Obama to help with Streetcar Project

City Council is hoping to get some help from the Obama economic stimulus plan to help fund the Streetcar Project. This project fits perfectly within the new President's plan for improving the economy and job market by funding infrastructure improvements and investing in alternative transportation (rail transit). The project will help create jobs immediately and also help stabilize the city's neighborhoods and provide economic benefits for years to come. City Manager Dohoney is currently in the process of compiling a report on the status of the streetcar project funding and is scheduled to report back to city council in March.
The already supportive city council will likely be even more supportive of the streetcar project after Councilman Cranely's resignation and the appointment of pro-streetcar democrat Greg Harris who will be filling his seat. Cranely was one of two council members not fully supportive of the streetcar plan. Harris has been quoted to be very supportive of the streetcars and sees the project as vital for moving Cincinnati ahead into the 21st century. As long as streetcar advocates are able to successfully fight off the recent NAACP's ridiculous opposition to this progressive project, it looks as if the streetcars are well underway to becoming a reality in Cincinnati.
Read more here.

Cincy Streetcar Blog

Check out the new Cincy Streetcar Blog!!
This is a great new site created by the folks at CincyStreetcar.com as an outlet for sharing news, updates, and facts about the new Cincinnati Streetcar System. Already they have some great stuff up there and I'm sure it will continue to grow as the year goes on.
With all the opposition the streetcar plan has recently been faced with, this site and all the blogs that support it will be instrumental in keeping the public informed and showing the city's leadership that the citizens of Cincinnati really want the Streetcar plan to succeed.
Show your support by regularly visiting the Cincy Streetcar Blog and sharing it with everyone you know. The more we educate people on the benefits of a modern rail transit system for Cincinnati, the greater our chances of making it a reality.
Thanks!

Streetcars "Under Fire"

The Cincinnati Enquirer ran two articles yesterday and today highlighting a new drive against the Streetcar System by the NAACP, Citizens Opposed to Additional Spending and Taxes (COAST), WeDemandAVote and others. I'm not sure why the Enquirer felt it necessary to run two articles about this on two separate days, but it makes you wonder who they are looking out for.
Article 1 December 23, 2008
Aritlce 2 December 24, 2008
Regardless, the articles point out that these organizations are the same groups who were successful in blocking other city projects that they did not agree with in the past. They feel that the Streetcars are a waste of money and refer to them as "Choo-Choo Trains". They are trying to start a petition demanding that this issue be placed on the Nov. 2009 ballot so that it can be decided by popular vote.

We can not let this happen!

We already know that Hamilton county voters as a whole are against spending money on rail transit (Remember the Metro Moves Campaign?) because many of them are conservative, suburban dwelling people who have no interest in improving our City's urban core. Most of the opposition is ignorantly minded and overlooks all of the actual facts regarding the benefits of rail transit.
The streetcars are an investment in our city's urban core and are ESSENTIAL for making Cincinnati competitive for jobs, residents and new businesses. Our city's future well being depends on making the streetcars a reality.
Please take the time this week and next to send emails to our council members reminding them of how important the streetcar system is for our city and tell them how strongly you support their efforts to bring rail transit to Cincinnati.
Just copy and paste the links below to your email address book and start sending letters.
Our voices can have a HUGE impact on keeping the Streetcar Plan "on track."
Thank you for your cooperation!

City Council Emails:
david.crowley@cincinnati-oh.gov
laketa.cole@cincinnati-oh.gov
jeff.berding@cincinnati-oh.gov
chris.bortz@cincinnati-oh.gov
john.cranley@cincinnati-oh.gov
leslie.ghiz@cincinnati-oh.gov
chris.monzel@cincinnati-oh.gov
roxanne.qualls@cincinnati-oh.gov
cecil.thomas@cincinnati-oh.gov

City Manager Email:
citymanager@cincinnati-oh.gov

Light Up the Square

Just wanted to point out what looks to be a really nice event happening tomorrow evening on Fountain Square. "The festivities begin on the Square at 6:30 pm with a performance by “Team Cincinnati,” winner of NBC’s 2007 Clash of the Choirs, and culminate with the tree lighting at 7 pm. Our mystery host “St. Nick" will keep the crowd entertained.."
I hope to make it down there for this. I think its an exciting way to start off the holiday season and celebrate a more lively and growing downtown Cincinnati.
If you're not doing anything or if you're already planning on coming downtown tomorrow, be sure to stop by fountain square!

More Info Here

Cincinnati Stores Ask Residents to Break the Big-Box Chain

On November 22, locally-owned businesses across Greater Cincinnati are urging area residents support the city's vibrant independent businesses by shopping locally-only. Taking part in Cincinnati Unchained, a shop local event throughout Greater Cincinnati that day, the businesses are offering promotions to help shoppers unchain themselves from big-box retailers and citizens reengage with their business community.

More than 35 businesses are participating, all offering either in-store specials or donating to a local charity. In College Hill, the College Hill Coffee Co. is offering a gift with purchase and discounts on select items. In Over-the-Rhine, new lighting store Switch will give 20 percent off select lighting fixtures. With mention of "Cincinnati Unchained," O'Bryonville's indigenous will donate 10 percent of your purchase to O'Bryonville Animal Rescue.

Local web magazine BuyCincy is producing the event with media sponsorship by CityBeat. 2008 marks the 2nd year of this annual event, which is organized with the intention of bringing the positive benefits of locally-owned businesses to the forefront of residents' minds this holiday

season.

"Locally-owned businesses are vital to the success of our region. Not only do existing independent businesses help to stimulate our local economy, they serve as community pillars – unique places where a neighborhood's individuality shines and citizens can experience a sense of place," said Sean Fisher, BuyCincy's co-Founder and Creative Director. "By supporting our local businesses we can keep that neighborhood vibrancy alive, while promoting the American spirit of entrepreneurialism."

Kurt Myers, co-Founder and Business Director of BuyCincy: "Local businesses are often our friends and neighbors. Ultimately, they are what make Greater Cincinnati a unique place to live. Our hope is that the success of Cincinnati Unchained will encourage people to shop locally throughout the year, helping the strengthen our economy and local neighborhoods."

According to Jennifer Rockne, Director of AMIBA,"Studies from small towns in Maine to sizeable cities like Austin, Texas found that locally-owned independent businesses create about three and a half times the local economic activity as chains do. Why? Because our independent businesses pay local employees, use the goods and services of other local independent businesses and give back to community institutions far more than chains."

Please visit www.buycincy.com/unchained for details.

Streetcars! Streetcars! Streetcars!

It appears the City of Cincinnati is continuing to move forward with the Streetcar Project as planned. Check out this article on Soapbox Media's website. It highlights the city's plan in the upcoming month's to select a builder and operator for the system and it talks about the city's recent visit to Portland, Oregon to tour and gather more information on their already established and very successful streetcar system.
Also, check out this article from UrbanCincy highlighting some more info on the streetcar progress and some cool pictures.
I'm very happy to see that the City of Cincinnati is continuing to stay focused on this very important project. The future success and strengthening of our urban core depends heavily on this system being built. I believe our city leaders understand this and I hope they continue to work hard to make it a reality.

2008 Election Results