February 13, 201213 yr If it were up to "important corporate citizens" like Duke, Gannett, and Delta Air Lines (all of whom are headquartered in other cities), Cincinnati would be another Detroit.
February 13, 201213 yr On the radio just now, Scott Sloan predicted that copper theives will steal the streetcar wire. In the middle of the night, when it's not running, presumably. Also, on Smitherman's show yesterday on 700, his guest, a preacher of some kind, whined about how the city manager "had no answers" at the meeting. To here his account of the proceedings, Smitherman was totally in the right. Then, this morning, Smitherman was on Brian Thomas's show. I didn't hear the segment , but I did hear the lead-up, and Thomas was blowing a fuse over the Duke situation, taking that Duke PR person's word for it. Also, to steal $25 million in stock is pretty tough to pull off. You would most likely need someone on the supply side in on the game. The way to do that is to duplicate orders but "forget" to invoice that duplicate. When will the local media pick up on the hypocrisy of Duke's safety statements? Your website has been making rounds around the internet. Enquirer journalists had to have seen it by now. John has sent in numerous pictures to local media as have I and others. What will it take for them to start covering it before Duke's spokesperson's statements sink in as 'facts' to the metro area? This is exactly how these bootleg arguments gain traction. This is why we still have LTE stating "Why not just paint a bus to look like a streetcar". These things have to be nipped in the bud immediately before they sink in
February 13, 201213 yr When will the local media pick up on the hypocrisy of Duke's safety statements? Your website has been making rounds around the internet. Enquirer journalists had to have seen it by now. John has sent in numerous pictures to local media as have I and others. What will it take for them to start covering it before Duke's spokesperson's statements sink in as 'facts' to the metro area? This is exactly how these bootleg arguments gain traction. This is why we still have LTE stating "Why not just paint a bus to look like a streetcar". These things have to be nipped in the bud immediately before they sink in post, tweet, repost, retweet blogs, Twitter, FaceBook, forums, LTEs whatever
February 13, 201213 yr Those pictures from Portland.... Boy I can sure see why the opposition is scared of having a streetcar here! :P Keep on fighting the good fight, Cincy! "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
February 13, 201213 yr IMO, it all comes down to money. They want the taxpayers to pick up the tab for replacing their decrepit infrastructure, much of which they're already under legal obligation to replace. I wish it were that benign. Ugh. Why do I have a feeling Kasich is involved somewhere Kasich may be involved, but somehow I think the Obama administration has Cincy's back. I don't know why, it just seems that way.
February 13, 201213 yr McRothenberg Group relies on Mark Miller for facts on streetcar/Duke issues. Paul Naberhaus gripes about suburban streetcar supporters. the dullest minds, worst sources, lamest talk.....
February 13, 201213 yr McRothenberg Group relies on Mark Miller for facts on streetcar/Duke issues. Paul Naberhaus gripes about suburban streetcar supporters. the dullest minds, worst sources, lamest talk..... Forgive my ignorance, but who are those people? (McRothenberg and Paul Naberhaus)
February 14, 201213 yr Ed Rothenberg http://www.smartvoter.org/2001/11/06/oh/hm/vote/rothenberg_e/bio.html Paul Naberhaus http://www.smartvoter.org/2000/03/07/oh/state/vote/naberhaus_e/ They do a McLaughlin Group type roundtable show on Media Bridges (local access cable in Cincinnati) hence "McRothenberg". They get Miller & Ken Anderson from WDBZ & some other guy on there too. It's bad - reeeeeal bad.
February 14, 201213 yr Ed Rothenberg http://www.smartvoter.org/2001/11/06/oh/hm/vote/rothenberg_e/bio.html Paul Naberhaus http://www.smartvoter.org/2000/03/07/oh/state/vote/naberhaus_e/ They do a McLaughlin Group type roundtable show on Media Bridges (local access cable in Cincinnati) hence "McRothenberg". They get Miller & Ken Anderson from WDBZ & some other guy on there too. It's bad - reeeeeal bad. FYI, Rothenberg is a member of COAST, and a perennial right wing wannabe for local office as well.
February 14, 201213 yr I took this picture Monday afternoon on Vine just south of Fifth (right outside the Westin entrance). It sure doesn't seem that there is much concern from this Duke worker about the traffic that is much closer to him than eight feet. And the path of these cars is far more unpredictable than a streetcar's.
February 14, 201213 yr ^Just for clarity's sake, is Duke allegedly worried about the streetcar vehicle itself or the electrified catenary? If the latter, then the comparisons with automobile traffic are really apples and oranges, although I do agree that working within 3 feet of automobile traffic is FAR more dangerous than working near a fixed-rail train or its catenary. But if they're using distance from the tracks as a measure of distance from the catenary, then we really should also be focusing on how crews in other cities handle that while using heavy equipment.
February 14, 201213 yr Well worth reading and sharing...... MONDAY, FEB 13, 2012 1:00 PM EASTERN STANDARD TIME The Tea Party’s war on mass transit House Republicans try to gut federal funds for subways as they extend the culture wars to urban policy issues In the week since House Republicans introduced their proposed transportation bill, one thing has become clear: It has virtually nothing to do with fiscal responsibility. The Tea Party soared to power on the notion that it was the antidote to wasteful government spending. It’s now clear that reigniting the culture wars was a top priority, too. From guns to abortion, the extremist wing of the Republican Party has fought to turn back the clock on many socially progressive ideals. Mass transit is its newest target. “Federal transportation and infrastructure policy has traditionally been an area of strong bipartisan agreement,” says Aaron Naparstek, a Loeb Fellow at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design and founder of Streetsblog.org. “Now, it seems, Republicans want to turn cities into a part of the culture wars. Now it’s abortion, gay marriage and subways.” READ MORE AT: http://www.salon.com/2012/02/13/the_tea_partys_war_on_mass_transit/ "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
February 14, 201213 yr Yup, the website of the American Public Transit Association has a lot about this with frequent updates. If you google "APTA," look down the page because American Physical Therapy Assn. comes to the top. APTA comes up next. Also a lot of info...google "National Corridor Initiative Destination Freedom". The House Ways and Means Committee is trying to eliminate dedicated Federal funding (from the gasoline tax) for Mass Transit. Under their plan there would be no Federal Mass Transit funding after 2016. AS IF massive Federal spending for highways, loans to automobile manufacturers, tax breaks for investment in oil, subsidies to airlines...and on and on and on...were the stellar examples of free enterprise and limited government! Hmmm :wtf: MONDAY, FEB 13, 2012 1:00 PM EASTERN STANDARD TIME The Tea Party’s war on mass transit "The Tea Party soared to power on the notion that it was the antidote to wasteful government spending. It’s now clear that reigniting the culture wars was a top priority, too. From guns to abortion, the extremist wing of the Republican Party has fought to turn back the clock on many socially progressive ideals. Mass transit is its newest target."
February 14, 201213 yr I've been saying it all along. The COASTers and their Tea Party brethren don't give a damn about fiscal responsibility, so it's pointless to try to argue with them based on facts or numbers. Nobody goes into a such a rage over a dry fiscal debate, but watch what happens when those urban dwellers get a little too uppity and try to build themselves a streetcar. The teabaggers are waging a culture war against cities and everything cities represent.
February 15, 201213 yr I've been saying it all along. The COASTers and their Tea Party brethren don't give a damn about fiscal responsibility, so it's pointless to try to argue with them based on facts or numbers. Nobody goes into a such a rage over a dry fiscal debate, but watch what happens when those urban dwellers get a little too uppity and try to build themselves a streetcar. The teabaggers are waging a culture war against cities and everything cities represent. Which is why Republicans, through their control of the state government have been giving cities the back of their hand. Their constituents don't live in cities and voters in urban areas tend to vote Democratic. They won't do anything to help "those people." Their entire stance is tinged with bigotry, narrow-mindedness and political expediency over the general good of the populace. Ohio's legislature has been dominated by rural and exurban lawmakers for decades, despite the fact that the vast majority of Ohioans live in urban areas. This was always a factor, but gained steam when Republicans gained control of the Ohio Senate in the 1980's. They now hold a nearly permanent majority there because of redistricting. The House is more of a tossup, but the same redistricting is at work there as well.
February 15, 201213 yr COAST's blog now comparing streetcar to the Purple People Bridge Climb, also saying the streetcar project is "illegal".
February 15, 201213 yr Anti-Streetcar letters now pouring into the Enquirer. At least 8 so far this week
February 15, 201213 yr Mark Miller is blabbering on Twitter that Portune is saying that Cincinnati may lose $4 Million in OKI funds for the streetcar. He provided no link to any source. Anyone know if something's up?
February 15, 201213 yr Just to be safe- EVERYONE should email Portunes office right now. [email protected] Just a couple sentences about why he should support the streetcar. Don't even mention the OKI money, seriously, (in case its not even true) just say you support the streetcar and hope he does to.
February 15, 201213 yr From May of 2010 http://www.newsrecord.org/index.php/article/2010/05/streetcar_coffers_filling_upbr_ The commitments to funding the streetcar didn't stop there, as the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments board (OKI)allocated $4 million in funding for the project. ""The projects approved today are critical to continuing our efforts to provide our citizens with a variety of commuting options that will save them time and money while alleviating stress that comes from traveling on congested roadways,"" said Mark Policinski, executive director of OKI. ""OKI continues to move multi-modal projects forward which benefit our commuting population, environment and economy."" The streetcar funding approved by OKI was just a part of more than $90 million that the board distributed to 33 transportation projects in Hamilton, Butler, Clermont and Warren counties. 'Cincinnati Streetcar identified as Regional Priority by OKI' Feb 16, 2011 http://www.urbancincy.com/2011/02/cincinnati-streetcar-project-identified-as-regional-priority-by-oki/ Now, OKI has unveiled a new video that discusses the highlights of the modern streetcar system and why it was the recipient of the money. Here is their website: http://www.oki.org/
February 15, 201213 yr This just in from WVXU: http://www.wvxu.org/news/wvxunews_article.asp?ID=9796 Could another Streetcar funding source be in jeopardy? By Tana Weingartner 2/15/2012 4:24:40 PM Just days before the planned groundbreaking for the Cincinnati Streetcar one funding agency is considering other ways to spend the money it has committed to the project. Ohio Kentucky Indiana Regional Council of Governments spokesman Brian Cunningham says Duke Energy's recent decision to end discussions with the city prompted the move. However, he says, it doesn't mean OKI is taking back its four million dollar investment. “It’s not a situation where the board would act to remove (the money). It’s just a situation, in the event that the money would not be utilized for the intended purpose, we would have to reallocate it to another project within the OKI region,” he says. So it looks like OKI is preparing contigincy plans for the $4 Million in case the project does not happen.
February 15, 201213 yr That is so stupid. Why would you have such a conversation before a project is cancelled? And why on earth would the Duke issue prompt such a discussion when the ballot initiatives did not?
February 15, 201213 yr That is so stupid. Why would you have such a conversation before a project is cancelled? And why on earth would the Duke issue prompt such a discussion when the ballot initiatives did not? Cincinnati politics...Never a dull moment.
February 15, 201213 yr I suspect that OKI & the County Commissioners might be positioning themselves to say that the OKI grant can't pay for any utility work, since Portune has apparently chosen to demagogue the issue (in vain hopes of pandering to suburban voters in November). If so that's fine, creative accounting will ensure that their $4 Million goes towards actual streetcar construction costs and nothing else.
February 15, 201213 yr ^ Wouldn't have to be very creative, considering the OKI money is a small fraction of the overall funding. Which is why I don't think that's the reason. OKI seems to be fairly progressive, but I think they get caught up in the political current to an enormous degree. This seems to be the case here, though the rationale is opaque from the outside. It's such a bizarre move, it seems like a piece of yet another attack on the little streetcar that could. It seems like a weak one, so it's either a move of desperation (as an attempt to do any little thing to cast doubt on the project) or there is something more here than meets the eye.
February 15, 201213 yr I'm sure the City of Cincinnati will now be even more willing to help with Todd's Eastern Corridor boondoggle.
February 15, 201213 yr Just to be safe- EVERYONE should email Portunes office right now. [email protected] Just a couple sentences about why he should support the streetcar. Don't even mention the OKI money, seriously, (in case its not even true) just say you support the streetcar and hope he does to. Letter sent to Todd Portune.
February 15, 201213 yr Don't Ky and Indiana put money in toward OKI? Is Portune even on OKI's board? Edit: I got my answer.
February 15, 201213 yr Hopefully Ray LaHood flexes his Federal muscles at some of these absurd politicians around here.
February 16, 201213 yr I wrote to Portune today, and received a reply. as there was no request of confidentiality, I am posting his email in it's entirety for your consideration: From: "Portune, Todd" <Todd.Portune (at) hamilton-co.org> To: cincycapell (at) ymail.com Sent: Wednesday, February 15, 2012 6:45 PM Subject: RE: Streetcar Dear Cincy Capell: Thank you for your email on the streetcar project. Thank you as well for your support for me in the past. I do not take that lightly, and certainly not for granted. I am not certain what you are referring to as demagogueing on the streetcar issue but I do want you to know what my position is. Oftentimes the media plays only snippets of what someone says; or plays it out of context. Rarely do you get the whole picture. The streetcar issue is a complex one and one where I have always had concerns despite my support for transit in general and for introducing rail transit, in particular, into the region in places and in ways that make both operational and fiscal sense. I chair the Hamilton County transportation Improvement District and am the county’s delegate to the OKI Regional Council of Governments. At OKI I sit as an Officer in the position of OKI’s First Vice President. The streetcar issue has come before OKI several times – for inclusion into the OKI Transportation Plan; for prioritization for TRAC funding; for awards of CMAQ funds and TIP funds. In every instance where the matter has been before OKI for a vote it made sense to support it as part of a broad regional investment into transit options and I voted favorably for the project. I have not, however, been in favor of the limited service program currently proposed. I strongly urged the Mayor to take the project to the Transit Center so that it would tie into the county led commuter rail system, but such a move was refused. I asked for the city to support the county’s TIGER II grant fund request for the Eastern Corridor project and was met with objection instead despite that the county did not object to the city’s application. I voted against the two misguided charter amendments on transportation [which were not referendums on the streetcar, but instead, referendums on whether the city should be allowed to spend money on any rail related project including the Eastern Corridor commuter rail]. I appeared publicly at numerous venues around the city and spoke out against the Charter amendments during those campaigns. That said, I have opposed spending Metropolitan Sewer District funds on sewer relocation to accommodate the streetcar. Those funds, which are paid by ratepayers from across the county, are for sewers; sewer treatment; and compliance with EPA driven federal mandates on sewer fixes. Those mandates are extremely expensive and are causing rates to increase to unaffordable levels. I will not add to the MSD ratepayer burden the cost of unrelated projects. The streetcar must come up with funds that independently cover those costs and not expect that MSD ratepayers will also shoulder that burden. Today, I reported to the Board what transpired at last week’s OKI meeting. The suggestion regarding reconsideration of OKI funding for the streetcar in light of utility relocation costs not being covered by the utilities, as expected by the city [without any real basis for such an expectation] was not made by me, but by OKI Director Mark Policinski. I was simply sharing the information with my Board as an update on OKI activities. Please feel free to call or write should you have any further questions with respect to my position, opinion or votes on streetcar related matters. Properly advanced it can be a real asset to the community. However, I do not agree with all of the decisions, nor all of the approaches taken by the city on the project and have expressed as much when I disagree. Sincerely, Todd Portune
February 16, 201213 yr The Cincinnati Streetcar gets to within twenty vertical feet of the Transit Center.
February 16, 201213 yr The Cincinnati Streetcar gets to within twenty vertical feet of the Transit Center. This is what I was thinking. It's like his argument is that it's not enough for the streetcar to use the same station as light rail, it must use the same platform. This displays a serious ignorance of how transit works. And this guy's the "chair [of] the Hamilton County transportation Improvement District and...the county’s delegate to the OKI Regional Council of Governments".
February 16, 201213 yr Wow! At least give Mr. Portune credit for taking the time to write back with that response, and not waffling.
February 16, 201213 yr ^Agreed. That's a very lengthy and level-headed response. I don't agree with all of it, but it's more than I would have expected. I suspect that he doesn't realize that the project will go all the way to 2nd street (thanks to the latest Tiger grant). It will literally run to the transit center entrance steps; he can't possibly ask for much more than that.
February 16, 201213 yr ^^Making a non-sense argument coupled with an argument premised on a '"I didn't get my way" so I'm going to show you' argument is the new waffling. He doesn't understand it goes to 2nd Street? It's funny how City politicians go to the county and then forget that the County includes the City. If Portune really believes the Eastern Corridor is substantially in the interest of the County, but the City leadership doesn't believe it is the interest of the City, that's one thing. But if Portune thinks that the Streetcar is in the interest of the City, then it is by default in the interest of the County. Bringing up the Eastern Corridor doesn't make any sense. Of course, this is the same guy who thought it was in the interest of the County to undersell Drake Hospital in order to fund the Bengals stadium, so we kind of already know what to expect from him.
February 16, 201213 yr ^Assuming that he's being honest in his letter (which is a stretch with any politician), I'm guessing he brought up his advocacy of the Eastern Corridor as evidence that he supports rail in response to being accused of "demagogueing on the streetcar". The Oasis Line is a terrible idea for a variety of reasons, but its not implausible that someone with strong suburban ties and a passing interest in rail would think that it's a winner.
February 16, 201213 yr The eastern corridor project is Portunes baby. He is upset that the state has dramatically cut funding for it and he blames the City since they wouldn't support competing TRAC applications for two Cincy transit projects, one that was shovel ready and the other which was 4-5 years from beginning any sort of construction. Also- it frightens me that he doesn't realize the Streetcar goes to the STAIRCASE that leads to the transit Center. Also- frightfully ignorant that he would defend the idiotic MSD position. The City was going to pay for half the cost of replacing 110 year old sewer pipes which will NEED to be replaced within the next 10 years. Now it will cost ratepayers MORE to replace them since the streetcar will be on top.
February 16, 201213 yr He doesn't understand it goes to 2nd Street? It was supposed to, then it stopped at Government Square thanks to Kasich yanking some funding, then it got re-extended to 2nd Street with a Tiger grant back in December. If Portune isn't particularly interested in the project, it's possible he isn't familiar with that latest development. Also- it frightens me that he doesn't realize the Streetcar goes to the STAIRCASE that leads to the transit Center. Also- frightfully ignorant that he would defend the idiotic MSD position. The City was going to pay for half the cost of replacing 110 year old sewer pipes which will NEED to be replaced within the next 10 years. Now it will cost ratepayers MORE to replace them since the streetcar will be on top. Agreed.
February 16, 201213 yr If he's going to make up his mind about supporting the project or not based on its relationship to the transit center, that's very short-sighted and suggests that his support is only lip service. It's "first it was too big, now it's too small" type flip-flopping. If it's not absolutely perfect, then it's not worth doing, which means he doesn't support it. If he doesn't understand just how close it really is to the transit center, whether because of the most recent Tiger grants or not understanding that being on top but not inside is OK, then that shows a disturbing lack of due diligence on his part. Again, it's like he's holding the project to an unrealistic goal so he can shoot it down. Tying the streetcar in with the eastern corridor further reeks of politicking.
February 16, 201213 yr I wonder if Mr. Portune thought that the streetcar should interchange with the Eastern Corridor - allowing a one-seat ride from, say, Music Hall to Lunken Airport. Of course, the two systems would be incompatible for a number of reasons. For those who grew up with automobiles - where one can drive from practically any driveway or parking lot in the United States to any other without changing vehicles - rail can be a culture shock.
February 16, 201213 yr If anyone wants to post a polite response to Portune please feel free. It's been a long day and I'm too pooped to do it, and I have another long day tomorrow.
February 16, 201213 yr Also- it frightens me that he doesn't realize the Streetcar goes to the STAIRCASE that leads to the transit Center Just a note: With his disability, I don't believe Mr. Portune uses staircases. And the closest Transit Center elevator requires patrons to cross Walnut St. (or 3rd street to the CRG elevators). "It's just fate, as usual, keeping its bargain and screwing us in the fine print..." - John Crichton
February 16, 201213 yr ^I thought there was an elevator at each staircase. But I haven't really paid that close attention.
February 16, 201213 yr >The Cincinnati Streetcar gets to within twenty vertical feet of the Transit Center. The average voter has no idea where the transit center is or where the streetcar is planned to be built. If Portune were to have just said this at a community event, the crowd would turn on you if you were to cut in and make a point of this scientific fact. Politicians become politicians because they observe at a young age how most people are completely incapable of separating fact and fiction, distrust those who can help them, and trust those who exploit them.
February 16, 201213 yr ^ There are multiples elevators. Just remember: whatever the plan is, rail opponents will always want another plan. Portune has been an opponent of electric light rail and streetcars for as long as I can remember.
February 16, 201213 yr ^ There are multiples elevators. Just remember: whatever the plan is, rail opponents will always want another plan. Portune has been an opponent of electric light rail and streetcars for as long as I can remember. An argument I hear often is, "I support transit but now is not the right time." To this I say, when is a good time? In my humble opinion, there is no more right time. Interest rates are at all time lows, so labor costs are lower than they will ever be barring changing laws. People will always need to get to their jobs and between activity centers. That will never change. Moreover, in tough economic times like this, lessening the pinch of private automobile upkeep is needed more than ever.
February 16, 201213 yr ^I thought there was an elevator at each staircase. But I haven't really paid that close attention. Quick and dirty view of the area: Blue = Staircase Yellow = Elevator Green = Approximate location of a streetcar stop "It's just fate, as usual, keeping its bargain and screwing us in the fine print..." - John Crichton
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