June 22, 201113 yr The FONSI clears the way for the streetcar project <img src="http://images.t-nation.com/forum_images/c/f/cf355_ORIG-Fonzie.jpg"> Sorry, couldn't resist. :-D
June 22, 201113 yr Add to the list of opponents Chris Smitherman, if he is in fact running for council. http://cincinnati.com/blogs/politics/2011/04/11/smitherman-is-running/
June 22, 201113 yr Nice to see the press release regarding the FONSI. Now, onto some real earth moving!! Yes! When will earth get moving?
June 22, 201113 yr ^ Updated list: STREETCAR SUPPORTERS: Bortz Qualls Quinlivan Thomas Young Riveiro Simpson Hollan Seelbach STREETCAR OPPONENTS: Winburn Lippert Ghiz Murray Mills Sittenfeld I plan to circulate a perfected list widely a couple of times before November. I'm guessing that being solidly in support of the streetcar is worth a few thousand votes and that being solidy against it is worth many fewer votes. It's top of mind for supporters, not so top of mind for opponents, who have about 27 causes they're circulating petitions for. I mean, how many people would decide not to vote for someone they would otherwise vote for just because of the streetcar? But the reverse is true, a lot of people will vote for candidates who support the streetcar and not vote for others who don't support it because it's their #1 Issue. As Brad likes to point out, no one who has ever cast a vote for the Cincinnati Streetcar has ever lost re-election to office. Are you sure Bortz is still 100% behind the streetcar? I've heard him bash the 1st phase on 700wlw before by agreeing with Mark Amazon "Ya, it doesn't make sense" I'd probably give someone a pass for something said on talk-radio.
June 22, 201113 yr Anyone know if Kevin Flynn is still pro-streetcar? "Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago." - Warren Buffett
June 22, 201113 yr STREETCAR SUPPORTERS: Bortz Qualls Quinlivan Thomas Young Riveiro Simpson Hollan Seelbach Flynn STREETCAR OPPONENTS: Winburn Lippert Ghiz Murray Mills Sittenfeld
June 22, 201113 yr Regarding PG Sittenfield from a reputable source: "PG is a genuinely thoughtful guy who is in no way against the streetcar, but just wants to be sure we are being fiscally responsible as a city. He is pro streetcar, just not at the expense of things like, waste disposal, public school funding, and police salaries."
June 22, 201113 yr A typical cop-out response. It's really sad that so few people understand the status quo in Cincinnati simply isn't working. Without projects like the streetcar to increase density and revitalize run-down areas, we won't be able to fund waste disposal, schools, or police salaries anyway.
June 22, 201113 yr Regarding PG Sittenfield from a reputable source: "PG is a genuinely thoughtful guy who is in no way against the streetcar, but just wants to be sure we are being fiscally responsible as a city. He is pro streetcar, just not at the expense of things like, waste disposal, public school funding, and police salaries." That's the same thing that Ghiz and Monzel say all the time. Does anyone really believe that they are pro-streetcar? If so, I've got a some magic beans to sell you. "Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago." - Warren Buffett
June 22, 201113 yr Some people view streetcars as an optional amenity such as a large park or aquarium, not a necessity like police or fire protection. They view funding streetcars as disposable spending, not investment. In short, they don't take streetcars seriously as a viable transportation asset.
June 22, 201113 yr SUCH BullSh&*#*# PG is SO PC he wouldn't give a straight answer to the Pope. TYPICAL TYPICAL TYPICAL politician. But stop complaining and PG and start supporting those candidates who do support the street car. Who here has made a donation to the Pro-StreetCar Candidates? I bet not many. Put your money where your mouth is~!
June 22, 201113 yr Cunningham screaming about how its gonna cost 10 to 20 mil every year. Only Off by 7.5-17.5 mil
June 23, 201113 yr Today I walked the streetcar route with a GPS tracker to prove the lie of Barry Horstman's piece in May: http://cincinnatimonocle.blogspot.com/2011/06/barry-hortman-is-twice-your-age-and-can.html
June 23, 201113 yr You walk much faster than most as well. Few can keep an average above 3 MPH. But that said, my average MPH was only 3.3 when I walked the route. I made an attempt to beat Horstman, and it was darn near impossible without a full fledged run and darts across the roads.
June 23, 201113 yr You walk much faster than most as well. Few can keep an average above 3 MPH. But that said, my average MPH was only 3.3 when I walked the route. I made an attempt to beat Horstman, and it was darn near impossible without a full fledged run and darts across the roads. I want to try this challenge as well. Anyways, I'm working on getting your monocle page out in the twitter universe
June 23, 201113 yr Regarding PG Sittenfield from a reputable source: "PG is a genuinely thoughtful guy who is in no way against the streetcar, but just wants to be sure we are being fiscally responsible as a city. He is pro streetcar, just not at the expense of things like, waste disposal, public school funding, and police salaries." Why can't that come from PG? It's always from his friends, or his campaign staff. He himself has never publicly said anything pro-streetcar.
June 23, 201113 yr Regarding PG Sittenfield from a reputable source: "PG is a genuinely thoughtful guy who is in no way against the streetcar, but just wants to be sure we are being fiscally responsible as a city. He is pro streetcar, just not at the expense of things like, waste disposal, public school funding, and police salaries." That's the same thing that Ghiz and Monzel say all the time. Does anyone really believe that they are pro-streetcar? If so, I've got a some magic beans to sell you. Great point-- Lippert says he's NOT against the streetcar, just that we need to wait and can't do it now. Hell- SMITHERMAN says he's not against the streetcar (I truly heard him say that), but that we can't afford it right now.
June 23, 201113 yr Regarding PG Sittenfield from a reputable source: "PG is a genuinely thoughtful guy who is in no way against the streetcar, but just wants to be sure we are being fiscally responsible as a city. He is pro streetcar, just not at the expense of things like, waste disposal, public school funding, and police salaries." Why can't that come from PG? It's always from his friends, or his campaign staff. He himself has never publicly said anything pro-streetcar. I agree. and I've told this person the same thing. Hopefully they can encourage PG to make a public statement.
June 23, 201113 yr I received this email from the editor who should have retracted the story: Mr. Mecklenborg Thanks for the post. I'm confident Barry did walk that route in the time he said. But, as my follow-up blog notes, it may be a faster time than other pedestrians may experience. I did not intend for the blog to be 'dismissive,' but hoped it would spur others to walk it - like you did - and submit their times. Thanks Carl Weiser Government/Public Affairs Editor Cincinnati Enquirer and Cincinnati.com 312 Elm St. Cincinnati, OH, 45202 (513) 768-8491
June 23, 201113 yr I received this email from the editor who should have retracted the story: Mr. Mecklenborg Thanks for the post. I'm confident Barry did walk that route in the time he said. But, as my follow-up blog notes, it may be a faster time than other pedestrians may experience. I did not intend for the blog to be 'dismissive,' but hoped it would spur others to walk it - like you did - and submit their times. Thanks Carl Weiser Government/Public Affairs Editor Cincinnati Enquirer and Cincinnati.com 312 Elm St. Cincinnati, OH, 45202 (513) 768-8491 It is nearly impossible to walk six miles per hour. The forward momentum of a biped at six miles an hour causes the walking gait to become grossly inefficient at that speed, which is why we change to a jog or run. I myself am nearly six feet tall and walk/jog my neighborhood with a GPS and never break 5 MPH average. The article was a total lie. As long as the paper doesn't acknowledge it, it's a disprovable argument. Does a tree falling in the forest make any noise if nobody hears it? Does Barry Horstman exceed human physiology when walking in downtown Cincinnati if nobody watches? Don't even acknowledge the Enquirer. It's not journalism.
June 23, 201113 yr Regarding PG Sittenfield from a reputable source: "PG is a genuinely thoughtful guy who is in no way against the streetcar, but just wants to be sure we are being fiscally responsible as a city. He is pro streetcar, just not at the expense of things like, waste disposal, public school funding, and police salaries." That's the same thing that Ghiz and Monzel say all the time. Does anyone really believe that they are pro-streetcar? If so, I've got a some magic beans to sell you. Great point-- Lippert says he's NOT against the streetcar, just that we need to wait and can't do it now. Hell- SMITHERMAN says he's not against the streetcar (I truly heard him say that), but that we can't afford it right now. Many times I've heard or read a statement made in Cincinnati or in another city that goes something like this: "I'm not opposed to rail, I'm just opposed to this plan at this time." In general, you should regard such an answer as coming from someone who doesn't want to see rail built. For a project to have run the gauntlet and survived for four years as the Cincinnati Streetcar has, it almost certainly has to be a good project. Everyone, including the Feds, has now had a shot at it, and no one has ever turned up a fatal flaw. To the contrary, the case for the Cincinnati Streetcar is well-established and quite robust. Rail opponents know that people generally like the idea of having transportation choices -- poll after poll has confirmed that. And they know that a lot of people have now been to places where rail exists and works well. They know that saying they are against all rail is going to lose them more votes than it gains them. So they split hairs by saying "the route isn't the right one" or "now is not the right time" or "I don't think we've studied all the alternatives carefully enough." It's a clever way to be against rail without making people think you're against it. With construction costs down now and $29 million in Federal grants that will go away if the streetcar is postponed, I can't imagine why anyone who feels that modern rail transit has a role to play in repopulating Cincinnati would want to delay a proven strategy for accomplishing that objective. The truth is, Cincinnati has never been this close to starting a rail project. Even after spending $15 million designing the hell out of the I-71 Light Rail between 1995 and 2001, that project never received the environmental clearance (the "FONSI") that the streetcar got recently, largely because of NIMBY's in the suburbs. So we have now broken new ground here. Figuratively if not literally. Yet. Remember, with rail opponents, whatever the plan is, they will always want a different plan. You need to always remember that. Here's the question that needs to be asked of all Council candidates: "Do you support the immediate commencement of construction of a modern streetcar connecting Fountain Square with Findlay Market?" Pretty hard to weasel-out of a "yes" or "no" answer on that, though some will try.
June 23, 201113 yr >Does Barry Horstman exceed human physiology when walking in downtown Cincinnati if nobody watches? Probably what happened here was someone on the opposition wondered aloud, as a bit of a joke, if the streetcar was faster than walking. Someone said "hey, let's actually suggest that to The Enquirer", and they went into it with a specific headline in mind. When the facts didn't match the headline, they just changed the facts.
June 24, 201113 yr This question should be on the lips of every Cincinnati streetcar system supporter: Here's the question that needs to be asked of all Council candidates: "Do you support the immediate commencement of construction of a modern streetcar connecting Fountain Square with Findlay Market?" Pretty hard to weasel-out of a "yes" or "no" answer on that, though some will try. Also, let's call it the "Cincinnati streetcar system" from now on. That gives a longer term, fuller description of what some like to dismiss as a "little trolley project".
June 24, 201113 yr You won't get a straight answer from PG on the Streetcar because he's gotten SO much money from people who ABSOLUTELY DO not support the Streetcar....AND he knows it's money that gets you into City Hall. GUARANTEE if the Pro-Streetcar people had lots of money to give (which they seem not to), he'd be MUCH more supportive! So, if you're Pro-Streetcar, what Pro-Streetcar candidate have you given money to? And how much was it?
June 24, 201113 yr ^Most campaign donations come from business interests that support some particular issue or a political party in general. For example, Mike Brown supported the stadium tax campaign because the stadium project was favarable to his business, the Bengals. Business people think of campaign donations as investments. A handful of enthusiasts without business interest just can't afford it, unless they happen to be rich. Quite a few business interests think of the streetcar as a boondoggle that will lose money; therefore they do not support it. (They may be right or wrong). Logically, the streetcar support should come from the business interests that will benefit from it, which should obviously be the owners of land near the route. One would expect the Reds, Bengals, P&G, Kroger, Macy's, Over-the-Rhine property owners, and moving on to uptown, the University of Cincinnati main and hospital campuses, VA hospital, and Zoo to support it. So far, I just don't see support from these businesses, except Over-the-Rhine property owners. Noticeably absent is 3CDC. I can only conclude that either: 1. The business interests do not believe that it will be successful. 2. The business interests think that the streetcar itself will be successful, but that it will hinder rather then help their business. For example, if everyone rode the streetcar to the football game, then the Bengals would not be able to collect parking revenue. So, where is the support?
June 24, 201113 yr Author 3CDC wrote a letter of support for the project as part of the Urban Circulators (or it may have been TIGER) grant application.
June 24, 201113 yr @Eighth-And-State: I asked that same question earlier. With major corporations heavily invested in 3CDC, none of them have voiced any outward support to the streetcar that could ultimately benefit them in the long-run. No one could reply with any large corporations (i.e. ones with big checkbooks).
June 27, 201113 yr ^Most campaign donations come from business interests that support some particular issue or a political party in general. For example, Mike Brown supported the stadium tax campaign because the stadium project was favarable to his business, the Bengals. Business people think of campaign donations as investments. A handful of enthusiasts without business interest just can't afford it, unless they happen to be rich. Quite a few business interests think of the streetcar as a boondoggle that will lose money; therefore they do not support it. (They may be right or wrong). Logically, the streetcar support should come from the business interests that will benefit from it, which should obviously be the owners of land near the route. One would expect the Reds, Bengals, P&G, Kroger, Macy's, Over-the-Rhine property owners, and moving on to uptown, the University of Cincinnati main and hospital campuses, VA hospital, and Zoo to support it. So far, I just don't see support from these businesses, except Over-the-Rhine property owners. Noticeably absent is 3CDC. I can only conclude that either: 1. The business interests do not believe that it will be successful. 2. The business interests think that the streetcar itself will be successful, but that it will hinder rather then help their business. For example, if everyone rode the streetcar to the football game, then the Bengals would not be able to collect parking revenue. So, where is the support? I think your analysis is a little overly simplistic here. First, simply being a business that happens to be downtown doesn't mean that you think the Streetcar will benefit you. The Bengals typically sell out their stadium, or come darn close to it. The Streetcar is not going to affect that. A similar analysis would apply to the Reds, and certainly to anyone that is a corporation who just happens to have an office near the route (Kroger, Fifth Third, etc.). People are going to come to work there regardless of whether there is a Streetcar bringing them. Second, the benefits of the Streetcar are far more removed than your example of the Bengals supporting the stadium tax. That's an easy one to see a benefit. For property owners who are waiting for property in OTR to become more valuable, sure, you can see a concrete driver (and you note that those interests have been in favor). For other businesses--and for most of Cincinnati and the region as a whole--the benefits are indirect, in the form of economic growth, stability, attractiveness to residents and potential employees, quality of life, etc. When it is an indirect benefit, it is not surprising to see a lack of direct support (especially in an economic climate like this). It's like the 3-C train project--just because P & G or Cardinal Health or Progressive might be in a city connected by the project and see the indirect benefits of the improved transportation system doesn't mean they are going to be donating money to get it moving. All of which makes the two points that follow your statement sort of a red herring. Businesses not financially supporting streetcar candidates doesn't necessarily mean that they think the project will be unsuccessful, or that they think it will be successful and hurt their business. I think another (and far more likely option) is that they haven't really dwelt on whether it will be successful, but that they don't see direct benefits to them and so aren't tossing money that way.
June 27, 201113 yr Also, I know you've generally been a critic of the Streetcar, but your examples of the VA and the Zoo as entities that should be financially supporting the project is puzzling at best. You expect a hospital run by a federal cabinet-level department, and a non-profit organization that receives funding from taxpayers, to donate to streetcar-supporting candidates, or provide other financial support? I think it's a stretch to classify them as "businesses" potentially affected by the Streetcar--even more so given the proposed route of the Streetcar. Also, for whatever reason, you didn't mention Christ Hospital, which actually spoke in favor of the Streetcar project at the ODOT hearing.
June 27, 201113 yr And then there's the fact that businesses cant contribute to candidates... And nearly every downtown business PAC has given to streetcar candidates in 2009.
June 27, 201113 yr Somewhat off-topic but: Claim your free email address @iheartotr.com now! http://wp.me/p1ixG6-ty Also, check this quote out from my latest OTRview with Chris Seelbach: And now a question every candidate for City Council should be asked: Do you support the immediate commencement of construction of a modern streetcar connecting Fountain Square with Findlay Market? Yes. A simple answer because it doesn’t need to be complicated. Either you support the Streetcar or you don’t. I do.
June 27, 201113 yr CEO's of U.C., Chamber of Commerce and Uptown Consortium also wrote letters in support of the streetcar.
June 29, 201113 yr Gee I can't imagine why (in light of the absolutely relentless and intellectually-dishonest campaign the daily newspaper has waged against it) local businesses may be reluctant to take a stand in support of the Cincinnati Streetcar :roll: Honestly, who can blame them? Why would any company that sells apparel or toothpaste or foodstuffs or airline tickets or insurance, etc., risk offending consumers -- especially in these tough economic times?
June 30, 201113 yr Sorry, I forgot about Christ Hospital. Are you still expecting some higher level of corporate support, akin to the Bengals behind the stadium vote, for businesses along the route (besides the property owners, who you note have been heavily vocal in their support)?
June 30, 201113 yr Hey Everyone-- Speaking of donating- If you're a political junkie, you know that tonight at midnight is the financial filing deadline for all candidates. The highest fundraisers will get lots of media attention and every $ counts. Never think a $25 contribution doesn't do much. To be helpful, I've added the websites to all the non-incumbent pro-streetcar candidates. Consider giving $25 or more to any of the Streetcar 9 tonight before midnight. STREETCAR 9: Hollan - http://www.nicholashollan.com/ Riveiro - http://riveiro4council.com/ Seelbach - http://www.seelbachforcouncil.com/ Simpson - http://www.yvettesimpson.com/ Young - http://givimo.com/g/wendellyoung Bortz Qualls Quinlivan Thomas
July 1, 201113 yr To the discussion about businesses that will gain from the streetcar and where is their vocal (and monetary) support, I can't imagine Towne Properties is saying peep about this. They'd gain a lot by having the project come to fruition, but with Bortz on council they're not going to say a word, and they're certainly not going to support his political rivals.
July 3, 201113 yr **gasp** that video is shocking. So ignorant its sad. He clearly doesn't get the fundamental basis of the streetcar: its for people who want to live in otr and downtown, not for suburbanites to drive down and shop at findlay. The streetcar makes it more economically feasible to grow the residential base. I know I am preaching to the choir here but it needs to be stated again and again and again apparently because for people like bill cunningham, apparently it needs to be said again and again and again until it sinks in.
July 3, 201113 yr **gasp** that video is shocking. So ignorant its sad. He clearly doesn't get the fundamental basis of the streetcar: its for people who want to live in otr and downtown, not for suburbanites to drive down and shop at findlay. The streetcar makes it more economically feasible to grow the residential base. I know I am preaching to the choir here but it needs to be stated again and again and again apparently because for people like bill cunningham, apparently it needs to be said again and again and again until it sinks in. The sad thing is, he knows all that.
July 3, 201113 yr Dyed-in-the-wool suburbanites will never understand the streetcar. If it doesn't embrace their lifestyle, then it might as well be for martians. That's why many young people, or others who are as urban-minded, aren't loved by Ohio's suburban- and rural-based political leadership. And as long as they dominate the state's politics, Ohio will never be cool. BTW, speaking of wool, tell Bill that his rug isn't cool either. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
July 3, 201113 yr **gasp** that video is shocking. So ignorant its sad. He clearly doesn't get the fundamental basis of the streetcar: its for people who want to live in otr and downtown, not for suburbanites to drive down and shop at findlay. The streetcar makes it more economically feasible to grow the residential base. I know I am preaching to the choir here but it needs to be stated again and again and again apparently because for people like bill cunningham, apparently it needs to be said again and again and again until it sinks in. The sad thing is, he knows all that. Wouldn't be the first time he sold a chunk of his soul for a buck.
July 3, 201113 yr This bears repeating..... When Governors Attack: Are Anti-train States Driving Their Best and Brightest Away? March 25, 2011 by F. K. Plous These trends—of which the Walkers and Scotts and Kasichs seem unaware–are a huge tectonic shift in American taste and mores, but the Tea Party, which consists entirely of 60-something white men and the females they lust after, has not noticed it’s not 1967 any more and that today’s generation is not interested in driving. Attention, anti-train governors: Any state that fails to provide its young people with modern transit and intercity train service is going to find its best and brightest drifting away to places that appreciate young people and provide them with the amenities they expect. Your young people are your state’s future. So are trains. Instead of driving a wedge between the two, try putting them together. READ MORE AT: http://www.midwesthsr.org/when-governors-attack-are-anti-train-states-driving-their-best-and-brightest-away "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
July 3, 201113 yr I think it's hilarious that the BP Station out the window is his background for that blip and the view he gets to stare at everyday with a half finished multi story building across the interstate. How Sad!! WLW = FAIL
July 3, 201113 yr WLW was originally on Arlington Ave. in the Mill Creek industrial basin, then moved downtown to 4th St. for many years. Sometime in the 80's they moved up to Mt. Adams, then out to Kenwood around 2000. I've listened to the station since the 80's and I do think that its shift to the suburbs really has affected the views of the hosts. That building they're in was built around 1987 by I think Duke and was one of the first major suburban office buildings in the Cincinnati area outside Blue Ash. It's a pretty dead and uninspiring spot.
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