November 8, 201014 yr COAST will be there at 12:30 today holding a press conference, denouncing it as a "boondoggle" (yawn). From COA T, “Nobody dies by using little recycling bins instead of big ones,” it says, in part. ” Nobody dies if the trolley is delayed until the economy improves. But somebody is eventually going to die if city leaders keep cutting core services to fund more boondoggles. When that happens, the guilty will be held to account. Jeff Berding and Chris Bortz, we’ll be gunning for you. Cecil Thomas and Wendell Young, their blood will be on your hands. Roxanne Qualls and Mayor Mallory, how will you explain yourselves to the families of the fallen?” Apparently Halloween really inspired 'em. http://cincinnati.com/blogs/politics/2010/11/08/coast-public-safety-or-trolley-boondoggle/
November 8, 201014 yr It's the same kind of nonsensical teabaggery that opposes all spending even if it has a positive return. You have to spend money to make money, and the streetcar (and 3-C) are exactly the kinds of projects that do that. The new development and increased taxes (that will help pay for more things like police, fire, and schools!) that come from such projects more than offset their small operating subsidy, while having many other indirect and intangible benefits too. Unfortunately, more and more politicians and voters are either completely missing or choosing to ignore this relationship, and instead look at nothing but the short-term balance sheet with no concept of investment for the future.
November 8, 201014 yr No real surprise that the Enquirer has not published a story or photos of the streetcar on Fountain Square other than this blurb the day before it arrived. All of the local television stations had some sort of story on it Friday. The Enquirer had a picture of it on the front page of the local section on Saturday That's what I get for only reading the website- There is only a two brief paragraph blurb online.
November 8, 201014 yr COAST will be there at 12:30 today holding a press conference, denouncing it as a "boondoggle" (yawn). If I didn't have so much work to do, I'd be there with a sign that says. "I can't wait to COAST to the Riverfront on the STREETCAR" Feel free to use my idea!
November 8, 201014 yr And even if the city used small recycle bins, COAST would still oppose it. Even if the city waits until the economy recovers (and when construction costs are inevitably higher) to build the streetcar, they'll still oppose it. They don't give a rat's ass about fiscal responsibility; they only care about subverting the very idea of government.
November 8, 201014 yr ^ It's true- There is no way they would support the streetcar in two years when things are moving again and it costs twice as much.
November 8, 201014 yr ^ If you go down there for the COAST thing, I'd keep your distance and not engage them. We know the Enquirer will be happy to exploit any kind of pushing and shoving -- anything to make streetcar supporters look bad. Let the COAST guys make fools of themselves. They're off to a good start already. Way to go, Mark!
November 8, 201014 yr Agreed... As tempting as it might be, there's no need to provoke a confrontation. Nothing would make COAST and their enablers at the Enquirer happier.
November 8, 201014 yr Author Just walked by the press conference. There were the three COAST guys and maybe one or two other supporters they brought with them. There were some other people milling around as well. And the hat guy was there too, but his hat was focused on the tower place food court. I left after Tom Luken said the Mayor took a trip to China to borrow money from the Chinese to build the streetcar.
November 8, 201014 yr Just walked by the press conference. There were the three COAST guys and maybe one or two other supporters they brought with them. There were some other people milling around as well. And the hat guy was there too, but his hat was focused on the tower place food court. I left after Tom Luken said the Mayor took a trip to China to borrow money from the Chinese to build the streetcar. Sadly, this does not surprise me. O/u on the amount of times the word "Boondoggle" is said? Im going with 97
November 8, 201014 yr It's sad a "press conference" with 3 people gets the same or better coverage in the fishwrap than the Friday unveiling which easily had over 50 people attending. “All truly great thoughts are conceived while walking.” -Friedrich Nietzsche
November 8, 201014 yr Media in attendance (that I saw...): WVXU WLW WXIX Cincinnati.com "It's just fate, as usual, keeping its bargain and screwing us in the fine print..." - John Crichton
November 8, 201014 yr Media in attendance (that I saw...): WVXU WLW WXIX Cincinnati.com So Cincinnati.com and WLW will both report over 500 people attended
November 8, 201014 yr Had a nice lunch at McCormick and Schmick while all this was going on and decided to take a trip through the streetcar after the "news conference" had ended. Who did I find there? Tom Luken, browbeating the poor people from United Streetcar. I mean, he was like the thing who wouldn't leave. Memo to self: can't we find a job for him somewhere? The execs here from Oregon said 90% of the people coming through were positive. The biggest question was what the fare is going to be. They wished they had kept count of the visitors, but said it's in the thousands for sure.
November 8, 201014 yr Media in attendance (that I saw...): WVXU WLW WXIX Cincinnati.com Today or last Friday?
November 8, 201014 yr Dear United Streetcar: Please accept our apologies for the behavior of Tom Luken. He's like the crazy grandfather that we try to keep locked up in the attic, but sometimes he escapes and starts yelling at people. Sorry about that. Sincerely, The people of Cincinnati
November 8, 201014 yr It's ironic an organization called "COAST" can only exist downhill, if you catch my neutral drift. "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
November 8, 201014 yr Had a nice lunch at McCormick and Schmick while all this was going on and decided to take a trip through the streetcar after the "news conference" had ended. Who did I find there? Tom Luken, browbeating the poor people from United Streetcar. I mean, he was like the thing who wouldn't leave. Memo to self: can't we find a job for him somewhere? The execs here from Oregon said 90% of the people coming through were positive. The biggest question was what the fare is going to be. They wished they had kept count of the visitors, but said it's in the thousands for sure. Luken told me personally to "get the Hell out of here." I declined.
November 8, 201014 yr Media in attendance (that I saw...): WVXU WLW WXIX Cincinnati.com Today or last Friday? Today. I believe all the local TV stations were there Friday. "It's just fate, as usual, keeping its bargain and screwing us in the fine print..." - John Crichton
November 8, 201014 yr Media in attendance (that I saw...): WVXU WLW WXIX Cincinnati.com Today or last Friday? Today. I believe all the local TV stations were there Friday. City Beat was there too. Luken went on a rant about how the mayor is in China seeking "financing for the streetcar from the Chinese." The conspiracy is out! Red Dawn is here and its starting with the streetcar!
November 8, 201014 yr There were no more than 50 people there. I took video and will upload it today. It didn't occur to me to show the crowd because it was so small.
November 8, 201014 yr I think the real question is...did the pork chop win today? “All truly great thoughts are conceived while walking.” -Friedrich Nietzsche
November 8, 201014 yr Theres a joke going around the city today: "What do you get for 148 cops and 169 firemen?" A photo of the visiting streetcar follows. (It wasn't my joke. I'm just sharing infomation.)
November 8, 201014 yr Blame the media for letting Luken talk. The man has known the difference between a capital budget and an operations budget since, probably, 1945, but apparently our media doesn't and the population definitely doesn't. None of the estimated $128 million capital cost can go toward funding police and fire. Period.
November 8, 201014 yr Theres a joke going around the city today: "What do you get for 148 cops and 169 firemen?" A photo of the visiting streetcar follows. (It wasn't my joke. I'm just sharing infomation.) Har har.
November 9, 201014 yr Theres a joke going around the city today: "What do you get for 148 cops and 169 firemen?" A photo of the visiting streetcar follows. (It wasn't my joke. I'm just sharing infomation.) That's probably about right -- in terms of the taxbase they will create to support such new-hires. Here's a better joke: How many tea-baggers does it take to stop a train? Answer: How many you got? "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
November 9, 201014 yr Here's a better joke: How many tea-baggers does it take to stop a train? Answer: How many you got? I get it now.
November 9, 201014 yr Today's COAST / Tom Luken press conference: Well that ought to clear it up for everyone.
November 9, 201014 yr My favorite part is how Mallory's in China to ask to borrow money for the "trolley".
November 9, 201014 yr I rather like the steady stream of folks walking through the streetcar as Luken and Miller argue that no one wants a streetcar.
November 9, 201014 yr Today's COAST / Tom Luken press conference: Well that ought to clear it up for everyone. Luken is using a trash container to spew his garbage. How appropriate. :drunk:
November 9, 201014 yr Wow- It always blows my mind how ridiculous he is. What I can't stand is that they can just lie and lie and lie. The CFD and the City Manager have already said that the first fire truck to the scene was from the nearby Northside station. It was the exact one that was supposed to be there. It was there in 3 minutes and the city average is 4 minutes. I've been to Streetcar city council meetings (and have seen Luken there), they have taken sooo much public feedback- Everyone has been 20-30 people for the streetcar, 2-3 against. Yet Tom says, they've never held a public hearing. And of course there's not going to be a vote. Do we vote on the Banks? or the Metro lines? No! We're a representative Democracy and our constitution actually warns against direct democracy- Sigh. They will campaign HARD against everyone on Council who supported the streetcar.
November 9, 201014 yr Today's COAST / Tom Luken press conference: Wow... Why do they put cameras on him? I've heard more logical statements from the schizophrenic who hangs out on the front stoop of my apartment complex. At least nobody clapped. I'd suggest that this video be posted on any comment section for articles relating to this. It speaks volumes.
November 9, 201014 yr Today's COAST / Tom Luken press conference: Well that ought to clear it up for everyone. Luken is using a trash container to spew his garbage. How appropriate. :drunk: recycling bin - they do make good lecterns, tho, don't they? yeesh, Miller can't even get the fool to shut up.
November 9, 201014 yr Not to be personal but all I see in that video is a bunch of fat white men. There are so many unsubstantiated and false claims (and cliche's) in that video I wouldn't know where to start. It really is an insult to any informed citizen/voter that they focus so much on misconstruing operating budgets for capital budgets. Even so far as capitalizing on a young girls misfortune to make their point. Luken really reminds me of the over-simplified emotional appeals you would hear in those 1950's newsreels. Duck and cover. That phone ringing at 5:10? It was common sense calling - you'll notice they didn't answer.
November 9, 201014 yr Yeah, you'd think that COAST would even have enough sense to realize that Luken is only hurting their cause. I mean after all the senseless ramblings he spewed on local TV and in front of City Council you'd think they would try to find someone else as a spokesperson by now. He's really a complete joke. The sad thing is that there are still tons of Cincinnati/Hamilton county voters who actually buy into the crap that COAST vomits all over the place. Hurry up Cincinnati and get the tracks laid on this project before someone finds a way to throw another wrench in the spokes.
November 9, 201014 yr Why did US Rep Tom Luken support the restoration of trains to Union Terminal on April 9, 1990? I would have imagined he would have foamed at the mouth at the expanse of its relocation from the River Road station...
November 10, 201014 yr Member of the fire union is standing by the streetcar with a sign promising brown outs, politicians lie, and that the $122M streetcar is redundant. Spoke briefly with him... He: I shouldn't believe that there is a difference between Capital & Operating expenses; All $122M should be going to police & fire services. Me: City Charter; only $64M coming from city - bonds, airport, tif... He: You're believing the lies "It's just fate, as usual, keeping its bargain and screwing us in the fine print..." - John Crichton
November 10, 201014 yr Call me a dreamer but I really think the schools could have students study rudimentary state law and this nonsense could be put to an end.
November 10, 201014 yr Member of the fire union is standing by the streetcar with a sign promising brown outs, politicians lie, and that the $122M streetcar is redundant. Spoke briefly with him... He: I shouldn't believe that there is a difference between Capital & Operating expenses; All $122M should be going to police & fire services. Me: City Charter; only $64M coming from city - bonds, airport, tif... He: You're believing the lies Maybe bring him a copy of the City Charter.
November 10, 201014 yr Call me a dreamer but I really think the schools could have students study rudimentary state law and this nonsense could be put to an end. It's called civics, something we've wholeheartedly abandoned as a county.
November 10, 201014 yr The problem is most people in this city don't care what the law is. They don't understand that the city has to spend money to make money. As we all understand, the streetcar is a potential fix to our budget problems because of its ability to increase tax revenue for the city in the form of new residents and businesses/jobs. But good luck ever convincing the hardcore conservatives in this city of that. They see it as nothing more than wasteful spending and are too short-sighted to consider it as anything else. I've been living here for almost 3 years now and the entire time I've been here I've been trying to defend this project to everyone I know and people I work with. I'm starting to get worn out and I now understand all the frustrations I've heard from people fighting for change here before me. Regardless, this project just needs to get finished!
November 10, 201014 yr Call me a dreamer but I really think the schools could have students study rudimentary state law and this nonsense could be put to an end. It's called civics, something we've wholeheartedly abandoned as a county. Pshh- You commie, everyone knows Civics has a liberal bias... I could be mistaken... but under what fund is the firefighter pension housed? Is it part of the general city pension fund that is absolutely failing? Or is there a separate one... Oh and as mentioned earlier/or in an article... Fire and Police budgets make up over 60% of the city budget. I'd LOVE to see how that compares to other cities our size.
November 10, 201014 yr It's ludicrous to argue with a straight face that the City has no need to increase it's tax base. It's not a static situation, and you can't simply cut spending in order to address the structural deficit. New revenues are a must.
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