September 12th, 2011
By Kevin Osborne |
Politics/Issues |
Posted In: 2011 Election, City Council, Streetcar, Public Transit
Seelbach Calls for COAST Resignation
By now anyone who's interested in Cincinnati politics probably has heard about the insensitive and over-the-top comment posted Sept. 11 on Twitter by a leader of an anti-streetcar group.
Mark Miller, treasurer for the Coalition Opposed to Additional Spending and Taxes (COAST), posted the following:
3% of FDNY died 10 yrs ago by terrorism. Today Cincinnati lost 17.5% of fire companies by brownout to pay for a streetcar. Which is worse?
Leaving aside Miller's factual inaccuracies (no brownouts were caused by diverting funds to pay for the proposed streetcar system), any reasonable person can definitively tell Miller which is worse: The large, horrible loss of life on Sept. 11, 2001 — not the political battle brewing in Cincinnati.
“Invoking 9/11 was a mistake. It was stupid. That was insensitive. And I apologize,” Miller told The Enquirer today.
Chris Seelbach, a Democrat who is a first-time candidate for Cincinnati City Council, said the apology is insufficient and Miller should resign from his post.
“This language is exactly what’s wrong with politics today,” Seelbach said. “I will not stand idly by and let others denigrate the memories of courageous firefighters who died on 9/11.”
Seelbach noted that he's pledged to bring back the civility shown by his former boss, the late Vice Mayor David Crowley, who was an ardent opponent of extreme and hateful speech.
“In the spirit of my former boss, mentor and friend, former Vice Mayor David Crowley, it’s time for Mark Miller to step down and for COAST to end this kind of distasteful and divisive rhetoric,” he added.
It was WAY more than insensitive. Anything that uses the horrific events of 9/11 to advance a political agenda incites anger and violence. He should step down immediately because we don't need that kind of ugly & shameless politics in Cincinnati.
What is the hubhub. For Cincinnati to have a streetcar is a insane idea to start with. Cincinnati cannot pay its bills let alone any extra goodies like a streetcar that most people will not ride. The criminals will just love the streetcar since that way they can get away easier from there crimes. It is time for this area to wake up and smell the coffee for a change. BTW I do not agree with Mr. Miller in regards to making a reference to New York but I believe this statement was made in a moment of passion to just compare the fire departments situation in Cincinnati. If they have money for the streetcar it should go to make sure the firemen and there stations (house) do not have brownouts and not be open to serve the public.
For the umpteen millionth time, the funds to build the streetcar can ONLY be used for capital transportation projects. They CANNOT be used for the operation of any city department. Now the tax revenue generated by the investment that will follow the streetcar CAN be used for those purposes so based on your criteria, you should be in favor of building the streetcar.
I think "Mike Johnson" is really Mark Miller.
streetcar opposers are a funny bunch. first, the streetcar akes no sense becuase you can walk the route faster. now, its a bad idea because criminals will use it as a super fast getaway from the crime scene? lets see, how do we catch this guy? walk alongside the car until the next stop. foolishness.
OK fine you are one in favor of the street car. Why not fund the streetcar with funds from the burning of out of state toxic waste, yea the stuff comes in by the truck load day and night. Even building large storage for it near guest st plant...I mean someone should profit from the pollution ans posoin that's bound to spread through out the West side. Just a Random Thought.
How much has the city spent on fighting lawsuits from COAST? Couldn't that money have been used to prevent some of the fire brown-outs? Doesn't that make COAST worse than 9/11 using their logic?
Mike, You're letting COAST's misinformation form your opinion. No money spent on or allocated to the streetcar project can be used to keep fire stations open or pay firefighter salaries. The money that has been spent on or allocated to the streetcar comes from the City's Capital budget, which by law can not be spent on operating expenditures. The Operating budget (the one with the deficit) is what pays the firefighters. The City can not, again, by law, transfer funds from the Capital budget to the Operating budget.