Comments on: Explore Cincinnati #35 http://explorecincinnati.com/2009/10/22/now-available-explore-cincinnati-for-october-21-2009/ Making Cincinnati an even better place to live. Mon, 30 Aug 2010 13:19:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Travis Estell http://explorecincinnati.com/2009/10/22/now-available-explore-cincinnati-for-october-21-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-400 Travis Estell Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:50:47 +0000 http://explorecincinnati.com/?p=534#comment-400 Also, Findland was the country that recently declared broadband Internet access a human right. Read more by reading this <a href="http://jackatcet.blogspot.com/2009/10/broadband-access-critical.html" rel="nofollow">article from WCET COO Jack Dominic</a>. Also, Findland was the country that recently declared broadband Internet access a human right. Read more by reading this article from WCET COO Jack Dominic.

]]> By: Quimbob http://explorecincinnati.com/2009/10/22/now-available-explore-cincinnati-for-october-21-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-398 Quimbob Sun, 25 Oct 2009 14:29:16 +0000 http://explorecincinnati.com/?p=534#comment-398 Issue 8 - I don't think the water district issue is dead. Council came up with a task force to study the issue. They reported back about 8 months later saying it could be viable. The council members each had at least a half dozen questions & none of them seemed really excited (Crowley did). The task force was sent back to the drawing board. Bortz said, at the end, it was a serious issue and a big change. He commented that it might take years to come up with a good plan & that no good plan might even materialize. Meanwhile Smitherman intimates that the plan is meant to commit genocide. http://blackcincinnati.blogspot.com/2009/06/is-smitherman-inducing-panic-with.html The thing is, and this may be why there is no real opposition, there is no reason to think the council wouldn't put it before the voters anyway. Issue 2 - Mr Hames said something and, this week, Ms Schneider repeated it. There is, AFAIK, no federal agency threatening to impose animal care standards on Ohio. The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is a private organization that has no connection with humane societies or any government agency. They use deceptive practices (like their name) to sway public opinion & raise money. If they do target Ohio, the Issue 3 & Issue 2 ads ~combined~ will look like nothing. :-) Issue 8 – I don’t think the water district issue is dead. Council came up with a task force to study the issue. They reported back about 8 months later saying it could be viable. The council members each had at least a half dozen questions & none of them seemed really excited (Crowley did). The task force was sent back to the drawing board. Bortz said, at the end, it was a serious issue and a big change. He commented that it might take years to come up with a good plan & that no good plan might even materialize.
Meanwhile Smitherman intimates that the plan is meant to commit genocide.
http://blackcincinnati.blogspot.com/2009/06/is-smitherman-inducing-panic-with.html
The thing is, and this may be why there is no real opposition, there is no reason to think the council wouldn’t put it before the voters anyway.

Issue 2 – Mr Hames said something and, this week, Ms Schneider repeated it. There is, AFAIK, no federal agency threatening to impose animal care standards on Ohio. The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is a private organization that has no connection with humane societies or any government agency. They use deceptive practices (like their name) to sway public opinion & raise money. If they do target Ohio, the Issue 3 & Issue 2 ads ~combined~ will look like nothing. :-)

]]> By: Travis Estell http://explorecincinnati.com/2009/10/22/now-available-explore-cincinnati-for-october-21-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-397 Travis Estell Fri, 23 Oct 2009 17:15:05 +0000 http://explorecincinnati.com/?p=534#comment-397 Thanks for the information on the pricing. I think that makes the water works issue more clear. Thanks for the information on the pricing. I think that makes the water works issue more clear.

]]> By: Emily Schneider http://explorecincinnati.com/2009/10/22/now-available-explore-cincinnati-for-october-21-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-396 Emily Schneider Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:32:19 +0000 http://explorecincinnati.com/?p=534#comment-396 Here's some input from Peter Hames: "Just in case someone asks about the water utility issue, this is taken from the “feasibility” report: Page ii: Rates: Today water rates are set by the City Council, based upon recommendations by the GCWW professionals. The residences, businesses and institutions within the city limits enjoy rates that are lower than the rates charged to non-city Customer Communities. Page vi: Additionally, the financial model includes these key policy assumptions, which affect the overall value of GCWW’s assets: • Rates to city residents, businesses and institutions would continue to be set at levels that are lower relative to other Customer Communities. • Rates to Customer Communities would remain in accordance with existing contracts. A link to the PDF of the report is located at http://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/water/pages/-36826-/. I, too, think that the issue is dead. At the candidates meeting, I think Amy Murray was the only council candidate who voiced support for the proposal and that support was, at best, tepid. MSD is owned by the county and run by the city; the county sets the sewer rates. (How bizarre. How bizarre. To quote one of my favorite “one hit wonder” songs.) Greater Cincinnati Water Works (GCWW) is owned and run by the city; the city sets the water rates (which, again, are lower for city users)." Here’s some input from Peter Hames:

“Just in case someone asks about the water utility issue, this is taken from the “feasibility” report:

Page ii:
Rates: Today water rates are set by the City Council, based upon recommendations by the GCWW professionals. The residences, businesses and institutions within the city limits enjoy rates that are lower than the rates charged to non-city Customer Communities.

Page vi:
Additionally, the financial model includes these key policy assumptions, which affect the overall value of GCWW’s assets:
• Rates to city residents, businesses and institutions would continue to be set at levels that are lower relative to other Customer Communities.
• Rates to Customer Communities would remain in accordance with existing contracts.

A link to the PDF of the report is located at http://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/water/pages/-36826-/. I, too, think that the issue is dead. At the candidates meeting, I think Amy Murray was the only council candidate who voiced support for the proposal and that support was, at best, tepid.

MSD is owned by the county and run by the city; the county sets the sewer rates. (How bizarre. How bizarre. To quote one of my favorite “one hit wonder” songs.) Greater Cincinnati Water Works (GCWW) is owned and run by the city; the city sets the water rates (which, again, are lower for city users).”

]]> By: Travis Estell http://explorecincinnati.com/2009/10/22/now-available-explore-cincinnati-for-october-21-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-395 Travis Estell Thu, 22 Oct 2009 17:38:56 +0000 http://explorecincinnati.com/?p=534#comment-395 Two small corrections on this week's news: I said that work has begun on a traffic signal at the corner of Ohio & McMillan. Actually, the new signal will be at Ohio & Calhoun. (There is already a signal at Ohio & McMillan.) I also said Westwood residents want the Westwood Elementary School addition to be built on the southern side of the school, while CPS is moving ahead on the eastern side. Actually, residents were pushing for the addition to be on the western side, facing Epworth Ave. Two small corrections on this week’s news:

I said that work has begun on a traffic signal at the corner of Ohio & McMillan. Actually, the new signal will be at Ohio & Calhoun. (There is already a signal at Ohio & McMillan.)

I also said Westwood residents want the Westwood Elementary School addition to be built on the southern side of the school, while CPS is moving ahead on the eastern side. Actually, residents were pushing for the addition to be on the western side, facing Epworth Ave.

]]> By: cinplify.com http://explorecincinnati.com/2009/10/22/now-available-explore-cincinnati-for-october-21-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-394 cinplify.com Thu, 22 Oct 2009 13:18:06 +0000 http://explorecincinnati.com/?p=534#comment-394 <strong>“Explore Cincinnati” for October 21, 2009...</strong> Travis and Emily discuss listener feedback on Ohio issues 1-3, Hamilton County issue 4-7, and Cincinnati issue 8. We also discuss news on Ohio’s Grants for Grads program, historic preservation in Over the Rhine, Clifton Heights improvements, and more.... “Explore Cincinnati” for October 21, 2009…

Travis and Emily discuss listener feedback on Ohio issues 1-3, Hamilton County issue 4-7, and Cincinnati issue 8. We also discuss news on Ohio’s Grants for Grads program, historic preservation in Over the Rhine, Clifton Heights improvements, and more….

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