October 27, 201311 yr I don't live in Cincinnati so the only thing I can do for the election is encourage my son and DIL who do live in the city to go and vote against Cranley. I can't believe the Enquirer would endorse someone still publicly proclaiming to halt the streetcar construction without giving it a fair shake to be successful. I am sure glad I guit giving them any of my money some time ago. Not only did I cancel my paper but I refuse to pay them anything to access their website. Glad you recognize what an embarrassment and a disaster it would be to cancel the project at this point. I keep having to pinch myself to see if this is a bad dream -- why is this even on the table at this point in the game? The "anti-streetcar" stance should be anti-expansion, not creating Cincinnati Subway 2.0. It's civic masochism.
October 27, 201311 yr ^I hope that's true, but I'm worried. Is there any positive news on qualls? I feel like I hear pro-Cranley stuff every day, and I just keep waiting for qualls to do something. Look, the election is a three-point race, too close to call, and within the margin of error. Plus Roxanne clearly has the momentum.
October 27, 201311 yr ^I hope that's true, but I'm worried. Is there any positive news on qualls? I feel like I hear pro-Cranley stuff every day, and I just keep waiting for qualls to do something. Look, the election is a three-point race, too close to call, and within the margin of error. Plus Roxanne clearly has the momentum. That same poll has Sittenfeld, Winburn, Smitherman, and Mann as top four in Council. If that's true Cranley is going to crush her.
October 27, 201311 yr ^I hope that's true, but I'm worried. Is there any positive news on qualls? I feel like I hear pro-Cranley stuff every day, and I just keep waiting for qualls to do something. Look, the election is a three-point race, too close to call, and within the margin of error. Plus Roxanne clearly has the momentum. That same poll has Sittenfeld, Winburn, Smitherman, and Mann as top four in Council. If that's true Cranley is going to crush her. You are one poll behind.
October 27, 201311 yr If the voters actually get out and vote, Qualls wins. Cranley is hoping for a low Voter turnout.
October 27, 201311 yr Cranley is losing ground. Voters are catching on to the fact that he has no vision, and simply mentions canceling the streetcar in his answer to every question. Meanwhile, Qualls is out there talking about what she has actually done for the city. This election is going to be decided based on who actually shows up to vote. If you do some canvasing, you'll find that a lot of people are still undecided or don't even know that there's a mayoral/council election this year. If you can spare any amount of time going door to door on behalf of any of the pro-streetcar candidates, you will change someone's mind and get them to come out and vote. And if you're reading this, you're educated enough about the streetcar to answer questions that people may have.
October 28, 201311 yr I don't know what will happen in this election. But I can tell you what has happened when elected officials (such as state officials in Wisconsin) cancel a passenger rail project AFTER THE STATE HAS SIGNED CONTRACTS with private enterprise to build it..... Train-maker Talgo sues Gov. Walker, Wisconsin By Patrick Marley of the Journal Sentinel Nov. 5, 2012 Madison - A manufacturer has sued Gov. Scott Walker and is claiming it does not have to turn over two new train sets that have cost the state more than $42 million. The state agreed in 2009 to buy two new train sets from Talgo Inc. for Amtrak's Hiawatha line, which runs from Milwaukee to Chicago, but Walker's administration and Republicans in the Legislature have repeatedly clashed with the firm since last year. In March, the Legislature's Joint Finance Committee voted 12-4 on party lines to reject borrowing $2.5 million for additional planning to replace a maintenance base for the trains. Walker's Department of Transportation said that vote meant the state would not be able to put the trains into service. Read more from Journal Sentinel: http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/trainmaker-talgo-sues-gov-walker-wisconsin-cg7gu7j-177369571.html#ixzz2iz35W52A ____________ More (with lots of graphics) if you want to read it: http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/COMM/docs/TrainsMagazine_Talgos_January_2013.pdf This is the legal sh*tstorm that awaits Cincinnati if it attempts to cancel the streetcar project now that it has signed most of the contracts. It's a legal battle (and a PR battle) it will lose -- badly. For some reason, when new politicians are elected, some apparently feel they have created a new government and don't have to honor the policies, laws and contracts executed by their predecessors. This seems to be a recent development. It is truly bizarre. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
October 28, 201311 yr For inspiration, here is a shot of the old streetcar tracks on the Vine St. hill, looking north between Clifton and Mulberry:
October 28, 201311 yr Mayor Sly James on 1230 the buzz: In 19 minutes, he destroys COAST, Smitherman and Cranley's arguments. In first 15 seconds he calls the opposition "CAVEmen" Citizens against Virtually anything Even a Smithereen calling in gets called out. It's great. Share with everyone
October 28, 201311 yr Just out of curiosity, does anyone know what Cranley's opinions were on the redevelopment of Fountain Square and Washington Park? I know he now trumpets "his" TIF districts as making those projects possible, but I was just wondering if he opposed those projects that ended up being wildly successful when they were being debated, and how that might help discredit his views on the Streetcar.
October 28, 201311 yr Also, I just read the Enquirer's endorsement of Cranley. It's ridiculous. They criticize Qualls for not standing up to the "controlling" Mayor Mallory, and in the same breath, state that Cranley has control issues. Not to mention they state that it may not be possible to stop the two main issues separating the candidates (Streetcar, Parking Plan), and criticize him for not admitting that it may not be possible to stop them. What is this about? This is probably the most scathing "endorsement" I have ever read. If you skip the headline and the early fluff, you would think this was an endorsement for Qualls... Also, it's (hopefully) worth noting that at the poll at the end of the article, 872 disagree with the endorsement, while only 39 agree. http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/artikkel?NoCache=1&Dato=20131027&Kategori=EDIT01&Lopenr=310270033&Ref=AR
October 28, 201311 yr "his" TIF districts Cranley likes to present it as though if he hadn't come along that TIF districts would have never happened. Like how something like the Ohio Innocence Project would have never happened without him. Fact is tons of young people recognize good ideas from elsewhere but can't work to implement them because, you know, they're not from a rich family and so don't have all that idle time and an inherited professional network. Tough to do all these wondrous things when you're struggling to stay employed, pay for cars and their repairs, and pay student loans.
October 28, 201311 yr Also, I just read the Enquirer's endorsement of Cranley. It's ridiculous. They criticize Qualls for not standing up to the "controlling" Mayor Mallory, and in the same breath, state that Cranley has control issues. Not to mention they state that it may not be possible to stop the two main issues separating the candidates (Streetcar, Parking Plan), and criticize him for not admitting that it may not be possible to stop them. What is this about? This is probably the most scathing "endorsement" I have ever read. If you skip the headline and the early fluff, you would think this was an endorsement for Qualls... Also, it's (hopefully) worth noting that at the poll at the end of the article, 872 disagree with the endorsement, while only 39 agree. http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/artikkel?NoCache=1&Dato=20131027&Kategori=EDIT01&Lopenr=310270033&Ref=AR Currently, 51 people agree and 1093 disagree. I'd encourage the rest of you to go vote and leave your comments.
October 28, 201311 yr ^Keep in mind that each time someone rates a response, that counts as 1 vote. If I go down the list and rate 10 responses, it will show up as 10 votes on the meter.
October 28, 201311 yr ENQUIRER EXCLUSIVE: John Cranley Employer KMK Law to Set to Make Millions from Streetcar Cancellation Litigation Ok not really. But this would be much more of an expose than Roxanne's apperent conflict of interest in improving property values in the city where she is a realtor.
October 29, 201311 yr I went by Elm Street yesterday and I was a little surprised to see they're using standard T-rail instead of the girder rail usually seen in street railway tracks. Is this because it's easier/cheaper to use the standard T-rail and just form the flangeway in the poured concrete surrounding it?
October 29, 201311 yr I went by Elm Street yesterday and I was a little surprised to see they're using standard T-rail instead of the girder rail usually seen in street railway tracks. Is this because it's easier/cheaper to use the standard T-rail and just form the flangeway in the poured concrete surrounding it? No girder rail is produced in the U.S., and the project must comply with "Buy America" requrements. They are using specially-fabricated sections on the curves to prevent wheel-on-flangeway spalling.
October 29, 201311 yr Minus the broken links, the text in this article explains the situation: http://reconnectingamerica.org/news-center/half-mile-circles/2011/streetcar-rails-and-buy-america-issues/ Is block rail manufacturered in the US yet? http://www.arcelormittal.com/rails+specialsections/en/news/2012/rails-for-trams-grooved-girder-vs-block-rail.html
October 29, 201311 yr Glad you recognize what an embarrassment and a disaster it would be to cancel the project at this point. I keep having to pinch myself to see if this is a bad dream -- why is this even on the table at this point in the game? The "anti-streetcar" stance should be anti-expansion, not creating Cincinnati Subway 2.0. It's civic masochism. It would be the Cincy Subway all over again...tho the subway was more of an heartbreaker since so much had been built before the cancellation.
October 29, 201311 yr We've had 2 direct referendums, 1 mayoral referendum election and 3 city council referendum elections Now John Cranley says this election is a referendum on the streetcar. You know how the old saying goes... If at first you don't succeed, try try try try try try try again
October 29, 201311 yr This'ns good http://cincinnati.blogspot.com/2013/10/proof-john-cranley-lied-again.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FEzja+%28Cincinnati+Blog%29
October 29, 201311 yr Where are the streetcar supporters on Cranley's Facebook page? I did not see any comments from them there. He should not be allowed to get away with his misrepresentations, where ever they are.
October 29, 201311 yr ^I called him out and his team immediately deleted my comment and blocked me from liking and commenting on any of his posts. That's why.
October 29, 201311 yr ^I called him out and his team immediately deleted my comment and blocked me from liking and commenting on any of his posts. That's why. That's the same tactic Smitherman used when I responded to his inaccurate statements regarding the streetcar.
October 29, 201311 yr Cranley and Smitherman both blocked me as well for the exact same reason. I don't blame them. They are running a campaign. I'm sure most politicians not named Mike Moroski do it
October 29, 201311 yr "I'm sure most politicians not named Mike Moroski do it" Haha I like Mike's style
October 29, 201311 yr I got blocked by Cranley and Smitherman a long time ago. Sad really. I had some good stuff up there.
October 29, 201311 yr I got into it with some folks on Amy Murray's page & was never blocked. I guess maybe it's a self confidence thing.
October 29, 201311 yr I got into it with some folks on Amy Murray's page & was never blocked. I guess maybe it's a self confidence thing. Yeah, Cranley's ego is a lot bigger than he is, and people like that tend to pretend anything that may damage that ego doesn't exist. The blind rage against the streetcar is either completely ego driven or a brilliant political game; hopefully it's the latter, but with Cranley who knows.
October 29, 201311 yr I got into it with some folks on Amy Murray's page & was never blocked. I guess maybe it's a self confidence thing. Yeah, Cranley's ego is a lot bigger than he is, and people like that tend to pretend anything that may damage that ego doesn't exist. The blind rage against the streetcar is either completely ego driven or a brilliant political game; hopefully it's the latter, but with Cranley who knows. Are you still undecided?
October 29, 201311 yr ^I called him out and his team immediately deleted my comment and blocked me from liking and commenting on any of his posts. That's why. Use a different computer and sign up for Facebook under a new name. There's a million ways to get around block. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
October 29, 201311 yr Yeah, but I'm not that committed to harrassing him online just to get blocked again. I'm not CO***
October 29, 201311 yr Yeah, Cranley's ego is a lot bigger than he is, and people like that tend to pretend anything that may damage that ego doesn't exist. The blind rage against the streetcar is either completely ego driven or a brilliant political game; hopefully it's the latter, but with Cranley who knows. This is exactly right, although I'd say it doesn't have to be either or- Cranley's opposition to the streetcar is simply about his ego. He though the Streetcar would be a political loser and he was wrong about it, but because there's no price in politics about being wrong on policy (witness Alan Greenspan's rounds on talk shows promoting his new book after missing a commodity bubble that caused a once in three generations depression), whereas there is a price to be paid for admitting your wrong (being called a flip-flopper), he continues to do it. It's actually pretty amazing that he's been able to base what has been taken to be a legitimate campaign on opposition to two issues that basically can't be undone, or if they can, would require far more spending that simply completing them. Has Cranley said he'd break the parking meter lease? Because I seriously doubt he'll try to get rid of that windfall of cash if he actually becomes Mayor.
October 29, 201311 yr Yeah, Cranley's ego is a lot bigger than he is, and people like that tend to pretend anything that may damage that ego doesn't exist. The blind rage against the streetcar is either completely ego driven or a brilliant political game; hopefully it's the latter, but with Cranley who knows. This is exactly right, although I'd say it doesn't have to be either or- Cranley's opposition to the streetcar is simply about his ego. He though the Streetcar would be a political loser and he was wrong about it, but because there's no price in politics about being wrong on policy (witness Alan Greenspan's rounds on talk shows promoting his new book after missing a commodity bubble that caused a once in three generations depression), whereas there is a price to be paid for admitting your wrong (being called a flip-flopper), he continues to do it. It's actually pretty amazing that he's been able to base what has been taken to be a legitimate campaign on opposition to two issues that basically can't be undone, or if they can, would require far more spending that simply completing them. Has Cranley said he'd break the parking meter lease? Because I seriously doubt he'll try to get rid of that windfall of cash if he actually becomes Mayor. Hoping mayor Mallory makes it crystal clear, with specifics, the disasters of canceling both of these projects at his state of the city address tonight
October 29, 201311 yr ^Does anyone know if the SotC will be streamed online? I went last year, but can't make it today.
October 29, 201311 yr As long as they don't pre-empt Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. All I want to hear from Mallory is if his trips to China have borne any fruit. They are supposed to be investing $15-$20B/year in the US over the next 10 years - will he get any of that investment here?
October 29, 201311 yr It is interesting that Cranley is basically campaigning on the parking lease and streetcar, and from what the Enquirer is saying the parking lease is the one with much more opposition. I wish that would have been held until after the election because I would hate for the streetcar to somehow get stopped based on something that truly has no chance of being changed. Here's hoping Qualls pulls this out - I made a second donation - I guess anything helps.
October 30, 201311 yr But the thing that's funny is that Cranley seems to be only saying that he'll cancel the streetcar, e.g. he'll break the contracts the City made regarding the streetcar project, but he doesn't seem to be saying that he'll break the contracts regarding the parking lease. Breaking any of these contracts seem to have the same legal effect, so the notion that the parking contract is unbreakable while the streetcar is just an assertion to be repeated until people have heard it so much that they think it is true. But of course that's because he wants to run against the lease but use the revenue if he becomes mayor.
October 30, 201311 yr Cranley will be on 1230 the buzz at 11. Lincoln ware is a Cranley supporter. Moroski will be on at 12
October 30, 201311 yr Can he be legally liable by causing the city to lose millions because of cancelling contracts?
October 30, 201311 yr Cranley says he will use $37 million Blue Ash Airport sale to go directly to neighborhoods after he cancels the streetcar
October 30, 201311 yr ^He identified that money as coming from the Blue Ash sale (though Duke certainly won't pay for the work already done so some of the money will go to that and no one has any idea how much money litigation will cost, etc.) He also confirmed Smitherman will not be Vice Mayor. I'm standing by my assumption that he will pick PG as his VM if elected.
October 30, 201311 yr ^I hope that's true, but I'm worried. Is there any positive news on qualls? I feel like I hear pro-Cranley stuff every day, and I just keep waiting for qualls to do something. Look, the election is a three-point race, too close to call, and within the margin of error. Plus Roxanne clearly has the momentum. Thanks. I'm really hoping for the best. I just matched my Cincinnatians For Progress donation with a donation to the Qualls campaign. Wish I had more time so that I could do some canvassing or something. It's nearly the 11th hour, people, let's get out there with one final push! Contributing money takes less than 2 minutes via these links. If you care about the streetcar project (and about not having the city's momentum in general reversed), put your money where your mouth is: https://secure.pledgeconnect.com/donation.aspx?cincinnatiansforprogress http://www.roxannequalls.com/home/contribution.html If you can't contribute cash or time, at least know which council candidates you should be voting for next week. Grabbed this list from Cygnus's post on 10/10/13 (thanks): CANDIDATES FOR CITY COUNCIL (elect nine): Supporting the streetcar: Chris Seelbach (I) Yvette Simpson (I) Laure Quinlivan (I) Wendell Young (I) Shawn Butler Michelle Dillingham Greg Landsman Mike Moroski In fact, go to each of these candidates' facebook pages right now and just click the Like button. That takes about 2 seconds, and making some ripples in the social networking pond might raise awareness for some of the underdogs. A 5-4 majority of streetcar supporters could make all the difference in the world for this project, whereas a 4-5 minority could be a disaster.
October 30, 201311 yr From Kevin Johnson's official campaign page: I was an early supporter of the streetcar project, realizing the economic benefits of connecting our uptown and downtown neighborhoods. Voters had two chances to stop the project at the polls, and both times they chose to move ahead with the streetcar After Gov. Kasich pulled $52 million in state funds from the project, city leaders and the current Council adopted an "at all costs" approach to the streetcar, pushing the project past the point of no return--contracts have been signed, buildings have been demolished, and utility lines are being relocated. However, the cost overruns for the project and recent budget crises raise concerns. I will work to ensure that the streetcar project stays on budget, that minority and women-owned businesses get their fair share of contracts, and that we put any resulting increase in revenue toward revitalizing neighborhood business districts.
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