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"Let’s be bold, not typical, on streetcar"

While the editor’s at the Cincinnati Enquirer have said that they’re not in favor of a streetcar system for Cincinnati right now, the Cincinnati Business Courier disagrees. Business Courier publisher, Douglas Bolton, hits on a key issue with this topic. Whether you like the plan or not, now is not the time to tie Cincinnati’s hands on passenger rail development as the rest of the nation moves forward with a prioritized passenger rail agenda.

“Sure, the economy is generally burnt toast right now – but history tells us that some of the most important companies, inventions and decisions were made during great economic strife. The Cincinnati streetcar should join that list. If Cincinnati and its voters turn their backs in November on a streetcar and rail system this time, we once again will be cutting ourselves out of significant state and federal shifts toward this type of transportation system that are sure to propel other metropolitan regions far ahead of us.” – Douglas Bolton, publisher Cincinnati Business Courier

Bolton emphasizes a couple of important points that are embodied in the above selection:

  1. It is important to do more than just “tighten the belt” during tough economic times, as there are opportunities out there to improve your bottom line and grow revenues. The Cincinnati Streetcar will grow revenues by growing our city’s population in underpopulated neighborhoods and creating new job opportunities through the needs of construction and engineering needs, and by the new permanent jobs that will be created as a result of the new economic development. This will all come while many contractors are offering lower than normal bids to get work during this economy which will save the taxpayers money.

  2. The November ballot item that Cincinnatians will be voting on affects much more than the Cincinnati Streetcar. It will damage Cincinnati’s ability to receive state and federal money for rail projects that have quickly become a political priority nationwide. It would prove to be unwise to tie our hands in such a way that Cincinnati will miss out on these opportunities while the rest of the nation leaves us behind.

  3. Cincinnati can’t afford to rest on its laurels, especially during a time like this. Cincinnatians need to be aggressive in our thinking about how to get out of this economic downturn, and how to be positioned to thrive once the economy does recover. Part of this strategy needs to include a comprehensive transit system that includes much more than our automobiles and limited bus service. Cincinnati needs passenger rail options, and this Anti-Passenger Rail Amendment would kill those options off in a heartbeat.

As Cincinnati moves forward in the coming months more will become clear about the positions of both sides of the rail transit debate in Cincinnati. Much of what was heard in 2002 is being said again in 2009 with this effort to bring rail transit to Cincinnati (second largest metropolitan area in the U.S. without rail transit, behind only Detroit). It is important that the voters are offered correct information and that they hear more than the same old rhetoric used to defeat rail transit in the past. No longer are we able to sit back and let things happen. Cincinnati will either be a part of this new economy and capitalize off of the changing U.S. demographics, or it won’t.

Vote AGAINST the Anti-Passenger Rail Amendment this November.

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News

Michael Fried reviews Sala at the CAC tonight

At 6:30 this evening, the Contemporary Arts Center (CAC) will host world-famous art critic Michael Fried as he analyzes Anri Sala’s piece Long Sorrow using his unique methodology. The event is free, but donations are requested.

The international art community simultaneously lauds and criticizes Fried for his method of critiquing art. Fried approaches art with an eye toward modernism and realism, and the phenomenon of the everyday.

CAC hosts Long Sorrow as part of Sala’s exhibit “Purchase not by Moonlight.” The exhibit features videos, films and photographs carefully calibrated with the architecture of CAC’s Rosenthal Center to present a spatial and time-based multimedia experience.

Photo Credit – Johns Hoppkins University

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News

What the ‘outsiders’ are saying

Just recently there have been three wonderful write-ups about what is happening in Cincinnati by out of town newspapers and magazines. One from the Big Apple, one reminding folks that they don’t have to go to the Big Apple to enjoy a thriving arts scene, and finally one praising Cincinnati for its urban structure, parks, and access to other great outdoor activities.

The article from The New York Times has made the rounds but is worth a second look. While it mentions a few of the more fun areas in town, it should be recognized that they started with Spring Grove Cemetery which is an often overlooked local jewel. The nice part about the article is that they hit Cincinnati, Covington, and Newport and recognized how all three pieces fit together. They also make special mention of the Southgate House which is booking a tremendous amount of high quality shows these days.

“Colorful Sunrise” by ChrisIrmo on Flickr

With such high praise from the New York Times, it was easy to overlook this article from the Lexington Herald. With a special focus on our thriving and extraordinarily diverse arts scene featuring visits ranging from the Taft Museum to the wonderful Contemporary Arts Center we should see art buffs cruising up I75 the rest of the summer.

And finally, this week Outside Magazine came out with rankings of their 10 best cities in America, and guess who was number nine?! Yep, Cincinnati! Right there among Austin, Portland, Atlanta, and others is our little city that could. Why? Among other reasons: architecture, a walkable urban core, great parks, the possibility of streetcar addition, and the fact that Cincy is the gateway to many natural escapes.

So let’s see, the New Yorkers like us for being Midwestern with an artsy flair. The mid westerners like us for being like New York. And folks that want to spend time outside and being active like us because we support that culture and have are close to many great getaways. Talk about having a little bit of something for everyone! Clearly, many outsiders believe in the developments that have occurred over the last few years here. Now, all we need to do is convince the insiders.

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News

‘Cash for Clunkers’ not so environmentally motivated after all

It appears like the ‘Cash for Clunkers’ program is more about stimulating the auto industry than it is about being environmentally beneficial. Officially known as the Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS), the program officially kicked off on July 1, 2009 with $1 billion worth of money to go out and get an estimated 250,000 “clunkers” off the road. That money was intended to last until November 1, 2009, but it was already projected to be depleted within the first month. As a result Congress acted “within minutes” by allocating an additional $2 billion for the program following a briefing by Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood.

The auto industry, car dealerships and many individuals out there seem to be giddy at the idea of getting up to $4,500 to trade in a vehicle for a newer model…especially when they might not have been planning on doing so. This benefit is being matched some some automakers and car dealerships which makes it even more financially advantageous for Americans to go out there and ditch their car for a modestly more efficient vehicle whether they need to or not.

There is estimated to be 1,000 gallons worth of energy within an already existing automobile. So the lifetime gas savings should exceed that 1,000 gallons worth of fuel in order for this program to be worthwhile from a fuel standpoint alone. ABC News notes that:

“A car may be traded in for a new car that gets as little as 22 miles per gallon; the owner of a large pickup truck that gets 15 miles per gallon or less may be eligible for a $3,500 voucher to purchase another large pickup truck of no better fuel economy if it is “smaller or similar” in size.”

It has been said that the most “green” building is one that already exists, so it makes more sense to renovate historic and other existing structures than it does to tear them down or let them deteriorate beyond repair. I guess this same theory can be applied to automobiles. This program just seems to be more evidence that our nation is obsessed with consumption and that we can not accept lower growth rates as reality. At some point our revenue and growth models are going to have to be adjusted in a way to be profitable without such high rates of consumption that leave us all broke.

Photo from TheCarBlogger

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Arts & Entertainment Business News

Big night in OTR tonight

Tonight is not only a Final Friday gallery hop night throughout historic Over-the-Rhine, but it is also another Vine-L Friday in the Gateway Quarter.

Vine-L Friday will run from 6pm to 10pm and is looking to compliment the Final Friday crowds in the surrounding area. As a result many Gateway Quarter businesses will have displays from local artists and live music throughout. There will also be food, drinks and discounts at all your favorite locally-owned shops.

There will also be members of ArtWorks Cincinnati around to discuss their four-story mural of Mr. Cincinnati – Jim Tarbell. The new mural will be prominently displayed on the southern wall of the same building that houses Park+Vine. The mural should be complete within the coming weeks according to officials.

Following the Final Friday and Vine-L Friday fun, there will be an after party starting at 10pm at Below Zero Lounge at the southeast corner of 12th & Walnut streets.

Here’s a full lineup of this week’s Vine-L Friday activities:

  • Venice on Vine Pizza, 1301 Vine St. – Visionaries and Voices exhibits “Hair Salon” by Kenny Barger with a special menu of gourmet pizzas as well as live jewelry making by “One Bead at a Time.”
  • Segway Cincinnati, 1150 Vine St. – Works by Josh Beeman and Billy 7. Live music by “Vinny Bricks” and “that guy from Okinawa” City Cellars will be on hand with its frozen desert cart to cool off the crowd.
  • Park+Vine, 1109 Vine St. – The unveiling of the new exhibit “Mimockracy.”
  • Switch Lighting and Design, 1207 Vine St. – New works by Alison Shepard will be exhibited.
  • Outside, 16 E. 12th St. – Live DJ playing Electronica, Trip Hop, Soul and Funk, with refreshments served.
  • Below Zero Lounge, 1122 Walnut St. – The official VINE-L Friday After Party. Live music by the “Blue Merchants” at 10pm benefitting Gary Burbank’s “Play It Forward” Project.
  • Mixx Ultra Lounge, 1203 Main St. – Marcus Jordan exhibiting works from his collection titled “My Passion.”
  • Coffee Emporium, 110 E. Central Parkway – Extending its hours until 10pm and featuring works by Allison Archberger and the Thirty Duo Collection.
  • Lackman Lofts, 1237 Vine St. – Kate McClung exhibiting works from her “Balanophagy” collection.
  • Duveneck Flats, 1220 Vine St. – Mark Cummings exhibiting new works from his “In Bloom” collection and Stan Stenten will be showing pieces from the collection “Visions of Cincinnati – Old and New”

Photo from 5chw4r7z