[pheaton]

Originally Posted by tones

I'm not talking about the money for the study -- it's the $250 million it will cost to put a streetcar in place that bugs me.

Oh. . you're mad about the street car. I see.

It is another one of those expensive upfront projects. It would be a waste of money if they didn't do it correctly. . Building a street car right now would be a waste, because the street cars would go nowhere of any value to anyone.

However, if they fix up certain areas like 13th and 24th street and as I mentioned Vinton. Make those areas destinations, then the potential for a successful, even profitable streetcar is within reach.

Maintenence and operation of the street car would create some jobs too.

Do we need it? No. Would it be kind of neat? Sure.

[tones]

Oh come on! We are talking about hundreds of millions of dollars this city doesn't have. There is the quest center bond, stadium bond, and sewer upgrade (1 billion for that alone). Go to 24th street -- is somewhat lively during the day -- but a few blocks east or west? You will see Graffiti, you will see boarded up windows, you will see junk in yards. It's a fact. I was there a month ago. It was sad and shocking. Now if the city were to give tax-breaks and land rights to a private company to come in and make the street-car happen - then I'm all for it. Fahey and now Suttle are spending like drunken sailors when it comes to these redevelopment schemes. Maybe the city could spend some money to donate home improvement items for the residents there -- let's see if they take the initiative to improve their homes if given a hand -if the people that live there can turn it around with a little help, maybe I'd see it differently- but dump $250 million + -

But I'm horrible. You can't say I'm wrong so you attack me personally. This is the tactic used by the left, try to brand anyone who doesn't agree as a bad person. So much for diversity (of opinion).

[pheaton]

Originally Posted by tones

Oh come on! We are talking about hundreds of millions of dollars this city doesn't have. There is the quest center bond, stadium bond, and sewer upgrade (1 billion for that alone). Go to 24th street -- is somewhat lively during the day -- but a few blocks east or west? You will see Graffiti, you will see boarded up windows, you will see junk in yards. It's a fact. I was there a month ago. It was sad and shocking. Now if the city were to give tax-breaks and land rights to a private company to come in and make the street-car happen - then I'm all for it. Fahey and now Suttle are spending like drunken sailors when it comes to these redevelopment schemes. Maybe the city could spend some money to donate home improvement items for the residents there -- let's see if they take the initiative to improve their homes if given a hand -if the people that live there can turn it around with a little help, maybe I'd see it differently- but dump $250 million + -

But I'm horrible. You can't say I'm wrong so you attack me personally. This is the tactic used by the left, try to brand anyone who doesn't agree as a bad person. So much for diversity (of opinion).

There is graffiti in many areas not just the areas being discussed; especially the closer you get to downtown. It's like a painting cycle, the graffiti gets bad, then it gets painted over and it's good again for awhile until it gets hit again. You probably went inbetween paintings . I see many older houses in this area and yes a few of them have boards on the windows because they get broken and the people don't have much money to replace them, so it's their only option.

Mostly the houses just look old, but they don't look abandoned or burned out or anything. I didn't notice large amounts of trash either? Is there a specific area you are talking about? I guess 24th is pretty long, maybe we aren't thinking about the same area.

I haven't attacked you, have I?

[Bosco55David]

Originally Posted by tones

24th street will be "Desitnation Don't Go Down There" no matter how much money they waste.

Not true at all.

This city has debt up the ying-yang for the Qwest center, new ballpark, and unfunded sewer mandate (a gift from the Democrats).

We have no debt from the stadium, and are we really going to complain about fixing the sewers so raw sewage doesn't spill into the river? Oh BTW that should have been done YEARS ago.

Originally Posted by tones

I'm not talking about the money for the study -- it's the $250 million it will cost to put a streetcar in place that bugs me.

Have you done any research into what street cars do for their communities? It's basically a no brainer.

Originally Posted by tones

Oh come on! We are talking about hundreds of millions of dollars this city doesn't have.

It's not paid all upfront. You realize that, right?

Go to 24th street -- is somewhat lively during the day -- but a few blocks east or west? You will see Graffiti, you will see boarded up windows, you will see junk in yards. It's a fact. I was there a month ago. It was sad and shocking.

So what?

Fahey and now Suttle are spending like drunken sailors when it comes to these redevelopment schemes.

What spending has Suttle done?

[pheaton]

Tones, you're not thinknig about north 24th are you? That is a different story entirely..

[tones]

Originally Posted by Bosco55David

Not true at all.

You say yes, I say no.

Originally Posted by Bosco55David

We have no debt from the stadium, and are we really going to complain about fixing the sewers so raw sewage doesn't spill into the river? Oh BTW that should have been done YEARS ago.

No debt from the stadium? Are you F-ing kidding me? The unfunded sewer mandate is going to cost a BILLION dollars. Where do you think all this money is going to come from? Do you believe it rains gumdrops and lollypops?

Originally Posted by Bosco55David

Have you done any research into what street cars do for their communities? It's basically a no brainer.

The problem with this is that there is no industry anymore. It's not like the planned route is going to be used to run workers back and forth between high paying manufacturing jobs. If the streetcar is going to be a way for busboys and dishwashers to get from their jobs and homes -- then it will be as wasteful as a 'bridge to nowhere'.

Originally Posted by Bosco55David

It's not paid all upfront. You realize that, right?

Paid upfront or not doesn't matter -- committing to the payment is committing to future tax burdens.

Originally Posted by Bosco55David

So what?

So what? (Destination Don't Go Down There) that's what.

Originally Posted by Bosco55David

What spending has Suttle done?

Remember the $40,000 SUV lease fiasco ?
Suttle needlessly increased the salaries of department heads by hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Suttle is hiring consultants and lobbyists in $19,999 increments to skirt the City Council.
Suttle's plans are even worse.

[Omaha Rocks]

Personally, I cannot see any benefit in a street car line running to South 24th Street. What could possibly be the benefit of that?

On the other hand, a street car line running 2 miles in all directions, from Downtown, would seem to make sense. It would make sense to have a line from the airport to downtown, from midtown in, etc.

But clear down in South 24th? What's the benefit there?

[tones]

Originally Posted by Omaha Rocks

Personally, I cannot see any benefit in a street car line running to South 24th Street. What could possibly be the benefit of that?

On the other hand, a street car line running 2 miles in all directions, from Downtown, would seem to make sense. It would make sense to have a line from the airport to downtown, from midtown in, etc.

But clear down in South 24th? What's the benefit there?

THANK YOU! Why give "mouth to mouth" to a dead horse?

[pheaton]

Originally Posted by tones

THANK YOU! Why give "mouth to mouth" to a dead horse?

You mean caballo muerto. (dead horse)

[Bosco55David]

Originally Posted by tones

You say yes, I say no.

No debt from the stadium? Are you F-ing kidding me? The unfunded sewer mandate is going to cost a BILLION dollars. Where do you think all this money is going to come from? Do you believe it rains gumdrops and lollypops?

We're talking about the stadium. Why are you bringing up the sewer issue? And yes, there is no debt from the stadium. We actually have a surplus because of it right now. If you don't believe me, go check out the budget (it's posted online) yourself.

The problem with this is that there is no industry anymore. It's not like the planned route is going to be used to run workers back and forth between high paying manufacturing jobs. If the streetcar is going to be a way for busboys and dishwashers to get from their jobs and homes -- then it will be as wasteful as a 'bridge to nowhere'.

That's not what street cars are about anymore.

Paid upfront or not doesn't matter -- committing to the payment is committing to future tax burdens.

Not true.

Remember the $40,000 SUV lease fiasco ?

Way over blown by the media and the actual number was much smaller.

Suttle needlessly increased the salaries of department heads by hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Which was down by reducing the amount of additional workers. He was also under his staff budget the last I heard.

Suttle is hiring consultants and lobbyists in $19,999 increments to skirt the City Council.

Perfectly legal and I support the causes he's hiring them for.

Suttle's plans are even worse.

Such as?