February 2, 201114 yr Not a bad article overall, though along with what OCtoCincy said, I'm disappointed that there was no challenge to Smitherman's quote about the streetcar operating in the black. Why should the streetcar operate in the black when we don't ask the same of every single other mode of passenger transportation in existence?
February 2, 201114 yr Does I-75 operate in the black? Do Street repairs operate in the black? Silly concept- I do wish they would have challenged that.
February 2, 201114 yr Author Does I-75 operate in the black? Do Street repairs operate in the black? Silly concept- I do wish they would have challenged that. It never came up in the interview.
February 3, 201114 yr Does I-75 operate in the black? Do Street repairs operate in the black? Silly concept- I do wish they would have challenged that. It never came up in the interview. We were referencing Smitherman's statement: “We haven’t gotten an answer on if the streetcar’s going to operate in the black. If it doesn’t, if it operates in the red, who’s going to pay for that?”
February 3, 201114 yr Author Does I-75 operate in the black? Do Street repairs operate in the black? Silly concept- I do wish they would have challenged that. It never came up in the interview. We were referencing Smitherman's statement: “We haven’t gotten an answer on if the streetcar’s going to operate in the black. If it doesn’t, if it operates in the red, who’s going to pay for that?” It never came up in the interview
February 3, 201114 yr I think the new state government should take this off the website "This budget builds upon the strong foundations laid over the past two years, by investing in a truly integrated multi-modal system and offering safer and greener choices in how Ohioans get to their destinations."
February 3, 201114 yr Does I-75 operate in the black? Do Street repairs operate in the black? Silly concept- I do wish they would have challenged that. Great point! Unfortunately it won't be as easy for the streetcar antagonists to see it that way. If it is concluded that the streetcar will be operating in the red, it will just add fuel to the streetcar opposition.
February 3, 201114 yr Does I-75 operate in the black? Do Street repairs operate in the black? Silly concept- I do wish they would have challenged that. It never came up in the interview. We were referencing Smitherman's statement: “We haven’t gotten an answer on if the streetcar’s going to operate in the black. If it doesn’t, if it operates in the red, who’s going to pay for that?” It never came up in the interview Huh? I think you're misunderstanding. We're talking about the article- That was a quote- We're saying editorially the writer could have said something to the effect of: "While traditional modes of transportation such as interstates, roads and highways do not produce any revenue, Smitherman was insistent that the streetcar cover all of its costs, “We haven’t gotten an answer on if the streetcar’s going to operate in the black. If it doesn’t, if it operates in the red, who’s going to pay for that?”'
February 4, 201114 yr The crazy part is he's not talking about Lunken-- He's talking about CVG-- He's saying Cincinnati and Ohio need to start fixing and running Kentucky's airport... My bad. So you mean the airport that's so overbuilt/underused that the Kentucky Derby used the airport's parking lots as staging and storage areas for horse trailers? Is that the airport they mean which needs more money? Maybe we can re-process the horse manure into some sort of biofuel to keep planes flying as we get into the depths of the oil crisis by 2015 (Source: the Pentagon JOE's 2010 report)? For every dollar that the price of fuel increases, costs to the aviation industry go up by $1.6 billion (Source: CNN). Oh and BTW: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_world_business/view/1108906/1/.html Don't forget to write the TRAC and support the streetcar. Your letters and e-mail need to be sent no later than Tuesday to make the deadline. EDIT: someone asked me today "isn't there a subway tunnel in Cincinnati that was never completed with track, etc?" I answered: "Yes, at the start of the Oil & Highways era. And if enough Cincinnatians don't wake up, it's going to repeat history all over again -- at the absolute worst time. At the end of the Oil & Highways era." "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
February 5, 201114 yr Another hit piece from Barry Horstman: http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20110204/NEWS0108/102050333/1196/NEWS/City-starts-streetcar-prep-work
February 5, 201114 yr Another hit piece from Barry Horstman: http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20110204/NEWS0108/102050333/1196/NEWS/City-starts-streetcar-prep-work Just got to stay the course. The last vote proved that people do not want to completely eliminate the option of all rail inside city limits. Since Finney wrote this initiative in similar fashion, then I have to believe that their opinions did not change. This vote will most likely be in May meaning it will be decided by the die hards from both sides.
February 5, 201114 yr Another hit piece from Barry Horstman: http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20110204/NEWS0108/102050333/1196/NEWS/City-starts-streetcar-prep-work I really don't get why that guy can't write a decent news article on any subject. His writings are filled with so many goofy adjectives and coloration that his work doesn't come off as objective at all. Combine that with the fact that he'll interview three sources from one side, maybe one source from the other. It really comes off as some kind of bias.
February 5, 201114 yr Not to mention the fact that the article is really about a non-story. The only new information is that the city began sending letters to property owners along the route, and that some of their contact information was out of date. Since that in itself obviously wasn't newsworthy enough on its own, Horstman had to add a bunch of one-sided filler material to the article in order to stir up more controversy. In related news, SORTA has been sending out service advisories indicating that crews are doing some drilling along Walnut Street late at night, and that this is related to the streetcar project. Presumably the drilling is to probe underground utility locations.
February 5, 201114 yr It also didn't make much sense to give Smitherman a call about some letters being mailed out. Are him and Horstman buddies or something?
February 5, 201114 yr People like Barry Horstman and Greg Korte decide beforehand what sort of wedge issue they want to create, then they go out and look for whatever dubious support they can find. I was contacted a while back by one of them looking for information on complaints about ugly overhead wires, electrocutions, etc., and they weren't interested in the fact that the proposed single-wire system is much less obtrusive than the original two-wire system Cincinnati used to use, or that only motormen/conductors ever got electrocuted, and very few of them as well. It's really sad. On another note, regarding letters of support for the project, who at the city besides the mayor and council members should be contacted? Who at ODOT? Anyone at Hamilton County? OKI? Other than the TRAC e-mail there hasn't been much contact information spread around.
February 5, 201114 yr Intersection of Walnut & 6th has had a lot of activity by Duke Energy the past couple of days. "It's just fate, as usual, keeping its bargain and screwing us in the fine print..." - John Crichton
February 5, 201114 yr And there have been a lot of crews out along 12th near Clay and Walnut, presumably doing the same thing.
February 5, 201114 yr I doubt it is the reporters who are one's going after the angle, that usually comes from their editors.
February 5, 201114 yr And there have been a lot of crews out along 12th near Clay and Walnut, presumably doing the same thing. As many of you know-- 12th has those overhead thick grey powerlines even though it received new lighting a year ago or so. At a transportation (and walkability or something) committee meeting last week, Michael Moore said that there are some areas where they have more trouble than others putting lines underground. He said 12th street was an area that had been more difficult than others (hence the continued overhead powerlines). I saw duke energy up there accessing the overheads. I can't wait for them to disappear!
February 5, 201114 yr Learned yesterday they're adding a stop on 12th between Main and Clay to serve the Main Street Entertainment District better. Think they need to add another on the Main Street bridge over Fort Washington Way to serve GABP better. That's a little more difficult, however.
February 6, 201114 yr From what I've been told by a couple of inside sources at the Enquirer, it seems like Margaret Buchanan is the one pushing the paper's aggressive anti-streetcar agenda.
February 6, 201114 yr Anyone else having trouble with trac's email address? I received a notification of failure to deliver
February 6, 201114 yr It's just strange that someone on 3CDC's board can be the brains behind so much anti-Cincinnati center city development propaganda.
February 6, 201114 yr It's just strange that someone on 3CDC's board can be the brains behind so much anti-Cincinnati center city development propaganda. She's not the only one (see, e.g. Pichler and Barrett).
February 6, 201114 yr Anyone else having trouble with trac's email address? I received a notification of failure to deliver I sent an email to them yesterday, no problems.
February 7, 201114 yr Anyone else having trouble with trac's email address? I received a notification of failure to deliver I sent an email to them yesterday, no problems. I don't know WTF is going on. It won't allow me to email from my hotmail account. I'm sure COAST is behind it somehow :-D
February 7, 201114 yr At this point, if Cincy loses the streetcar/streetcar money it's all on the city. Get the thing done asap before it starts to seem like an actual boondoggle. Time will only make things worse. Soon the local media will run a series on how much has been spent on it, how many children it has starved, followed by the headline WHERE'S THE STREETCAR?!
February 7, 201114 yr I can NOT believe y'all are going to have a second referendum on this. I mean, seriously... >rolls eyes<
February 7, 201114 yr So whats the status of this project , is it a green lighted project or dead in the water like the 3C's project...
February 7, 201114 yr New article: http://cincinnati.com/blogs/opinionati/2011/02/04/streetcar-opponents-trying-to-kill-project-at-state-level/ "Ah, that blessed streetcar… It just can’t catch a break. Hoping to benefit from Ohio’s new governor’s fiscally conservative approach to rail, streetcar opponents are being urged to write to Ohio’s Transportation Review Advisory Council (TRAC) in effort to have the Kasich administration withdrawal $51.8 million from the streetcar project, which might jeopardize its future. But, streetcar advocates were on the job, urging their backers to also write in letters of encouragement for the beleaguered project......"
February 7, 201114 yr So whats the status of this project , is it a green lighted project or dead in the water like the 3C's project... You know how in 2009 there was a ballot initiative to stop the project (which was soundly defeated)? Well they have been petitioning to put it on the ballot again in May. Meanwhile, preliminary work has started, like moving utilities and whatnot.
February 8, 201114 yr Monkeys on our Backs “Anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that ‘my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.’” – Isaac Asimov Once again, the alliance of extremists who brought us the failed Issue 9 campaign in 2008 has demonstrated they can’t take a hint. In their 2008 their catchphrase was “We Demand a Vote!” This year it may as well be, “You voted the wrong way in 2008, stupid!” [...] While Mayor Mallory and a new generation of civic leaders have decided that our notorious “We can’t do that in Cincinnati” modus operandi is no longer acceptable, the naysayers are perfectly content with the dysfunctional status quo that has defined the city during the post-war period. The naysayers have no ideas of their own, but they furiously shout down anybody else’s ideas. They build nothing, but they fight like hell to tear down what others work hard to build. Their biggest fear is a healthy, vibrant urban core that will further discredit their world view and further erode their power base. Their political fortunes depend upon the streetcar’s failure. Full article
February 8, 201114 yr The email address worked for me as well. I figured out what I did wrong. I typed in Ohio instead of just Oh. Doh
February 8, 201114 yr Author Just sent my letters in. Hope it helps... Certainly can't hurt. If anyone posts over at Skyscraper City or Skyscraper Page or whatever that board is called , can you pass along this information? I'm sure there are a lot of streetcar supporters over there. The Cincinnati Streetcar project was recommended to receive two State of Ohio grants in the total amount of $36.8 million to build the line from the riverfront to the University of Cincinnati and to plan the build-out of the system throughout Uptown. These two grants will create new jobs and economic development in the City of Cincinnati. The first phase of the Streetcar will create 1,800 new construction jobs and 9,000 permanent jobs—growing our city’s tax base and increasing the resources available for all 52 neighborhoods. The Cincinnati Streetcar is the top-ranked transportation project on Ohio’s 2011-2015 Major New Program List. The list can be found online here. These are draft recommendations that still must be finalized by the TRAC board following the Public Comment period. Please show your support for the Cincinnati Streetcar by writing to the Transportation Review Advisory Council before February 11. Please be sure to mention the two streetcar allocations included in the draft-list: * $35 million in Construction Funding for “Cincinnati Streetcar Phase 1″ (located on the middle of Page 1) * $1.8 million in Preliminary Engineering funding for the “Cincinnati Uptown Streetcar” (located on top of Page 4) Comments can be submitted until February 11 in two ways: By email to: [email protected] By regular mail to: Ohio Department of Transportation attn: Ed Kagel, TRAC Coordinator 1980 W. Broad Street Columbus, OH 43223 Jerry Wray, Director Ohio Department of Transportation 1980 West Broad Street Columbus Ohio, 43223 Be sure to mention how the streetcar will benefit our city, create new jobs, attract new businesses and help make Cincinnati a better place to live. Thank you for your support of this transformative project for our City. Support the future of our City—Support the Streetcar.
February 8, 201114 yr City Data will be tough, there's at least one if not two people who go completely off-the-wall bat shit crazy when it comes to discussing the streetcar. These are the "toy trolley" "choo choo" "idiotic waste of money that should be going to repave MY road" types who completely drown out all attempts at a reasonable discussion.
February 8, 201114 yr http://cincinnati.com/blogs/politics/2011/02/08/city-pushes-ahead-with-streetcar-project/ Here we go. 24/7 streetcar blitz from the Enquirer
February 9, 201114 yr In the article Mayor Mallory makes reference to a defeat of the streetcar in November being a waste, estimating $50 million will have already been spent. Are the odd bedfellows not pushing for a May ballot measure? I thought they were still considering this, although if it is the only ballot item they would have to answer to that cost.
February 9, 201114 yr He's just being hopeful- and trying to make it seem like a futile effort to stop the streetcar- it's a media messaging move- smart one too. I'm less confident than John that it's for-sure that they'll get 8700 valid signatures by February 28... but I definitely think it's possible. Either way- It's smart for us to assume the worst, and start spreading the word to EVERYONE about the dangers of passing this charter amendment -
February 9, 201114 yr ^ If I were them, I'd want streetcar supporters to believe they won't be ready for a May election. In any case, CFP continues to organize.
February 9, 201114 yr http://cincinnati.com/blogs/politics/2011/02/08/city-pushes-ahead-with-streetcar-project/ Here we go. 24/7 streetcar blitz from the Enquirer Kills me reading the ignorance of people in the comments. It always amazes me that people blow up and become economic experts when it comes to govet spending on transit, yet nary a word when a new highway story is published. Double standard...
February 9, 201114 yr Thompson from 700wlw devoted an hour to streetcar opponents today. I didn't want to waste my time listening to it since its probably the same old misinformation from COAST
February 9, 201114 yr For those looking for a form letter to send to TRAC: https://secure3.convio.net/oec/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=351&JServSessionIdr004=im5pybmheb.app333b via Cincy Streetcar "It's just fate, as usual, keeping its bargain and screwing us in the fine print..." - John Crichton
February 10, 201114 yr Brace yourself. The worst poll in the history of polls has just come out. Given to the enquirer by Finney http://cincinnati.com/blogs/politics/2011/02/10/a-new-streetcar-survey/
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