City Hall Moving to Sell Our Water in 2010

Cincinnati NAACP Media Release

The City of Cincinnati is in the process of selling Cincinnati Waterworks. The Cincinnati NAACP and partners worked to place Issue 8 on the ballot November 2010. Issue 8 passed and does not allow city hall to sell Cincinnati Waterworks without a vote of the people of Cincinnati. The Democrats and some Republicans on Council will vote to place this issue on the ballot for November of 2010. City Council needs 6 votes to place the issue on the ballot. If Issue 8 had failed 5 members of Council could sell Cincinnati Waterworks with no input from the 350,000 citizens that live in Cincinnati. "I am not interested in Cincinnati Waterworks in any shape or form being privatized. I can not imagine a company like BP controlling the water system in Cincinnati," Christopher Smitherman President of the Cincinnati NAACP says.
The city has engaged in the mismanagement of tax payer money for decades. The city leadership has been unwilling to downsize major city departments to bring expenses in line with city revenue. The city leaders are now desperate for money. "Selling off city assets is a bad idea. Selling off our water is criminal," Smitherman says.

City Settles COAST Lawsuit Over Harassment of Petitioners

The City of Cincinnati as well as the operators of Fountain Square and Findlay Market have agreed to stop harassing COASTers collecting signatures on petitions for ballot issues.  The broad settlement agreement, finalized in November, allows petitioners to collect signatures peacefully on sidewalks, public streets, Fountain Square and throughout Findlay Market without registering in advance and without harassment from Cincinnati’s finest.

COAST and WeDemandAVote.Com petitioners were harassed collecting signatures in these City venues for the past three years for the Super-Sized Jail Tax, Red Light Cameras, Proportional Representation, the Cincinnati trolley and the Water Works proposal.  In addition to the broad relief afforded COAST and WeDemand petitioners, the defendants paid COAST attorneys fees of $7,500.

COAST v. City of Cincinnati in Federal Court Today

Council allows pro-tax rallies,
but not those advocating limited government

COAST attorneys will appear before the United States 6th Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday, November 17 to defend the Preliminary Injunction it received nearly a year ago requiring City officials to provide equal access to certain spaces within City Hall for press conferences and rallies promoting limited government.

In February of 2008, Cincinnatians Active to Support Education and 60 other individuals and organizaitons rallied inside City Hall to support a massive tax increase for Cincinnati Public Schools. Only months later, COASTer Mark Miller requested that the City allow a rally in that exact location for organizations supporting the ballot issue promoting a ban on red light cameras and proportional representation, and he was denied such access.

"The City grants or denies access for press conferences and rallies based upon the viewpoint of the speaker," said Chris Finney, lead counsel for COAST in the litigation. "That is unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination. Judge Barrett properly enjoined the City from continuing such unconstitutional practices, and we are proud to defend that victory for common sense, fairness, equaity and the Constitution in the Court of Appeals."

COAST challenged the discriminatory policies of the City in federal court. In that action, Federal District Court Judge Michael Barrett issued a preliminary injunction against that City policy, finding that it violated the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the US Constitution. The City has appealed that decision to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, one step beneath the US Supreme Court.

The oral argument is scheduled for 9 AM Tuesday at:
United States 6th Circuit Court of Appeals
6th floor-West Courtroom
Potter Stewart U.S. Courthouse
100 East Fifth Street
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202

In 2008, COAST and its partners in the WeDemandAVote.Com coalition collected 15,000 signatures to place before City voters a ban on red light and speeding cameras. The WeDemandAVote.Com coalition members are the NAACP, COAST, the Libertarian Party of Ohio and the Green Party of Southwest Ohio.

Despite organized opposition from the Democrat Party, Mayor Mallory and a host of big-givernment advocates, and despite the discrimination COAST and the WeDemand Coalition faced in achieving access to the interior spaces of City Hall, voters enacted the ban, the first in the nation. Since then, voters nationwide have adopted such prohibitions.

COAST frequently brings suit to fight for access to governmental forums on equal footing with pro-tax forces, including suing Sheriff Leis in 2007 over the Super-Sized jail tax, suing Cincinnati Public Schools over abuse of school yards for political signs, and suing the Fairfield City Schools for sending home pro-levy flyers with school children.

"Some day, politicians and bureaucrats will learn," said Finney, "that they cannot abuse the power of their office to advance their big-government agenda. COAST stands firm in stopping these particularly pernicious practices."

COAST, WeDemand Bat .500 for 2009 Season

Referendum on Trolley, Water Works sale

The November 3 elections were one on and one out for COASTers. COAST pushed Issues 8 and 9 on the November ballot, starting with petition drives this spring and summer that gathered more than 30,000 signatures to force a vote on both issues.

Issue 8 prevents the City from selling the assets of the Water Works to a regional Water District without a vote of the electorate. City Manager Dohoney had planned on selling the water works for $475 million dollars to a new regional entity and then charging back that purchase price to the ratepayers. The new $475 million in revenue for the City would then be squandered as the billions the City already has. Voters approved the measure clipping Council’s wings by a 61% vote.

Issue 9 was the higher-profile issue designed to force a public vote on issues such as the proposed $185 million streetcar system and the $60 million Riverfront Transit Center. Opponents spent more than $100,000 to defeat the measure, including $5,000 donated by streetcar vendor Parsons Brinkerhoff. Issue 9 was defeated by 56% of the vote.

COAST thanks our many volunteers, our partners in the WeDemandAVote.Com coalition, the Cincinnati Chapter of the NAACP and its President Christopher Smitherman, the more than 30,000 voters who supported limited government and the more than 15,000 petition signers who brought us hope for more limited government.

"If Issue 9 Passes, The Sky Will Fall Ending All Life on Earth"

Chicken Little Progressers Promise Doomsday If We Vote

Scaring voters shitless is a classic political tradition...“Vote for me or die” is the underlying message of these sorts of campaigns...If you think this way, if you value hope over fear and progress over the status quo, you’ll join us in rejecting political candidates and organizations that prey on our fears.

...Issue 9 is intended to slow down Cincinnati’s city planners and transportation experts who have embraced passenger rail, from streetcars to light rail to high-speed trains, as a viable option in the future. It’s intended to keep Cincinnati shackled to a car-first, highway-construction-forever mentality that will cripple this community...

If the groups behind Issue 9 really wanted the public to have a voice in making transportation spending decisions, they’d demand a vote for every highway, street and bridge construction project in the city. If we were allowed to vote on whether to go ahead with the $3 billion Brent Spence Bridge replacement — significantly more money than the proposed streetcar line — we’d support a vote on rail projects as well.

-CityBeat

The amendment...could paralyze our city. We already know that, in addition to streetcars, this amendment would prevent the city from taking part in inter-city passenger rail. Guess the new trains would stop at Sharonville. But it's even worse.

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.

-Enquirer Op-ed

Yes, if Issue 9 passes, the streetcar will stop in its tracks (sorry for the pun). But, if Issue 9 passes, it will effectively kill the possibility of passenger rail in this city for the foreseeable future.

-Laura's Carbon Footprint

If we pass Issue 9 - Cincinnati will become a dying island.

-Kate the Great

Obama later told reporters that if Issue 9 passes, the plans for a national high-speed rail network will have to go on hold "until Cincinnati voters have approved of our national project".

-The Cincinnati Dealer

Depending on who's doing the talking, the proposed amendment has also been referred to as the "Streetcar Initiative," the "Anti-Progress Initiative" and the "Anti-Rail Initiative." Eschewing such slogan-ready options, I will simply refer to it as the "Initiative-Which-If-Passed-Will-Effectively-Doom-Cincinnati's-Immense-Potential-As-An-Up-And-Coming-Progressive-City-Of-The-21st-Century."

-Soapdish

The only thing that actually happens if Issue 9 passes, is that Cincinnatians will finally have an opportunity to vote on their passenger rail transportation.

Let citizens' voices be heard, Vote YES ON ISSUE 9.

Issue 9 Ensures That Citizens' Voices Be Heard

The follwing op-ed was written by Mark Miller and appears in today's Enquirer:

Voting YES ON ISSUE 9 will give Cincinnatians the opportunity to vote on city spending for passenger rail like the streetcar or trolley.

Right now, only the Cincinnati mayor and City Council members decide these things.

A majority of those elected officials have already promised to spend a couple hundred million taxpayer dollars on a streetcar that we don't want and can't afford. A majority of council candidates have promised to do likewise. The only way for citizens to have their voices heard on the streetcar is to vote YES ON ISSUE 9.

Issue 9 requires Council to get public approval before spending our money on right-of-way acquisition (buying land) or constructing improvements (laying track, hanging trolley wires) on such land.

These are the most expensive components of a rail project, and occur late in the overall project schedule.

Typically three or four years are required to design, plan, engineer and fund a rail project, so there's plenty of time to vote in a normal election.

There are miles of subway tunnels under Cincinnati streets. It took us 50 years to pay them off, yet they've never transported a single passenger.

We bought Union Terminal from bankrupt railroaders and left it vacant for 30 years. The county finally transformed it into today's Museum Center.

The riverfront transit center was supposed to be the main rail station for the city. It remains largely vacant to this day, and the 3C corridor project can't even use it.

Hundreds of millions of our dollars were wasted, and we have zero rails or trains to show for it.

Now city leaders want the latest rail fad, a trolley. Our track record demands that we make sure people want it before putting our children in debt to pay for it.

We demand a vote, and YES ON ISSUE 9 will give it to us.

A vote allows our entire community to speak with one voice and go on record for or against the trolley. The current controversy should convince you that this is a worthwhile and vital step.

Voting doesn't hinder progress, it facilitates it. Voters must bear the long-term costs, and live with the long-term results.

Politicians are here for a few years and then move on to their next office. Therefore the people, not politicians, should have final approval.

YES ON ISSUE 9 accomplishes that.

If you want the opportunity to vote on rail projects like the streetcar, then vote YES ON ISSUE 9.

Austin Votes on Their Streetcar

Why Can't We?

Background
In 2000, Capital Metro proposed spending $1.9 billion for a light rail system with 52 miles of track on existing streets. The referendum was narrowly defeated at the polls. In 2004, after four years of additional lobbying by Capital Metro, a commuter rail plan — to be built on pre-existing freight rail lines — won voter approval. Capital MetroRail's new line was scheduled for completion by December 2008, but the opening has been delayed indefinitely due to continued construction problems.

Texas state law requires a referendum on rail projects for cities smaller than 750,000 people. This only applies to the capitol city of Austin, and may not once the 2010 census figures are released. Nevertheless, Austin remains committed to voting. They are considering a modern streetcar, and their highest priority is the vote.

Streetcar

The Austin Chronicle asks: Will Austinites ever get to vote on building the dang thing? Both Mayor Lee Leffingwell and Transportation Department Director Rob Spillar say they're doing everything possible to prepare for a "mobility referendum" in November 2010.

To allow policy-makers and the community to decide the issue at an election, the Trans­portation Department has established an ambitious schedule of planning, environmental assessment, and preliminary engineering work. Meanwhile, different consultants will be creating a citywide Strategic Mobility Plan. They'll need to deliver the essential facts within six months. The full scope of work includes public vetting, technical proofing, accurate cost estimates, a funding plan, and more. Good, hard numbers are essential for voter confidence and future-phase federal funding.

In late October 2007, former Mayor Wynn called for a rail transit referendum in November 2008. That rally failed due to lack of effective leadership, Watson's decision to prioritize CAMPO process over calling an election, Cap Metro's troubles, general political fumbling, and – most importantly – no clear funding plan. Every six months, another missed election opportunity rolls by: May 2009, November 2009, May 2010. So for those who lust after rail transit, November 2010 looms large. For years, there's been consensus that a well-conceived system with a strong funding plan would win voter endorsement. We just can't seem to call an election.

"We're going to do everything possible to put the information on the table, within six to eight months," Spillar pledged. "Then this spring, the policy-makers are going to decide whether to go forward with an election or not."

Austin respects its citizens, and sees them as partners in the ongoing development of the city. That's why they view voting on the plan as more important than the plan itself. We want Cincinnati to be just as thoughtful and inclusive. Issue 9 will accomplish that. Vote YES ON ISSUE 9.

Myth: Rail is More Economical

This study, Federal Subsidies to Passenger Transportation produced by the USDOT and the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics in 2004, lays out the figures directly. All the positive numbers in the bar chart are how much of your tax money it takes to provide 1000 miles of passenger transportation. The lone negative subsidy is how much more you pay to drive 1000 miles than it actually costs. That's right; you get charged extra for your drive to work to offset some free-loader's ride to work.

"Progressers" hate automobiles and want everybody to ride trains. But as you can see, the only way that's going to happen is to soak taxpayers for at least a nickel a mile.

This study was updated by the Heritage Foundation using the exact same data from Table 3 in the study for 2002. Their review, Federal Transportation Programs Shortchange Motorists found that the federal transportation program actually made a "profit" from motorists because they paid more in user fees and taxes (mostly the 18.3 cent per gallon federal fuel tax/user fee) than they received in subsidies for roads. Approximately 20 percent of fees and taxes paid into the highway trust fund by motorists were diverted to the Transit Account within the Highway Trust Fund to subsidize transit.

Passenger rail is the most heavily subsidized form of transportation there is. The feds may pickup a portion of the initial cost, but federal funds are strictly prohibited from being used for operating expenses. That means Cincinnatians will get stuck for the rest of the bills forever.

City leaders promise to implement passenger rail whether you like it or not. Issue 9 will give you a chance to vote yes or no on it. Vote YES ON ISSUE 9.

Do We Want to Become Another California?

"Progressers" say California is an apocalyptic mess of soaring unemployment, mass foreclosures and political paralysis. It's dysfunctional. It's ungovernable. It's the poster child for general malaise. And they blame it all on voting. More specifically, on the ballot initiative process which California made famous.

And they suggest that if you use ballot initiatives to improve your government, you might wind-up just like Californians. Well how bad would that be?

This week's cover story in Time Magazine says California gave us microchips, freeways, blue jeans, tax revolts, extreme sports, energy efficiency [CA's per capita energy consumption index has gone down steadily for the last 40 years while the U.S. overall has gone up], health clubs, Google searches, Craigslist, iPhones, and the Hollywood vision of success is still the cutting edge of the American future—economically, environmentally, demographically, culturally, and maybe politically.

It's the greenest and most diverse state, the most globalized in general and most Asia-oriented in particular at a time when the world is heading in all those directions. It's also an unparalleled engine of innovation, the mecca of high tech, biotech, and now cleantech. In 2008, California's wipeout economy attracted more venture capital than the rest of the nation combined. Somehow its hostile business climate has nurtured Google, Apple, Hewlett-Packard, Facebook, Twitter, Disney, Cisco, Intel, eBay, YouTube, MySpace, The Gap, and countless other companies that drive the way we live. That's exactly the kind of "Progress" we need.

Of course it's just a coincidence that California also has no modern streetcars. The only places in America that do are Tacoma, Seattle, and Portland (bow to the northwest when you say that).

Vote YES ON ISSUE 9. It will make us more like California.

Albuquerque Requires Separate Vote for Rail Transportation

Photo courtesy of here.

The City of Albuquerque, NM voted earlier this month 59%-41% to renew its transportation infrastructure gross receipts tax. We don't often find anything pleasant about tax legislation, but this one made us smile:

Transportation Infrastructure
Gross Receipts Tax
Proposing To Impose A One-Quarter Of One Percent Transportation Infrastructure Gross Receipts Tax Which Shall Be Dedicated Specifically And Only For The Following Uses: Not Less Than 31% For Road Rehabilitation; Not More Than 15% For Road Deficiencies; 13% For Road Maintenance; 5% For Trails And Bikeways; And 36% For Transit. No Portion Of The Revenue Generated By The Transportation Infrastructure Gross Receipts Tax Shall Be Used To Build Or Operate Any Rail Transportation System Until Such A System Is Approved At A Separate Election By The Voters Of The City Of Albuquerque.

Background
Since 2000 the City has imposed a voter approved one-quarter cent Transportation Infrastructure Tax that provides funding for road rehabilitation, road maintenance, road deficiencies and transit operations. The existing Transportation Infrastructure Tax contains a sunset provision and the current tax will expire on December 31, 2009. If passed this proposal will extend the one-quarter cent tax.

-League of Women Voters
of Central New Mexico

Hmmm. So the city of Albuquerque and its various boards & commissions may not spend any of these monies on any rail transportation (e.g. streetcar or trolley), without first subjecting the question of that expenditure to a vote of the people. Why didn't we think of that?

Help Cincinnati join the growing list of cities who respect their citizens by letting them vote on rail. Vote YES ON ISSUE 9.

Boise Prepares to Vote on Streetcars

“Before the Boise City Council can enact any ordinance, measure or resolution for the purpose of spending City funds to construct, in the downtown section of the City, a streetcar or trolley system, with railroad tracks in the streets and electrified cables overhead, the Council must first obtain approval for said expenditure by the vote of over 50% of the legal voters of the City.”

This streetcar initiative petition is proposed by David Litster who is running for city council. The central themes of his campaign are, "Keeping a careful eye on city taxes and spending," and "Listening to the voters." He thinks the trolley plan fails both, and wants to make the city council and Mayor listen to the voters, and REQUIRE them to take instructions from the voters on this issue.

"The only reason I’m proposing this is because the Mayor has made it clear that he has the power to impose on the people this streetcar system and the $20 million tax increase that goes with it." And Litster goes on, "let me say that I hope that the voters will join me in this exercise in democracy and quickly gather the required 6,500 signatures as the first step in this process.”

Last year Cincinnati became the first city in the United States to ban traffic enforcement cameras. Help continue Cincinnati's trend-setting tradition by voting YES ON ISSUE 9.

Pushing “YES ON ISSUE 9” in Communities

Tom Luken, Stephan Louis, and Mark Miller have made appearances for COAST at various community councils and media outlets in favor of Issue 9, exposing the Trolley for the boondoggle that it is. These appearances include:

• 2009-10-05 Prospect Hill Neighborhood Association
• 2009-10-08 WVXU 91.7 FM
• 2009-10-10 The Greenwich Debates
• 2009-10-13 Price Hill Civic Association
• 2009-10-15 Cincinnati Chapter American Institute of Architects
• 2009-10-16 Kennedy Heights Candidates Night
• 2009-10-18 Newsmakers on Local12
• 2009-10-18 CityTalk on 55KRC
• 2009-10-19 Columbia-Tusculum Community Council
• 2009-10-19 Oakley Candidates Night
• 2009-10-19 Mount Lookout Civic Association
• 2009-10-20 Cunningham Show on 700WLW
• 2009-10-21 UC Student Government 2PM at Tangeman Theater
• 2009-10-22 Over-the-Rhine Chamber of Commerce
  [CANCELLED Due to lack of interest]
• 2009-10-23 Hyde Park Candidates Night 7PM at Crossroads Church
• 2009-10-26 Blue Chip Young Republicans 7PM at Molly Malones
• 2009-10-27 Westwood Concern 7PM at Midway School
• 2009-10-29 Republican Party Fundraiser 5:30PM at Western Hills Country Club

Also, “Yes on 9” signs are available for your yards. Call Mark Miller (513-842-7730) to get a sign or to volunteer to place signs on evenings and weekends.

The Government Can

 Who can buy a streetcar, 
 Even though we're broke. 
 And treat us with contempt 
 because we want to have a vote. 
 Mayor Mallory can. 

Best Reason Yet to Support Issue 9

13 of 19 Council candidates support boondoggle

COAST has repeatedly been asked why it is necessary to address Council’s foolish Trolley plan with a Charter Amendment requiring a public vote on passenger rail proposals. The best argument in favor of Issue 9 that we can advance was suggested by Mayoral candidate Brad Wenstrup: 13 Council candidates have promised to build the $219 million system, despite massive public opposition to the plan.

“How, exactly, is the public to make its voice heard on passenger rail spending,” said COAST Chairman Jason Gloyd, “when special interests are controlling candidates from both parties against the clear public will on this topic? Issue 9 is critical to stop this boondoggle dead in its tracks by requiring a public vote before dollar one is spent on its construction.”

COAST points to the disasterous Riverfront Transit Center completed in 2002 at a cost of up to $60 million (depending on how expenses are calculated). It’s a subway station that no one wants for a system that will never be built. What’s worse, concurrent with the construction of the Riverfront Transit Center, the City cut off rail access to the Center with the construction of Great American Ballpark. Now, trains may go only as far as the Montgomery Inn Boathouse. This is why the Ohio Rail Development Commission has recommended that the Cincinnati station for the 3C rail line terminate at Lunken Airport.

“Some damned fool nameless, faceless bureaucrat decided to build a $60 million subway station on Cincinnati’s Riverfront in 2002,” said COAST Chairman Jason Gloyd. "Issue 9 will require public scrutiny of these types of decisions going forward. Please vote YES on Issue 9.”

20 More Days to Vote YES ON ISSUE 9

"Progressers" have had a fixation recently on kiddy trains and amusement rides. That makes sense since the proposed streetcar has little if any transportation value, so it essentially winds up being an amusement ride too. That's why "Progressers" would rather talk about anything but the City's dreaded choo-choo-train plan. The streetcar is so indefensible that even "Progressers" won't endorse it.

So with a tip of our conductor's hat, we dedicate this song to our friends on the other side. Including tomorrow and election day, November 3rd, there are only 20 more polling days for you to Vote YES ON ISSUE 9. Click here for extended voting hours.

Councilmember Laketa Cole Disavows "Progressers"

The Cincinnati NAACP reports that Cincinnati City Council Member Laketa Cole has renounced her affiliation with Cincinnatians for Progress, the organization opposing the Issue 9 anti-boondoggle charter amendment.

"This shows leadership and a respect for her own African American Community. The Cincinnati NAACP does not know why this group challenges African Americans right to petition our government. Some of the statements are racist based on the history of African Americans not having the right to vote in this country. Shame on Mayor Mallory for having his name attached to such a group and website. Mayor Mallory is the chair of the group and Mayor Mallory is African American. This could explain why his public policy continues to exclude African Americans from economic contracts in Cincinnati. The Cincinnati NAACP finds this website based on its positions to stop African Americans from exercising their constitutional rights to petition our government as racist. This is what institutional racism looks like! We are concerned with any elected official who allows their name to be attached to this public policy position. It is one thing to support a $200 Million Streetcar. It is another to say the Cincinnati NAACP or African Americans do not have the right to petition our government."

Cincinnatians For Progress have repeatedly cited the NAACP's "constant petition drives" as a primary reason to oppose this ballot measure. COAST, the Southwestern Ohio Green Party, and the Libertarian Party stand solidly with our brothers and sisters at the NAACP for the right to vote on matters of public policy, and to petition our government for a redress of grievances, a right which is embodied in the first amendment of the United States Constitution.

Vote YES ON ISSUES 8 & 9.

Erection Weekend

COASTers will meet this Saturday, October 10, 2009, at 10:00 am, at the FSSP law office at 2623 Erie Avenue. From there we will break into groups to erect "Vote YES ON ISSUE 9" signs around the city. Please plan to help so we can continue to keep the YES ON 9 message in front of voters.

Anyone who would like to have a YES ON 9 placed on their property is invited to email the address and daytime phone number to Mark Miller at Treasurer@GoCOAST.org, or phone Mark at 513-842-7730.

A Match Made in Heaven

Trolleys will save us!
Casinos will save us!
What could possibly be better than a
Jolly Trolley Casino!?!

Here's a better idea. Let's knock off the cheesy gimmicks and just focus on being a good city. If government can simply catch the crooks, put out the fires, fill the potholes, pickup the trash, keep the grass mowed in the parks, not close the buildings & pools that we've already paid for, and maybe plant some flowers every once in a while, that would be a great start.

And at some point in the future, when we can afford it, it might make sense to build a passenger rail transportation system. Not as some get-rich-quick "economic development" scheme, but to actually provide transportation to the public. The general public. All of them, not just the "choice" ones.

When that time comes, we need to see a comprehensive plan, not a wish list. One with a dedicated source of operational funds that lasts as long as the trains. A plan which doesn't rely on liquidating productive assets like our water works or railroad for capital. A plan that citizens and neighborhoods participate in developing.

When the plan's ready, we need to make sure that everybody is on-board with it. That's right, we need to vote on it. We're voting on casinos, and even slot machines at race tracks. It's perfectly reasonable to vote on passenger rail transportation and liquidation of the Water Works. Vote YES ON ISSUES 8 & 9.

The Great Train Robbery of 2009

A group of thieves known as the "Fab5" held 138 police officers hostage for almost two weeks while absconding with improvement funds from two of Cincinnati's most distressed neighborhoods. "Progress" ring-leader Mark Mallory called this "comforting."

Ironically a train was not the robbery victim, but rather the beneficiary. Robbers had been misppropriating money to fund the hated trolley boondoggle; money which was supposed to pay police. Robbers initially threatened to terminate police, but later negotiated a partial reduction. Fab5ers have now seized money intended to construct the Avondale Pride Center, and emptied the College Hill Land Bank to makeup the difference, insisting that they are merely "borrowing it" to cover over a million dollars in salaries.

Mallory and other "Progressers" had previously insisted that funds for capital projects could NEVER be used for operating expenses. And now here they are doing exactly that. The Fraternal Order of Police has enlisted forensic accountants to untangle the Fab5's web of deceitful transactions, and vowed to bring the rogue gang to justice by denying them further sanctuary in their council hideouts.

Defiant gang members insist the trolley boondoggle remains "on track." Citizens are ready to "run them out of town on a rail," as the saying goes. But at seven miles per hour, it won't exactly make for a speedy getaway.

Trolley opponent Christopher Smitherman says, "The real goal of last week's "solution" was not to save City employee jobs, but to save the Mayor's and Councilmembers' jobs. The goal was to postpone the City layoffs until after the November 3rd, 2009 election. Once the election is over, the same workers will lose their jobs come the December holidays. The union leadership understands this strategy and will reject the current Council's mismanagement of City funds which then places more pressure on the Mayor and Council to actually get re-elected and balance the budget."

The "Fab5" band of hooligans have no regard for laws, police, or citizen rights. The only force they fear is voting. Citizens are therefore asked to help combat these thugs by Voting YES to reject the streetcar.

Legal Language Lesson (NSFW)

At today's hearing of the City Council Rules Committee, Councilmember Roxanne Qualls had some difficulty understanding the meaning of the word "any" in the context of the anti-boondoggle charter amendment:

"The City, and its various Boards and Commissions, may not spend any monies for right-of-way acquisition or construction of improvements for passenger rail transportation (e.g., a trolley or streetcar) within the city limits without first submitting the question of approval of such expenditure to a vote of the electorate of the City and receiving a majority affirmative vote for the same."

She wanted to know if this applied to federal and state as well as city funds. She wanted to know if it applied to capital, operating, restricted and unrestricted funds. After a lengthy exchange with COAST General Counsel Chris Finney reminiscent of Dr. Seuss' "Green Eggs & Ham," she appears to be clear on it now. "Any" means any. The charter amendment subjects certain expenditures to a public vote. It does not restrict funding sources.

Other testimony surrounded the use of the abbreviation "e.g." which comes from the Latin expression exempli gratia. Progressers worried that voters might be too stupid to comprehend 6th grade english, and asked that the phase containing the abbreviation be stricken. As a public service, COAST would like to present this brief lesson from the feature film, "Get Shorty" (NSFW):


Committee members realized that Progressers were talking about the very same citizens who elected them, and figured voters couldn't possibly be as stupid as Cincinnatians for Progress were portraying them. So the committee approved the ballot language as originally written, and as over 11,500 petitioners signed it.

The City Charter requires the full Council to approve the language tomorrow. This is a ministerial function; meaning that since all requirements were met, and no legal challenge was made, it must be done. Councilmembers have no other lawful option. The amendment will then be returned to the Hamilton County Board of Elections for inclusion on the November 3rd ballot.