If You Were Running for Mayor or Elected Mayor of Cleveland, Which Issues Would You Address? (Congress: neighborhood, casino)

[october2007]

Originally Posted by j_ws

25% of households have no car. That's not an insignificant amount.
(Vehicles per household for each Ohio city, census estimates | cleveland.com)

Most CMSD students also rely on RTA buses to commute to and from school.

RTA is currently in a traditional death spiral. Ridership is declining because funding and access are declining, which causes ridership to decline further.

Yes it does seem to be in a death spiral yet prices are due to increase next year. I still think if there was more frequent service there'd be more riders because it would be more efficient. Some of the routes are so long and they could possibly have only some of the buses do the whole route with the others doing just part of it so there would be more frequent trips - or at least running more frequently during peak times. Probably not going to happen.

[october2007]

Originally Posted by j_ws

Ohio has some of the lowest transit funding in the country. It's nearly impossible to compare it to a network like Seattle's where more funding is more accessible. (https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinna...t-funding.html)

I would like to see an ORCA card setup, though. However, I was also told that a lot of the contracts for transit system tap cards are nearing the end of the term, so I think it's possible mobile-based fares are really the future and not tap cards.

Why is the funding so low? I forgot about the mobile-based fares...I don't like using them but maybe that is where it's heading.

[QCongress83216]

Originally Posted by 1watertiger

lol that's funny! Better watch out kamms. George is going to " kick your ass" for posting that!
Back to topic. 1. Jobs, jobs, jobs
2. Crime. Hire more police. Besides high violent crime in the usual neighborhoods, police need to do a better job of keeping the new gentrified/developing areas under control. Ie- East bank of the flats has had trouble with rowdies, racing motorcycles and even a punk 4- wheeler. Not to mention packs of roving illegal riders all over the streets and the cops do nothing. The flats were ruined once by crime and it can easily happen again if the small problems are addressed.
3. Poverty,abandoned houses,litter,etc.. the problems are endless and easily cover half the city. Cleveland literally needs a 24/7 group of block residents for EVERY block in the city. Imo The only ones that can turn around these neighborhoods are the residents themselves.

I agree that Cleveland needs to address crime and poverty. If I was running, I would purpose more police in the street, but I would also encourage officers to interact with the communities they police as well to get to know the residents, and don't assume that all people live in a bad neighborhood are of that neighborhood. I would bring back the old Neighborhood Police Station, the mini-stations that were in neighborhoods. As far as the motor bike riders, I'm in the minority, but I actually support the ramp being built because it'll give them somewhere safe to do what they like to do instead being out in the streets endangering themselves or other people. Because not all of them are not criminals. The only thing law I would put in is they have to get a license and insurance just like you have to do with a car.

The vacant houses and land I would offer tax incentives, tax breaks or even low property taxes to the owners that rebuild the houses or build new houses or businesses. And, yes, Cleveland residents should have block groups, I would say get the business owners involve but I'm not sure they would want to get involve because a lot businesses are owned by people who don't live in the neighborhoods they do business in.

[j_ws]

Originally Posted by QCongress83216

The vacant houses and land I would offer tax incentives, tax breaks or even low property taxes to the owners that rebuild the houses or build new houses or businesses. And, yes, Cleveland residents should have block groups, I would say get the business owners involve but I'm not sure they would want to get involve because a lot businesses are owned by people who don't live in the neighborhoods they do business in.

It's very unfortunate that Cleveland's orgy of tax abatement basically skips over people who want to restore housing stock. It causes some houses to languish in areas like mine where there isn't much free land for new tax-abated construction but there are a lot of average houses that could use 40-50k in renovations.

In regard to block groups, these generally do exist in a lot of places. Ohio City and Detroit-Shoreway are pretty covered. Slavic Village and North Collinwood are increasing the numbers of active residents. I think they have a decent amount of active ones out in West Park/Puritas/etc. There are also merchant associations for W25th, Gordon Square, Clifton, and Madison. The Madison one sort of died out, though Cleveland Lumber does a great job of keeping that street looking decent.

I don't know how directly this trend translates to the East Side outside of UC, but I know parts of Glenville like East Blvd have strong resident networks which is a lot of the reason they look so good.

[andrew61]

Originally Posted by october2007

RTA should also implement the re-loadable monthly pass rather than having new ones every month, IMO.

Or just a simple "smart card" to which you can add whatever amount of money you wish, whenever you like, and just pay as you go for what you use. That worked great for me in Chicago. This system of all-day pass, seven-day pass, one-month pass is too burdensome for someone like me who uses RTA only sporadically. And paying cash doesn't work in the current system because there is no provision for transfers.

[october2007]

Originally Posted by andrew61

Or just a simple "smart card" to which you can add whatever amount of money you wish, whenever you like, and just pay as you go for what you use. That worked great for me in Chicago. This system of all-day pass, seven-day pass, one-month pass is too burdensome for someone like me who uses RTA only sporadically. And paying cash doesn't work in the current system because there is no provision for transfers.

Yes...the Orca card in Seattle and Charlie card in Boston (as well as others I'm sure) offer that feature. Then you don't have to worry about having the right change, it's faster when boarding and it's registered so if you lose it I think it can be cancelled and re-issued without losing money.

[Minervah]

Originally Posted by andrew61

Or just a simple "smart card" to which you can add whatever amount of money you wish, whenever you like, and just pay as you go for what you use. That worked great for me in Chicago. This system of all-day pass, seven-day pass, one-month pass is too burdensome for someone like me who uses RTA only sporadically. And paying cash doesn't work in the current system because there is no provision for transfers.

All these alternatives sound great. Maybe someday.

Until then have you ever tried the five ride pass? I buy several at the supermarket at once. You get five rides that's one ride each with unlimited transfers on each ride for two and a half hours. You can keep them unused for a year maybe more. The expiration dates are on the card.

[andrew61]

Originally Posted by Minervah

Until then have you ever tried the five ride pass? I buy several at the supermarket at once. You get five rides that's one ride each with unlimited transfers on each ride for two and a half hours. You can keep them unused for a year maybe more. The expiration dates are on the card.

Hmmm... I wasn't aware of that option. Just looked it up on the RTA website and it sounds like it might be the best option for me. Thanks for sharing!

[Minervah]

Originally Posted by andrew61

Hmmm... I wasn't aware of that option. Just looked it up on the RTA website and it sounds like it might be the best option for me. Thanks for sharing!

You're very welcome. These suit me just fine because I don't use RTA on a regular basis.

[october2007]

Ok now I think I'm ready for the Mayor to ban smoking in most public spaces and impose fines for not obeying! With actual enforcement. I was outside in Playhouse Square park for about an hour and left all stuffed up from breathing in cigarette smoke. Yuk. Then another day, sitting outside at Heinen's two people started smoking on their patio. Cleveland is pretty bad in this regard.