2013 Election (Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati: sales, lease, transfer)

[TheCincinnatiSir]

Originally Posted by Dayton Sux

^
...exactley what I was thinking. Though the subway was much further along when the plug was pulled (ROW, tunnels, grading, stations, etc)

Are tracks in the ground yet for that streetcar?

Yes they are.

[isolace]

Truly shocking and disappointing. I would hate to see the streetcar get pulled. Cranley's pull for suburbia also worries me.

[kjbrill]

Originally Posted by hensleya1

Awesome.

This is the best course that the voters of Cincinnati could have chosen. It is time to put an end to the decline, an end to one disastrous project after another, and an end to total governmental ignorance of the people's wills.

I can only hope that Cranley does all within his power - and hope he succeeds - in stopping the streetcar and the parking deal before it costs the city too much wasted money.

His decisive margin of victory means he clearly has the mandate. The people have spoken loud and clear, they want Cincinnati to move forward into the 21st century.

A mandate huh? How can a 28% voter turnout give you a mandate? All it tells you is the voting public is completely lethargic, a better term would be stupid. The people spoke not once but twice before in support of the streetcar. Now because the greater majority did not even bother going to the polls, this idiot has a mandate?

You talk about wasted money. How much to you want to bet that streetcar build order to the Spanish firm has a cancellation clause? If the streetcar is stopped, 100% of the Federal money has to be returned, not diverted, returned. And what do you want to bet Duke Energy wins the court argument the City is liable for all of the utility relocation costs already incurred? And how about the cancellation clauses in the construction contracts, you can bet they exist. So the City has a big bill with zero accomplishment. Now that is really sound financial management.

[Briolat21]

Originally Posted by kjbrill

A mandate huh? How can a 28% voter turnout give you a mandate? All it tells you is the voting public is completely lethargic, a better term would be stupid. The people spoke not once but twice before in support of the streetcar. Now because the greater majority did not even bother going to the polls, this idiot has a mandate?

You talk about wasted money. How much to you want to bet that streetcar build order to the Spanish firm has a cancellation clause? If the streetcar is stopped, 100% of the Federal money has to be returned, not diverted, returned. And what do you want to bet Duke Energy wins the court argument the City is liable for all of the utility relocation costs already incurred? And how about the cancellation clauses in the construction contracts, you can bet they exist. So the City has a big bill with zero accomplishment. Now that is really sound financial management.

Exactly. I'm basically neutral on the streetcar - I don't think the street car is necessarily going to be the economic savior that the proponents think, but I bet it costs a whole lot more to GET OUT of the streetcar than is economically prudent.

The Spanish company making the cars isn't going to just say "Oh - you changed your mind? No problem, we'll eat these costs". And Duke sure as heck isn't going to eat the relocation costs either.

I bet this just turns into a further boondogle.

But "the people have spoken" (So 28% was the turnout?? Hysterical!) and now the rest have to live with the consequences. At least until next election.

[jbcmh81]

Hmm.. I was almost convinced the city population was ready to keep the momentum moving forward and that you guys were finally moving away from the TP, conservative crap that has stifled growth and redevelopment. This is a big blow to that cause. You guys basically just elected a representative of COAST. Awful.

[jbcmh81]

Originally Posted by hensleya1

Awesome.

This is the best course that the voters of Cincinnati could have chosen. It is time to put an end to the decline, an end to one disastrous project after another, and an end to total governmental ignorance of the people's wills.

I can only hope that Cranley does all within his power - and hope he succeeds - in stopping the streetcar and the parking deal before it costs the city too much wasted money.

His decisive margin of victory means he clearly has the mandate. The people have spoken loud and clear, they want Cincinnati to move forward into the 21st century.

Sorry, but stopping the streetcar and being more conservative will do the exact opposite. Cincinnati has had amazing urban momentum in recent years and what you're basically saying is that that should come to an end. Here I thought that the divide was urban vs. suburban in Cincy, but it turns out, there are quite a few suburban-minded people in the city as well. This is incredibly disappointing for a city I saw as well on its way to recovery.

[jbcmh81]

Originally Posted by Briolat21

Exactly. I'm basically neutral on the streetcar - I don't think the street car is necessarily going to be the economic savior that the proponents think, but I bet it costs a whole lot more to GET OUT of the streetcar than is economically prudent.

The Spanish company making the cars isn't going to just say "Oh - you changed your mind? No problem, we'll eat these costs". And Duke sure as heck isn't going to eat the relocation costs either.

I bet this just turns into a further boondogle.

But "the people have spoken" (So 28% was the turnout?? Hysterical!) and now the rest have to live with the consequences. At least until next election.

It doesn't matter if it was only 28%. The point is that the people that have already spoken 2x decided it was okay to stay home. Why wasn't the pro-streetcar population more motivated? Where were they if they are such a large part of the population? Being lazy has allowed someone into office that will directly screw up Cincinnati's momentum. So no, it's not just the 28%.

[Sarah Perry]

Before I go any further: I voted for Qualls. I haven't supported the streetcar project from Day 1, and I think the "sky's the limit on spending" incompetence and mismanagement by the city so far on the project has created a ridiculous amount of waste of money we don't have. That said, the streetcar is too far along to even think about stopping. And I thought Qualls was the better candidate anyway in a lot of unrelated aspects.

But I see a lot of misplaced anger on this thread so far. When less than 30 percent of voters turn out for a race that's been framed as being mostly about only two issues, that's the real problem. Those of you who're angry with the choice of the people WHO ACTUALLY VOTED need to redirect your anger toward those--who are likely your contemporaries in terms of age and other demographics--who couldn't be bothered to take a few minutes out of their busy days to even participate in the process. Seriously? It's too much trouble to go to the polls on Election Day, much less mail in an absentee ballot? With this kind of attitude, Cincinnati deserves whatever it gets, I guess.

[jbcmh81]

Originally Posted by Sarah Perry

Before I go any further: I voted for Qualls. I haven't supported the streetcar project from Day 1, and I think the "sky's the limit on spending" incompetence and mismanagement by the city so far on the project has created a ridiculous amount of waste of money we don't have. That said, the streetcar is too far along to even think about stopping. AI thought Qualls was the better candidate anyway in a lot of unrelated aspects.

But I see a lot of misplaced anger on this thread so far. When less than 30 percent of voters turn out for a race that's been framed as being mostly about only two issues, that's the real problem. Those of you who're angry with the choice of the people WHO ACTUALLY VOTED need to redirect your anger toward those--who are likely your contemporaries in terms of age and other demographics--who couldn't be bothered to take a few minutes out of their busy days to even participate in the process. Seriously? It's too much trouble to go to the polls on Election Day, much less mail in an absentee ballot? With this kind of attitude, Cincinnati deserves whatever it gets, I guess.

Agree with your last paragraph. People can blame the 28%, but it was the 72% that really made this decision. It was a city-wide decision and now the city will suffer those consequences.

[kjbrill]

Originally Posted by jbcmh81

Agree with your last paragraph. People can blame the 28%, but it was the 72% that really made this decision. It was a city-wide decision and now the city will suffer those consequences.

You are exactly right, it is the 72% noshows who actually made the decision, those who couldn't be bothered to vote.