Stop streetcar tax hikes

Ohio's Transportation Review Advisory Council (TRAC) recommended [lines 10 & 39] that $51.8 million of your tax dollars be given to the Cincinnati Streetcar.

The state has an $8 BILLION deficit. To fill this shortfall, drastic cuts to schools, universities, Medicaid and public safety are expected. Local levies will then seek increases to makeup for state reductions. In other words, your taxes are likely going up to pay for a streetcar that nobody needs and few people want.

Public comments on TRAC's recommendation are being accepted until February 11th. If comments prove Ohioans don't want the streetcar, these bad outcomes can be avoided.

1. CLICK HERE to send your comments to TRAC. A new message will open in your email program. If asked, allow it permission.
2. Fill in your name and mailing address at the bottom of the message.
3. Edit the body of the message to tell them what's most important to you.

Feel free to use the following facts as background:

• The Cincinnati Streetcar project will run only 3 miles (6-mile loop) (from National Underground Railroad Freedom Center to top of Vine Street Hill, Corryville);
• It has an initial projected cost of $128 million for construction only. The City already has identified cost overruns of $15 million for Duke Energy to move utility lines, bringing total projected costs to $143 million. More cost overruns are sure to follow. All cost overruns must come from the City's budget.
• The City has absolutely no plan, no idea how it will fund the operations of the streetcar, which former SORTA Board Member Stephan Louis estimates to be $10-$12 million per year.
• The City has no room in its operating budget for this additional cost, having papered over a $52 million deficit this year and facing police and fire layoffs by as early as this summer.
• 12 community organizations and numerous elected officials have united against this project the Cincinnati Tea Party, COAST, the Cincinnati Chapter of the NAACP, The Baptist Ministers Conference of Cincinnati Vicinity, the Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition, the Hamilton County Green Party, Westwood Concern, the FOP, the Firefighters union and the CODE Labor Union.

You may also send comments by regular mail to:
Ohio Department of Transportation
attn: Ed Kagel TRAC Coordinator
1980 W. Broad Street
Columbus, OH 43223

Tomorrow, 3 PM, City Hall Steps

If you one of the literally hundreds of people who circulated a petition to place City Council's Parking Plot Ordinance on the ballot, please join us tomorrow (Thursday) at 3 PM on the front steps of City Hall where we will assemble and proceed to the City Finance Director's office to file the referendum petitions.

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.

Red Light Camera ban advances thanks to Reps. Mallory and Maag

Democrat Representative Dale Mallory and Republican Representative Ron Maag have teamed up to rid all of Ohio of the pernicious Red Light Cameras, and today the bill passed the Ohio House by a margin of 61-32.

COASTers Brian Shrive, Gene Utz and Stephan Louis provided testimony in support of the legislation.

Read more here.