Joe Hansbauer Smacks Down Gross

I'm not the only who is taking on Larry Gross for his ludicrous columns.

Big Downtown Mo?

It will surely pain the City Haters, but momentum is on the side of Downtown right now. The developers are seeing the positives and the public is starting wake up. Granted the pissy pants crowd will surely undo their diapers on this idea, but I really don't think their stink can stop thing going forward.

Having the Playhouse Downtown would be HUGE! Add to that a multi use venue that could holder "larger" events (concerts etc) and you have an anchor to the Fountain Square area that will draw better than almost anything that could be put in that space.

Great Condos

I went on a tour last year while these new condos were in the early stages of construction. They were not much more than gutted out buildings, now they sound great! Best yet, they appear more affordable to a middle class person. These condos are on the edge of where development is happening in OTR, so they are not for faint of heart. If you fear poor people, you should maybe stay away. If you like diversity and urban living, go on a tour!

Smitherman Elected to Head Local NAACP

Former councilman Chris Smitherman was elected president of the Cincinnati chapter of the NAACP. Smitherman is known as a prolific grandstander, creating confrontation where there is none. Will Smitherman seek to make Cincinnati a better place for everyone or will he play racial politics?

Also, does this mean he's not running for city council?

Driehaus To Battle Chabot

State Rep. Steve Driehaus, minority whip of the Ohio House, plans to challenge Steve Chabot for Ohio's 1st District in 2008.

Driehaus is a good pick for this district. He's a generally more conservative Democrat, and his anti-abortion stance will be a plus in this big one issue voting district. I think a candidate could be for killing puppies, but if he opposes abortion, he'll get a set of voters on the West side, no matter what.

This is not good for women's rights, of course, but in a district where a pro-choice candidate just can't win, you have to take the bad with the good.

Starting early is plus for raising money. It will take a chunk of change to unseat a GOP guy. A big problem will be trying to predict how the 2008 presidential race will sway voters down the ticket. Without Bush around, the GOP will have more room to wiggle around. Steve Chabot, however, has little room. He was glued to Bush's hip very tightly.

FOP Opposes Fighting Crime

From last week we have a story showing the Cincinnati FOP and their political shills concerned more about increase the CPD budget than with fighting crime.

More HB Attention

City Beat's blog reported over the weekend that Heartless Bastards are continuing to gain attention with the use of their music by cable channels. On one level it sounds like a sell out, sure, but for the band it is great news to have their music heard by more people.

I am curious why I don't hear the Heartless Bastards on local radio, specially on The Sound or WEBN?