^You can blame that one on the county commissioners. There was a proposal to have a levy put on the ballot for the renovation of Union Terminal a few summers ago, when I was interning at the county.  In spite of OVERWHELMING support for the levy, the commissioners voted to not even allow it to be placed on the ballot. Why they wouldn't let the voters decide whether or not they wanted to pass the levy, I will never know.  Now time has aged the building even more, and structural repairs are fast becoming critical for the building to remain standing, and we still don't have a clue for how to fix it.

I'm worried that they're setting this Union Terminal thing up to be the next giant "boondoggle" battle.  The Tea Party keeps reopening settled matters and the media willfully shills for them

^You can blame that one on the county commissioners. There was a proposal to have a levy put on the ballot for the renovation of Union Terminal a few summers ago, when I was interning at the county.  In spite of OVERWHELMING support for the levy, the commissioners voted to not even allow it to be placed on the ballot. Why they wouldn't let the voters decide whether or not they wanted to pass the levy, I will never know.  Now time has aged the building even more, and structural repairs are fast becoming critical for the building to remain standing, and we still don't have a clue for how to fix it.

The we demand a vote, let the people vote crew really likes the county agency that restricts people's right to vote.

The group "Believe In Cincinnati" has put out a request for help with signatures:

 

"Petitions coming in fast & furious - staff needs our help asap.

 

They are checking signatures for validity, comparing them and addresses with online voter records.

 

Also checking the Voter Registration forms of all the new voters we have signed up.

 

They can't keep up. They really need your help.

 

Can you spend a few hours today helping out at 27 East Court?

 

Can you help at the First Lutheran Church @ 1208 Race Street tonight?

 

Say "yes" and call Eilleen Voorhees @ 513-255-7235.

 

Thanks,

 

John"

Charter Committee finally speaks up (with a new president)

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20131216/EDIT02/312160051/OPINION-Streetcar-should-bring-long-term-benefits

I actually think the MLK interchange is a higher priority than Union Terminal. I think that the museum center should be given a new, modern location and the terminal should be vacated and structurally stabilized pending real rail service to Chicago. The way I see it:

 

-biotech/research development at new MLK interchange

-streetcar to uptown

-modern rail service to Chicago

-modern museum center facility in a high profile location

 

What a legacy that would be for a new mayor.

A majority of Cincinnati City Council has written the FTA asking for three things:

 

1. Models used in other cities to pay for operating costs other than tapping into the city's general operating budget

 

2. The operating models adopted by cities that the FTA believes have been most effective

 

3. The date by which Cincinnati must figure out how to pay for its streetcar operating costs

 

Council members Sittenfeld, Flynn, Mann, Seelbach, Simpson & Young have signed the letter

 

*six council members agreeing streetcar is "beginning to see a viable path forward"*

 

http://t.co/Qph1TDgYrl

^ Interesting.  That's six council members.

Here is the letter that was sent.

 

Key sentence in this letter: "For the first time since the new mayor and council were sworn in earlier this month, we are beginning to see a viable path forward to complete construction on this first phase of the project."

^You can blame that one on the county commissioners. There was a proposal to have a levy put on the ballot for the renovation of Union Terminal a few summers ago, when I was interning at the county.  In spite of OVERWHELMING support for the levy, the commissioners voted to not even allow it to be placed on the ballot. Why they wouldn't let the voters decide whether or not they wanted to pass the levy, I will never know.  Now time has aged the building even more, and structural repairs are fast becoming critical for the building to remain standing, and we still don't have a clue for how to fix it.

 

Most recently, the commissioners said that they'd allow a levy to be placed on the ballot only if Union Terminal shows that it can eventually become self-sufficient.

 

I'm not sure if there is a way to force a referendum at the county level and get a Union Terminal levy on the ballot that way.

Is that on the original application to get the federal grants? If I was the feds I would be pissed. Causing them to do extra work and researching.

We'll pay, do, anything to maintain our car culture, just as we're equally unwilling to pay for transit improvements.

 

The public still doesn't care how much pollution, traffic congestion, sprawl and obesity their devotion to autos and road-building costs them.

 

 

A few years back, I stopped calling it "car culture" and started calling it "automobile addiction."  There's a difference between owning a car, loving a car, and being addicted to a car.  There are people who honestly believe that they would not be able to live without a car, and they are willing to sacrifice so much to retain ownership of their personal vehicle.  They are willing to harm themselves physically and financially to keep this ideal.  These are classic signs of addiction, but its not popularly recognized because the sheer volume of people who are addicted. 

 

I'm not sure this is directly related to the streetcar in any way, but my point is that we need leaders who are willing to move beyond populism and help us see the alternatives to life in a car. 

A majority of Cincinnati City Council has written the FTA asking for three things:

 

1. Models used in other cities to pay for operating costs other than tapping into the city's general operating budget

 

2. The operating models adopted by cities that the FTA believes have been most effective

 

3. The date by which Cincinnati must figure out how to pay for its streetcar operating costs

 

Council members Sittenfeld, Flynn, Mann, Seelbach, Simpson & Young have signed the letter

 

*six council members agreeing streetcar is "beginning to see a viable path forward"*

 

http://t.co/Qph1TDgYrl

 

This is the kind of thoughtful governance it is so good to see in action, the very kind that Cincinnati so richly deserves and needs now, more than ever.

 

I see real leadership possibilities here. The letter itself is a must-read.

A majority of Cincinnati City Council has written the FTA asking for three things:

 

1. Models used in other cities to pay for operating costs other than tapping into the city's general operating budget

 

2. The operating models adopted by cities that the FTA believes have been most effective

 

3. The date by which Cincinnati must figure out how to pay for its streetcar operating costs

 

Council members Sittenfeld, Flynn, Mann, Seelbach, Simpson & Young have signed the letter

 

*six council members agreeing streetcar is "beginning to see a viable path forward"*

 

http://t.co/Qph1TDgYrl

 

I find #3 the most interesting. The answer, of course, is roughly a couple years. The FTA isn't worrying about that. The FTA is concerned about the contract, which the city is currently in breach of, which requires continuous progress on construction!

This is the kind of thoughtful governance it is so good to see in action, the very kind that Cincinnati so richly deserves and needs now, more than ever.

 

I see real leadership possibilities here. The letter itself is a must-read.

 

I'm hoping your sarcastic, this whole mess reaks of political games...

Here is the letter that was sent.

 

Key sentence in this letter: "For the first time since the new mayor and council were sworn in earlier this month, we are beginning to see a viable path forward to complete construction on this first phase of the project."

 

Actually, I thought their closing sentence was the key one:

 

"Finally, we want you to know how much we value our city’s partnership with FTA and that we are grateful for your cooperation in helping us find a way to proceed responsibly and to avoid the damage of cancellation."

Both are great. Things are looking promising. It would be nice if Murray would flip too, but based on the outrage that Alex Triantifafdafljdgou had about PG (a Democrat) switching to support continuation, I doubt Amy is willing to take the political heat from her own party.

We'll pay, do, anything to maintain our car culture, just as we're equally unwilling to pay for transit improvements.

 

The public still doesn't care how much pollution, traffic congestion, sprawl and obesity their devotion to autos and road-building costs them.

 

 

A few years back, I stopped calling it "car culture" and started calling it "automobile addiction."  There's a difference between owning a car, loving a car, and being addicted to a car.  There are people who honestly believe that they would not be able to live without a car, and they are willing to sacrifice so much to retain ownership of their personal vehicle.  They are willing to harm themselves physically and financially to keep this ideal.  These are classic signs of addiction, but its not popularly recognized because the sheer volume of people who are addicted. 

 

I'm not sure this is directly related to the streetcar in any way, but my point is that we need leaders who are willing to move beyond populism and help us see the alternatives to life in a car. 

 

It's not an addiction. It's just a cultural paradigm...the way people see the world. Cars are part of people's world. When you put people in a new environment where cars are not so mandatory and often a liability, people quickly adapt. I got rid of my car in 5 months in Chicago. In the UK we had a car for 3 days and couldn't wait to get rid of it. I truly believe people just make rational decisions based on their environment. It's the environment that is the problem, not the people or the cars. The real addiction is the retailer who wants 400 spaces out front, or the DOT that's just an asphalt lobby.

We'll pay, do, anything to maintain our car culture, just as we're equally unwilling to pay for transit improvements.

 

The public still doesn't care how much pollution, traffic congestion, sprawl and obesity their devotion to autos and road-building costs them.

 

 

A few years back, I stopped calling it "car culture" and started calling it "automobile addiction."  There's a difference between owning a car, loving a car, and being addicted to a car.  There are people who honestly believe that they would not be able to live without a car, and they are willing to sacrifice so much to retain ownership of their personal vehicle.  They are willing to harm themselves physically and financially to keep this ideal.  These are classic signs of addiction, but its not popularly recognized because the sheer volume of people who are addicted. 

 

I'm not sure this is directly related to the streetcar in any way, but my point is that we need leaders who are willing to move beyond populism and help us see the alternatives to life in a car. 

 

It's not an addiction. It's just a cultural paradigm...the way people see the world. Cars are part of people's world. When you put people in a new environment where cars are not so mandatory and often a liability, people quickly adapt. I got rid of my car in 5 months in Chicago. In the UK we had a car for 3 days and couldn't wait to get rid of it. I truly believe people just make rational decisions based on their environment. It's the environment that is the problem, not the people or the cars. The real addiction is the retailer who wants 400 spaces out front, or the DOT that's just an asphalt lobby.

 

Exactly, except that the retailer also wants 400 spaces due to the environment. Thats why you'll see an urban Home Depot in Manhattan with no parking spaces and then another one elsewhere with 400 spaces.

This is the kind of thoughtful governance it is so good to see in action, the very kind that Cincinnati so richly deserves and needs now, more than ever.

 

I see real leadership possibilities here. The letter itself is a must-read.

 

I'm hoping you're sarcastic, this whole mess reeks of political games...

 

neilworms, I was being sincere - I know there's probably a lot of gamesmanship going on - I'm looking for ANY signs of mature positive thoughtful thinking taking place here, and this letter

signed by the six councilmembers shows some.

 

Please forgive me my naïveté!

^^

Parking mins play a role too.

 

A majority of Cincinnati City Council has written the FTA asking for three things:

 

1. Models used in other cities to pay for operating costs other than tapping into the city's general operating budget

 

2. The operating models adopted by cities that the FTA believes have been most effective

 

3. The date by which Cincinnati must figure out how to pay for its streetcar operating costs

 

Council members Sittenfeld, Flynn, Mann, Seelbach, Simpson & Young have signed the letter

 

*six council members agreeing streetcar is "beginning to see a viable path forward"*

 

 

 

Feds:

1. Its not our job to find operating revenues but others use a mix of General fund expenditures, Vehicle registration fees, Employer/payroll taxes, Concessions, General sales taxes, Lottery and/or casino revenues, Vehicle leasing and rental fees, Tollway revenues, Cigarette tax, Parking fees and fines, Property taxes, Fares and fare related income, Contracts or purchase of service, Lease revenues, Advertising, Concessions/rental income, Realty transfer taxes/mortgage recording fees, Hotel/motel taxes, Utility fees, Tax-increment Financing Districts, and Transportation Development Districts.

 

2. Each individual project is unique and those cities and transit agencies need to come up with a funding system that works best for them. There is no one size fits all, nor is there the most efficient way to fund operating expenses. The City of Cincinnati will have to come up with the plan they think works best for the City.

 

3. The FTA does not care when or how you pay for operating costs. It is not something we care about. Funding operating cost is a local matter and local operating costs do not have to be found prior to construction and operation. What we care is that the project is operated. The City of Cincinnati as per the contract must operate the completed streetcar for the life of the project according to the Master Agreement or risk a collection action by the FTA. If the City takes the money, then they are legally responsible to the FTA to operate it. How the City funds the operation is irrelevant as far as the FTA.

 

Thank you for all the butt kissing but it is aggravating dealing with such a small project after the agreements have been signed. Make your choice and stick to it, our patience runs thin.

 

Sincerely the FTA

 

Two minutes of Google and some common sense and I have the answers.

We'll pay, do, anything to maintain our car culture, just as we're equally unwilling to pay for transit improvements.

 

The public still doesn't care how much pollution, traffic congestion, sprawl and obesity their devotion to autos and road-building costs them.

 

 

A few years back, I stopped calling it "car culture" and started calling it "automobile addiction."  There's a difference between owning a car, loving a car, and being addicted to a car.  There are people who honestly believe that they would not be able to live without a car, and they are willing to sacrifice so much to retain ownership of their personal vehicle.  They are willing to harm themselves physically and financially to keep this ideal.  These are classic signs of addiction, but its not popularly recognized because the sheer volume of people who are addicted. 

 

I'm not sure this is directly related to the streetcar in any way, but my point is that we need leaders who are willing to move beyond populism and help us see the alternatives to life in a car. 

It's not an addiction. It's just a cultural paradigm...the way people see the world.

nope, it's an addiction

We'll pay, do, anything to maintain our car culture, just as we're equally unwilling to pay for transit improvements.

 

The public still doesn't care how much pollution, traffic congestion, sprawl and obesity their devotion to autos and road-building costs them.

 

 

A few years back, I stopped calling it "car culture" and started calling it "automobile addiction."  There's a difference between owning a car, loving a car, and being addicted to a car.  There are people who honestly believe that they would not be able to live without a car, and they are willing to sacrifice so much to retain ownership of their personal vehicle.  They are willing to harm themselves physically and financially to keep this ideal.  These are classic signs of addiction, but its not popularly recognized because the sheer volume of people who are addicted. 

 

I'm not sure this is directly related to the streetcar in any way, but my point is that we need leaders who are willing to move beyond populism and help us see the alternatives to life in a car. 

 

It's not an addiction. It's just a cultural paradigm...the way people see the world. Cars are part of people's world. When you put people in a new environment where cars are not so mandatory and often a liability, people quickly adapt. I got rid of my car in 5 months in Chicago. In the UK we had a car for 3 days and couldn't wait to get rid of it. I truly believe people just make rational decisions based on their environment. It's the environment that is the problem, not the people or the cars. The real addiction is the retailer who wants 400 spaces out front, or the DOT that's just an asphalt lobby.

 

I used to think similarly, but then I started to notice people driving a half mile, or refusing to use a bus as a means of transportation if their car is in the shop.  People are willing to debilitate themselves because they "need a car."  As I mentioned before there are plenty of people who are just used to it or simply prefer driving, but for the people who honestly believe they NEED a car to survive...it's an addiction.

^You can blame that one on the county commissioners. There was a proposal to have a levy put on the ballot for the renovation of Union Terminal a few summers ago, when I was interning at the county.  In spite of OVERWHELMING support for the levy, the commissioners voted to not even allow it to be placed on the ballot. Why they wouldn't let the voters decide whether or not they wanted to pass the levy, I will never know.  Now time has aged the building even more, and structural repairs are fast becoming critical for the building to remain standing, and we still don't have a clue for how to fix it.

 

If you're talking about 2009-2010, my understanding was that they didn't want to put it on the ballot in order not to crowd the ballot with levies.  Obviously that was a bad year to raise money for anything, and the Library had a levy on the ballot for the first time ever.  So I'm pretty sure the notion was that it would be more manageable to actually fund these things, and actually fund operations, if the number of levies on the ballot were limited.

^^

Parking mins play a role too.

 

A majority of Cincinnati City Council has written the FTA asking for three things:

 

1. Models used in other cities to pay for operating costs other than tapping into the city's general operating budget

 

2. The operating models adopted by cities that the FTA believes have been most effective

 

3. The date by which Cincinnati must figure out how to pay for its streetcar operating costs

 

Council members Sittenfeld, Flynn, Mann, Seelbach, Simpson & Young have signed the letter

 

*six council members agreeing streetcar is "beginning to see a viable path forward"*

 

 

 

Feds:

1. Its not our job to find operating revenues but others use a mix of General fund expenditures, Vehicle registration fees, Employer/payroll taxes, Concessions, General sales taxes, Lottery and/or casino revenues, Vehicle leasing and rental fees, Tollway revenues, Cigarette tax, Parking fees and fines, Property taxes, Fares and fare related income, Contracts or purchase of service, Lease revenues, Advertising, Concessions/rental income, Realty transfer taxes/mortgage recording fees, Hotel/motel taxes, Utility fees, Tax-increment Financing Districts, and Transportation Development Districts.

 

2. Each individual project is unique and those cities and transit agencies need to come up with a funding system that works best for them. There is no one size fits all, nor is there the most efficient way to fund operating expenses. The City of Cincinnati will have to come up with the plan they think works best for the City.

 

3. The FTA does not care when or how you pay for operating costs. It is not something we care about. Funding operating cost is a local matter and local operating costs do not have to be found prior to construction and operation. What we care is that the project is operated. The City of Cincinnati as per the contract must operate the completed streetcar for the life of the project according to the Master Agreement or risk a collection action by the FTA. If the City takes the money, then they are legally responsible to the FTA to operate it. How the City funds the operation is irrelevant as far as the FTA.

 

Thank you for all the butt kissing but it is aggravating dealing with such a small project after the agreements have been signed. Make your choice and stick to it, our patience runs thin.

 

Sincerely the FTA

 

Two minutes of Google and some common sense and I have the answers.

 

 

LMAO!  Is anyone else picturing the FTA taking this letter to an intern and saying "deal with this"?  I agree with Jos Callinet in that this letter shows an attempt at diplomacy, which is encouraging....but the FTA has got to be SO annoyed with Cincinnati right now.

Many people are merely hostages of their environment and historical era. What's "normal"? It depends on the time and place. Most people don't think about it; they're more concerned about laundry, groceries and what's on TV tonight.

This letter is a way for Flynn & Mann to support the streetcar while minimizing the amount of heat they are taking, pure and simple.  The answers to these questions could be answered in an hour by any City Councilor's intern (except #2, which asks for the FTA's opinion); it's not much difference from the pantomime at the beginning of the month.  Flynn, Mann & Sittenfeld have danced with the opponents, and now their starting to take a few steps with the proponents.

Cranley's island is getting smaller.  Or, so it seems.

Wonder if Cranley encouraged Mann, and/or Flynn to participate?  It provides him with cover in that it prevents Mayor Crancel from being forced to bring down the mighty veto he has been threatening.

Ditherman must be seething.

Winburn is probably napping.

Murray is wondering whom she should be brown nosing about now.  Has she ever had an independent thought?

For every positive thought this letter gives me, I just can't chase away the cynical view that all of this gives the opponents the ability to say 'See, we tried as best as we can and analyzed all the options but etc etc etc.'

 

The part that now gives me a bit more hope is that the pro-candidates signed on with them on the letter and the other con's didn't. I don't know if the pro's would have signed on if they didn't think there was a real chance of making a difference...hopefully whats going on behind the scenes is productive and sincere.

 

 

Have they even consulted OKI? I'm sure they know more about transportation than  Cranley would even know.

This letter is a way for Flynn & Mann to support the streetcar while minimizing the amount of heat they are taking, pure and simple.  The answers to these questions could be answered in an hour by any City Councilor's intern (except #2, which asks for the FTA's opinion); it's not much difference from the pantomime at the beginning of the month.  Flynn, Mann & Sittenfeld have danced with the opponents, and now their starting to take a few steps with the proponents.

 

Yep, I see this as a good sign. Cranley doesn't want to deal with the damage that cancellation would cause. If the FTA assures city council that we have 2 full years to figure out operating expenses -- and one or more foundations have said that they would be willing to step up and meet these (unreasonable) demands -- I could see Flynn and Mann voting to resume construction.

The anti-streetcar forces are trying to line up speakers for Wednesday's meeting. They want to pack the room with speakers telling council to kill the project. This is our last opportunity to pack the room with streetcar supporters. If you can show up and speak, please do so. If you have never showed up in council chambers to speak, this is your last chance. If you "forgot" to vote, this is your opportunity to redeem yourself. You don't even need to live within the city to speak (several of the anti-streetcar speakers have lived outside the city).

For every positive thought this letter gives me, I just can't chase away the cynical view that all of this gives the opponents the ability to say 'See, we tried as best as we can and analyzed all the options but etc etc etc.'

 

The part that now gives me a bit more hope is that the pro-candidates signed on with them on the letter and the other con's didn't. I don't know if the pro's would have signed on if they didn't think there was a real chance of making a difference...hopefully whats going on behind the scenes is productive and sincere.

 

I take a pessimistic eye to everything related to this council and the streetcar. But I don't see how this letter furthers the goal of someone looking for a convenient "see, we tried, but..." Asking about the amount of time available to implement best practices for raising operating revenue, the answer to which is a pretty long time, and the notable absence of anything about getting an extension for the decision to continue construction (as though that's a settled issue), would seem to indicate an intention to proceed.

 

So, even with my stubborn pessimism, my disposition regarding the intent behind this letter is "cautiously optimistic."

The anti-streetcar forces are trying to line up speakers for Wednesday's meeting. They want to pack the room with speakers telling council to kill the project. This is our last opportunity to pack the room with streetcar supporters. If you can show up and speak, please do so. If you have never showed up in council chambers to speak, this is your last chance. If you "forgot" to vote, this is your opportunity to redeem yourself. You don't even need to live within the city to speak (several of the anti-streetcar speakers have lived outside the city).

 

Their talking point should be countered, repeatedly, by noting that with the streetcar's completion, and resulting ROI, there will be more money for public safety, not less. The way to guarantee less money would be to cancel the project, creating a hole in the budget and forfeiting ROI.

I take a pessimistic eye to everything related to this council and the streetcar.

And they're going to be dealing with this for 4 years. I think Sittenfeld said, "there will be scars".

We'll pay, do, anything to maintain our car culture, just as we're equally unwilling to pay for transit improvements.

 

The public still doesn't care how much pollution, traffic congestion, sprawl and obesity their devotion to autos and road-building costs them.

 

 

A few years back, I stopped calling it "car culture" and started calling it "automobile addiction."  There's a difference between owning a car, loving a car, and being addicted to a car.  There are people who honestly believe that they would not be able to live without a car, and they are willing to sacrifice so much to retain ownership of their personal vehicle.  They are willing to harm themselves physically and financially to keep this ideal.  These are classic signs of addiction, but its not popularly recognized because the sheer volume of people who are addicted. 

 

I'm not sure this is directly related to the streetcar in any way, but my point is that we need leaders who are willing to move beyond populism and help us see the alternatives to life in a car. 

 

It's not an addiction. It's just a cultural paradigm...the way people see the world. Cars are part of people's world. When you put people in a new environment where cars are not so mandatory and often a liability, people quickly adapt. I got rid of my car in 5 months in Chicago. In the UK we had a car for 3 days and couldn't wait to get rid of it. I truly believe people just make rational decisions based on their environment. It's the environment that is the problem, not the people or the cars. The real addiction is the retailer who wants 400 spaces out front, or the DOT that's just an asphalt lobby.

 

Lewis Mumford - The Highway And The City, 1958:

 

“…the current American way of life is founded not just on motor transportation but on the religion of the motorcar, and the sacrifices that people are prepared to make for this religion stand outside the realm of rational criticism.”

 

“…the American has sacrificed his life as a whole to the motorcar, like someone who, demented with passion, wrecks his home in order to lavish his income on a capricious mistress who promises delights he can only occasionally enjoy.”

 

“A good transportation system minimizes unnecessary transportation; and in any event, it offers a change of speed and mode to fit a diversity of human purposes.”

 

“…the first lesson we have to learn is that a city exists, not for the constant passage of motorcade, but for the care and culture of men.”

.

^I think this might be a bit of an exaggeration. Tempers will likely flare, but I don't think it's going to devolve into a fistfight or anything.

 

Also, anyone who wants to speak and signs a comment card is going to get a turn to speak. Every council meeting is the same in this regard and it would be a nightmare trying to alternate. I also expect many more streetcar supporters to come out, so you can't actually alternate if the numbers aren't even. I think we have the ability to conduct city business in an orderly manner.

What? You think the FOP president might get hauled out screaming & cursing or Tom Luken will stage a sit in? People might make throat slashing gestures or Smitherman might attack someone? Or maybe a CO  er will think someone is standing too close and freak out?

nah...

Yeah, just a bit of an exaggeration. Most major-city council meetings I've attended have at least one police officer on duty in council chambers. I've covered several hundred council meetings in my 20-year journalistic career. Perhaps a dozen were truly volatile yet things got out of hand only twice which warranted only two people arrested in all that time (one in Westlake, another in Cleveland). Most council presidents don't let things get out of hand.

 

So moving on......

 

Believe in Cincy ‏@BelieveInCincy 4m

Total signatures on #CincyStreetcarPetitions as of now =  9043 !!! Keep gathering until Tuesday night!

At the We Believe gathering tonight it was just reported that we have a very good validity rate on our petitions.  :clap:

Most council presidents don't let things get out of hand.

Cranley definitely has a poor record on this.

cool on the sigs, tho.

Pete Witte ‏@petewitte 26m

Should I do live honest tweeting from COAST holiday party?  They have a #CincyStreetcar piñata on display.  Smitherman just won an award.

What? You think the FOP president might get hauled out screaming & cursing or Tom Luken will stage a sit in? People might make throat slashing gestures or Smitherman might attack someone? Or maybe a CO  er will think someone is standing too close and freak out?

nah...

 

Oh please.  That is just absurd.  Next you are going to tell me coast tweeted that the streetcar is worse than 9/11

Pete Witte ‏@petewitte 26m

Should I do live honest tweeting from COAST holiday party?  They have a #CincyStreetcar piñata on display.  Smitherman just won an award.

 

Oh my goodness!  This is amazing!  Go to his twitter page:  https://twitter.com/petewitte

What? You think the FOP president might get hauled out screaming & cursing or Tom Luken will stage a sit in? People might make throat slashing gestures or Smitherman might attack someone? Or maybe a CO  er will think someone is standing too close and freak out?

nah...

 

Just saw the COAST pinata...what a childish bunch.

This letter is a way for Flynn & Mann to support the streetcar while minimizing the amount of heat they are taking, pure and simple.  The answers to these questions could be answered in an hour by any City Councilor's intern (except #2, which asks for the FTA's opinion); it's not much difference from the pantomime at the beginning of the month.  Flynn, Mann & Sittenfeld have danced with the opponents, and now their starting to take a few steps with the proponents.

 

Yep, I see this as a good sign. Cranley doesn't want to deal with the damage that cancellation would cause. If the FTA assures city council that we have 2 full years to figure out operating expenses -- and one or more foundations have said that they would be willing to step up and meet these (unreasonable) demands -- I could see Flynn and Mann voting to resume construction.

 

I don't think Cranley cares about the damage cancellation would cause; he'd be happy to run against the streetcar forever.  More likely explanation is that some prominent people got to Mann & Flynn, couple that with whatever private funding agreement may manifest itself in a few days, and a little bit of self-regard so as not to be seen as Cranley's yes-men.

Haile Foundation, executives ready to help on streetcar

Dec. 17, 2013 

Written by Josh Pichler

 

The Haile U.S. Bank Foundation is working with a group of executives to find a path forward for the streetcar project that threatens to cost the city millions of dollars whether it’s built or shut down.

 

Eric Avner, a senior executive with the Haile Foundation, said on Monday the group does not expect it can raise $80 million in commitments by Thursday, when the federal government is expected to pull $45 million that’s necessary to build the streetcar if the city doesn’t commit to the project. Mayor John Cranley reiterated on Monday he will move forward on the streetcar project only if the private sector commits to covering operating costs for 30 years.

 

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