Non-Hack on Politics

Michael Altman's latest I Don’t Mind Telling You column is out and dives into the 2nd District race with a look at Pat DeWine and Paul Hackett. Also on the council race we get a little background on the GOP's new candidate John Eby.

Problems for Maisonette Move?

Is this a big snag or just a Hiccup as the article suggests?

Fringe Day Two

CityBeat has a great article on Fringe and has a special online section on Fringe which will provide updated reviews on the performances.

Also, the organizers of Fringe, CinEX, has started a Fringe Blog. You might just a see a familiar name there blogging along.

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.