Hot News!
• Tea Party leader gets grilled by NAACP membership
On today's date in The Beacon archives, we published:
•Smitherman still saying the issue is about a “streetcar” (2009)•More on Amy Goodman’s Arrest and the Struggle for a Free Media (2008)
•Journalist Amy Goodman Unlawfully Arrested At RNC (2008)
•Seizing Illegal Guns—Thinking About 2% (2007)
•Information or Advertisements? (2007)
•Nick Lachey: “I have never supported George W. Bush.” (2007)
Contact Us
v mail: (513) 685-0678
e mail: click here
Friday, July 03, 2009
“Finalizing” the ballot language
Posted by The Dean of Cincinnati
When City Hall finalizes the language for the anti-passenger rail ballot issue masquerading as an anti-streetcar initiative, what exactly does that mean? Is it possible to modify the language so that it is just about a streetcar? Is there anyway if this is possible, given the political will on both sides? What kinds of finalizations are possible?
As we have stated before, the petition could have been limited to streetcars by requiring a public vote prior to any expenditures related to “rail based passenger transit located in public rights-of-way otherwise dedicated for tire transit (not including crossings).” Can the issue still be modified in such a way, as to keep Obama’s intercity rail plan and the Eastern Corridor project out of the mix?
One defense of the broad language was that it had to be written so City Hall would not find a loophole. But I have yet to see a loophole prohibiting rail based passenger transit located in public rights-of-way otherwise dedicated for tire transit (not including crossings).
• Share This Article! | Listen to this article |
|  |
Register
Anonymous comments are allowed, but you can create an account above to stamp your name and to avoid typing the anti-spam code.
If you are not familiar with our rules for leaving comments, click here! The Cincinnati Beacon is not responsible for the contents of any comments. Comments do not represent the views of the moderators of The Cincinnati Beacon.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.5 License.
03 Jul 2009 at 09:26 pm | #
If our public servants are truly concerned about the broadness of the proposed amendment and they do have the power to change it to specifically be about the streetcars they have a responsibility to look out for the public interest by trying to make it about the streetcar only. The petition does mention streetcars specifically even though it is technically worded to include all passenger rail.
03 Jul 2009 at 11:17 pm | #
Loophole:
http://www.railwaypreservation.com/vintagetrolley/Tampa_advertising_cars_sm.JPG
1. Prohibit all parking along one side of the road.
2. Build streetcar tracks in lane formerly used for parking.
3. Construct small concrete curb separating streetcar route from traffic. See photo.
4. Voila, the same route they would have shared with traffic is now NOT a public right-of-way otherwise dedicated for tire transit (not including crossings).
5. A year or two later, after the boondoggle is complete, remove the concrete separator citing maintenace headaches.
04 Jul 2009 at 07:20 am | #
Fine. Then to prevent “rail based passenger transportation located in public rights-of-way either dedicated to tire transit, formerly dedicated to tire transit, or public rights-of-way dedicated to tire transit parking (except crossings).”
04 Jul 2009 at 01:33 pm | #
Honestly I don’t think they are ever going to consider trying to change the language of the charter amendment, nor will COAST/NAACP ever allow them to. COAST wants it to be against all passenger rail because, as you pointed out in your prior posts, they are anti-transit at their most basic core level. They don’t really care as much about the streetcar issue as they say. They are just using it as a way to destroy any chances of good public transit here in Cincinnati. They know that many Cincinnatians will happily sign a petition that they think is about democracy or saving money so this is a very easy job for them if they run unopposed. They know this very well and that’s why they are fighting so hard to get this issue passed.
I think the opposition, whether pro-streetcar or anti-streetcar, needs to step up and fight against this charter amendment in one strong unified voice. We can’t let Cincinnati be held back like this.
Even if you’re anti-streetcar there’s far less damage to be done if the streetcars are built then if this charter amendment passes. Streetcars may actually do our city some good, but this charter amendment will strangle us forever.
07 Jul 2009 at 05:51 pm | #
The Streetcar should go on the ballot. I think the current language complicates the issue in ways it shouldn’t but the fear-mongering from both sides is really annoying and unproductive.
08 Jul 2009 at 01:21 pm | #
.
WELL. perhaps then if those in charge of and INVOLVED with the petition were straight forward and not fraudulant from the giddyup. (Yes I said giddyup) Then this wouldn’t be happening. I for one HOPES the City Council has the power to change the language to be ONLY streetcar. If not even though I am AGAINST the streetcar I would be just as happy to see the petitions thrown out for being misleading just to teach a lesson to those involved.