and just hope no one reads it?  This is Channel 12, not an untrusted sourse to most people.

"I do not feel safe in Cincinnati. I use to go there but i no longer do. I avoid it".

 

I am only asking that you give your honest opinion.  I am not giving talking points, but just asking that people give a fair and honest debate in the face of one sided, negative, and very destructive opinion pieces.

 

Ok, I have posted and am awaiting moderator approval.

This is pretty much the main reason behind my activity on blogs, and my UrbanCincy site.  It is easy to complain and bitch about things...it is something that a certain segment of the population is always attracted to and therefore creates a stable readership.  Reeling people in with reason, logic, and level-headedness is much more difficult but a worthy venture nonetheless.

 

UrbanCincy comes up a bunch on google searches and is a positive outlet for Cincy news/info.  I don't gloss over things that may be negative...but I'm not negative for the sake of being negative...I'm positive for the sake of being positive and I think that is a noble cause.  It is a labor of love.

^Yeah, I think that sites like this, UrbanCincy, BuildingCincinnati, CincyImages, etc. are the counter to these other boards.  That's why I personally don't see quite a need to post counter arguments.

There may not be a need for those who are familiar with the other boards.  But for those who are not and happen to stumble across a channel 12 forum, I just want to see some counterargument.  Even the people who are posting up the negative comments about OTR should have reason to pause in the face of credible opposition vs a forum that does nothing but reinforce their misinformed views.  Also, keep in mind that the sites you mention above have a positive cumulatively affect, but the opposite is also true when when we can point to a handful of sites that have a negative cumulatively affect so call it a study in gorilla marketing.  It may be a waist of time but at least it is a cathartic waist of time so what do we have to loose? 

I'm very optimistic about OTR. I think it's fair that so many people are concerned about crime but it's important that people understand what caused OTR's decline in the first place--the abundance of socal services and concentration of subsidized housing. Unfortunately, change in public perception takes time, especially when you consider the local media outlets that dominate here. The Enquirer and local news stations need to cover improvements more and praise them for drastically lowering the crime rate in the district. Reporting quotes from WLW and Joe Deters on issues they as professionals aren't even qualified to make a public announcement on is extremely dangerous and detrimental to the city. I consider it socially irresponsible.

Well for anyone who thinks that we don't need a more active PR machine here in OTR....this from another thread.

 

"I was listening to 96 Rock this morning, and one of the DJ's from the Two Angry Guys made a comment on OTR in regarding the current development and the conviction of the kid who was charged with murder.  He said he would never go to OTR and encouraged everyone else not to go there because it is what it is.  It will always be a hot bed for crime and drugs and no matter what is going to happen (i.e. development, opening of new restaurants, streetcars), let the criminals have it and STAY OUT"

 

This will simply go unopposed.

Has there been any effort to use CinWeekly or CityBeat as a way to promote sites like UrbanOhio, UrbanCincy, BuildingCincinnati or any other Pro-Cincinnati blogs/sites?  Those newspapers and those sites are relatively both "underground" establishments.  I think that would help promote our efforts a little more.

Has there been any effort to use CinWeekly or CityBeat as a way to promote sites like UrbanOhio, UrbanCincy, BuildingCincinnati or any other Pro-Cincinnati blogs/sites?  Those newspapers and those sites are relatively both "underground" establishments.  I think that would help promote our efforts a little more.

 

DRC used to use benches to advertise downtown living.

 

Well for anyone who thinks that we don't need a more active PR machine here in OTR

 

Everybody get themselves an I love OTR sticker at Park and vine. Up the OTR!

I'm in the I love OTR Facebook group!

How about this.  Lets do an I HEART OTR like Max developed for the bumper sticker and then list each of the sites.  We can raise enough money between us to get an ad.  If each of us put in $5 we would have enough.  We can funnel it through a non profit and get lower rates. Also put on there that if you bring in the ad to Park and Vine you get a free bumper sticker.  And $50 to anyone who can put one of the bumper sticker onto the cars of the two DJ's at 96.5.

And $50 to anyone who can put one of the bumper sticker onto the cars of the two DJ's at 96.5.

 

Don't do that, remember the FUH2 days when people put climate change stickers on hummers? you can get in big trouble for that now.

 

Also put on there that if you bring in the ad to Park and Vine you get a free bumper sticker.

 

Free?  hey I need to recoup my printing costs!  :-)

Free?  hey I need to recoup my printing costs!

Surely we can raise that as well.  We can put a donation jar at Miltons or something.

 

As for the bumper stickers on the cars, just kidding :roll: No one should ever do this :wink: I am firmly against this. :angel:

^Put the bumper stickers over their MOUTHS!!!!...haha

Has there been any effort to use CinWeekly or CityBeat as a way to promote sites like UrbanOhio, UrbanCincy, BuildingCincinnati or any other Pro-Cincinnati blogs/sites?  Those newspapers and those sites are relatively both "underground" establishments.  I think that would help promote our efforts a little more.

 

CinWeekly is a product of the Enquirer...I don't really consider them to be "underground" and/or an entity that would be willing to help the cause so to speak.  But yes, that kind of effort has been considered and researched a little bit.  The problem is that the costs are extremely expensive considering that many of the sites are llabors of love.  I'm already broke, but if someone would like to pay to advertise my site then I would be more than happy to entertain ideas.

 

I'm in the I love OTR Facebook group!

 

That's right...I created that group.  :-D

^Does anyone know a writer for any "underground" mag or newspaper?  UC's Newrecord, CinWeekly, etc..  This could be a great and free write up as a feature story

Surely we can raise that as well.  We can put a donation jar at Miltons or something.

 

Sorry dude, I have a deal with P&V. You want a sticker? buy one, support the store and OTR business. No freebies!!    :-D

 

 

^Does anyone know a writer for any "underground" mag or newspaper?  UC's Newrecord, CinWeekly, etc..  This could be a great and free write up as a feature story

 

Yes...Downtowner, CityBeat, Soapbox Cincinnati.

Does anyone know a writer for any "underground" mag or newspaper?  UC's Newrecord, CinWeekly, etc..  This could be a great and free write up as a feature story

I do, I'll see him on thursday.(works at citybeat)

Does anyone know a writer for any "underground" mag or newspaper?  UC's Newrecord, CinWeekly, etc..  This could be a great and free write up as a feature story

I do, I'll see him on thursday.(works at citybeat)

 

UrbanCincy.com

^huh?

 

I know one for the pulse and the enquire.

 

Max, can we get a sticker that just says OTR that is like the oval European stickers?

I think it would be a bolder statement if it said OVER-THE-RHINE, rather than OTR, IMO

You may be right, it is amazing how many people stop me at stop lights and ask what OTR means. 

so, the plan is to sabotage local media outlets, place OVER-THE-RHINE stickers on everything and run amok all over Cincinnati?

 

:police:

:police:

:strong::strong:

I would not say that.  It is to challenge the local media outlets and give items that promote community pride to anyone who wants it.  Bottom line is that we need to do something other than just complain that there is a negative perception that does not reflect reality. 

 

think it would be a bolder statement if it said OVER-THE-RHINE, rather than OTR, IMO

 

When people ask the question they are the "Listening type"

 

It is a conversation piece.  I have people ask what it means outside of the city all the time. Gives me a chance to talk about OTR and how much I love it!  Old Time Radio , Over the Road, On the Rag, I have heard it all.

It is a conversation piece.  I have people ask what it means outside of the city all the time. Gives me a chance to talk about OTR and how much I love it!   Old Time Radio , Over the Road, On the Rag, I have heard it all.

 

I've heard "Off-Track Racing" as well.

Great point Max.

I would not say that.  It is to challenge the local media outlets and give items that promote community pride to anyone who wants it.  Bottom line is that we need to do something other than just complain that there is a negative perception that does not reflect reality. 

 

Sure there are some negative media sources about OTR, but there have been some positive stories coming out of the Enquirer and the local news stations lately too (see the channel 5 piece).  Plus, there are all the blogs, websites, Citybeat, and Cin Weekly which all tend to lean pretty heavily in favor of OTR in their reporting and coverage. 

I think it's naiive to try to place counter arguments everywhere you turn and expect people who dwell in negative boards to all of a sudden think positively about the neighborhood.  Rather, I think posting in urban boards and blogs, and letting the people who are legitimately interested and open minded is a much better tactic to let people know what is changing and going on in OTR. 

 

Plus, sometimes you've just got to let the neighborhood speak for itself, which according to reports of bustling sales at stores in the Q and a  routinely "packed" Lavomatic, I'd say is already happening.

As far as the purpose of these message boards posts, etc.  I think time and effort are better spent creating a killer wikipedia page.  If anyone is looking into info on OTR they might by chance hit one of the message boards, but they will almost surely hit wikipedia.  If that page is the one, unified, concerted page that encompasses everything we all love about OTR it could make a tremendous impact on people who have never been there.  You're going to have an uphill battle challenging the pig-headed locals who have never been there yet somehow seem to 'know everything' about it; our real hope is the people who know little of the OTR of the 70,80, & 90s and are able to look past that and into the future.

 

Perhaps we need to get a group together to actually sit down and put that wiki page together.

^www.wikitravel.com , too

I enjoy the one on one counseling I give to culdesac leafblower types on a regular basis, but yes updating Wikipedia will help. Lavomatic should be mentioned every time you talk with someone about OTR nowadays.

How about making some T-Shirts like that?

 

 

 

<------

I saw some I heart OTR shirts at Bockfest. I talked with some of the guys, turns out they are a competitive drinking team..lol

There is a white dude with dreads that hangs out at Kaldis who rides a bike everywhere, he does t-shirts.  If anybody see's him get his contact info.

I think it's naiive to try to place counter arguments everywhere you turn and expect people who dwell in negative boards to all of a sudden think positively about the neighborhood.  Rather, I think posting in urban boards and blogs, and letting the people who are legitimately interested and open minded is a much better tactic to let people know what is changing and going on in OTR.

Plus, sometimes you've just got to let the neighborhood speak for itself, which according to reports of bustling sales at stores in the Q and a  routinely "packed" Lavomatic, I'd say is already happening.

 

Each of these are done and will continue to be done.  If it is naive to debate then ok, I will be naive, I will waiste my time doing that and perhaps no ones mind will be changed, perhaps not even the passive viewers.  Preaching to the choir was just brought up to me in another thread as being a waist of time as well so I will simply choose to split my time between the two.  Bottom line is advocacy is advocacy.  I simply would like for people to hear the other side, whether they believe it or not will ultimately be decided by the facts but I would like for them to at least have a reason to have to look at the current facts vs the historical opinions.

 

We need to update Wiki but I am not sure how to go about it so anyone who wants to take a lead on this, go for it.  Any information that I can give you about anything, just let me know, but I need someone to upload it.

 

BDRUF, you are my hero, you know that right?

Max, can we get a sticker that just says OTR that is like the oval European stickers?

 

I've seen one!!!