- Issue 48: The Streetcar
Issue 48 is the latest battle in the political war over the Cincinnati streetcar.
Cincinnati has proposed and approved the funds to construct and maintain a streetcar, scheduled to run from Uptown and the UC area through downtown and The Banks.
But the voters have spoken, signing enough petitions to get the issue on Nov. 8's ballot, with the chance to prohibit the city of Cincinnati from spending any money on this project.
Ballot Language
Shall the Charter of the City of Cincinnati be amended to prohibit the City, the City Manager, the Mayor, the Council and the City’s various boards, commissions, agencies and departments from spending or appropriating any monies or incurring any indebtedness or contractual obligations for the purpose of financing, designing, engineering, constructing, building or operating a streetcar system which means a system of passenger vehicles operated on rails constructed primarily in existing public right of ways through the year 2020, by enacting new Article XVI
- Arguments For Issue 48
• Prohibiting passenger rail projects would allow the city to spend those capital dollars on other permanent infrastructure projects.
• The proposed streetcar plan, including its route, is the wrong plan and should be stopped.
• Passenger rail transportation projects should be prohibited in the charter because these projects cost too much and will have to be subsidized.
• Voters should have a say about passenger rail projects which are usually expensive and long-term investments.
- Arguments Against Issue 48
• This amendment would prohibit the city from planning or building any passenger rail transit projects for the next decade and beyond. The city will lose jobs and development opportunities both of which can increase the city's tax base.
• This amendment should not be in the charter because it is an issue which should be decided by city council as the charter authorized legislative body of city government.
• Prohibiting the city from spending money on passenger rail transit would result in excessive delays in the development and implementation of an adequate transportation system for our city and limit transportation options that are part of local, state and national long range plans.
• The expiration date of the amendment - December 31, 2020 - is arbitrary and would force any planning for passenger rail transportation to start all over again after that date.
-
County: Pull $4M grant from streetcar
Two Hamilton County commissioners are asking a regional government group to consider rescinding a $4 million grant for the city of Cincinnati’s troubled streetcar project.
-
City Council ponders voting rule change
Cincinnati City Council will discuss a rule change Tuesday that could prohibit any potential voter referendum on extra money for the troubled streetcar project.
-
Dohoney to talk Streetcar funding plan
Cincinnati City Manager Milton Dohoney Jr. will present his plan to close a $17.4 million deficit in funding for the streetcar project to the Budget and Finance Committee Monday afternoon.
Streetcar Photos
-
The Proposed Cincinnati Streetcar
A look at the what the streetcar could look like and where it would run in Cincinnati.
Local Politics
-
State to discuss voter fraud probe
Ohio’s elections chief will release findings on Thursday about a statewide investigation into allegations of voter fraud during the 2012 presidential election, some of which occurred in Hamilton County.
-
Cincinnati mayoral candidates face off
-
Poll worker’s voter fraud case continued
-
Your May 7 levy election guide
-
Local Dems OK 10 for 9 council seats
-
See what's on Hamilton Co. ballot May 7
-
Black women remarks incite party leaders
Local News
-
Reds come back to win, 5-2
Travis Wood's impressive streak of quality starts ended with another disappointment against his former team.
-
Police ID N. Fairmount victim shot dead
Police have identified the victim in a fatal North Fairmount shooting as 21-year-old Quentin Snell, who was shot in the 3000 block of Bowling Green Court on Saturday.
-
Coroner: Slain Ky. officer 'ambushed'
-
R&D set for Air Force museum expansion
Consumer News
-
Best Memorial Day sales this weekend
John Matarese reports on the best weekend sales, and one item to avoid
-
_20130523111010_107_80.PNG "Kmart unleashes another near-profane ad")
Kmart unleashes another near-profane ad
John Matarese reports that the company that shipped your pants is now at it again
-
Consumer Reports top rated gas grills
