So that mentions that it will save all parties money. Does this mean that the overall cost of the trains will be less for us?

 

It's certainly a possibility. There are certain back of the office costs (design, engineering for USA standards, etc.) that would cost the same amount of money if you are building one car or fifteen cars; however, if you build 15 cars, you can spread those fixed costs out over a greater number of cars resulting in a cheaper per car price.

If you are pro-streetcar, pro-urbanist, pro-just about anything in Cincinnati you have to actively support Roxanne in this race. Can you imagine the nuclear winter scenario of 4 or 8 years of quite possibly a Cranley/Smitherman regime?! Please get active in the campaign. We need boots on the ground activism to shape our city in a progressive fashion! Only 54 days left! Email jon@roxannequalls for volunteer opportunities

Any way you slice it, Cranley winning would be terrible for this city. Start talking to your friends, neighbors, coworkers and strangers. I started a conversation on the bus this morning because people thought that they changed all the bus routes because Metro is using the money on the Streetcar instead of the busses. There is an insane amount of misinformation floating around out there.

 

Some woman tried to tell me that

 

"Sales taxes are increasing in Cincinnati"  "Really, city officials are raising the sales tax to help pay for that damn streetcar"

 

I told her that the streetcar has nothing to do with anything and that Kasich is the one raising the sales tax to pay for tax cuts for the wealthy among other things...We didn't talk much after

 

How people get so uninformed is mindboggling.  Some of these people tie any and everything to the streetcar

Any way you slice it, Cranley winning would be terrible for this city. Start talking to your friends, neighbors, coworkers and strangers. I started a conversation on the bus this morning because people thought that they changed all the bus routes because Metro is using the money on the Streetcar instead of the busses. There is an insane amount of misinformation floating around out there.

 

Some woman tried to tell me that

 

"Sales taxes are increasing in Cincinnati"  "Really, city officials are raising the sales tax to help pay for that damn streetcar"

 

I told her that the streetcar has nothing to do with anything and that Kasich is the one raising the sales tax to pay for tax cuts for the wealthy among other things...We didn't talk much after

 

How people get so uninformed is mindboggling.  Some of these people tie any and everything to the streetcar

 

Look at the mainstream local media in this city, specifically WLW, 55KRC and the Enquirer. It's easy to see why the misinformation permeates.

Unsolicited opinions are almost as pleasant to deal with as unsolicited personal advice.

speaking of misinformation.. I happened to turn on WLW on way home from work the other day and they were discussing how Paul Brown Stadium is going to be paid for... of course they kept referring to it as property of the "City" and how is "the City" going to pay for it when they have all these other pet projects they are funding?  i.e.: the streetcar.

 

I imagine a good portion of people believe its the cities responsibility to pay for the stadiums, especially when the talking heads on radio suggest it.  Funny how people go nuts over the streetcar but were lining up to fund a stadium that gets used 10 times a year.

I do think its difficult for people in most American cities to grasp County owned properties or County operated services within city limits. I'm not sure what the disconnect is but it's common and not just a Cincinnati issue. That said, there really needs to be more integrity in our media. It is their responsibility to inform the public, not perpetuate myths.

Smitherman and Cranley are coming out swinging against "streetcar supporters".  Saying they are the ones that are 'making up lies' about the Smitherman for Vice Mayor rumors

Just in time:

 

True Courage Is Knowing You’re Wrong But Refusing To Admit It

Commentary • Opinion • ISSUE 49•36 • Sep 5, 2013

By Ryan Arrington

 

Courage requires us to remain steadfast in our beliefs. It asks that we stand by the convictions we express and never give an inch, no matter what the cost... True valor is the moment in a conversation when you realize that what you’re saying is completely and utterly wrong, but you continue to say it over and over again anyway, only louder.

 

http://www.theonion.com/articles/true-courage-is-knowing-youre-wrong-but-refusing-t,33742/

Smitherman and Cranley are coming out swinging against "streetcar supporters".  Saying they are the ones that are 'making up lies' about the Smitherman for Vice Mayor rumors

 

GOOD--

 

so when they say we are lying, ask, OK then who would it be?

Nothing new here, but it's refreshing to see a local news source simply reporting facts.

 

Here’s how Cincinnati’s streetcar project is progressing

 

More progress has been made on Cincinnati’s streetcar construction.

 

This week, work on underground conduit crossings near Race and Liberty streets continued, while crews also worked on demolition and backfilling at the maintenance and operations facility site.

 

Utility work for the project has also been ongoing, with exploratory digging on Race Street between Findlay and Liberty streets, while water main installation continued near Central Parkway and Walnut Street...

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2013/09/13/heres-how-cincinnatis-streetcar.html

Just to get an idea of what construction will look like during and after when the rails go in next month, I had a guy on Twitter send me some updated photos of Atlanta's construction: http://queencitydiscovery.blogspot.com/2013/09/some-updated-streetcar-info-from-atlanta.html

Nothing new here, but it's refreshing to see a local news source simply reporting facts.

 

The Business Courier is the only Cincinnati mainstream media outlet interested in doing that type of journalism.

One John Cranley, from The Enquirer:

 

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20130915/NEWS0106/309150057/City-paving-work-priority-both-candidates

 

"I will dramatically increase road paving by canceling the streetcar project.”

...Uh, okay. Please elaborate on that point.

At this point he's just promising everything to everyone and all will be ok if he just cancels the streetcar and uses money for everything else

 

He's literally making stuff up he knows can't be done

And people are buying it.

I'm having trouble not being a jackass lately.  You have to be a complete idiot to believe his crap.  There are a profound number of idiots out there.

 

I'm practicing remaining calm and explaining the terms of the Parking lease and the funding for the Streetcar without judgement, but every now and then I'm forced to explode in rage at these people who refuse to accept reality. 

I'm having trouble not being a jackass lately.  You have to be a complete idiot to believe his crap.  There are a profound number of idiots out there.

 

I'm practicing remaining calm and explaining the terms of the Parking lease and the funding for the Streetcar without judgement, but every now and then I'm forced to explode in rage at these people who refuse to accept reality. 

ditto

props to the people canvassing for Qualls - I couldn't do it.

If you can't canvass consider a $25 donation or some other way to help! Everyone have yard signs?

And people are buying it.

 

"The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter." - Winston Churchill

One John Cranley, from The Enquirer:

 

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20130915/NEWS0106/309150057/City-paving-work-priority-both-candidates

 

"I will dramatically increase road paving by canceling the streetcar project.”

...Uh, okay. Please elaborate on that point.

 

This appears to be a written response to a written question (or at least something that was said in a closed interview) so it gets published with no opportunity to rebut his response.  This is why we have debates, and I believe there is one coming up very soon.  Somebody should ask him in a debate forum...specifically which parts of the streetcar budget can be reallocated for highway paving?

One John Cranley, from The Enquirer:

 

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20130915/NEWS0106/309150057/City-paving-work-priority-both-candidates

 

"I will dramatically increase road paving by canceling the streetcar project.”

...Uh, okay. Please elaborate on that point.

 

This appears to be a written response to a written question (or at least something that was said in a closed interview) so it gets published with no opportunity to rebut his response.  This is why we have debates, and I believe there is one coming up very soon.  Somebody should ask him in a debate forum...specifically which parts of the streetcar budget can be reallocated for highway paving?

I was being sarcastic and asking a rhetorical question at the same time. Any follow-up from him would be nonsense regardless.

Cranley fact check regarding streetcar money and pavement of roads

 

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/politics/2013/09/16/could-cranley-spend-streetcar-money-on-other-things-yes-and-no/

Cranley fact check regarding streetcar money and pavement of roads

 

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/politics/2013/09/16/could-cranley-spend-streetcar-money-on-other-things-yes-and-no/

Unfortunately this is on the Politics Blog page that pretty much just political junkies read. This needs to get out to the low info voters that Cranky depends on.

And to correct this correction...about 1/3 of the Blue Ash sale is dedicated to the streetcar.  This means approximately $300,000 of their annual $1 million payment could be redirected to other activities. 

Sep 16, 2013, 12:53pm EDT

Downtown office building will be converted to apartments

 

Joe Levine, president of Levine Properties, said the residential market in Cincinnati is strong and the property is on the streetcar line.

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2013/09/16/downtown-office-building-will-be.html

Awesome news, more ammo to fire at the streetcar opponents!

Dusty Rhodes was on 700WLW this morning to talk about gun laws.  That's right, Hamilton County's auditor felt a need to chime in on the ineffectiveness of gun laws in response to the mass shooting yesterday in Washington, DC.  Naturally, the conversation shifts to...the streetcar.  Rhodes says if Ohio passed a law forcing old drivers to surrender their driver's licenses, "they'd all ride the streetcar".  He meant this as an insult to the streetcar project, of course. 

 

This is the same Dusty Rhodes who keeps getting reelected by talking about things his office has nothing to do with, like the Kenton County Airport Board and The Beatles.  In 2011 when Paul McCartney played a concert at Great American Ballpark, Rhodes took a victory lap around the AM dial, insinuated that he booked The Beatles concert at Crosley Field back in 1963. 

 

He's probably afraid of losing the name recognition he earns from having his name on every gas pump. "Do you realize those hipsters with their bikes and streetcar won't even know who I am?"

Cranley said he will cancel the streetcar day one if elected

 

He is literally blaming the streetcar for everything in the city of Cincinnati in the debate

Cranley has now blamed the following for the streetcar:

 

Loss of jobs, Loss of flights at CVG, MSD problems, Pure Romance problem, metro routes, lack of conventions

That kind of fixation would normally be a sign of Autism.

Does anyone have a link to the construction contract the city signed with Messer/PRUS and/or the contract the city signed with CAF for the actual vehicles?

Dusty Rhodes was on 700WLW this morning to talk about gun laws.  That's right, Hamilton County's auditor felt a need to chime in on the ineffectiveness of gun laws in response to the mass shooting yesterday in Washington, DC.  Naturally, the conversation shifts to...the streetcar.  Rhodes says if Ohio passed a law forcing old drivers to surrender their driver's licenses, "they'd all ride the streetcar".  He meant this as an insult to the streetcar project, of course. 

 

This is the same Dusty Rhodes who keeps getting reelected by talking about things his office has nothing to do with, like the Kenton County Airport Board and The Beatles.  In 2011 when Paul McCartney played a concert at Great American Ballpark, Rhodes took a victory lap around the AM dial, insinuated that he booked The Beatles concert at Crosley Field back in 1963. 

 

 

Wow. I guess my Cleveland/Cuyahoga County doesn't have a monopoly on flakes-in-office.

Cranley apparently blamed local environmental problems on the streetcar as well.

 

He mentioned the word streetcar 23 times yesterday in the debates alone and has now blamed it for:

 

-lack of tax credits for pure romance

-lack of metro routes

-MSD problems between county and city

-lack of flights from CVG

-cops/ff woes

-Brent Spence Bridge

-credit rating

-environmental problems

Hey! Let me interrupt with some good news!

 

Construction is well underway. There is utility work everywhere along the route -- Race, Elm, Liberty. The most obvious sign is the work in front of Music Hall on Elm:

 

^ugh, this streetcar is a disaster - look at all the street repairs that need to be made now. That's all money that could have been spent on ponies!

In his interview with the Enquirer editorial board today Cranley stated that with his election he will consider it a MANDATE to stop the streetcar. Please everyone, we need all hands on deck for Roxanne. Can you come out and canvass, make some phone calls, get some yard signs out?!

 

Email [email protected] to get involved asap!

 

Imagine the embarrassing scene for all eternity of Cranley out there with a crowbar tearing up the rails....the future of our city is at stake...

Has Cranley down any kind of study on how much it will cost the city for  canceling the streetcar and how far the city credit rating will fall because of it? It will fall if canceled.

Has Cranley down any kind of study on how much it will cost the city for  canceling the streetcar and how far the city credit rating will fall because of it? It will fall if canceled.

studies? Crakny don't need no stinking studies!

In his interview with the Enquirer editorial board today Cranley stated that with his election he will consider it a MANDATE to stop the streetcar. Please everyone, we need all hands on deck for Roxanne. Can you come out and canvass, make some phone calls, get some yard signs out?!

 

Email [email protected] to get involved asap!

 

Imagine the embarrassing scene for all eternity of Cranley out there with a crowbar tearing up the rails....the future of our city is at stake...

 

Indeed. The stakes are VERY high.

Anyone else notice the shift from John Cranley on the streetcar?

 

Tuesday during the debate:

 

"I will cancel the streetcar project immediately"

 

Wednesday for the Enquirer editorial interview:

 

"I’ll see if we can get out of the streetcar contract"

 

 

Why this change in wording?  Does he know, deep down, that it would be foolish to stop it and is moving away from the narrative in case he gets elected?

 

We'll find out another answer today I'm sure during his interview with WCPO

^ I suspect that Cranley has now learned that he can't stop Phase 1a from being built. Even if he could round up five votes on the new Council, Cincinnati is obligated under many contracts, including one with the Feds which no mayor would want to piss off, to build a 3.6 mile streetcar in downtown Cincinnati.

 

However, he can probably cause it to fail by shortening hours of operation, increasing fares and reducing mainenance and staffing -- all, in his justification, to save money.

 

And he can (and would) undoubtedly cause Phase 1b to Uptown not be be built in any number of ways.

 

By the way, Cranley is not just opposed to the streetcar. He is opposed to any kind of rail here, ever. He doesn't view public transportation as a city-builder but rather as a social program for people who are too old, too sick, too young or too poor to get around by other means. I've talked to him several times at length about this, and this is how he feels.

In the past, Cranley has trumpeted his position in defeating the 2002 Metro Moves ballot as a major career accomplishment.

In the past, Cranley has trumpeted his position in defeating the 2002 Metro Moves ballot as a major career accomplishment.

 

He did that on Rob Richardson's show on the buzz recently.  Said there were hidden taxes or something I can't remember the exact quote

^yeah and per John's post (^^), when Cranley said he was for passenger rail, Richardson asked him when he had ever supported an actual rail project, Cranky got kinda testy.

>He doesn't view public transportation as a city-builder but rather as a social program for people who are too old, too sick, too young or too poor to get around by other means. I've talked to him several times at length about this, and this is how he feels.

 

As someone who spent 3 or 4 years living in Cambridge, MA while earning two degrees from Harvard, it's impossible to have not periodically ridden the red line subway.  It's a high quality service and even the wealthy ride it regularly. 

^ I think Tom Luken has influenced John Cranley beyond salvation on this subject.

West Side man wants to bring back city's inclines

a crack in the armour of the Price Hilligans...

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20130919/NEWS01/309190129/West-Side-man-wants-bring-back-city-s-inclines?nclick_check=1

 

 

http://twitter.com/derekbauman/status/381023511759699970/photo/1