December 9, 200816 yr I love some of Monzel's budget cuts...not forward thinking AT ALL....(suprise) cutting Enhancements to the recycling program eliminating a climate protection plan Cutting the Innovative Transportation Strategies Project Eliminating a Climate Protection Coordinator Eliminating funding for streetcars Monzel is garbage. He won't be getting my vote (he never did anyway), and I'm do my darndest to see that my friends know why *not* to vote for him. Jesus Christ...based on that short list, why would anyone be for him? That first bullet really gets under my skin.
December 9, 200816 yr Much ado about nothing, according to Chris Bortz. What you're hearing from Monzel is arbitrary. The streetcar plan has never been in the budget. TIF's are not a part of the city's budget. They are special purpose pass-throughs. The proceeds from the sale of the Blue Ash airport are not available yet, so they're not in the budget either. And city capital funds won't be specified in the capital budget until they are needed.
December 9, 200816 yr I love some of Monzel's budget cuts...not forward thinking AT ALL....(suprise) cutting Enhancements to the recycling program eliminating a climate protection plan Cutting the Innovative Transportation Strategies Project Eliminating a Climate Protection Coordinator Eliminating funding for streetcars Monzel is garbage. He won't be getting my vote (he never did anyway), and I'm do my darndest to see that my friends know why *not* to vote for him. Jesus Christ...based on that short list, why would anyone be for him? That first bullet really gets under my skin. I agree. Recycling in this city is an absolute joke. It's where recycling in upstate NY was 20 years ago.
December 12, 200816 yr Does anyone know if the City manager is going to make a presentation to Council before the end of the year as originally planned? Do you think it depends on fundraising or the vendors who respond to the RFQ? Just curious what next on the City's end. If there is no money do they pick somebody to design the system or what is plan B?
December 12, 200816 yr ^ No, I don't think the manager's report to city council is dependent on the fundraising progress. He said he'd give a report on the plan. Whether that's late this year or early next year, I can't recall.
December 17, 200816 yr Did anyone else get the following letter from Tom Brinkman, Jr.? "Dear Ben and Melanie, Thank you very much for writing me about the current crisis that Ohio's public transit systems are experiencing. Locally the Hamilton County Commissioners lead by Todd Portune, punted the local transit authority over to the City of Cincinnati. Quite frankly, it is hard for state officials to take our local transit system serious when it has been a political football for too long. After all, haven't the last two mayors appointed their fathers to the SORTA board? Resources are tight at the state level and we need SORTA to get its act together before we can just hand over more taxpayers dollars. Sincerely Yours, Tom Brinkman, Jr. State Representative" I'm guessing he's talking about the restructuring of SORTA to more closely reflect the municipalities paying the most money into the system that included some level of representation from other outlying communities. Is SORTA really that corrupt and poorly managed? Is this restructuring really making our local transit system look bad in the eyes of all the state representatives? Personally, I'm inclined to believe this guy just has an axe to grind and is just not a transit supporter (except when it comes to more/larger highways to serve suburban sprawl). Of course, that's just my take based off of the tone of the letter. Seriously, what politician takes a letter of hope from a constituent and responds with whining and such negativity anyway? "Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago." - Warren Buffett
December 17, 200816 yr Did anyone else get the following letter from Tom Brinkman, Jr.? "Dear Ben and Melanie, Thank you very much for writing me about the current crisis that Ohio's public transit systems are experiencing. Locally the Hamilton County Commissioners lead by Todd Portune, punted the local transit authority over to the City of Cincinnati. Quite frankly, it is hard for state officials to take our local transit system serious when it has been a political football for too long. After all, haven't the last two mayors appointed their fathers to the SORTA board? Resources are tight at the state level and we need SORTA to get its act together before we can just hand over more taxpayers dollars. Sincerely Yours, Tom Brinkman, Jr. State Representative" I'm guessing he's talking about the restructuring of SORTA to more closely reflect the municipalities paying the most money into the system that included some level of representation from other outlying communities. Is SORTA really that corrupt and poorly managed? Is this restructuring really making our local transit system look bad in the eyes of all the state representatives? Personally, I'm inclined to believe this guy just has an axe to grind and is just not a transit supporter (except when it comes to more/larger highways to serve suburban sprawl). Of course, that's just my take based off of the tone of the letter. Seriously, what politician takes a letter of hope from a constituent and responds with whining and such negativity anyway? I would agree that Brinkman is not a transit supporter. I think he would have a better life if Cincinnati's liberal leaning political constituency ceased to exist. It is amusing to read his wikipedia entry. The board is a volunteer board and appointees get no pay. What benefit would the fathers get by being appointed to the board?
December 17, 200816 yr Brinkman is an absolute joke. I mean, the man sued a university b/c of their policy of giving benefits to domestic partners of homosexual staff. What a moron.
December 17, 200816 yr I received a notice from the city today that the deadline for submitting RFQ's to select a contractor to design, build and operate the streetcar has been extended to January 20th. They were to be due tomorrow, December 18th. Here's the list of planholders: http://www.demandstar.com/supplier/bids/agency_inc/bid_list.asp?f=search&LP=BB&mi=10253
December 18, 200816 yr Does anyone know the reasons for the delay by the City? Was this due to budget concerns/ funding potential contributions/ political pressure from prospective vendors etc.? It seems odd to delay the deadline with such sort notice since they basically refuted a request to delay the deadline in the questions which were previously posted on the forum. Does anyone have a feel for this being good news or bad?
December 18, 200816 yr Does anyone have a feel for this being good news or bad? It could be either good or bad...or it could be nothing at all. I'm sure that it's something that City Manager Milton Dohoney is holding close to his chest right now though during negotiations. If you would like to get the information straight from the source I would recommend sending Dohoney an email asking him about the delay. [email protected] Please do share his response with the rest of us.
December 18, 200816 yr My guess is that they denied a request from a single party to extend the deadline, but when multiple parties (possibly the majority) requested an extension, they acquiesced. Of course, that's pure speculation.
December 19, 200816 yr My guess is that they denied a request from a single party to extend the deadline, but when multiple parties (possibly the majority) requested an extension, they acquiesced. Of course, that's pure speculation. But not uncommon in the bidding process. This is a not a significant delay. I wouldn't read anything into it.
December 19, 200816 yr I guess I'm surprised they didn't announce the change earlier. I wonder if anyone was ready for the deadline or if somebody already submitted prior to today's deadline what happens then? I'm wondering if they thought nobody would submit today.
December 20, 200816 yr http://www.wlwt.com/politics/18311578/detail.html What the heck, why does the NAACP need to get involved? Their only problem is that it costs money? Is that a racial issue?
December 20, 200816 yr this is not surprising. Smitherman has been consistently posturing in public against the streetcars for quite some time now.
December 21, 200816 yr Oh yes, NAACP. The organization that is working to "build economically viable business districts," but whose sole purpose is for political and financial gain. What a joke of an "organization." Their tactics of reviving business districts has not done one damn thing for Over-the-Rhine. Was the NAACP responsible for the Main Street renaissance? Or for the Gateway Quarter? Or for City West? No, not at all; they cannot even take credit for a sliver of the work involved. The Banks? Oh, I'm sorry. It's too exclusive, too pandering to the upper-class, so let's sue or demostrate to incorporate mixed-income in what is the most desirable property in Cincinnati. The streetcar? Oh, I'm sorry. I'll continue to hole my head in the sand until Over-the-Rhine automatically self-improves based upon market conditions. Yeah, that's worked for the past 40 years. I can't think of a single item that the NAACP has impacted positively for this city. It's about time they packed their bags and headed elsewhere; their tactics of "build(ing) economically viable business districts" has bore no fruits in Over-the-Rhine or elsewhere.
December 21, 200816 yr (12/18/08): Cincinnati NAACP will Vote on Trolley At General Membership Meeting Tonight (12/18/08) Media Release Cincinnati NAACP The Cincinnati NAACP will vote tonight(12/18/08) at its General Membership Meeting on whether it supports a $200 million trolley. The Cincinnati NAACP is prepared to roll out its first petition for the November 2009 election if the membership approves. The Cincinnati Branch thanks Attorney Christopher Finney <--http://citybeat.wordpress.com/2006/10/03/heimlich%E2%80%99s-mentor-has-cussing-fit/for his legal work on this project. Smitherman says, " The Trolley is just not the financial priority for Cincinnati when most of our 52 neighborhoods struggle to get our streets repaired, to get speed bumps, and economically viable business districts." Yesterday City Council voted to cut funding to fight the Bed Bug epidemic in Cincinnati. This is one example of many public policy decisions yesterday that will hurt children living in the urban core. Yet, City Council sold our gas lights to Duke Energy for $7 million with the intent to use proceeds to build a "Choo Choo" train downtown. The sell of the Gas Lights gave Duke Energy the green light to raise all of our heating rates. The Cincinnati NAACP is confident if passed tonight it will get the needed signatures to place the "Choo Choo" train issue on the ballot. " When you have conflicts of interest like Councilman Bortz serving as Chair of Economic Development and as the legal council for his families development company city council will pass public policy that serves a few interest on the backs of the taxpayer . http://www.naacpcincinnati.org/
December 21, 200816 yr Good f$&king god. So, let me ask. How does fighting bed bugs or constructing speed bumps "build(ing) economically viable business districts"?
December 21, 200816 yr There are so many fingerprints on the cookie jar and no one will stay out to let this development roll. This is one thing we have to change in Cincinnati.
December 22, 200816 yr so let me get this straight, according to the local naacp improved public transportation is a bad idea but speed bumps will really help black communities??
December 22, 200816 yr Who is leading this group? The NAACP doesn't realize how much this could help the constituents they are trying to protect. I also seem to understand that the money for the streetcars was not coming from city general funds but largely from private funds (I may be wrong). If this is the case, there is not the potential to reallocate these monies to the neighborhoods. It would just result in a net loss for the city. We have the chance to gain a streetcar or gain nothing from my perspective.
December 22, 200816 yr ^ Sounds like they are falling for the "one big bank account for everything" fallacy or at least want their constituency to believe that's how it works. Leaders that are in the know probably know better than that, so I'm leaning toward the latter.
December 22, 200816 yr Who is leading this group? The NAACP doesn't realize how much this could help the constituents they are trying to protect. From what I've seen, special interest groups are more interested in preserving the status quo, since helping people or achieving set goals would erode their powerbase, and thus, their reason for existence as well.
December 22, 200816 yr I also seem to understand that the money for the streetcars was not coming from city general funds but largely from private funds (I may be wrong). You are correct. Generally speaking it is a $100 million project with $30 million coming from the City's capital budget (money for infrastructure type projects). If this is the case, there is not the potential to reallocate these monies to the neighborhoods. It would just result in a net loss for the city. We have the chance to gain a streetcar or gain nothing from my perspective. I think that's a fair perspective.
December 22, 200816 yr Politics and Power. The longer they go without being able to secure (or announce they have secured - whichever it is) the needed finances the longer those against the streetcars have to torpedo the project. When is the city manager going to give his report on the private funding efforts? I know it was originally scheduled for the end of this year. Does anyone know when this might happen? After the RFQ is in next month?
December 22, 200816 yr The longer they go without being able to secure (or announce they have secured - whichever it is) the needed finances the longer those against the streetcars have to torpedo the project. We can only hope
December 22, 200816 yr I have absolutely no confidence, at this point, that we will see *this* streetcar project come to fruition. We've just been wasting too much time and looking for money in the wrong places. Heck, we didn't even send a request to the Obama guys for transit subsidy...of any kind! I used to be a cheerleader for the Cincinnati streetcar, but I think the NAACP will easily crush this pipedream. Do we have plans together for the streetcar? Nope. Do we have plans together for light rail? Nope. Would we even know where the stops would be located? Nope. Are we trying to get federal money during a crucial opportunity for non-road infrastructure? Nope! Why are we NOT trying again for a small tax to fund the construction of the streetcar? RFQ, countless rescheduled streetcar proposal meetings, rescheduled deadlines, etc. There's no reason for me to have confidence in seeing a finished product. If there's a saving grace that I have indubitably missed, let me know.
December 22, 200816 yr ^Our political and business climate is quite different in Cincinnati. That's been made clear from the start. I didn't say that *a* streetcar would never be built. I said that *this* streetcar will not be built. Just like I can say that the 2002 light rail initiative *did not* happen but one may surface in the future.
December 22, 200816 yr I wouldn't look too much into these guys. Who gives a rats azz what the NAACP thinks anyway? Last I checked, they weren't Transportation experts. Hell, they aren't even experts at anything anymore other than preaching the very racist comments that they fought so hard over the years to stomp out! This group is a bunch of clowns with Bozo as the ringleader.
December 22, 200816 yr They don't need to be transportation experts to kill this thing. They just need enough signatures to put it on the ballot. Many are for the streetcar, many are undecided. Clearly there are a fair number of people who wouldn't benefit from its construction as it is. So, if this makes it to a special ballot, I'm not saying it'll absolutely be a nail in the coffin-- Such opposition shouldn't have had a chance to squash it in the first place. My opinion: we still have a *LOT* of work to do. We need to get plans set. We have money available to hire consultants to do environmental studies and to formulate plans for our future transit. It's easier to get public subsidy when a plan is in place. We don't even have that. I don't see this RFQ or these delays as being a good sign at all.
December 22, 200816 yr It took Portland 11 years. You are correct. Cincinnati started serious planning for its rail transit in about 1997 (give or take). That's about 12 years. I realize things fell apart after the 2002 vote. But, I think it shows there have been some active planning and attempts at funding for Mass Transit at least 7 or 8 years total now. I just hope the City manager is about to pull a magical rabbit out of his hat.
December 22, 200816 yr Author The planning for the current incarnation of the streetcar started in, what John about February 2005?
December 22, 200816 yr We'll get through this just like we got past John Cranley's shenanigans, the routing issue(s), going to Uptown (or not), the '09 budget process, financing plan, etc. This is not the first time people have written this project off over a press release, and it won't be the last. Our work most certainly is not done, but I feel confident that we will make this happen. Just don't be so quick to write off Cincinnati and those fighting for it.
December 22, 200816 yr Well, you see, I'm not writing it off because of a press release. I'm writing it off because of the facts we've all received, attempting to make my own assessment of these actions (or lack there of). I am and will be fighting for other goodness in Cincinnati. I'm not writing off anyone who *is* working for the streetcar initiative either; I'm taking myself out of the fight. Of course your efforts are commendable. I'm choosing to focus my optimism and my efforts on sustainable lifestyles and the future of recycling in this city. You seem like a quite the optimistic fellow, but I don't believe that optimism can be spread across several missions in earnest. One will always be compromised. Perhaps this is getting into more personal territory, but it is what it is. I want the city manager and other players to do *crucial* things that just aren't being done. My once fanboy status toward the project is simply just a toot of a much smaller horn anymore. Until those items I mentioned earlier are carefully considered, as many other cities have, my confidence in the project is gone.
December 22, 200816 yr I'm not taking this personally...I'm just making a point that there have been numerous times before where people have written this project off because of something that seemed to be too much to overcome. Nothing has happened yet that has hurt this project. We've all been trying to get information we don't have access to right now...and if we don't have it we're assuming it's bad. As has been the case before with this project...no news is not necessarily bad news. And more often than not no news has been good news for the project. Let's see what happens with the RFQ and the City Manager's report on private funding. There are always going to be opponents to any project that is looking to change the way things are done in a city. This is no different. So far we have fared quite well. The political leadership is there, so is the public support and the financing. Let's just finish what we started and start laying tracks.
December 22, 200816 yr There are always naysayers who cannot see the forest for the trees. I have great experience with bedbugs, and really, that is a nuisance that should not even be in the same sentence as public transportation. That said, it is ALL ABOUT economically viable business districts. Time to re-up the effort and push this first phase over the starting line. I for one am begining by writing some emails to Mr Smitherman and the rest of the officers of the NAACP.
December 22, 200816 yr ^Great idea. If anyone feels like doing the same then look over the NAACP's stated mission to get some ideas. I don't see how opposition to this project fits within their stated mission. http://www.naacp.org/about/mission/ Christopher Smitherman [email protected] 4439 Reading Road Cincinnati, Ohio 45229 513.281.1900 - Office 513.281.4454 - Fax
December 22, 200816 yr " When you have conflicts of interest like Councilman Bortz serving as Chair of Economic Development and as the legal council for his families development company city council will pass public policy that serves a few interest on the backs of the taxpayer . http://www.naacpcincinnati.org/ Out of curiosity what development company is that? I could find out on Lexis and accurint what companies he and his family are involved in but I don't feel inclined at the moment. Personally I think they have a fairly weak argument against the street car. Would marketing help? Aren't there enough stakeholders who support the streetcar that they could muster up the funds to make pamphlets sent in the mail, or some other mass marketing technique that could better educate citizens about the wonderful benefits of the project? I feel like more needs to be done to counter the negativity. Posters hanging in storefront windows, explaining the benefits, the positive impact on the city.
December 22, 200816 yr Out of curiosity what development company is that? Towne Properties Ohhh. That's a big one! They don't need to be transportation experts to kill this thing. They just need enough signatures to put it on the ballot. Many are for the streetcar, many are undecided. Clearly there are a fair number of people who wouldn't benefit from its construction as it is. So, if this makes it to a special ballot, I'm not saying it'll absolutely be a nail in the coffin-- Such opposition shouldn't have had a chance to squash it in the first place. My opinion: we still have a *LOT* of work to do. We need to get plans set. We have money available to hire consultants to do environmental studies and to formulate plans for our future transit. It's easier to get public subsidy when a plan is in place. We don't even have that. I don't see this RFQ or these delays as being a good sign at all. Whether people want to admit it or not, Cincinnati politicians have a history of cronyism/favoritism and plenty, plenty of allegations of it that make the press. I've heard people start sentences with "The WASPs that run this town..." a few times on the street. I pay attention to the little things like that. With that, comes a lot of bitterness, resentment, lack of trust and questioning of motives. I don't blame NAACP for their concerns in that regard, though obviously speed bumps and such are kind of ridiculous. It's funny, you don't hear about cronyism issues nearly as much in Columbus. Politics are far too polarized in Cincinnati.
December 22, 200816 yr Wait a minute! Don't we want development in Cincinnati? And who's going to develop property? DEVELOPERS! Lets not go back to how this is going to benefit people who have money to invest. Making money is what makes the world go round, how many people are going to volunteer to develop OTR?
December 22, 200816 yr ^I wasn't at all suggesting developers are evil. Don't put words in my mouth.They take on a huge risk. If they profit heavily from it, it's because of the huge risk they take on. But I would call Bortz situation a major conflict of interest. The definition of politics is 'who gets what and when'.
December 22, 200816 yr I wasn't commenting on just you David, last year they spent too many pages on who was going to make money on the deal. I think that whats good for Bortz and Towne Properties is good for Cincinnati. If he can push an agenda through that makes investment possible isn't that good for everyone? Someone is going to make money one way or another.
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