Last week Gannett, parent company of the Enquirer, announced that it was closing seven Metromix outlets. The Cincinnati edition of Metromix was not included, but how much longer will the publication last or in what form could it continue?
The MinnPost is reporting that the Twin Cities Metromix will be replaced by an "Express Metromix" which the article states would be an aggregation website for Entertainment. I would prefer they shutter the website instead of being an aggregator. We don't need any more aggregators.
Do we see the future of all of Metromix in these stories? Will Metromix Cincinnati follow the Minneapolis model?
I hope not, but if you make me bet, I would give it until the end of summer 2012.
Is print advertising that unprofitable? I still read the advertisements. I do that mostly because in entertainment publications that is often how I can find out what events are going on, since original content in these print publications have become nearly non-existent.
I'm still waiting on the Enquirer iPad app, which reports indicate will require a subscription to read it. I don't know how this will affect the regular online edition or iPhone app, but free online news in Cincinnati is endangered. If the paper takes the profits from the iPad subscriptions and invests in more LOCAL reporters covering LOCAL stories, then I will pay for an online edition of the Enquirer. I just don't see Gannett making any investment in anything that actually provides original local news content, just eyeballs to crap.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Light Up OTR On Friday At Neon's
Here's the who-what... on the event:
WHO: Ionic Collective and Peanut Butter Jelly Co. (PB&J)
WHAT: The 2nd annual Light Up Over-the-Rhine (Light Up OTR) will take place this Friday in Over-The Rhine. Community leaders, residents, young professionals and artists will join together this holiday season to set up over 1000 luminaries framing an 8-block radius from Central Parkway to Liberty Avenue. The warm glow will symbolize safety, unity, and the coming of the holiday season. A 25-foot tree will be mounted as a permanent holiday fixture at The Famous Neon’s Unplugged. Light Up OTR will benefit the Freestore Foodbank with a $1 entrance fee, or a non-perishable canned good, required for entry.
WHERE: The Famous Neons Unplugged, located at 208 E. 12th Street in Over-The-Rhine, and the outlying Over-The-Rhine area.
WHEN: Friday December 16, 2011
- • 7:00 p.m. Volunteers can gather together to assemble luminaries at The Famous Neon’s Unplugged.
- • 8:00 p.m. Teams will be coordinated to disperse the luminaries throughout the neighborhood.
- • 10:00 p.m. All volunteers and guests will gather back at The Famous Neon’s Unplugged to gather for the second annual lighting of the OTR Christmas tree.
Monday, December 12, 2011
City Budget Process To Be Sane This Year
One of the best results of the Cincinnati City Council election this year was the increase of a civil and sane budget process. Gone are the pissing matches and games of Chicken. Gone are the right-wing demands that require the suspension of the rules of Math.
Sure, we gained a level of insanity in the form of the election of Chris Smitherman, but other than being a pest, he has no power.
The only problem with this situation is that the comfort provided by the Convergys settlement is a one time event. This time next year we will face a budget shortfall again, unless the economy does far better than expected.
With this fact in place the majority members of council can not wait. They must begin the process to examine the 2013 budget as soon as the 2012 is passed. The issue of property taxes must be resolved far earlier then the mid year deadline looming next year. The public needs the whole year to digest the possible cuts that we could face. New ideas can be vetted and discussed. Hell, there will even be time for Winburn and Smitherman to come up with a plan on their own. I'm going to presume that they will be able to use math more correctly than the Republicans of the past, but we'll see.
This is the first test of the new council. How well they do making the budget process open and civil will help us determine the future of this council. We'll have an idea if the seven can work together or if petty squabbles will arise and consume the process.
I am keeping my optimism going. I've not had much of an optimistic attitude about council in recent years. This year my optimism has returned and I hope it stays around for a while.
Sure, we gained a level of insanity in the form of the election of Chris Smitherman, but other than being a pest, he has no power.
The only problem with this situation is that the comfort provided by the Convergys settlement is a one time event. This time next year we will face a budget shortfall again, unless the economy does far better than expected.
With this fact in place the majority members of council can not wait. They must begin the process to examine the 2013 budget as soon as the 2012 is passed. The issue of property taxes must be resolved far earlier then the mid year deadline looming next year. The public needs the whole year to digest the possible cuts that we could face. New ideas can be vetted and discussed. Hell, there will even be time for Winburn and Smitherman to come up with a plan on their own. I'm going to presume that they will be able to use math more correctly than the Republicans of the past, but we'll see.
This is the first test of the new council. How well they do making the budget process open and civil will help us determine the future of this council. We'll have an idea if the seven can work together or if petty squabbles will arise and consume the process.
I am keeping my optimism going. I've not had much of an optimistic attitude about council in recent years. This year my optimism has returned and I hope it stays around for a while.
Saturday, December 10, 2011
CityBeat Reorganizes Staff and Layoff 'Several'
The tough econmic climate has reached down to Cincinnati's Media landscape again and this time hit altweekly CityBeat. In a blog post yesterday, publisher Dan Bockrath announced a new leadership team for the newspaper and stated that they have "eliminated or restructured several staff positions." No details on the exact staff members or positions affected were listed in the article. This is sad news. I very much love CityBeat. I've regularly criticize articles and columns in the newspaper, and always tried to be fair. I hope to continue to read the paper every Wednesday, filled with local news, arts, and culture articles.
I wish the best for new leadership of the newspaper. I hope they can provide new momentum to a much needed institution for the Cincinnati Community. I also hope all of the individuals who were affected in the layoffs are able to move on to new jobs as quickly.
I wish the best for new leadership of the newspaper. I hope they can provide new momentum to a much needed institution for the Cincinnati Community. I also hope all of the individuals who were affected in the layoffs are able to move on to new jobs as quickly.
Friday, December 09, 2011
ATT Claims Expanded Coverage in Downtown, Mason, & CVG
ATT has issued a press release claiming to have upgraded the cellular coverage in Downtown, Mason, and near the Airport in Northern Kentucky. Does anyone agree? I've not noticed this, but the next time I am at a large event in Downtown Cincinnati area, I will compare and contrast.
Thursday, December 08, 2011
Smitherman's First Act of Grandstanding
It didn't take long, not even a week, and already Chris Smitherman has committed his first offense of Grandstanding in his term as a Cincinnati City Council member.
Smitherman is all in a tizzy because a majority of Council has approved a council rule removing a 90 day requirement for putting ordinances on the Council calendar. Smitherman is upset because a majority of the council voted. This would be a majority of the elected representatives of the people of Cincinnati. They voted to establish their own rules, as provided by the City Charter which operates legally under State law. Smitherman is "threatening" to sue.
According to the article, I think I can take the quote off the word threatening because it states that unless council votes his way, he will sue. That sounds like a form of extortion, but in political activities you can get away with more than the average person.
I do question Smitherman, as a member of Council, taking legal action with any indication or standing as a member of the City Government without use of the City's legal representative. If he, as he threatens, gets his right wing zealot attorney, and anti-gay bigot, Chris Finney to sue the city, I'd like to know what standing Smitherman is planning on using. Also, who would pay Finney's fees? If any legal fees ever go to any non-city lawyer suing on behalf of Smitherman on a city issue, the fees should come from Smitherman's budget.
Section 5a of Article II of the City Charter states "The Council shall organize itself and conduct its business as it deems appropriate...." That's what they did with a 5-3 vote (one member was absent.)
Section 2 of Article III of the City Charter state "The Mayor shall preside over all meetings of the council, but shall not have a vote on the council."
What is he going to sue over? The City Charter was followed. This is Democracy in action.
Smitherman better get used to not getting his way on council unless he can get 5 or for veto-overrides, 6 votes on an issue. He can't act like a child and threaten to sue over everything, especially when he has no grounds for a law-suit. He can complain about the rule, but using threats to change the minds of his fellow members of council isn't going to win many (no one) over.
Smitherman is all in a tizzy because a majority of Council has approved a council rule removing a 90 day requirement for putting ordinances on the Council calendar. Smitherman is upset because a majority of the council voted. This would be a majority of the elected representatives of the people of Cincinnati. They voted to establish their own rules, as provided by the City Charter which operates legally under State law. Smitherman is "threatening" to sue.
According to the article, I think I can take the quote off the word threatening because it states that unless council votes his way, he will sue. That sounds like a form of extortion, but in political activities you can get away with more than the average person.
I do question Smitherman, as a member of Council, taking legal action with any indication or standing as a member of the City Government without use of the City's legal representative. If he, as he threatens, gets his right wing zealot attorney, and anti-gay bigot, Chris Finney to sue the city, I'd like to know what standing Smitherman is planning on using. Also, who would pay Finney's fees? If any legal fees ever go to any non-city lawyer suing on behalf of Smitherman on a city issue, the fees should come from Smitherman's budget.
Section 5a of Article II of the City Charter states "The Council shall organize itself and conduct its business as it deems appropriate...." That's what they did with a 5-3 vote (one member was absent.)
Section 2 of Article III of the City Charter state "The Mayor shall preside over all meetings of the council, but shall not have a vote on the council."
What is he going to sue over? The City Charter was followed. This is Democracy in action.
Smitherman better get used to not getting his way on council unless he can get 5 or for veto-overrides, 6 votes on an issue. He can't act like a child and threaten to sue over everything, especially when he has no grounds for a law-suit. He can complain about the rule, but using threats to change the minds of his fellow members of council isn't going to win many (no one) over.
Tuesday, December 06, 2011
Greg Harris Seeking County Commission Spot
WVXU is reporting that former Democratic City Council member, Greg Harriss, is running for Hamilton County Commissioner against Republican Greg Hartmann.
Democratic Commissioner Todd Portune is running for re-election as well, but there is no word on any Republican opponent, who must file by 4PM today.
Democratic Commissioner Todd Portune is running for re-election as well, but there is no word on any Republican opponent, who must file by 4PM today.
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