Friday, March 31, 2006

Strickland Has Big Lead

Ted Strickland currently has a solid lead over both Blackwell and Petro. With the fight going to heat up between Blackwell and Petro over the next month, neither fairs a good chance of going into the Summer within 10 to 15 points of Strickland. It will take money to beat Ted Strickland. The GOP has it and will use it, only to a point. The GOP candidate has to have traction. By Summer the GOP will start cutting its losses based on the national party trends, and Ohio may be sick of the GOP enough to keep national money out of the state. DeWine will get the money to win. Blackwell/Petro won't get the same kind of push from the National GOP leaders.

Courting the Bigot Vote

Malia Rulon of the Enquirer reports on Sen. Mike DeWine's choice to sign onto the same-sex marriage ban amendment in the Senate. Sen. Frist the Boss Bigot in the Senate who is doing all he can to the the mind numbing moron bigot vote. That's the voting block out there that actually would be influenced by someone who seeks to oppress gays and lesbians.

DeWine sounds as if he fears the base will leave him. He is playing all nice with Bush when the President visits Cincinnati on Monday, making for a mess of an opening day.

DeWine is in trouble and he knows it. This kind of crap is going to send the moderates to Brown in truck loads. When you think you can only win by pulling out your base, then you are not doing well, and you are marginalized.

Hackett on Springer?

Word on the street is that Paul Hackett is filling in for Jerry Springer on his radio show today? Check it out and report in on how it goes!

Thursday, March 30, 2006

CityBeat: Best of Cincinnati 2006

The New Issue issue is out. Were there any surprises in your mind? It was great for Cincinnati Advance getting two mentions.

The reader's pick for best blog was "myspace.com"????? WTF? I didn't lead people to the water this year, so I guess that hurts, but to lose to a generic service and not a local blog? The kids are not all right if they pick that for best local blog. Hint: It's not even local!

The whole thing is over at www.bestofcincinnati.com.

Promise Not Kept

The Hyde Park Community United Methodist Church has voted to proceed on expansion.

Wednesday, March 29, 2006

A Scoop on Bridge Closure

The Cincinnati Post has the story about the Suspension Bridge closing for a year's worth of repairs in yesterday's paper.

The Enquirer makes it a lead story today.

Competition in reporting makes both papers better. It will be bad when he Post closes.

It will be a pain when the bridge closes after Tall Stacks later on the this year, but what a great excuse for a party when it reopens in 2007!

Theocracy On The March #34423

It's been a while since I mentioned this, but the extremists are starting to define their theocracy. These extremists are not just crack pots in strip mall churches, they are mainstream extremists (yea, an oxymoron), who get air time on TV and Radio. The question out there for Ohio is has Ken Blackwell accepted this document as his political bible?


[Via Kevin Drum]

Tuesday, March 28, 2006

Welcome to Yugoslavia

In an effort to improve on a hodgepodge of left over plots of land, Columbia Township is trying to brand itself as "something." They should first off consolidate their gerrymander looking map and push the City of Cincinnati (or other contiguous municipalities)to annex the related parts of the entity. If you look at the map (pdf) of the township you have to just burst out laughing at the thought that anyone could think of this mess as anything but leftover space.

The Township leaders appear to be clueless:
"Mariemont has an identity and people know where it is," he said. "We'd like to be able to achieve that with our branding project."
In order for your people to know where something is, it has to be Somewhere! In one place. Not just that gap space where for some unknown reason no one wanted it part of their city 100 years ago.

Monday, March 27, 2006

A Game of Chicken

Where would CSO go if they left Music Hall? The answer is they wouldn't go anywhere. There is no place to go. Cleaning up Washington Park and moving the Drop-in Center are the simple solution to what bugs the folks at the CSO and Music Hall. It should happen and happen this year.

Saturday, March 25, 2006

AOL City Guide: Cincinnati - City's Best , Restaurants, Nightlife

AOL's City Guide has issued their Best of Cincinnati 2006 List.

Interesting highlights:
Best Bar - Cock & Bull
Best Music Club - Bogart's (Yea, someone's smoking crack)
Best Singles Scene: Jeff Ruby's Tropicana (Who the Hell voted on this stuff?)

Note: CityBeat's Best of Cincy issue comes out this week. I trust CityBeat readers/editors much more than AOL users/editors.

Thor Jacobs Picks Up Endorsements

The Jacobs for Congress campaigned has issued a press release stating that Cincinnati City Councilmen John Cranley and Cecil Thomas have both endorsed Thor Jacobs in the Democratic Primary for 2nd Congressional District.

Since the Hamilton County Democratic Party was unwilling or unable to endorse anyone in the primary, it is interesting to read about individual office holders making endorsements.

Will we see other endorsements from more liberal council Democrats, like Cole and Crowley?

Great News for Fountain Square, Great for MPMF?

Bill Donabedian, co-founder of the Midpoint Music Festival, will run Fountain Square. It is a great for someone with the vision to help found a great event like Midpoint to focus his efforts on the new Fountain Square. Let help his leadership will open up the square to new ideas, not just appeasement programming for the 4th Street Money Men.

What does this do for Midpoint? Will Bill continue his involvement and pave the way for something different with the festival? Or will he have to leave Midpoint planning totally to others? I have no clue, but I see this as an opportunity for Midpoint to capitalize on a new Fountain Square. This year's Midpoint could have a signature presence on the Square and showcase the new improvements while attracting a vibrant audience to the City's center.

Friday, March 24, 2006

Jerry Lyon is an Ignorant Fool

Someone needs to educate Mr. Jerry Lynon of SHARONVILLE about the anti-discrimination ordinance in the City of Cincinnati. In his foolishly ignorant column today he sticks his foot in his mouth with this little gem:
As a nation, we have said that certain classes of people, due to a history of discrimination in areas such as employment and housing, do need special rights and protections.

Our courts have said that in order to qualify as a protected class, though, groups must meet three criteria. First, members must be identified by an immutable, non-behavior-based characteristic such as skin color, ethnicity or gender. Second, they must have experienced a history of economic deprivation as a result of discrimination. Third, they must lack political representation. Those who identify themselves by their sexual orientation or transgendered status do not meet any of these criteria.

Those who so identify themselves deserve equal protection under the law, and they have it. Those who so identify themselves deserve respect as individuals, and from the overwhelming majority of us in Greater Cincinnati, they have it.

But those who so identify themselves do not qualify as a protected class with special rights under our human rights ordinances, and we make a mockery of such laws when we grant them. (bold added)
I therefore demand to know when the CCV (Mr. Lyon is a member) is going to call for an amendment to remove the behavior based characteristic of religion from the anti-discrimination ordinance:
(J) For any employer, employment agency or labor organization to:
(1) Elicit or attempt to elicit any information concerning the race, gender, age, color, religion, disability status, marital status, or ethnic, national or Appalachian regional origin of an applicant for employment or membership, except as may otherwise be required by or for compliance with state, federal, or local laws, rules and regulations. (bold Added)
This copy of the ordinance has not yet been updated to include the changes:
ORDINANCE, dated 3/7/2006, submitted by Vice Mayor Tarbell, Councilmembers Crowley, Bortz, Cole and Cranley, MODIFYING the provisions of the City Municipal Code, Chapter 914 by adding Section 914-1-S, Sexual Orientation, and Section 914-1-T, Transgendered, and amending Section 914-1-D1, Discriminate, Section 914-I-R, Restrictive Covenant, Section 914-3, Housing Discrimination Prohibited, and Section 914-5, Employment Discrimination Prohibited to prohibit discrimination against individuals based on their sexual orientation or transgendered status
Religion is a behavior, plain and simple. If he believes a company should be allowed to refuse to higher a Christian (which logic dictates he should), then he better start gaining signatures for that amendment. (If he doesn't live in the city, what business is it of his anyways?)

The bottom line problem with ignorant fools like Jerry Lyon is that he lives in the homophobic world that still believes that sexual orientation is learned behavior.

Side note: The "special rights" crap is the biggest lie I have heard in a long time. Heterosexuals are protected under the ordinance as well. You can't be discriminated against for being straight any more than you can for being gay. That is where the outright LIES of the CCV are most egregious.

Thursday, March 23, 2006

Barrett Out of Race for Ohio Senate

State Rep. Catherine Barrett quiet the race for the Democratic Nomination for Ohio Senate, avoid a primary challenge against Sen. Eric Kearney. Good news for Democrats.

The HCDP avoid other conflicts by not endorsing for the 32 House District or 2nd Congressional District.

David Pepper was endorsed for County Commissioner over Stephanie Dumas. Pepper can win.

Wednesday, March 22, 2006

Going Forward

I honestly hope with the settlement of the Owensby case our city can move forward and can work to improve the community instead of dealing with past injustices.

Tuesday, March 21, 2006

Drinking Liberally Gets Out Thor and Gaby

If you want to meet a couple of the local Democratic candidates for the 2nd district, then head over to the Comet Tonight at 7:30 to join the folks at Drinking Liberally.

Friday, March 17, 2006

Happy St. Patrick's Day


Happy St. Patrick's Day! Drink well and be safe!

CiNWeekly has a very good summary of events and particulars of the local Irish Pubs on St. Patrick's Day.

Thursday, March 16, 2006

White Flight?

I don't base the loss of population to the Suburbs as a race issue, others would disagree. I feel it is more of a class issue. I guess once we 'rid' Hamilton County of poor people, we'll see an influx.

Don't Blog Drunk!

Last night I was honored to attended a gathering of Friends of Wes Flinn for a Bachelor Dinner for his impending marriage. We really called it "Get Wes Drunk Night." We achieved our goal of getting him drunk.

The event turned into a mini-blog summit with the meeting of myself, Wes, Covington, Clark Street, and Wirecan.

Great to see and meet folks and send off Wes into the world of the ball and chain.

Wednesday, March 15, 2006

Bad Pot Law

This effort to toughen the pot law is not going to reduce crime. We all know that. We all know that this will not stop the buyers or the sellers. Jeff Berding, John Cranley, Leslie Ghiz, Chris Monzel and Cecil Thomas all know that too, but they may not say so in public.

This effort is foolish and a waste of money, and is the acts of a combination of rookie council members and those needing to take the tough on crime stance any chance they can.

Cincinnati Subway?

The city needs to use the Subway Tunnels for something. Use it for a Subway (what a concept!). Use the stations for cool retail spaces. Just use it!

Most importantly, let groups give tours of the place!!!!!

Tuesday, March 14, 2006

Dealer Cometh Backus?

The Dealer has not been published for over a month, but now the rumors are flying that it will be back. I have not checked my sources at the publication, but perhaps they will chime in with an update.

Havana Martini Club Returns

The Cincinnati Business Courier is reporting that the Havana Martini Club is reopening this week at the Carew Tower in the space formerly used by Casual Corner.

Great news for downtown, and something great for Carew Tower retail.

Monday, March 13, 2006

Lying and Pointing Fingers?

Republican Ken Blackwell can lie about who he took contributions from, get caught about it, then point fingers at his Primary opponent, and this doesn't make the Front Page? Lying does matter? I am more than willing to point Fingers at Republican Jim Petro for taking 1.6 Million from vendors who got no-bid state contracts. How much did Blackwell take? I want to know why the article lacks the amount of money Blackwell took? Why also is this article a little AP filler?

Bronson: Bush's Shit Don't Stink

Yesterday we got the latest horrible column from Peter Bronson where we learn how Peter measures truth based on Google Searches. We learn first and foremost that Bush does no wrong! Bush's Shit Don't Stink, and Peter Bronson should know with that Brown nose of his.

He has to compare Clinton's Google hits and complain Bush's are greater. I guess Peter lacks a little knowledge on that in over 10 years since the Clinton scandals first there have been a few more million users of Google and the web, not mention far more blogs and news outlets driving up the numbers. Just a "few more" million, in like say a boat load more. Also, to compare the two now and we face a simple fact that BUSH is President now, not CLINTON.

What pure drivel.

Sunday, March 12, 2006

Saturday, March 11, 2006

Is Zeus Your Co-Pilot?

Unless they are flying slaves out of bondage in the Sudan, or flying food into Burundi, no Christian Church sound own a plane. According to the Cincinnati Post Ken Blackwell has flown on an Ohio Church's Plane. This fact is just a one liner in the article, but either Russell Johnson or Rod Parcels' church own a plane. That is a travesty. Honestly speaking, even though I gave up my religion many years ago, it must be totally un-Christian to own a plane that would be used to fly around a politician. This goes beyond a minister owning a Cadillac. This shows to me that the Churches run by Russell Johnson and Rod Parsley are not really religious entities, they are a political machine, namely the Ohio Restoration Project.

MIAMI 4 Western Michigan 1

Love and honor to Miami,
Our college old and grand,
Proudly we shall ever hail thee,
Over all the land.

Alma mater now we praise thee,
Sing joyfully this lay,
Love and honor to Miami,
Forever and a day.


The #2 ranked Miami hockey team leads the first round CCHA playoff series 1-0. The series continues tonight. More here.

City Polls

WCPO and SurveyUSA have completed a poll this week referenced by the Enquirer. The overall results were:

Do you approve or disapprove of the job Mark Mallory is doing as Mayor?
  • Approve: 60%
  • Disapprove: 23%
  • Not Sure: 17%

Generally speaking, would you say things in Cincinnati are on the right track? Or the wrong track?
  • Right Track: 35%
  • Wrong Track: 59%
  • Not Sure: 6%

Would you agree or disagree with this statement: 'I feel safe in my neighborhood?'
  • Agree: 42%
  • Disagree: 53%
  • Not Sure: 4%
The internals referenced by Carl Weiser at the Enquirer Politics Blog are the most interesting. The internal not mentioned and likely not collect would be what neighborhood the responder lived in while say did they feel safe. Seeing how that skewed would also be an indicator in the other questions.

Friday, March 10, 2006

TOAST

Jean Schmidt is politically terminal. If Bob McEwen can't beat her in the primary, then he is one crappy politician.

COAST Hates Schmidt

COAST has it's guns trained on Rep. Jean Schmidt for claiming endorsements from people who later said they never endorsed her. They issued a press release:
The Coalition Opposed to Additional Spending and Taxes (COAST) announced today that its representative Mark Miller will file a formal Complaint with the Ohio Elections Commission against Jean Schmidt, for claiming on her web site and in a campaign brochure, endorsements in this primary election by Congressmen Steve Chabot and Tom Tancredo.

Both Congressmen have in fact refused to endorse Schmidt.

It is an elections law violation in Ohio to make a false statement in the course of a campaign.

Despite the clear statements of both Congressmen, Schmidt did and continues to falsely publish the claimed endorsements.

"Jean Schmidt obviously has a problem with the truth," said COAST Chairman Jim Urling. "First she did not tell the truth about being against higher taxes, then she fibbed about her conversation with Representative Buhp. And now she completely fabricates endorsements. She must be held to account for her persistent prevarication's."
It is always nice to see Republicans attack other Republicans. That thought brings a smile to my face. Please GOP, keep me smiling!

Mallory's First Hundred Days

How did Mayor Mark Mallory do during his first hundred days as mayor?

Thursday, March 09, 2006

Jay Love Quits the Buzz

Radio talk show host Jay Love has left WDBZ-AM for a staff fundraiser position with AIDS Volunteers of Cincinnati (AVOC). I have not been able to listen to much of the Buzz over the last couple of years, but Jay was always and interesting host who knew how to rile up his listeners. I don't know anything about Nathan Ive, who is replacing Jay next week. WDBZ has been tame for a while. It was pushing the edge of facilitating racist groups by giving open mics to local nutty black separatists. When I hear them now, very rarely, they have moved back from the edge.

Wednesday, March 08, 2006

UC Students Are Safe

I wish journalists would stop trying to scare parents of college students into buying newspapers. Local TV news folks have done to Miami for years and now it is falling to the UC.

UC kids are safe. They are as safe as anyone else. The fact that crime occurs in Coryville or on UC's campus is not the fault of UC. It is opportunistic for the UC student body government leadership to use the current crimes as a catalyst to gain new safety measures that would not have prevented the crimes in question. That opportunism is often effective, but that does not mean it is not manipulative and disingenuous.

Gay Rights Has the Votes to Pass

The Enquirer is reporting that the anti-discrimination against gays and lesbians law has the votes to pass. Monzel disappoints on social issues as usual. Got to get that bigot vote!

I will make the call out now to Berding and Thomas. Both need to respond and make it known that they stand for gay rights. If not, they will gain a new title.

Jean and Steve

Jean Schmidt appears to not be getting the love from her fellow Republicans. Is this the first sign of a loss in the GOP primary?

Theft in Office

When it comes to stealing while in office, one does not normally think of this from a Norwood Councilman.

Tuesday, March 07, 2006

The Know's House

In case you missed Jackie Demaline's Enquirer article with it's concept photo or missed Rick Pender's 'rumor' in last week's City Beat, then I can add the final word: The deal is done.

I wish a big congratulations to Jay Kalagayan and the entire Know team for this effort. I look forward to seeing great theatre, as soon as next month!

Be it, Don't Dream It

Nick Spencer has it right with his post on how OTR can change. The only thing I would add is that you don't have to make this a single person endeavor. If you have a full time job, like most of us, consider a partnership or better yet a team. Get a group of investors together and pool your resources and start a business. Hire someone, create a job, and create economic growth. The business doesn't have to be open 24 hours a day, but if you set the hours right, commit to it, it can bloom, especially when you are one among many businesses. Just remember its business, not personal. Don't get pissed if it fails, and be careful mixing business with friendships. That is how capitalism works, after all.

Dale Mallory Sues West End council

Dale Mallory, brother of Mayor Mark Mallory, is sueing the West End Council over his removal as the West End Community Council President. Mallory's full press release reads:
Dale Mallory asks Court to Declare Alleged Impeachment Illegal

(Cincinnati, OH) Dale Mallory has asked the Hamilton County Court of Commons Pleas to invalidate his alleged impeachment as President of the West End Community Council (WECC). Mallory made the request by seeking an injunction and restraining order against Shirley Colbert the WECC Vice President who presided over the meeting where the alleged impeachment occurred.

“This process was illegal,” said Mallory, “those who conducted it did not follow the Constitution and By-Laws of the West End Community Council.”

In the Affidavit, which accompanied the request for the restraining order, Mallory says that Deputy Sheriffs physically blocked him from presiding at the February 21, 2006 meeting of the West End Community Council. According to Mallory, he was told that he was not the Community Council President even before the impeachment process, and that he had to sit in the audience and could not address those present at meeting. Most of the West End Community Council members who qualified to vote at the proceeding were denied that right by those conducting the meeting. Even Dale’s brother, Mayor Mark Mallory was not allowed to cast a vote.

“For the past several months the CityLink issue has received a lot of public attention,” said Mallory, “although I never publicly endorsed or supported this project, I have received threats and had an illegal impeachment process conducted against me because I wouldn’t publicly oppose it.”

Mallory also stated he was informed that prior to the illegal impeachment proceedings, Shirley Colbert, the Defendant in this case, and others opened a bank account without the authorization of the West End Community Council. Dues collected from alleged Community Council members were placed in the account. Mallory is also seeking a Temporary Restraining Order to preclude Colbert and others from accessing the West End Community Council’s bank accounts and appropriating funds.

Mallory says his 1st and 14th amendment rights were violated and he is asking the court to require that the WECC Executive Board and its members recognize him as the legal President of the organization.
I don't know if he has much of a case. Any lawyer wish to chime in?

Cheers to City Council

I am pleased to see Council members David Crowley, Laketa Cole, Chris Bortz and Vice Mayor Jim Tarbell all support an anti-discrimination ordinace protecting gays, lesbians and the transgendered.

It is sad and disturbing to see the bigot Phil Burress out pushing the his hate ministry:
But Phil Burress, president of Citizens for Community Values, said he wished council would put the issue before voters first. He promised a response: It will take gathering 7,000 signatures in 30 days to force the issue onto a ballot, he said.

"I thought council had grown up and realized there are a lot more important things they are facing. This sets the city back more than a decade," Burress said.
Please note the insane dichotomy Phil Burress is living under. He wants Council to realize there are more important things than passing anti-discrimination laws, but he thinks it is such a big deal he is trying to get 7,000 signatures to try and overturn the effort. This guy DOES NOT EVEN LIVE IN THE CITY OF CINCINNATI!

Burress is clearly a bigot. He is willing to do anything he can to make it legal to discriminate against gays and lesbians. I will be interested in hear the views of anyone who disagrees with me on the use of my infamous term "bigot" which some are sick of. It is as valid a label as any other. Hamas is a terrorist group, and Burress is a bigot. Those who do and think as those two do are also terrorists and bigots, respectively. Members of Hamas are bigots as well. Burress is not a terrorist, but the emotional and political 'violence' he uses puts him in parallel with the goals of groups like Hamas. That is why laws like these are needed.

Monday, March 06, 2006

Tragic

Sam Shipman, artist and member of local band The Thirteens, was killed in a car crash over the weekend.

Rebuilding Main Street

It was great seeing Kaldi's absolutely packed on Friday nigh for BockFest. I overheard more than once someone comment that they have never seen the place as packed, at least not since the riots. You couldn't find a seat, and the wait staff had to fight to place drink orders at the bar with patrons.

I really love the idea of Main Street. I don't know if everyone has the same idea anymore for Main Street. Is it an arts district with some bars? Is it a bar district with some art galleries? Is it a neighborhood with a little bit of everything? I don't know what it could or should be, but I want it to be something.

The efforts of the Main Street Entertainment Group are very welcome. They are big reason behind this year's BockFest, where the parade was a welcomed effort, with more floats than its had in years, my friends tell me.

Will closing part of Main Street off at night be the thing to turn things around? Well, that depends on what idea for the area you think it should be. I don't have an answer. I don't know how some of the bars down there will survive without more local neighborhood residents going there. It has the makings of something great or of something that will end in conflict in our city of disharmony.

It will not be boring.

Sunday, March 05, 2006

Jim Parker: Showman & Candidate

If he wins the nomination, I don't know, but the man can put on a good show.

WAIF Falling Apart

The Dean (Jason Haap) is not the ideal person to compare to, but in what is becoming a WAIF meltdown, he comes across as the sane one.

Friday, March 03, 2006

Half of a Story

And now here’s half…of the story. The anti-abortion side gets their propaganda published for free in the newspaper. Where is the pro-choice side of the issue getting free ink space? This story has in it only references to Steve Chabot and women who testified against the right for women being allow to control their own bodies. What about congress members who support the rights granted under Roe v. Wade? Did they not appear at the committee meeting? Did they not question these witnesses? Can you at least get mention of who else has or will be testifying on the other side of the issue? Apparently we can’t have that.

Please know that what one of the women referenced in the article does is fill women's heads with anti-abortion propaganda, and is called hero by the newspaper for doing this. Being called "hero", as the second puff piece does, may be fine for the extreme right-wing conservative audience, but for those looking for truth, not propaganda, it leaves the taste of ”yellow human interest journalism." That would be soft touch yellow journalism that crusades in what one would call a subliminal manner.

Has the newspaper ever profiled a local Planned Parenthood staff member as a "hero"? I would guess no for two reasons: 1)bias and 2) the fact that most Planned Parenthood staff members are forced to live in fear from the darkside of the anti-abortion movement, and don't want to have the negative attention they would be hit with from the zealots.

Thursday, March 02, 2006

One Big Pissing Contest

This sounds like our elected officials don't play well with others. What are they really fighting over? Control?

Si Leis

I have to call it out: Si Leis is kind of consistent. Si billed who he could bill, namely DeWine who is not his political buddy, instead of the President.

When Bush had his Great American Ball Park rally back in 2004, I don't remember a story of Leis billing the Bush campaign for security, so Leis only grandstands when he can poke at someone he doesn't like or is not his candidate of choice.

Wednesday, March 01, 2006

CAM Upgrade

The Cincinnati Art Museum plans a massive upgrade of its facilities, including a sculpture garden and new parking garage.

A few die hard art students and others are not please with the plan to raise the old art academy, which move to OTR last year. If the CAM is going to grow and increase the value of art in the community, how can it not take on a plan like this. Art needs include the preservation of the past, but it must break new ground.

See the art museum for yourself tonight at One World Wednesday. This month the country is Ireland. Great beer and music awaits. It starts at 5:30 PM. $8 or free for CAM Members. Yes, I am a member and it pays to join!

WOXY Prom

An effort to help out WOXY gain subscribers takes places as a re-prom but is also called Dot Com Prom. It takes place this Saturday Night at alchemize, 1122 Walnut street. Dig out your best duds, buy a corsage, and make like a wall flower in hopes of help great local Internet radio station WOXY.