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Monday, July 6, 2009

"Trolley Petition" now "Pro-Vote Charter Amendment?"

STOP THE PRESSES! The "Trolley Petition" is now the "Pro-Vote Charter Amendment!"

The folks behind the Anti-Progress Charter Amendment that would change our City Charter to prevent the City from funding all passenger rail without first holding an election have been calling this dangerous proposal the "Streetcar Petition" or "Trolley Amendment" for some months now. Even though the language of the petition they are circulating clearly states that this charter amendment would affect ALL passenger rail, they continued to mislead Cincinnati voters by falsely arguing that this would only affect the proposed Streetcar.

Cincinnatians for Progress has been working to inform Cincinnati voters that this "Anti-Progress Charter Amendment," as we have been calling it, really does affect all passenger in the City, not just the Streetcar.

Well, now it seems that the folks behind this aren't so much concerned with preventing passenger rail from being built in Cincinnati, but just want to see voters have more say in the decision-making process of the City. So why focus only on passenger rail, a minuscule percentage of the City's budget? What about giving voters a say on roads, social services or funding for police and fire? Which is it?

Maybe there was more to it when COAST Treasurer Mark Miller said, "This is about much more than a stupid streetcar."

The naysayers behind this dangerous proposal need to start being frank with Cincinnati voters. This Charter Amendment will affect all passenger rail and it will start to turn Cincinnati government into a California-style of government, with an endless stream of referendums that has resulted in a deficit of $27 Billion and huge tax increases.

But at least the folks behind this have stopped calling it the "Trolley Petition." We still believe a more accurate description is the "Anti-Progress Charter Amendment."

posted by Cincinnatians For Progress at 8:48 AM

3 Comments:

john does Amsterdam said...: kinda funny how there's no one website that lays out what coast/naacp (a group who usually works FOR progress; not against) stand fore - exactly.

without the lame-o graphics and all the deceiving wording.
Anonymous said...: It's amazing how CFP is not critical of the people collecting signatures for casinos in Cincinnati. The NAACP/COAST coalition is giving citizens the opportunity to govern themselves...remember, "of the people, by the people, for the people." Some of the politicians in Cincinnati/Hamilton County seem to have forgotten that principle and think they are kings/queens. That simply isn't the case and the NAACP/COAST are proving that democracy works at the grass-roots level, even when the politicians stop listening to the people.
Anonymous said...: Anonymous 9:55,

If you are not happy with the politicians' decisions, you have the option of voting them out of office. The city spends a lot more money on other projects than they will spend on the Streetcar. Why isn't the NAACP and COAST fighting for our right to vote on those issues? The only reason is that COAST is anti-transit. They have never and will never support any rail plan, be it a Streetcar, light rail system, or state-wide commuter rail. They see the car as the only option, even claiming that roads are the only "democratic" method of transportation (as if we don't subsidize them). Although COAST says they want to give voters a choice on whether or not the Streetcar is built, they really only have one goal: taking away ALL of our choices so we are left with only one option, driving everywhere.

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"Trolley Petition" now "Pro-Vote Charter Amendment?"

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