You make a very good point about religion too. Socially speaking, cities that have more religious practioners might be more conservative, but when it comes to voting time, they elect the exact opposite. Conservatives do the same thing. There are a lot who are quite socially liberal, but when it comes to voting time, they elect the exact opposite. Politics in America are very screwed up.  :drunk:

 

Have you taken a Political Science class?  If Ohio voted the opposite of their values, wouldn't Cleveland be ran by political conservatives?

If Ohio voted the opposite of their values, wouldn't Cleveland be ran by political conservatives?

 

Well, George Voinovich was mayor for awhile.

 

 

Living in Cincy I do feel that the city/metropolitan area is more conservative than other large metropolitan areas.  Cincy is an inbetween city......a little midwestern, a little northern, and a little southern all rolled into one.  This southern heritage, of sorts, leads to the conservatism that is in this region.

 

However, I do feel that the tide is beginning to change in the nati.  The '04 presidential election was the most liberal I've seen down here....city politics are getting more progressive/liberal (repeal of article XII).....and many policies in the metropolitan area are becomming more progressive (regional tourism promotions, new planning initiatives, etc.)

 

Hopefully my views are accurate not just wishful, but I believe that Cincy is making a turn for the better.

I wouldn't say by judging by this forum, that SW Ohio posters seem more conservative while NE Ohioans seem more liberal.  I would say that SW Ohio has move VOCAL conservative posters while NE Ohio has more VOCAL liberal posters.  That does not correlate with overall numbers of liberal and conservative posters in general.

 

This forum tends to lean more liberal, and the largest concentration of this forum are still Southwest Ohioans (for now).

I must say this. They can't get Broadway commons done or Fountain square west done and now The Banks. The city needs more progressive business people.

If Ohio voted the opposite of their values, wouldn't Cleveland be ran by political conservatives?

 

Values and actions are different things. A lot of conservatives want to outlaw abortion while people in their own family have had them. Liberals can be personally against abortion for religious reasons, but still want to keep it legal for health reasons. How someone votes does indicate how they think, but it doesn't always indicate their personal moral "values."

 

Fair Enough.

I must say this. They can't get Broadway commons done or Fountain square west done and now The Banks. The city needs more progressive business people.

 

Is there some kind of plan or development pegged for Broadway Commons....if so I would be interested to know about it.

I must say this. They can't get Broadway commons done or Fountain square west done and now The Banks. The city needs more progressive business people.

 

What are you talking about with Broadway Commons?  That is the name of the area.  There wasn't a plan to develop it recently outside a jail and an alternative site for GABP.  Fountain Square West was an ugly building so I am glad it wasn't built and "The Banks" will get done.  It isn't that the city needs more progressive business people, it needs politicians that can work together in the county and city.  Do you think this is the first city to have issues between multiple forms of government?  Come on...  I would say that our business people were progressive enough to step up and provide $40 million dollars to redo Fountain Square.  That happened in record time but instead of commenting on how impressive that turnaround was, we would rather bitch about what isn't gettting done quick enough. 

 

Unusual, you have been around here for a while and I enjoy your left field comments but sometimes I can't figure you out.

Fountain Square West was an ugly building so I am glad it wasn't built.

 

Unusual, you have been around here for a while and I enjoy your left field comments but sometimes I can't figure you out.

 

Right on, FSW was terrible.

 

Isn't it amazing how his name fits his comments so much of the time? He/she really knows him/herself well.

What do you mean? I'm lying? Those things did happen or i should say didn't happen due to the bureaucracy of this town. I didn't even include the Millcreek and MSD projects that needs to be done. How is it you can allow cops to shoot unarmed blackmen, yet allow the KKK to set up a march on Fountain square?? This town is afraid of change period.

Again, why the need to bate?  The KKK hasn't marched here in years.  Fountain Square is a public square so you cannot stop a group from marching to the square.  Don't some people protest on the square with "Fuck the Police" posters too? 

 

As far as shooting an unarmed person, I will not defend that.  I don't think anyone here ever said that Timothy Thomas deserved to die or be shot for that matter.  Don't let a couple of bad apples spoil your opinion of the city as a whole.  It is sad that many people that come and visit me can't get over how great this city is yet the people that live here are so blind.  Yet some people move away to sun belt cities to only find out that Cincinnati's core was stronger than they thought.  Downtown Tampa, Dallas, Houston, Charlotte, Raleigh...  you name it I have been there.  They all have their strenghs but their downtowns don't compare to Cincinnati.

 

Another example of protests on the square:

 

 

 

 

 

yet allow the KKK to set up a march on Fountain square??

 

First amendment - free speech, free assembly...not a very good example for your thesis.  There are definitely better examples...

Just saying that doesn't happen in any another other major towns. I guarantee you, you won't find it in Seattle, Atlanta or NYC. They wouldn't allow such BS.

Allow it???

 

You can't stop it, that's what's so great about our country and that's what's so great about fountain square.

Just saying that doesn't happen in any another other major towns. I guarantee you, you won't find it in Seattle, Atlanta or NYC. They wouldn't allow such BS.

 

Come on Unusual, don't be so naive. 

 

Here is an article about a Klan rally in NYC:

http://www.cnn.com/US/9910/23/klan.03/

 

Judge Rules Fountain Square Holiday Display Ban Unconstitutional

 

U.S. District Judge Susan Dlott ruled Wednesday afternoon that Cincinnati city officials cannot ban religious displays on Fountain Square during the holidays on First Amendment grounds.

 

http://www.wcpo.com/news/2002/local/11/27/square.html

I'm not against Cincy, we just need to change how things are done.

I'd also say the historical manufacturing industry in Dayton is why it's more moderate than conservative. When you grow up with unions, you are more likely to support the Democratic party and their liberal agendas.

 

Dayton used to be very unionized, so this might account for why Montogomery County sill goes Democratic in Presidential elections...the union retiree vote combined with the black vote and whats left of the unions at Delphi and GM.

 

The trend here is probably Republican.  As the union retirees die off and area de-industrializes and the unemployed factory workers leave town the Defense sector will become the big driver in the local economy. People affiliated with the defense sector are fairly reliably GOP.

 

Downtown Nati really captures the "canyon" effect well and is a very cohesive downtown. Once they clean up the riverfront, it will be spectacular. I can't wait to see how the Banks will turn out.

 

Me too.  The Banks and the related parkland will be probably the best riverfront in the US.

 

 

 

The trend here is probably Republican.  As the union retirees die off and area de-industrializes and the unemployed factory workers leave town the Defense sector will become the big driver in the local economy. People affiliated with the defense sector are fairly reliably GOP.

 

I'd say that the south-suburbs and perhaps Greene County will remain Republican for awhile.  Dayton city and the areas west and north were traditionally more manufacturing (even to this day) and generally will lean Democratic for a longer portion of time.  In reality, it's all about "who's losing population faster" to determine the political climate of the Miami Valley.

"Have" in all capitals?  Wow now you are a lazy suburbanite.  God forbid you have to walk more than 10 feet to a store.  Let me guess, you are the one I see at VOA that is driving around the parking lot for 15 minutes waiting for the front row spot while there is a spot 5 cars in?  Downtown Cincinnati has some of the easiest parking options of any city I have ever been too and I have been to hundreds of large cities.

 

If you're so in love with Cincinnati and all it has to offer, why are you bothering to go to the VOA center?  (For what it's worth, I've only been to the stores there once.  And didn't even buy anything while I was there.)

 

Interesting that you think of me as part of a disease.  You really don't know as much about me as you seem to think you do.  Apparently what I have said has really threatened you in some way, because you feel this incessant need to defend Cincinnati against some criticism from people like me.  It's like a pit-bull that has been irritated.  You can't deal with anyone that has a different opinion than you, and that is truly sad - and the real disease.

^It seems to me this isn't someone irritated because you have a different opinion - this is someone irritated because you are simply wrong.  There isn't a parking issue in Cincinnati.  Let me try that again.  There isn't a parking issue in Cincinnati.  Sure, compared with Tri-County or Fairfield or Kenwood (any time except before Christmas), parking is little less obvious - but as everyone's said, nobody's ever had to go more than a couple blocks to find street parking, and in that time could have chosen a surface lot and paid a couple bucks.  You're just WRONG about there being insufficient spaces - and pointing that out isn't a difference of opinion, it's pointing out that you're WRONG, that's all.

 

Shall I be snarky? 

You really don't know as much about me as you seem to think you do.

And neither do you know as much about Cincinnati as you seem to think you do.  Dude, you cited the Maisonette as an example of the bad business climate downtown.

 

And you complain about VOA vs. Downtown being apples and oranges, then say NKY is "leaping ahead of us" - as though NKY is analogous to downtown rather than analogous to Cincinnati's first ring suburbs...I mean, come on, talk about apples and oranges...would you also say Walnut Hills is leaping ahead of Cincinnati because it's building a 14 story luxury condo tower by Eden Park?  Is Clifton and CUF leaping ahead of Cincinnati because of all of UC's investments?

Interesting that you think of me as part of a disease.  You really don't know as much about me as you seem to think you do.

 

You come to Urban Ohio and do nothing but bitch and complain.  You then compare strip malls to downtown, you say that the city has inadequate parking.  You offer nothing constructive and mention that you haven't been downtown in 6 years while living in marginal Fairfield. I know your type...  See in the burbs it is cool to knock the city.  It is cool to drive around in mini vans and have 12 ribbon magnets on cars with the belief that this is somehow supporting the troops. I work and live around it.  Thank god I am downtown and in the city neighborhoods weekly to escape the disease. People like you are the disease, you would rather sit in Fairfield read the headlines in the Enquirer and bitch that the city isn't like it was when "fill in the blank".

 

Apparently what I have said has really threatened you in some way, because you feel this incessant need to defend Cincinnati against some criticism from people like me.

 

Your an ignoramus about the city.  This is an urban centric message board.  Did you think you were going to come on here and spew your misguided rants and think you weren't going to get responses?

A column in the Post by Dan Hurley about why Cincinnati is conservative.

 

Examining roots of Cincinnati conservatism

Why is Cincinnati so conservative? I get asked that question all the time. Though some people are thinking about the dominance of conservative Republican politicians, more often the reference is to our region's seeming reluctance to take chances or to sit on our hands while other metropolitan areas innovate to their advantage and our disadvantage.

Reach him at [email protected].

Great article.

Interesting read.

What threads of reform are maturing just off the front pages in Cincinnati today? And what young lawyer, computer programmer or designer might emerge as this era's Murray Seasongood, offering a coherent vision and practical programs that can rouse our region from its comfortable decline?

What immigrant from Mexico, England, Cleveland or St. Louis will spur new ways of looking at ourselves and our city?!!  I have met a lot of people that are new to Cincinnati lately, and I love the perspective they offer. 

What immigrant from Mexico, England, Cleveland or St. Louis will spur new ways of looking at ourselves and our city?!!  I have met a lot of people that are new to Cincinnati lately, and I love the perspective they offer. 

 

I have met quite a few people recently who moved here from other cities.  It is indeed very interesting talking to them and hearing other views. 

Great article, I had not heard that angle before.  As a side note though, while some parts of being conservative are bad in my opinion (e.g. change mentioned in article doesn't happen fast enough,; metro-gov, light rail, etc.), being conservative in other areas has been a God send.  Cincinnati still has a largely intact downtown and surrounding neighborhoods that never met the bulldozer the way the did in other cities.  The City of Cincinnati has an extremely conservative Finance Dept. and guidelines that kept tight reins on spending and borrowing and likely kept Cincinnati out of much of the trouble older midwestern cities fell in to (Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Detroit, etc.).  Cincinnati never built a downtown megamall a la the CityCentre in Columbus and the one in Indy (although theirs apparently does ok, I would still rather not have one).  The City also never jumped into the huge expansion of the Convention Center craze of the 1990's.  Yes we needed one, but remember the original plan was to more than double the space based on huge convention forecasts.  Several cities borrowed heavily to fund these, Kansas City has a huge one and it does not even support the debt it cost, nor is it living up to anywhere near its occupancy rate that was forecast during the push to build it.

 

So, I say a little conservatism in certain areas is a good thing, while I detest it in others (The Banks, where are you?   But on the same token I applaud the County Administration for not making a bad deal burying the County under a mountain of debt and lowering their bond rating when there are other ways to get it done even if it takes a few years).

Interesting article, but isn't it assuming that Cincinnati is in fact conservative? I guess we all have our major negative stereotypes that we'll have a hell of a time living down: Cleveland is a down-and-out rust-belt city, Cincinnati is very conservative, and Columbus is too bland to warrant its own stereotype, but it's a very gay city if anything.

I think Cincinnati is indisputably conservative, but that word is so loaded it obfuscates more than it reveals about the character of the place. It's not as simple as political conservatism. It's more like a civic lethargy.

 

I think though that too often Cincinnati simply chalks anything up to it's own peculiar shortcomings, instead of looking to larger trends, like, oh, the continued movement of population westward. In this way, Cincinnati behaves like a hypochondriac. Anything bad that happens here must be the sign of irrevocable decay; anything good is lost in the tide of decline. Anyone who tries to step out and make something better runs into the "it's Cincinnati, why bother" attitude.

 

I think this is beginning to change, but maybe that's just 'cause I hang out here too often.

It's cool that my original post was moved into this topic, but it doesn't have much at all to do with politics.

 

I haven't read this dissertation, so maybe he talks about this, but I think the main historical events that stagnated Cincinnati were WWI and Prohibition. WWI had a part to play in the never used subways, and had a severe negative effect on the culture of the city, driving Germanness underground. Prohibition finished the job, decimating the brewing industry and the social life of the city. Seems to me Cincinnati went from a fairly wild town, to a known safe entity. (I think there was even a quote in a Bogart movie about sending the dame to Cincinnati, where'd she be safe. That may be apocryphal.) Then the newspaper editors and city fathers made a point of driving out what was left of exuberance by shutting down old Newport.

 

There's loads more to be said, those are just some ideas I'm kicking around. It's clearly too generalized, but I think there might be something to it.

I think Cincinnati is indisputably conservative, but that word is so loaded it obfuscates more than it reveals about the character of the place. It's not as simple as political conservatism. It's more like a civic lethargy.

 

I think though that too often Cincinnati simply chalks anything up to it's own peculiar shortcomings, instead of looking to larger trends, like, oh, the continued movement of population westward. In this way, Cincinnati behaves like a hypochondriac. Anything bad that happens here must be the sign of irrevocable decay; anything good is lost in the tide of decline. Anyone who tries to step out and make something better runs into the "it's Cincinnati, why bother" attitude.

 

Indeed.  But as you said, let's hope things change.  Afterall, Boston was once the "conservative mecca" as well and now it's the "East Coast San Francisco."  So ya never know...

Indeed.  But as you said, let's hope things change.  Afterall, Boston was once the "conservative mecca" as well and now it's the "East Coast San Francisco."  So ya never know...

 

But its Cincinnat, so why even bother...

Columbus is a wealthier, more modern city and I think a lot of its liberals are liberal by choice/education more than upbringing/need. There's a reason Bustown is the San Francisco of the Midwest.

 

Bustown?  I've never heard that used before.  Ever.  I'm not sure if it is all that informative of a nickname.  Also, I've never heard anyone describe Columbus, Ohio as "the San Francisco of the Midwest".  Ever.

Indeed.  But as you said, let's hope things change.  Afterall, Boston was once the "conservative mecca" as well and now it's the "East Coast San Francisco."  So ya never know...

But, then again, where does Gillette call home nowadays ?

Bustown?  I've never heard that used before.  Ever.  I'm not sure if it is all that informative of a nickname.  Also, I've never heard anyone describe Columbus, Ohio as "the San Francisco of the Midwest".  Ever.

 

Me neither. Never heard Boston called the "East Coast San Francisco" either. I'm sure if Boston found out about this moniker, they'd be wicked pissed.

This has been a very interesting and informative discussion.

Columbus is a wealthier, more modern city and I think a lot of its liberals are liberal by choice/education more than upbringing/need. There's a reason Bustown is the San Francisco of the Midwest.

 

Bustown?  I've never heard that used before.  Ever.  I'm not sure if it is all that informative of a nickname.  Also, I've never heard anyone describe Columbus, Ohio as "the San Francisco of the Midwest".  Ever.

 

oh i did.  if you watched that mtv show where they followed around the gay couple from columbus, one of the gay guys commented on how open cbus was to the community and how it was "the san francisco of the midwest."  I disagree on the cbus being wealthier comment though.  cbus doesnt have a lot of old money.  but it is a white collar town so on the whole, it is doing well. 

Bustown?  I've never heard that used before.  Ever.  I'm not sure if it is all that informative of a nickname.  Also, I've never heard anyone describe Columbus, Ohio as "the San Francisco of the Midwest".  Ever.

 

Me neither. Never heard Boston called the "East Coast San Francisco" either. I'm sure if Boston found out about this moniker, they'd be wicked pissed.

 

Well, you could also call San Francisco the "Boston of the West."  Either or.  Both are tech-heavy, have 7 million + people, white collar mostly, and heavily multi-nodial.

 

Cincinnati?  Has Lee's Chicken.

Well, you could also call San Francisco the "Boston of the West."  Either or.  Both are tech-heavy, have 7 million + people, white collar mostly, and heavily multi-nodial.

 

But you'd probably be better off just calling it San Francisco.  It's less confusing that way.  Also, SF does have a large blue collar contingent.  It's in a neighborhood called "Oakland" or something.  Isn't it cute how the Columbus of the West Coast managed to price out most of their poor folks?  It's like one hip, urban, tech-heavy, multi-nodal, creative suburb!

Just an FYI on San Fran and Boston::

 

Boston 4.391 million

 

San Fran 4.123 million

 

Areas with 7+ mil: Chicago (9 mil), LA (12.3 mil), NYC (18.3 mil).

 

That what the Census (now) says. :)

I think though that too often Cincinnati simply chalks anything up to it's own peculiar shortcomings, instead of looking to larger trends, like, oh, the continued movement of population westward. In this way, Cincinnati behaves like a hypochondriac. Anything bad that happens here must be the sign of irrevocable decay; anything good is lost in the tide of decline. Anyone who tries to step out and make something better runs into the "it's Cincinnati, why bother" attitude.

 

 

I think this is mostly attributable to the local newspaper.

But you'd probably be better off just calling it San Francisco.  It's less confusing that way.  Also, SF does have a large blue collar contingent.  It's in a neighborhood called "Oakland" or something.  Isn't it cute how the Columbus of the West Coast managed to price out most of their poor folks?  It's like one hip, urban, tech-heavy, multi-nodal, creative suburb!

 

Oakland actually isn't as blue collar as you think.  There is quite a few tech companies, banks, and such.  If you want actual "blue collar" in the Bay Area, look towards Richmond, Valljeo, and Hilltop.

Just an FYI on San Fran and Boston::

 

Boston 4.391 million

 

San Fran 4.123 million

 

Areas with 7+ mil: Chicago (9 mil), LA (12.3 mil), NYC (18.3 mil).

 

That what the Census (now) says. :)

 

I'm talking CSA.  Boston's CSA is roughly 7.5 million; San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland is roughly 7.2 million.

 

http://www.census.gov/population/estimates/metro_general/List6.txt

I wish Cincinnati had a good newspaper like Pittsburgh does. It is ashame that most people who read the Inquirer probably think negatively about the city of Cincinnati.

I wish Cincinnati had a good newspaper like Pittsburgh does. It is ashame that most people who read the Inquirer probably think negatively about the city of Cincinnati.

 

Uhh...thats ENQUIRER...show some respect for the great media giant in Cincy please  :wink:

yeah, the enquirer hates the city

"one of the gay guys commented on how open cbus was to the community and how it was "the san francisco of the midwest.""

 

Riiiiight. Open to the community? Sure, but give me a f#cking break.  :roll:

Just an FYI on San Fran and Boston::

 

Boston 4.391 million

 

San Fran 4.123 million

 

Areas with 7+ mil: Chicago (9 mil), LA (12.3 mil), NYC (18.3 mil).

 

That what the Census (now) says. :)

 

I'm talking CSA.  Boston's CSA is roughly 7.5 million; San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland is roughly 7.2 million.

 

http://www.census.gov/population/estimates/metro_general/List6.txt

 

I thought CSA's didn't count anymore. Didn't CincyZach and UncleRando go off about how Akron wasn't part of the Cleveland metro anymore so Cincy would be #1? My 2007 World Almanac lists everything as MSA's. Damn that census!! :)

There are two seperate criteria; MSA & CSA.  MSA's are becoming more strict (thus, Camden, NJ is now it's own MSA) but the CSA stuff is still around (meaning, Cleveland is still making love to Akron and Ashtabula).

July 26, 2008

 

Police arrest three dancers

 

By The Enquirer

http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080726/NEWS0107/807260383

CORRYVILLE -- Cincinnati police vice officers arrested three dancers early Friday at a Corryville nightclub and charged them with promoting prostitution and public indecency.

 

okay, can we just talk about how RIDICULOUS this is???

 

while I agree the 16 year old girl should not have been there, nightclubs are an ADULT establishment, and people should be allowed to dance however they feel, as long as they are not sexually harassing others. People go to clubs to drink, dance, and hook up with other people. It is a sexual environment. Period.

 

I've always thought the Cincinnati market would be a great place to do a full-scale dance club (a la BoMA in Columbus or Metropolis in Cleveland), but things like this make me wonder if it's too conservative a city to handle a place like that...