Fountain Square Plan

At the YPCincy event last night I think many were impressed. I was impressed with the plan for revamping Fountain Square. I think it will be good for the city overall. There are issues out there and realizations that people need to make:

1. This is a Done Deal. There will not be much changed to the design and look of the square. The changes will be by City Council to the lease plans and the finances, but they will be minor.
2. 3CDC is planning on privatizing the management of Fountain Square. The garage I believe is currently operated by an outside firm, but in this Plan 3CDC as a private entity would run the actual Square for the City. The City would own the entire Square and Garage, but would not gain the revenue it has now.
3. The Fountain will move. 3CDC CEO Stephen Leeper could not push that more. It was almost the obsession of the presentation. The way he sold it makes sense on the surface, but it assumes a level of deterioration of the garage that I did not know is established as fact.
4. What is the target market for this development? It appears like they are going for as wide a market as they can. They throw out the classic "family friend" phase that generally makes me cringe. It was not dwelled upon, which at a Young Processionals meeting of mostly single or childless couples was wise. I was floorws when they threw in as a regional attraction the Kentucky Speedway. Are NASCAR Dads really going to come downtown in large numbers?
5. The issue of who controls the public stage is a rather large civil rights issue. What was not clear to me was who was going to decide who gets to use the square for rallies, protests, and other gatherings. Will commercial interests get preference over the average Joe? Will the lease with 3CDC give them the right to keep certain people out?
6. There will be a small performance stage or platform set up permanently, but with little room. 3CDC would have more portable staging, but how and when it could be used would likely cost more and limit non-profits from their use, without donation of the fees likely to be tacked on.
7. Parking fees will go up in the garage. Right now for the evening it only costs a buck. That price would rise to 3 bucks. This is not really going to change that many minds, but it will not improve the perception that it costs money. It compares to what is in Newport at the Levee, so if you would go there and pay, this should not deter you.
8. Finances are somewhat foggy. It appears that the city would not have that much to cough up, but the level their revenues would drop is unclear.
9. Something missing from the presentation was the timeline for the retailers/restaurants to open up shop in the area. This I think is a concern. This project is going to start this year and open next summer. I don't see the retailers/restaurateurs moving in for up to a couple or more years after that. Talks with companies may be further along than I perceive, so their construction may happen while the redesign is ongoing.

What matters most for this entire project, as one reception attendee put it, is the perception that something is happening in downtown. There has to be a buzz and some action must be visible. If that happens this could snowball other projects, making them happen. If that does not happen, that is where I believe the Banks, Vine Street, Main Street, and the rest of the plans out there will not be realized.

GOP Endorse Alleged Child Abuser

Well, I guess they figured the image make-over will work for him or that the Child Abuser vote is a cornerstone of the GOP voting block, but according to the Post, the Hamilton County Republican Party endorsed Sam Malone for City Council, despite his pending criminal charges of child abuse and despite him admitting that he hit the kid and making no refutation of the allegations that he hit his son with a belt on the arms, back, chest, and buttocks. A really shameful display of arrogance and cowardice combined. They appear to think that people will not care about it, don't pay attention, or like it. I think they are also fearful of pissing off the Charlie Winburn voting block who have praised Malone for beating his child.

The GOP only has four (Sam Malone, Chris Monzel, Leslie Ghiz, and John Eby) so far and at most seven will get the endorsement. That is a far cry from 2003 when they fielded 9. As it stands now the Party appears to have given up on the city, which I think reflects the attitude of the Party on more than just the prospects of getting someone elected.

Ghiz is likely to get on council, but the others will need to work hard to win.

I am surprised they don't want to support Winburn yet. Time is running out on him to get into the race. He stands no chance at this point of winning, no matter what a few have speculated on, but I would have thought that the GOP would have wanted to avoid the type of humiliation they faced in 2001 when they did not field a candidate.

Fringe Starts Today!!!!!

Get off your ass and go to a show. The press is good and the shows will push the limits of ideas. I wonder if Peter Bronson will actually go to show this year, instead of bitching about the festival and not seeing a performance.

Check out the Fringe Bar Series. I will be there for sure tomorrow night and likely many nights over the next few weeks, having a 'few' brews. Say hello if you make it out.

Fountain Square Grumblings

People are talking up a storm over the plans for Fountain Square. I have concerns not so much about the plan, I like the plan. I fear the motives, goals, and desired market. I also fear that this will be it. The City will say they have their entertainment district that is plain and geared towards those who are as plain as a diet vanilla milkshake. The spice of the City needs cultivating and that was what Main Street was. It seems to be nothing but an afterthought. That will be a waste and a mistake. Fountain Square may be good for Business, but I still don't see how it build the downtown community. I hope to learn how tonight at the YPCincy event. I am hopeful, but very very skeptical.

Taste of Tar

I can personally attest that it was as bad as reported.

Image

Does Sam Malone improve or tarnish his image when a profile appears in the newspaper about him the day he is due back in court. I wonder if his judge is reading the newspaper as I type this?

Was the article fair or was it a puff piece with a sprinkling of reality put in?

The Plan for Fountain Square

The Enquirer has a heavy coverage of the Plan for Fountain Square. It will be formally issue to City Council later on today.

I like the idea, but I am torn on this being the real way to bring back downtown. I think this signals that Main Street and the Riverfront are not going to be the focus of the City for now. The Riverfront has not taken off and will likely stay what it is, an occasional used area, mostly for special summer/fall events. Main Street loses big here, and without support from the city, it will lose out. Fountain Square will cater to the Suburbanite who now may stay downtown after the baseball game. That is fine, but will it do anything to increase people moving to the city? It just makes a few Suburbanites feel like they are adventurous because they went to Fountain Square, oh the danger that brings.

Taste of Politics

On Sunday to my visit to the Taste of Cincinnati the politicos were out in force. I saw council candidate's David Crowley and Jeff Berding. I saw a group of Alicia Reece supporters. I saw this big sign from Paul Hackett. I did not see to many Republican candidates, other than a stray DeWine sticker sticking in the nasty tar on Central Parkway.

Oktoberfest is when the political fever pitch hits its high note, but this weekend was the kickoff of the political season. Opening day back in April was like spring training, but now the real games begin. The race for mayor should make this a hot summer.

WOXY X97.7 is No More

A formatting change has taken place and yet another corporate radio station has gone to the dogs. The former home to 97X will now become a "variety hits" station, which will likely make Q102 look appealing.

The worst part is that Station Program director Matt Sledge is out of a job. If anyone in radio land is looking for a good radio man, Matt is your fella.

UPDATE: Just make one thing clear, 97X (woxy.com), the only on the web station, is still going strong. The over the air station that replaced the Oxford signal is changing from Alternative music to variety hits.

McEwen Over Brinkman

The extreme right wingers are lining up to support Bob McEwen for Ohio Congress. Dobson, Burress, and Tony Perkins are a theocratic fascist Axis if there ever was one. With guys like these three supporting him, that actually makes Brinkman look pretty good. Tom got the Gun Owners Association, but that is all I found referenced on his website. I think Tom is a Catholic. Could that have anything to do with why the über anti-abortion Ohio Legislator did not get Evangelical Protestant leaders' support? Yes, I am throwing gas on a fire.

Violent Femmes Play Cincinnati June 17

The blisters in the sun may flame up with the Violent Femmes playing outside in downtown Cincinnati in the alley behind McFadden's. (You are so welcome for my cheap attempt a pun). Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the door.

Somehow I think I have a culture night idea for Cincinnati Advance that could plan itself.

I heard a commercial for this as I drove back from Dayton. I had heard nothing about this previously and was cheering in my car.

I saw the Femmes back during college when they opened up for the Grateful Dead up at Buckeye Lake near Columbus. It was an odd mix of bands, but the crowd dug the Femmes very enthusiastically.

For the record: I am there! Who is with me?

Looting the Food King

"For God's sake, they're looting the Food King!"

I had to take a trip to the store on Saturday whilst I was attending my niece's graduation party up in Tipp City. I actually went twice, so I took a picture. It is a very old store, badly in need of new check out lanes. They have old carts that are tall and shallow. The name is what just got me. When I was asked to go to Food Town, I was waiting for someone to break into song and sing me a peppy jingle instructing me on a balanced diet.

Evolution Gains Yet Again

A 370 Million year old Arthrodire was found in Clark County Kentucky. Shhhhh! Don't tell Ken Ham and the other nutty Young Earthers that science is proving him wrong yet again.

Stem Cell Research

Yea to the Post for calling out Bush's mistake on Stem Cell Research and point out that his compromise was a fallacy. I applaud those in the House who passed support for government funding of Stem Cell Research. Bush is saying he will veto it. This is the issue that makes me truly HATE Bush. He tried to be Solomon and ending being a stooge of the extreme right wing. On every other issue, even the war, I can respect him as a human being for having a different view. I will hate those views and call him a wanker for having them, but still understand he would be different. On this I can't. It hits me personally, my Dad has Parkinson's disease, so I care about it and am not without emotion on this issue.

There is no reason that anyone can object to this. None. If you whine about not wanting your tax dollars used on something you disagree with, then I will point you to a WAR that killed 100,000 people and remind you that millions of people in this country disagreed with that one too. I didn't see Bush veto funding for the War.

If Bush wants to save lives, then provide REAL funding for Stem Cell Research. He does that and finally understands that he does not need to get reelected by the religious zealots, he might salvage his image a sliver.

Hamilton County Dems Endorse Hackett

As expected Hamilton County Dems endorsed (2nd item) Paul Hackett for Congress. Will this piss people off enough to hurt Hackett?

This is How You Play for the Right Wing

Pat DeWine appears to be fearful of being targeted by those pissed at his dad for being sensible. How does the family man act? Well, he chooses to appease the right wing and oppose his father. Now, isn't that a violation of the 10 Commandments? Will not the right wingers get more pissed? Oh, wait, you say they will not hold the violation of the 10 Commandments against DeWine? Well, at least not the one about honoring your parents.

Hmmmm

Maggie Downs I believe is telling it like it is to a segment of single society. As a member of that society I don't see all that much of that side directly, so I can't speak to it first hand, just by proxy. She is right. Sex, money, power, or just companionship is often either the driving force or the only thing involved in a relationship. That "L" word, or even just affection, doesn't creep in as often as most of us would like. A little emotion is a good thing. A lot of it scares us off sometimes. Fear drives us from love or what we think is love.

Following Washingtonienne was I think is a lower degree of being Washingtonienne, for which I am a poster child. I was glued to Wonkette for weeks. Titillation sells, and I was buying. We are animals, and we like it.

Fringe Volunteers Still Needed!!!!!!

We still need your help as a Cincy Fringe Volunteer

Be at Mulligan's tonight at 7 PM for Orientation and you can sign up there, or head down to McFadden's on Saturday at 1 PM for Orientation.

Don't let anyone say you are not in touch with the culture. Be apart of the art.

If you can't volunteer than make sure you attend at least 20 shows!

Is Hackett the Dems Choice?

The primaries are not until next month, but Howard Wilkinson's is reporting that support for Paul Hackett as the Democratic Nominee for the 2nd district is growing and he may be the man to beat. Key elements of his success may rest on his resume and not much else. He is new to most people, but is already getting big endorsements, like Democratic Party in Pike County. Hamilton County Dems, according to the article, are leaning towards endorsing Hackett. This is causing a small stir in the party, but I think nothing more than a show of loyalty to long time candidate Charles Sanders, who many, including me, do not want to see get the nomination. He is a long time loser in this race and new blood is the way to gain excitement and new votes.

Shorter Pete Bronson

Per request, I will sum up Peter Bronson's column today in terms to save everyone time.

Pity me for being a right-winger, I get nasty emails.

[Insert outdated cultural reference here.]

[Insert laundry list of current events references here that have no connection to each other.]

I have nothing much else to write about, so in case you missed it, this column was a quick one before the long weekend.

Hope that works for everyone.