From the mouth of Chris Smitherman:

 

"If it was about light rail, we'd (NAACP) be backing it"

"You have my word, we will get the signatures"

"We're watching the blogs"

 

Signatures:

 

 

"2000 shy as he sits there"

"Turned in 475 yesterday"

"Running at a 75% validity rate"

 

 

Several target locations this weekend:

Little Flower in Mt. Airy (Friday night)

St Theresa in Price Hill (all weekend)

St Al's in Sayler park (all weekend)

Ferguseon Antique Mall (Price Hill shop that has petitions)

 

Doc will be out Tuesday night w/Chris Smitherman if needed

 

Wait What!>? They're not gonna be at St. Xavier downtown or Immaculata in Mt. Adams this weekend!?  I guess their putting their full stock in the west side- an area that would greatly benefit from increased revenues caused by the streetcar-

The west side needs investment and more attention from the city-

the city needs more revenue to invest in the west side-

the streetcar brings that increased revenue.

 

I replied (more like rambled) to this in a different thread. I don't know if it's the right thread for the reply, but it seems more appropriate than this one. It's heavy on analysis of the west side, and light on relevance to the streetcar project.

 

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,3920.msg572274.html#msg572274

From the mouth of Chris Smitherman:

 

"If it was about light rail, we'd (NAACP) be backing it"

"You have my word, we will get the signatures"

"We're watching the blogs"

 

Signatures:

 

 

"2000 shy as he sits there"

"Turned in 475 yesterday"

"Running at a 75% validity rate"

 

 

Several target locations this weekend:

Little Flower in Mt. Airy (Friday night)

St Theresa in Price Hill (all weekend)

St Al's in Sayler park (all weekend)

Ferguseon Antique Mall (Price Hill shop that has petitions)

 

Doc will be out Tuesday night w/Chris Smitherman if needed

 

Wait What!>? They're not gonna be at St. Xavier downtown or Immaculata in Mt. Adams this weekend!?  I guess their putting their full stock in the west side- an area that would greatly benefit from increased revenues caused by the streetcar-

The west side needs investment and more attention from the city-

the city needs more revenue to invest in the west side-

the streetcar brings that increased revenue.

 

Yes, but the west side is full of people who they know they can count on to be ignorant on the subject of mass transit, they generally don't go downtown and are ultra conservative.  So, its exactly who the NAACP and COAST love!  Just look at Green Twnship.  They're suing the state because they don't want public housing in their area.  That should give you an idea of the types of people that live over there.  I would know, I had the misfortune of growing up on that side of town:(

Smitherman and his crew are collecting as many City Beat magazines and throwing them away in an effort to hide the article.  People saw his supporters destroying every magazine they could find

With every mobile phone having a camera, do we have some photographs of the act??

With every mobile phone having a camera, do we have some photographs of the act??

 

Its on twitter(The statements not photos...yet).  Supposedly now the Smitherman supporters are now asking homeless people for signatures

No photos of the act itself, but here's one of the end result. (via @RealClintSpaeth on Twitter)

 

Edited to add: CincyVoices has the story.

This is why there is such a disconnect between the younger and older generations and the NAACP....what will a streetcar do to hurt the African American Community in Cincy?    This opposition is so bizarre....

metro | cincinnati: Stay Classy, Smitherman

This is an outrage.  Someone needs to send these stories to the Enquirer and local news stations to show what slime balls the NAACP and COAST really are.  What do they think this city is..Cuba?

Nice job on that post Dave. 

metro | cincinnati: Stay Classy, Smitherman

 

It's a good piece, but the defeat of Issue 9 was 56% to 44% which is not "nearly 2-to-1" by any stretch of the imagination. 

Fixed. Thanks for the catch.

Nice write up. If only we could get the whole city to read it...

What an eye-opener about Smitherman, arguably Cincinnati's most outlandish political-opportunist.  His ongoing buffoonery would be laughable under most circumstances, but not so in a city where his antics have elevated him to the position of power he has within the NAACP.  He is a dangerous and destructive opponent of progress, and should be treated as such.  Personally, I wish he would just go away, but he won't.  Maybe he will "hear the call" of a bigger and better position in Columbus; then he can join that other notorious ex-Cincinnati firebrand, Alicia Reece.

In other cities people like him are paid off by the business community to go away.  Obviously, somebody wants him around, and I think is prime evidence that elements of the Cincinnati business community want this place to stay a medium-sized city that they can control. 

Horstman trying to rally more support for Smitherman: http://news.cincinnati.com/article/AB/20110807/NEWS0108/108080308/Streetcar-foes-rally-just-time

 

They've only gathered an additional 734 signatures in the last week and they only have 2 days left! 

^ They will get the signatures. There is too much ego involved at this point not to.

That total though doesn't include their weekend efforts...

 

Another misleading Enquirer headline. "Streetcar foes rally just in time" makes it sound like they've accomplished their goal while they are actually short by 1507.

I like how the Enquirer no longer even tries to present itself as objective on this issue.  Let the bias right through in the headline.  Great professionalism.

That total though doesn't include their weekend efforts...

 

Another misleading Enquirer headline. "Streetcar foes rally just in time" makes it sound like they've accomplished their goal while they are actually short by 1507.

 

It could completely backfire.  People could read that and go "Well, they are on pace to have enough so I don't have to sign"

 

What is going on with Horstman?  Is he being told what to write?  Or has he always been this biased in the past?

 

I have heard from numerous people that they are collecting signatures from homeless people, nursing homes, and bars AGAIN.  Many of these signatures will be deemed invalid.  This is such an incredibly stupid piece of legislature

I like how the Enquirer no longer even tries to present itself as objective on this issue.  Let the bias right through in the headline.  Great professionalism.

 

If the Enquirer were to just completely go out of business that would be the greatest day in Cincinnati's history.  I honestly dream of such a day.

FYI - John Schneider (with Cincinnatians for Progress) will make a presentation on the "Ballot Issue Blocking All Rail in Cincinnati for a Generation" at the next Downtown Residents Council meeting tomorrow (August 9th).

 

Time/Location:  Main Branch Library - Third Floor Tower Room @ 6:00pm

Reporters usually don't write newspaper headlines. Editors do. At many of the large newspapers, they have editors who do nothing but write headlines.

I like how the Enquirer no longer even tries to present itself as objective on this issue.  Let the bias right through in the headline.  Great professionalism.

 

If the Enquirer were to just completely go out of business that would be the greatest day in Cincinnati's history.  I honestly dream of such a day.

 

Well, there is now 12,796 SF available for $13.50/sf in the Enquirer building now up...

 

I worry most about how The Enquirer continues to aggrandize the unworthy Smitherman.  The paper is foisting a self-serving psycho onto our entire community. 

doc thompson volunteering now to help collect signatures tomorrow and smitherman coming on cunningham show at 12:06

And don't forget all the ink they give to COAST leaders Mark Miller and Chris "I don't need government, I have plenty of guns" Finney.

BTW this streetcar story was on the front page, above the fold.  I'm sure they've run at least 15 front page streetcar stories this year, all positioning Smitherman and COAST as crusaders. 

I worry most about how The Enquirer continues to aggrandize the unworthy Smitherman.  The paper is foisting a self-serving psycho onto our entire community. 

BTW this streetcar story was on the front page, above the fold.  I'm sure they've run at least 15 front page streetcar stories this year, all positioning Smitherman and COAST as crusaders. 

 

Total agreement!  I stood aghast as I stared at today's Enquirer headline:  "Hear ye, hear ye!  The people's hero, The Masked Crusader & His Masked Men have rallied to make a glorious comeback..."  Gawd, it was one of the most distorted and sickening headlines ever.  For shame!

Our fearless hero is here to save us from our greatest enemy...Progress!

They will have the signatures-- According to Smitherman's FB page they have turned in ~2800 signatures that have yet to be verified and are only about 1600 short.

 

I hope they don't get the signatures - just so we can go back to talking about underground utilities, fare collection systems, and shelter architecture instead of all this political stuff.

The Beacon has this breakdown of the language, I like the way he spelled out what it really says:

 

http://www.cincinnatibeacon.com/index.php?/contents/comments/breaking_down_the_deceptive_language_of_naacp_coast/

^ My only gripe is that he dropped the "public" part of "public rights of way" in the final definition. By his wording, Amtrak's Cardinal would have to cease operation in city limits.

 

I trust it's an honest mistake, and not an attempt at deceit. Which is more than I can say for Finney, Miller, and Smitherman!

^ My only gripe is that he dropped the "public" part of "public rights of way" in the final definition. By his wording, Amtrak's Cardinal would have to cease operation in city limits.

 

I trust it's an honest mistake, and not an attempt at deceit. Which is more than I can say for Finney, Miller, and Smitherman!

 

When did he drop it?  That can't be legal to amendment the petition while you're collecting signatures right?

I walked past a group of three Smitherman volunteers this morning at Main & Court who were gathering signatures for the anti-rail petition... Before all boarding a Metro bus to some other destination. My hypocricy meter promptly exploded.

^ My only gripe is that he dropped the "public" part of "public rights of way" in the final definition. By his wording, Amtrak's Cardinal would have to cease operation in city limits.

 

I trust it's an honest mistake, and not an attempt at deceit. Which is more than I can say for Finney, Miller, and Smitherman!

 

When did he drop it?  That can't be legal to amendment the petition while you're collecting signatures right?

 

It's a mistake in the breakdown from the Beacon article thomasbw linked to. Not part of the amendment.

 

Haap goes from

The City shall not spend or appropriate any money on the design, engineering, construction, or operation of a system of passenger vehicles operated on rails constructed primarily in existing public rights of way.

 

to

 

The City shall not spend or appropriate any money on the design, engineering, construction, or operation of a system of passenger vehicles operated on rails constructed primarily in existing land, property, or the interest therein, usually in the configuration of a strip, acquired for or devoted to transportation purposes.

 

He drops the "public" part, which I bolded, when he inserts the right of way definition.

^ My only gripe is that he dropped the "public" part of "public rights of way" in the final definition. By his wording, Amtrak's Cardinal would have to cease operation in city limits.

 

I trust it's an honest mistake, and not an attempt at deceit. Which is more than I can say for Finney, Miller, and Smitherman!

 

When did he drop it?  That can't be legal to amendment the petition while you're collecting signatures right?

 

It's a mistake in the breakdown from the Beacon article thomasbw linked to. Not part of the amendment.

 

Haap goes from

The City shall not spend or appropriate any money on the design, engineering, construction, or operation of a system of passenger vehicles operated on rails constructed primarily in existing public rights of way.

 

to

 

The City shall not spend or appropriate any money on the design, engineering, construction, or operation of a system of passenger vehicles operated on rails constructed primarily in existing land, property, or the interest therein, usually in the configuration of a strip, acquired for or devoted to transportation purposes.

 

He drops the "public" part which I bolded when he inserts the right of way definition.

 

Oh I misunderstood.  I thought you meant Smitherman amended the petition language while collecting signatures

 

I hope they don't get the signatures - just so we can go back to talking about underground utilities, fare collection systems, and shelter architecture instead of all this political stuff.

 

I wish it would too. But politics and transportation have always been bedfellows, even in America's laissez-faire era before 1890.

 

I hope they don't get the signatures - just so we can go back to talking about underground utilities, fare collection systems, and shelter architecture instead of all this political stuff.

 

I wish it would too. But politics and transportation have always been bedfellows, even in America's laissez-faire era before 1890.

 

Its coming on the ballot.  This issue will come down to PR from both sides. 

 

Smitherman has already revealed what he will say via 700wlw:

 

"Its not a vote against light rail.  If it was light rail, we'd be for it.  This is about the streetcar"

 

COAST could care less.  They've said essentially:

 

"It will kill the streetcar right?  Then vote for it"

 

Don't know what the police and fire mantra will be for sure but I imagine it will be something along the lines of :

 

'We're buying streetcars at the expense of our jobs and the safety of the city'

 

All of these positions are easily thwarted with facts but the problem is the media.

The Enquirer, 700wlw, and others were both on the side of CFP in 2009.  I would not expect the same support this year.  They've been blatantly obvious they want this project dead at any cost

Perhaps the opposition should associate the ballot issue with Smitherman's council campaign.  I have to imagine that he is extremely unpopular with many voters. 

The Enquirer, 700wlw, and others were both on the side of CFP in 2009.  I would not expect the same support this year.  They've been blatantly obvious they want this project dead at any cost

 

It's truly bizarre that anyone would have been against the 2009 amendment, but for this one. This one is even stronger in its effect!

The Enquirer, 700wlw, and others were both on the side of CFP in 2009.  I would not expect the same support this year.  They've been blatantly obvious they want this project dead at any cost

 

It's truly bizarre that anyone would have been against the 2009 amendment, but for this one. This one is even stronger in its effect!

 

Its just an estimated guess on my part.  Seeing that the Enquirer has refused to cover the language (aside from Judge Painter's editorial) and that 700wlw has had Smitherman on nearly everyday for the last 2 weeks begging for signatures, I'd say its pretty safe to assume that both will be solidly backing Smitherman

 

Pretty cool image below of Walnut Street (1910):

I walked past a group of three Smitherman volunteers this morning at Main & Court who were gathering signatures for the anti-rail petition... Before all boarding a Metro bus to some other destination. My hypocricy meter promptly exploded.

That's hilarious.  These people don't even know what they are collecting signatures for.  It amazes me the amount of complete ignorance people in this city have on the subject.

Well, unless we get incredibly lucky and they've collected a bunch of invalid signatures, I'm sure its going to make the ballot.  Which means we have some serious work to do again this summer/fall.  Looks like I'll be knocking on doors again trying to explain to people why we can't let this ballot measure pass.  Hopefully facebook/twitter will be a big help as well.  As I've said before, there are a lot more young people living in OTR now then there were in 2009 and that means we have a lot more people on our team this time.  Hopefully they'll be up for a fight as well.

I had a friend who lives in OTR come up to me last night and tell me that he's "voting against the streetcar in November because [his] economics professor at UC told them that it's bad for the local economy because it will push poor people out of the neighborhood."  I then asked him who or what would be pushing these people out.  He said, "Gentrification!"  I asked him if he knew what Gentrification is and he told me, "It's when the government forces people out of their homes."  I then explained to him how he was wrong and he told me that he was still voting against the streetcar because his professor knows more about it than me. 

 

I almost murdered someone last night.

Please vote in this online poll ASAP! Read the question carefully.....

 

http://www.wlwt.com/r/28811371/detail.html

I know for a fact that many in the UC planning department are highly skeptical of the streetcar project. It's such a strange thing.

I know for a fact that many in the UC planning department are highly skeptical of the streetcar project. It's such a strange thing.

 

Its ridiculous. Luckily most of them don't live in Cincinnati...

So what's the final ballot language? Can someone post the exact wording?