Cincinnati Streetcar News

[diaspora]

Ghiz was for it before she was against it.

She's also no on 9...i think most of the candidates are against Issue 9 regardless of their feelings towards the Streetcar.

[jmecklenborg]

>Actually, I think the first portion of I-75 (Millcreek) expressway from where 74 is now to Paddock Road was built with bond money that was voted on. This was the portion that used most of the subway R/W and M-E canal R/W....and before the interstate act.

I believe the value of the subway ROW alone was not enough to constitute the local match, that's why there was a bond issue for a "highway program". The highway program included a bunch of projects all over the city, things like lining up parallel streets to create continuous roads like that little twist University Ave. does at Burnett that required demolishing a few homes. Previously you had to turn to stay on the same street.     

There was a federal highway bill that preceded the Interstate Highway Act, but I'm not sure how that affected cities.  At some point the city's capital budget was adjusted so that there was a constant revenue stream available for road/bridge maintenance and new projects. 

We have some huge projects coming up like The Western Hills Viaduct replacement, which will probably exceed $100 million, and unlike the streetcar I don't believe they can use TIF funds (a big reason why the streetcar is economically feasible without a tax increase).  To replace that thing in 15 years the city needs to begin placing several million dollars per year into an account.   

[osogato]

For the streetcar:

Bortz/ Brockman/ Fixcher/ Flynn/ Harris/ Hollan/ Qualls/ Quinlivan/ Thomas/ Watson/ Young

[jmecklenborg]

>People aren't stupid, they'll read the amendment text (probably for the first time) before they fill in the box. 

Do you think people who can't read at a high school level read and fully comprehend the paragraphs of text that fill each issue box?  Do you think people who are snookered by rent-to-own stores and blow money on scratch-off lotto tickets should have a say in the city's finances?

[osogato]

Interestingly, Anitra Brockman is the Green Party candidate.  Her website states she is in favor of the streetcar, so I emailed her to ask her stance on Issue 9, since the SW OH Green Party supports the measure.  Her response is below:

'Thank you for taking the time to send me an email before election. Although the green party is saying "Yes" to issue 9, I am saying "No" to issue 9. I believe that we are only getting in the way of the city progressing if we say "Yes"...'

[Cygnus]

http://cincinnatiansforprogress.com/Endorsements/

[NBow37]

For the streetcar:

Bortz/ Brockman/ Fixcher/ Flynn/ Harris/ Hollan/ Qualls/ Quinlivan/ Thomas/ Watson/ Young

Some groups/people endorsing a "Vote no" on issue 9:

1) Former President of the Ohio State Senate Stanley Aronoff
2) Former President of the Ohio State Senate Richard Finan
3) Representative Denise Driehaus
4) Bill Cunningham - Radio Personality
5) Mike McConnell - Radio Personality
6) Cincinnatians for Progress
7) Hamilton County Regional Planning Commission
8 ) City Council Woman and former Cincinnati Mayor Roxanne Qualls
9) The League of Women Voters of the Cincinnati Area
10) St Louis Urban Workshop
11) UC Student Government
12) The Cincinnati Zoo
13) Cincinnati AFL-CIO Labor Council
14) Councilman Chris Bortz
15) Cincinnati Charter Committee
16) Hamilton County Democrats
17) Councilman Jeff Berding
18) The Cincinnati Regional Chamber of Commerce
19) The Cincinnatus Association
20) Councilman Kevin Flynn
21) Councilman Cecil Thomas
22) Mayor Mark Mallory
23) Councilman David Crowley
24) Councilman Greg Harris
25) Councilwoman Leslie Ghiz
26) Hamilton County Commissioner David Pepper
27) Hamilton County Commissioner Todd Portune
28) Former Mayor Arn Bortz
29) Former Mayor Bobbie Sterne
30) Former Vice Mayor Jim Tarbell
31) State senator Eric Kearney
32) Cincinnati Business Courier
33) Cincy PAC
34) Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
35) Mayor's YPKC
36) Over-The-Rhine Chamber of Commerce
37) US Green Building Council - Cincy Chapter
38) Downtown Resident Council
39) Queen City Bike
40) Pendleton Neighborhood Council
41) Cincinnati Planning Commission
42) Cincinnati Enquirer Editorial Board
43) Cincinnati Democratic Party
44) The Sierra Club
45) All Aboard Ohio
46) Agenda 360
47) Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority
48) African American Chamber of Commerce


Groups/People Endorsing a vote "YES" for Issue 9 are:

1) COAST
2) NAACP
3) Cincinnati Tea Party
4) Former Congressman and Mayor Tom Luken
5) Mark Miller and Wedemandavote
6) Councilman Charlie Winburn
7) Councilman Lemarque Ward
8 ) Southwest Ohio Green Party
9) Councilman Chris Monzel

[thomasbw]

Interestingly, Anitra Brockman is the Green Party candidate.  Her website states she is in favor of the streetcar, so I emailed her to ask her stance on Issue 9, since the SW OH Green Party supports the measure.  Her response is below:

'Thank you for taking the time to send me an email before election. Although the green party is saying "Yes" to issue 9, I am saying "No" to issue 9. I believe that we are only getting in the way of the city progressing if we say "Yes"...'

Haap is the other green party candidate (school board).  Meaning 100% of the Green Party Candidates are endorsing a No Vote on 9.

[Cygnus]

Wow... over 30 people viewing this topic atm. What a day!

[NBow37]

Wow... over 30 people viewing this topic atm. What a day!

It's safe to say this has been one of the most unproductive work days I've had in a long time

[Neville]

There are 16 guests too... creepin' around out there. Register a user name and join the conversation!

[thomasbw]

Wow... over 30 people viewing this topic atm. What a day!

A lot of people are taking an interest in this today.  www.cincystreetcar.wordpress.com is on pace to have its most visitors in a day [it will probably break the old record, set yesterday, before the polls close]

[osogato]

Wow... over 30 people viewing this topic atm. What a day!

It's safe to say this has been one of the most unproductive work days I've had in a long time

Agreed.

[cincySAL]

http://cincinnatiansforprogress.com/Endorsements/

Thanks, but that is an endorsement for No on 9.  I'm trying to see who I should vote for council based a lot on their support for the streetcar.

Thanks everyone for the info.

[Jimmy_James]

Interestingly, Anitra Brockman is the Green Party candidate.  Her website states she is in favor of the streetcar, so I emailed her to ask her stance on Issue 9, since the SW OH Green Party supports the measure.  Her response is below:

'Thank you for taking the time to send me an email before election. Although the green party is saying "Yes" to issue 9, I am saying "No" to issue 9. I believe that we are only getting in the way of the city progressing if we say "Yes"...'

Well, good for her.  Nice to see someone break from the party line.

[NBow37]

http://cincinnatiansforprogress.com/Endorsements/

Thanks, but that is an endorsement for No on 9.  I'm trying to see who I should vote for council based a lot on their support for the streetcar.

Thanks everyone for the info.

I think Osogato has your question answered above. 

[Living in Gin]

Somebody remind me to pick up something from the liquor store on my way home this evening. Regardless of the election results, I'll be in the mood for a stiff drink or three.

[Caseyc]

Wow... over 30 people viewing this topic atm. What a day!

It's safe to say this has been one of the most unproductive work days I've had in a long time

Plus One.

[NBow37]

Wow... over 30 people viewing this topic atm. What a day!

It's safe to say this has been one of the most unproductive work days I've had in a long time

Plus One.

I feel like Howie Mandel at an ADD convention where they serve free Red Bull.  I just can't focus at all and I have all this energy

[osogato]

It drives me crazy waiting for the returns to come in.  Makes for a very long day.  Even though there's really no news until the polls close, I can't keep myself off the local blogs and message boards...

[dmerkow]

Y'all relax. Go drink a couple beers. I'd imagine you'll start to get a good sense around 8:30 - 9:00. There is no trustworthy exit polling done in a year like this, so don't panic. I'd say the telling neighborhoods will be Bond Hill, the better precincts in Avondale - look at turnout in 'hoods. Westwood and Hyde Park will be telling.

[thomasbw]

Wow... over 30 people viewing this topic atm. What a day!

A lot of people are taking an interest in this today.  www.cincystreetcar.wordpress.com is on pace to have its most visitors in a day [it will probably break the old record, set yesterday, before the polls close]

Old record has been broken. 

[NBow37]

http://thephonyconey.blogspot.com/2009/11/provost-witnesses-election-fraud.html

"...for the second time at the same polling place.


Last year, The Provost's ballot was taken by a poll worker, examined, and possibly discarded. The Provost never saw his ballot inserted into the reader and was non-verbally intimidated into leaving the premises. The new ballot-reading machine could not have been simpler, but nevertheless ballots were taken from the hands of voters, quite obviously looked at by a poll worker (unlike old-fashioned punch cards the design of the new ballots makes voter decisions visible from across the room), and then inserted (or not) into the machine by the poll worker.


This year, someone -- either a voter or a poll worker -- taped a flyer advertising four school board candidates to the "desk" part of the booths so that it was visible directly above ballots. Poll workers are trained to patrol booths in order to prevent people from doing this, but given the crinkly character of this particular flyer, it appeared to have been taped to the booth for several hours. Of course, if the flyers were posted by poll workers, it is a serious crime. "

Lets hope COAST or the NAACP are not up to this

[NBow37]

Y'all relax. Go drink a couple beers. I'd imagine you'll start to get a good sense around 8:30 - 9:00. There is no trustworthy exit polling done in a year like this, so don't panic. I'd say the telling neighborhoods will be Bond Hill, the better precincts in Avondale - look at turnout in 'hoods. Westwood and Hyde Park will be telling.

Isn't Avondale and North Avondale Smitherman Territory?

[thomasbw]

"Our country's future prosperity depends on its having an efficient and well-maintained rail system," [Warren] Buffett said.

http://money.cnn.com/2009/11/03/news/companies/buffett_burlington_northern/index.htm?postversion=2009110312

[Sherman Cahal]

Report Voting Errors to the Enquirer

[Caseyc]

Y'all relax. Go drink a couple beers. I'd imagine you'll start to get a good sense around 8:30 - 9:00. There is no trustworthy exit polling done in a year like this, so don't panic. I'd say the telling neighborhoods will be Bond Hill, the better precincts in Avondale - look at turnout in 'hoods. Westwood and Hyde Park will be telling.

Isn't Avondale and North Avondale Smitherman Territory?

actually........a lot of North Avondale residents felt hoodwinked by Smitherman after he joined council.  What we thought was an intelligent progressive candidate turned into a divisive attention-seeking firebrand.  Avondale proper is also not as straight-Smitherman as you might expect (Smitherman, by the way, lives in North A).  I'm working the polls at North Av rec center tonight.  Hopefully will see some neighbors.

[Gordon Bombay]

Report Voting Errors to the Enquirer

"There were no "I voted" stickers. I was mad."

Thank God for the Enquirer!

[evanf811]

I frequently read the site but rarely post.  Just wanted to wish everyone in Cincy good luck from an observer in Cleveland! 

[taestell]

Does anyone have a list of council candidates that are pro-actively for the streetcar?  I've seen a list go around but when I looked at the webpages for those people, a lot didn't list that they were for the streetcar so I have a hard time believing it.  Some I know for sure are such as Bortz, Tony Fisher, Laure Quinlivan, but others I'm not quite so sure about.

Here's the list of candidates who oppose Issue 9 and who support the Cincinnati Streetcar.

 
for Mayor of Cincinnati:

Mark Mallory


for Cincinnati City Council:

Jeff Berding
 
Chris Bortz
 
Tony Fischer
 
Kevin Flynn
 
Greg Harris
 
Nicholas Hollan
 
Roxanne Qualls
 
Laure Quinlivan
 
Cecil Thomas
 
Bernadette Watson
 
Wendell Young


And remember, Issue 9 might apply to roads, bridges, any and every acquisition of land for transportation purposes ...

"A court might determine that the "last antecedent rule" applies to the amendment. If so, every acquisition of land - for widening a street, building a bridge - would be subject to a popular vote! At the very least, there would be expensive and time-consuming lawsuits. Not to mention making us a laughingstock."

                              -- Retired Ohio First District Court of Appeals Judge Mark Painter

Read Judge Painter's Op-Ed here:

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20091030/EDIT02/910300367/1019/EDIT/Issue+9+could+cause+create+legal+mess

MAKE IT VIRAL!