July 8, 201212 yr Yet another reason why public utilities should actually be owned and managed by the public.
July 8, 201212 yr Duke Energy is already a publicly owned company. What I'm referring to is utilities being owned directly by the ratepayers in a co-op structure, or owned by whatever government jurisdiction they serve, as with the sewer or water district. If the head of MSD collected a $44 million paycheck for one day of work, taxpayers would be rioting in the streets, and rightfully so. And yet people seem to buy into this fallacy that energy corporations like Duke and Enron are inherently more efficient than a public utility such as LADWP.
July 8, 201212 yr Ya- When I left Cincy for college the city I moved to had a municipally-owned utility company. It was super popular and cheaper than the neighboring for-profit utility.
July 8, 201212 yr Duke Energy is already a publicly owned company. What I'm referring to is utilities being owned directly by the ratepayers in a co-op structure, or owned by whatever government jurisdiction they serve, as with the sewer or water district. If the head of MSD collected a $44 million paycheck for one day of work, taxpayers would be rioting in the streets, and rightfully so. And yet people seem to buy into this fallacy that energy corporations like Duke and Enron are inherently more efficient than a public utility such as LADWP. The way they spun this is that he collected $33 million for one day of work. One could also spin it as Duke bought his company for $33 million.
July 8, 201212 yr Again, we don't see MSD and other public agencies buying each other out and otherwise engaging in financial shell games with taxpayer money.
July 8, 201212 yr When the utility is directly owned by the taxpayer, then they're one and the same. Companies like Duke don't answer to either; they only answer to their investors. Steering this thread back on topic: When LA gets around to building their own downtown streetcar, you can bet LADWP will be a willing partner rather than trying to extort the city for millions of dollars over bogus utility relocation demands. And if Duke didn't exist and the City of Cincinnati owned its own electrical utilities, utility relocation for the streetcar would be a non-issue there as well.
July 8, 201212 yr Talk Radio had a new one yesterday: comparing the streetcar to a time share condo. Suggested that it sounds like a good idea at the beginning, then it keeps costing you money after you're bored with it.
July 8, 201212 yr Talk Radio had a new one yesterday: comparing the streetcar to a time share condo. Suggested that it sounds like a good idea at the beginning, then it keeps costing you money after you're bored with it. Their perserverence is insanity. The streetcar has now been "worse than 9/11", a money maker for those along the route while not increasing property values, a socialist Marxist communist boondoggle, a crack train, and now a time share. the beat goes on and on for them
July 8, 201212 yr Talk Radio had a new one yesterday: comparing the streetcar to a time share condo. Suggested that it sounds like a good idea at the beginning, then it keeps costing you money after you're bored with it. Their perserverence is insanity. The streetcar has now been "worse than 9/11", a money maker for those along the route while not increasing property values, a socialist Marxist communist boondoggle, a crack train, and now a time share. the beat goes on and on for them and it's BLOODY!
July 8, 201212 yr ^ We should welcome this. The more they double-down on making outrageous claims, the more discredited they'll be when the first leg opens to great success and serious expansion of the streetcar system gets underway.
July 8, 201212 yr I am afraid they will just be able to shake the Etch-a-Sketch. Similar to the way they seem to have rinsed their hands of being stadium tax proponents, to the extent that a lot of people absurdly blame city Democrats.
July 8, 201212 yr Ya- here's what will happen: Us: "Republicans and conservatives were against the streetcar and now look at how much of a success it is!" Them: "Democrats like John Cranley, Dusty Rhodes and Tom Luken were against the streetcar so it's not a conservative vs. liberal thing" When the streetcar is a success they will say, "you got lucky" or "it's because of other things" and they will just start attacking the next proposed major investment (FWW Caps, Light rail, etc.). And their listeners will still listen.
July 8, 201212 yr Ya- here's what will happen: Us: "Republicans and conservatives were against the streetcar and now look at how much of a success it is!" Them: "Democrats like John Cranley, Dusty Rhodes and Tom Luken were against the streetcar so it's not a conservative vs. liberal thing" When the streetcar is a success they will say, "you got lucky" or "it's because of other things" and they will just start attacking the next proposed major investment (FWW Caps, Light rail, etc.). And their listeners will still listen. They'll claim that downtown/OTR revitalization was under way well before the streetcar started running. They'll point to Washington Park, Fountain Square, The Banks and Vine Street as all being successful first, so their continued success clearly has nothing to do with the streetcar. Then they'll really grasp for straws by saying that with all the people riding the streetcar, Cincinnati's obesity rate is inching upward as people aren't walking as much. They'll use that angle to fight an extension to Uptown.
July 8, 201212 yr The COASTies invoking obesity in any argument would be about as ironic as them inkoving fiscal responsibility.
July 8, 201212 yr I think you guys are spending too much time on them. While it's good to be prepared, it's not good to dwell. Look ahead and move ahead. Force them to react. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
July 9, 201212 yr Speaking of looking ahead... any insights for future expansions beyond what has already been disclosed? Or any other news/updates? How's construction moving along? I haven't heard/seen anything in a while.
July 10, 201212 yr I've seen the water main workers moving down Race St. recently. They just crossed Liberty heading towards Washington Park. Living down here I'm constantly seeing the line being worked on and it makes me very happy everytime I see it. I just think of how hard we had to fight just to get to this point where actual work is really being done!
July 10, 201212 yr I saw somewhere recently that the estimated completion is now late 2014. I also saw an old thread where UncleRando was saying in 2007 that city leaders were saying 2009 (but UR was more "realistic" with a prediction of 2010. Haha.) It keeps getting pushed back, and the rate of work seems like molasses. You'd think all utilities could be working on relocation simultaneously.
July 10, 201212 yr ^I wish they'd do something like the Riverfront Park video updates. I know they've done videos in the past, but those SRP videos were very well done. I'd be willing to throw something together even.
July 10, 201212 yr If not for COAST et al. we could have had an operating streetcar system in time for the World Choir Games. If Cincinnati gets the 2015 All-Star Game, look for them to redouble their efforts -- they'd love nothing more than visitors standing at streetcar stops on a system with no functioning streetcars.
July 10, 201212 yr My prediction for about a year now has been testing begins very late 2014, line opens February/March 2015. I saw someone else say 2015 a while back and get laughed at. I'm betting "full on" construction starts LATE this year or early next year. The city hasn't even put out bids yet for contractors.
July 10, 201212 yr I love me some Mark Mallory http://cincinnati.com/blogs/politics/2012/07/10/mallory-says-hes-lobbying-dc-officials-to-nix-chabots-streetcar-provision/
July 10, 201212 yr I love me some Mark Mallory http://cincinnati.com/blogs/politics/2012/07/10/mallory-says-hes-lobbying-dc-officials-to-nix-chabots-streetcar-provision/ "Mallory says he’s lobbying DC officials to nix Chabot’s streetcar Provision" It's crazy the mayor has to represent the city to Washington but since Cincinnati's congressman doesn't represent the city, what other course in there?
July 10, 201212 yr I love me some Mark Mallory http://cincinnati.com/blogs/politics/2012/07/10/mallory-says-hes-lobbying-dc-officials-to-nix-chabots-streetcar-provision/ Hearing Bill Cunningham and Brian Thomas will be replaced by actual 8 year old kids tomorrow who didn't get the Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough ice cream they wanted at Krogers to discuss streetcar
July 10, 201212 yr I hope they use similar music to the park videos if they do streetcar ones. Can't tell if you are kidding or not. I like it too! In the same way I love TWC Local Forecast music. Some video updates would be nice. Spring 2015 would be great timing for a potential MLB ASG.
July 10, 201212 yr I hope the streetcar also does video updates like Smale Riverfront Park. And, Rabbit Hash, I'm right there with you - Local on the 8s is some good stuff!
July 11, 201212 yr I love me some Mark Mallory http://cincinnati.com/blogs/politics/2012/07/10/mallory-says-hes-lobbying-dc-officials-to-nix-chabots-streetcar-provision/ Me too! No question about it, he's a hero. Mark Mallory for Governor!
July 11, 201212 yr Mallory ousting Kasich as governor of Ohio would be Cincinnati's ultimate payback.
July 11, 201212 yr It would be - though I thought he'd take a crack at unseating Chabot first, myself. (Especially if the redistricting ballot initiative goes through and District 1 stops being gerrymandered to include Warren County.)
July 11, 201212 yr I too will vouch for Weather Channel music. You guys would be jealous of my collection of hundreds of songs. All of Trammel Starks and most of the Network Music songs. I like the classic years the most. Before 2000. I say we lobby to have it as the ambient music on the streetcars.
July 11, 201212 yr ^way to keep it on topic :-P I agree - could there be any better music, really --- short of themed music for holidays, opening day, oktoberfest, etc.
July 11, 201212 yr Chabot was just on Bill Cunningham's show insinuating that he will be taking away the federal money. This is of course impossible, and I'm sure Cunningham knew that, but he loves playing the game. Chabot framed the Urban Circulator Grant (which he did not call by name) as a "bailout" of the streetcar project. So all this anger directed toward a tiny grant for a mass transit project, but the billions spent bailing out GM and Chrysler are shrugged off. Meanwhile, conversation turned to the Brent Spence Bridge, and Cunningham asserted that President Abraham Lincoln built the suspension bridge.
July 11, 201212 yr Meanwhile, conversation turned to the Brent Spence Bridge, and Cunningham asserted that President Abraham Lincoln built the suspension bridge. no doubt
July 11, 201212 yr Chabot was just on Bill Cunningham's show insinuating that he will be taking away the federal money. This is of course impossible, and I'm sure Cunningham knew that, but he loves playing the game. Chabot framed the Urban Circulator Grant (which he did not call by name) as a "bailout" of the streetcar project. So all this anger directed toward a tiny grant for a mass transit project, but the billions spent bailing out GM and Chrysler are shrugged off. Meanwhile, conversation turned to the Brent Spence Bridge, and Cunningham asserted that President Abraham Lincoln built the suspension bridge. The opponents gameplan is so predictable in regards to PR. Whenever something or someone calls them out, they run to 700wlw and 55krc. Then they create fake names and write LTE. In terms of PR, that's all they have now. Even the enquirer sans Barry Horstman is sick of them
July 11, 201212 yr The other day on Twitter while County Auditor Dusty Rhodes (the idiot, not the iconic wrestler) was making fun of John Schneider for praising downtown - I asked him if he went to the same crazy retirement home as Tom Luken. He proceeded to personally message me and say "No. Do you?" Then blocked me. BURRRRNNNNN.
July 11, 201212 yr The other day on Twitter while County Auditor Dusty Rhodes (the idiot, not the iconic wrestler) was making fun of John Schneider for praising downtown - I asked him if he went to the same crazy retirement home as Tom Luken. He proceeded to personally message me and say "No. Do you?" Then blocked me. BURRRRNNNNN. You and rob should save those direct tweets. I want to create a web page of all the outrageous COAST, smitherman and Rhodes tweets. "Welcome to the official Sh*t Dusty Rhodes/COAST/Smitherman says web page"
July 11, 201212 yr The other day on Twitter while County Auditor Dusty Rhodes (the idiot, not the iconic wrestler) was making fun of John Schneider for praising downtown - I asked him if he went to the same crazy retirement home as Tom Luken. He proceeded to personally message me and say "No. Do you?" Then blocked me. BURRRRNNNNN. You and rob should save those direct tweets. I want to create a web page of all the outrageous COAST, smitherman and Rhodes tweets. "Welcome to the official Sh*t Dusty Rhodes/COAST/Smitherman says web page" Oh, I've still got 'em all... they're golden nuggets. I REALLY hope the HamCo Dems revoke his endorsement!
July 12, 201212 yr Just talked to Mark Miller on twitter. Apparently he (and presumably the other opponents) believe Mallory is just using the streetcar for leverage for another 'boondoggle to be named later'. They dont believe construction is going on and they don't believe it will ever be built. They believe its a giant conspiracy, (Probably crafted by Obama while he was plotting the US Presidency at a young age in Kenya), to one day give federal funds for a Cincinnati streetcar with no intention of actually ever building it COAST @GOCOAST @513facepalmnews Streetcar is vaporware, like atrium. No intention to go thru w/it. Only exists 2B traded for a boondoggle 2B named later. Even for COAST, that is quite the conspiracy theory. I'll give him some points for creativity
July 12, 201212 yr That is bs, they would never have spent so much effort to stop the streetcar if they though it weren't srs bsns. Tell him to go play Duke Streetcar Forever. (As in Duke Energy, of course.)
July 12, 201212 yr Chabot was just on Bill Cunningham's show... Before Chabot he had on Johnna Reeder to talk about Duke's request for a electric & gas rate increase. It was all a bunch of fluff, much like when she was on to discuss moving utilities for the streetcar. Oddly enough, Willie didn't ask one question about the ongoing negotiations with the city. "It's just fate, as usual, keeping its bargain and screwing us in the fine print..." - John Crichton
July 12, 201212 yr They're going to have a hard time blaming the rate increase on the streetcar while that $44M severance package for Duke's one-day CEO is still in the news. Not that they won't try, which is why streetcar supporters need to keep hammering away with that.
July 12, 201212 yr Yes, that was a political gift from the corporate gods, in the form of a gift to a corporate god. One-day CEO = boondoggle for rate payers, for sure.
Create an account or sign in to comment