P.G. Sittenfeld ‏@VotePG 2m

Crazy scenario: Flynn votes 'No' on going fwd (5-4 vote) but then 'Yes' on over-riding veto out of deference to process & Council majority

 

 

Is this an option, not sure how the council bylaws work?

 

Flynn says he will not be the 6th vote to override a mayoral veto. See prior post.

^ Flynn said he would not override the veto if he votes no. He also said he is Optimistic a deal will come together by tomorrow. We shall see...

Yeah.  It sounds like Flynn isn't really sure what he's going to do yet.  That's a good thing, as far as I'm concerned. 

A nicely done video....

 

And here comes the national coverage. Although this was written by an Enquirer reporter, it was published in USA Today.....

 

Cincinnati considers canceling partly built streetcar

Cindi Andrews, The Cincinnati Enquirer 4:52 p.m. EST December 18, 2013

 

CINCINNATI -- City officials will decide Thursday whether to scrap a streetcar already under construction, bucking the Obama administration's push for the urban mass-transit systems. Meanwhile Wednesday, an independent consultant released a report on what it would cost to cancel or finish the project.

 

"What I care about is that we reduce the violence by increasing the cops on the street," new Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley, an opponent of the streetcar, said recently. "What I care about is that your roads are drivable, and your garbage is picked up. ... I will not support a project that jeopardizes our ongoing operations."

 

The streetcar is one of 40 nationwide in stages ranging from initial planning to completed, and Cincinnati would be the first city to cancel one that's already under construction, according to the Federal Transit Administration. About $33 million -- at least $4 million from the feds -- has already been spent on the controversial, $133 million project since City Council voted to move forward in mid-summer.

 

READ MORE AT:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/12/18/cincinnati-considers-canceling-partly-built-streetcar/4110883/

I could be wrong but I thought I heard on  readio that Amy murray was noncommittal about her vote? She is clearly against it but apparently the numbers have given her a little pause

 

I told y'all it was wrong to write off Murray.  She looked very discouraged that she was dismissed so quickly by people during the first week on council.  I may not agree with her on ANYTHING...but ultimately this is a vote on fiscal responsibility and it's becoming clear to just about everybody how fiscally irresponsible it would be to cancel the project.

Enquirer ‏@Enquirer 7m

EDITORIAL: Council should vote to finish the streetcar http://cin.ci/18XB4OV

After 3 hours, 45 minutes, the public comment on the Cincinnati Streetcar has concluded. There were 103 speakers today: 71 in favor, 28 opposed & 5 mixed.

Don't forget Santa Claus...

Liked the guy that threw JFK in Cranley's face. Would Cranley have the balls to challenge the country to get to the moon in a decade?

HA

He'd have quit at the stratosphere...

Thought the transplants were very interesting. As one myself, I tendeed to agree with a lot of them about the natives crappy self image.

The chick who lived on McMicken was great. After living in that area, yeah, she was dead on.

now - why wasn't this on CitiCable? Was Cranley trying to hush the people's voice like Chuck Luken?

Serious BS not archiving a meeting on such a transformational issue.

Cranley's transparency pledge - another crock of poo.

Stop projecting scenarios on a board where you KNOW Coast and co lurk.

EDITORIAL: Canceling the streetcar today would mean spending a total of $50 million to $80 million in taxpayer dollars – for nothing. That's why Cincinnati City Council should vote to continue the project.

http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/artikkel?NoCache=1&Dato=20131218&Kategori=EDIT01&Lopenr=312180181&Ref=AR'

 

"The public deserves an up or down vote on completing the project and council should vote to finish it."

 

The video - makes me cringe.

now - why wasn't this on CitiCable? Was Cranley trying to hush the people's voice like Chuck Luken?

Serious BS not archiving a meeting on such a transformational issue.

Cranley's transparency pledge - another crock of poo.

 

I'm really not sure why it wasn't broadcasted on CitiCable. That's the outlet I usually use to follow meetings while at work. Very strange. I hate using the Enquirer's streaming function for that.

Hey there is one advantage to this, Cincinnati is finally getting some high quality journalism....  :evil:

 

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2013/1218/If-Cincinnati-mayor-derails-streetcar-project-feds-want-money-back

 

I could be wrong but I thought I heard on  readio that Amy murray was noncommittal about her vote? She is clearly against it but apparently the numbers have given her a little pause

 

I told y'all it was wrong to write off Murray.  She looked very discouraged that she was dismissed so quickly by people during the first week on council.  I may not agree with her on ANYTHING...but ultimately this is a vote on fiscal responsibility and it's becoming clear to just about everybody how fiscally irresponsible it would be to cancel the project.

 

Amy Murray was visibly rattled immediately after John Deatrick's presentation to council re: cancellation costs a few weeks ago, saying she didn't believe them.  Now KPMG has basically confirmed Deatrick's scenario, except they predict lower operating costs!  Is she rattled yet again?  Will she do the fiscally responsible thing and vote to continue construction?  I certainly hope so, but I'm not optimistic since she supposedly said recently on talk radio that "the streetcar will be a rolling homeless shelter".

I could be wrong but I thought I heard on  readio that Amy murray was noncommittal about her vote? She is clearly against it but apparently the numbers have given her a little pause

 

I told y'all it was wrong to write off Murray.  She looked very discouraged that she was dismissed so quickly by people during the first week on council.  I may not agree with her on ANYTHING...but ultimately this is a vote on fiscal responsibility and it's becoming clear to just about everybody how fiscally irresponsible it would be to cancel the project.

 

Amy Murray was visibly rattled immediately after John Deatrick's presentation to council re: cancellation costs a few weeks ago, saying she didn't believe them.  Now KPMG has basically confirmed Deatrick's scenario, except they predict lower operating costs!  Is she rattled yet again?  Will she do the fiscally responsible thing and vote to continue construction?  I certainly hope so, but I'm not optimistic since she supposedly said recently on talk radio that "the streetcar will be a rolling homeless shelter".

 

She's not rattled.  She went on 700wlw and argued that its fiscally responsible to kill the project now .  She just does whatever smitherman, coast and cranley do

Mike Moroski @mike_moroski 7m

Cranley had ppl call cops, etc., to get 'em to City Hall today to defend him. My bud in District 3 refused. He tried to skew discourse.

 

Mike Moroski @mike_moroski 6m

Open Democracy is not alive and well at City Hall when a Mayor intentionally tries to bring speakers who agree with him.

 

Meanwhile, John Cranley claymation has hit YouTube:

Good morning everybody. Today's the day...  Flynn is still undecided this morning.

 

Cindi Andrews ‏@cindiincincy 1m

 

JUST IN: No deal or final decision on #cincystreetcar "yet," swing vote @FlynnForCincy just told me. Streetcar comm starts at 9. @Enquirer

David Mann told Scott Sloan on 700WLW that he will vote to complete.  So, it all comes down to Kevin Flynn...

 

Mann has also said that he is actively working on winning Flynn's support.

Considering it was 3-6 in favor of the streetcar in mid November the fact that it is 5-4 is a pretty good movement. That is over 20% change of opinion. I know it needs to be 6-3 but still that is progress.

Joe Webb of Channel 12 saying on twitter there are 6 votes to continue construction. This is coming from Winburn so take it for what its worth...

Local reporters on Twitter are now starting to report that there are 6 votes in favor of re-starting construction.

 

Kevin Osborne just tweeted this.

PG Sittenfeld said in a tweet that he "thinks" there are six votes to restart the streetcar project.....

 

P.G. Sittenfeld ‏@VotePG 10m

Sittenfeld thinks & hopes that's the case RT @joewebbwkrc Sittenfeld and Winburn say the 6 votes are there to restart the streetcar project

 

Tom Mckee WCPO ‏@TMckeeWCPO 12m

Mayor Cranley says if six councilmembers vote to approve streetcar, he will not use his veto on the ordinance.

 

Kevin Osborne ‏@kevinwcpo 6m

Sittenfeld: "I think" there are 6 votes; other sources: Flynn wants hard $ amt on commitment, "almost there"

I really want to believe this

^If true, I'm going to have a beer.  At work.  At 10a.

P.G. Sittenfeld ‏@VotePG 5m

To be crystal clear: b4 entering Chambers, cameras swarmed, asked what I think will happen today, and I said I believe 6 votes will b there

 

P.G. Sittenfeld ‏@VotePG 4m

...it's an informed prediction - but obviously we're a long way from the fat lady singing

If we get 6 votes id be amazed! So what time do we find out?!

^ Vote is at 2:00.  Winburn says that Flynn will vote to continue.

 

http://www.wlwt.com/news/local-news/cincinnati/decision-day-for-the-cincinnati-streetcar-project/-/13549970/23561950/-/5wcqni/-/index.html?utm_source=hootsuite&utm_medium=Facebook&utm_campaign=wlwt5&utm_source=hootsuite&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=wlwt

The anticipation is killing me!  This is worse than waiting for the results on the night of the No on 9 campaign!

^^ that would be an amazing switch. Watching him in all of the press conferences made me believe he was just as far away as Cranley. He seems to like to mock supporters and give them false hope with impossible goals.

 

Maybe everyone telling him how important his vote is made him feel powerful and now he wants to do to popular thing and seem like a hero.

 

Either way, I'm glad(if true) that he changed his mind!

I have to say this is really great news.  Shows what a highly motivated and determined group of people working together can do!  I hope we can keep the momentum going to build the best regional transportation network in the mid-west. 

I have to say this is really great news.  Shows what a highly motivated and determined group of people working together can do!  I hope we can keep the momentum going to build the best regional transportation network in the mid-west. 

 

Don't count your votes until their hatched. I will feel better IF all six votes are cast at 2 p.m. -- and only until then. I've seen too many strange things happen in my 30 years as a rail advocate (it's why I intensely dislike being asked if _____ project will get built). So please keep calling the office of Councilman Flynn at 513-352-4550 and politely ask him to support completion of the #cincystreetcar. Thank you.

Where’s that Photoshop of Cranley as Napoleon?

 

Could this meeting be his Waterloo? Will Flynn be our Prussians and annihilate Cranley’s last chance? Can we exile Cranley to Lawrenceburg?

 

If Cranley succeeds in killing the streetcar, I'd bet good money he'll challenge Wenstrup in 2014 while his political "victory" is still fresh in peoples' minds.  Plus, it's in his interest to get out of Dodge before the cancellation bills come due.

'Bill Rinehart ‏@700BillRinehart 2m

 

Flynn spent the recess in David Mann's office. Mann has said he's working on making Flynn vote #6.'

 

Better than spending it in Cranley's office!

It goes to show that a highly motivated group of people can get a large project rammed through, even when it does not enjoy much support in the city beyond OTR.  The main business community seems uninterested in the outcome. Even I, as someone who does not support this project, have to admit that we are in too deep (given cancellation estimates) to get out at this point.  I only hope that those who don't support this project keep council members understanding that we will hold them fully accountable if this project does not come in on budget, and operating costs do not stop the city from other important projects.  Further, I hope this will allow us to move forward with important work for other Cinti neighborhoods, many of which have been ignored for too many years.  I don't see a political future for the strong supporters of this unpopular project (starting with Qualls and Mallory), especially if the project winds up being a failure.  So this will be their legacy, good or bad....

Where’s that Photoshop of Cranley as Napoleon?

 

Could this meeting be his Waterloo? Will Flynn be our Prussians and annihilate Cranley’s last chance? Can we exile Cranley to Lawrenceburg?

 

 

Indiana doesn't want him....

Hoping for a Miracle on Plum Street today.  We can do this!

^Ha Ha Ha!  You need to tweet that!  Hilarious:)

^ Did it this morning :)

^ Did it this morning :)

 

Now I know who you are!

^ Uh-oh.  My anonymity has been blown!

^ Uh-oh.  My anonymity has been blown!

 

What is Winburn talking about!?!  He wants promissory notes from the CFOs of 103 companies handed to him by Terry Garcia Crews before the 2pm votes!?!  Yeah......  whatever.

After declaring himself and PG two of the "best fundraisers in the nation", David Mann says "I think what Mr Winburn said today is if the streetcar goes forward, he will help raise money for it".  Not sure if that was the Windbag's intent, but I hope he is held to it.

Chris Wetterich ‏@ChrisCinciBiz 3m

Flynn following Cranley aide @JayKincaid_ out of council chambers.

 

Cindi Andrews ‏@cindiincincy 1m

Flynn's movements today are going to determine what happens with the streetcar more than any conversation with SORTA, KMPG.

 

Derek Bauman ‏@derekbauman 1m

Cranley doing some heavy duty arm twisting.

 

Via @germanrlopez "Councilman Flynn reportedly meeting with Mayor John Cranley right now"

I love Chris Wetterich:

 

Chris Wetterich ‏@ChrisCinciBiz 31s

Let's cut through the b/s here.

 

Chris Wetterich ‏@ChrisCinciBiz 35s

There are some council members for whom if Jesus Christ himself came down from the heavens & delivered an $80 million check, they'd vote no

Chris Wetterich ‏@ChrisCinciBiz 3m

Flynn following Cranley aide @JayKincaid_ out of council chambers.

 

Cindi Andrews ‏@cindiincincy 1m

Flynn's movements today are going to determine what happens with the streetcar more than any conversation with SORTA, KMPG.

 

Derek Bauman ‏@derekbauman 1m

Cranley doing some heavy duty arm twisting.

 

Via @germanrlopez "Councilman Flynn reportedly meeting with Mayor John Cranley right now"

 

Seelbach trying to get a recess to let Flynn finish with Cranley, so he can hear SORTA's proposal and arguments.  Think it's coincidental that Cranley's Chief of Staff pulls Flynn out just as SORTA is beginning their presentation?  This is the information that Flynn has been working on.  Seems kind of important that he should be in the room...

What is Winburn talking about!?!  He wants promissory notes from the CFOs of 103 companies handed to him by Terry Garcia Crews before the 2pm votes!?!  Yeah......  whatever.

 

There is a reason they call him Windbag.

German Lopez ‏@germanrlopez 42s

 

Councilman Flynn to announce his vote at 1 p.m.

Flynn still a mystery...

German Lopez ‏@germanrlopez 21s

Councilman Flynn says he doesn't have written commitment for streetcar operating costs, but he hopes to get one by 1 p.m.

German Lopez ‏@germanrlopez 21s

Councilman Flynn says he doesn't have written commitment for streetcar operating costs, but he hopes to get one by 1 p.m.

 

SORTA has already given a written commitment, I wonder who he expects to put what in writing? Does he still actually think someone is going to sign on the dotted line to pay for an indeterminable cost for the next 30 years? He can't be that obtuse, can he?