Middletown Town Hall with Josh Laubach

 

Lets explore your kennesyian economic theory and axiomatic viewpoint of downtown and Cincinnati State. You begin and conclude with pure speculation. That is where my point began. You state can, may, perhaps it may happen. Woukd you agree with the following. if not PLEASE enlighten me!

 

i) At this juncture, Cincinnati State has no idea what to forecast for no. of students attending nor what curriculum they will offer, yes, no, maybe?

ii) We have ni idea how emplyees will be here; 20, 1000, how many will commute right, or move?

iii)  We have ni idea WHEN Cicinnati State will begin to hold classes. It could be 2013, 2014, 2015, 2020? We don't know!

iv) Keynesian economics, law of supply and demand theory. Because we have some downtown that means we will have more expenditures? How much, what category? Books you say, food, paper, supplies? All provided by Cincinnati State---just like MUM has the food court. How does that translate to businesses downtown?

v) YMCA memberships---because there are breaks, we may have more uptick in Y memberships---how many?

vi) Renaissance area. How many houses will be built for those we have no idea are moving, and what impact does this have in Middletown?

 

These "macro generalities" have been ongoing for 6 months, with no idea when an answer will materialize.

 

vii) What if anything, could > $500,000 have been spent in alternative based upon the countless unknowns associated with thsi project?

 

May I assume these answers in detail were given at the meeting last night?   

acclaro--I see Cincy State as a "win" for the city, as the only possible option(at this time) to bring any life back to that portion of the city. As mentioned, students will need textbooks/supplies aprroximate to their classes--nourishment as they spend time in the area--and the entertainment distractions well-assoiated with student life(realize that this will not be a typical dorm/townie atmosphere). Nothing has worked in the area so far, from the current "stakeholders" and municipal approaches. Out-of-town thinking is the obvious next step. Hopefully this will also materialize with the PAC project eventually(I believe that our Mayor stated PAC to have used their allotment of taxpayer funding already). Unlike PAC with a once a month gathering, C St. would be a 5-6 day per week activity, probably from AM to PM. C St.students may well be older, family people, with current employment. Causing them to take evening classes and such. Could be an attractive draw that would bring into place city entrances from the W Middletown area and beyond, rt 4 from Liberty/Hamilton/Fairfield, and from the other end of rt.4 from Carlisle/Germantown. Down rt 73 from Franklin/Springboro, not to mention the locals who will not go on to be doctors,lawyers and executives.

 

so--then we can finally move forward to "fix" the rest of this city(which has been ignored for far too long).

 

jmo and hope at this point.

 

As for the very enjoyable MU-M music series from last year, I don't see anything of that scope up-coming with the loss of David Finkleman for an extended period. I have heard nothing about a venue change to MHS or any artists being booked. I was helpful in bring the series initially here, and advising on artist selection. That, and selling the concept locally, was the extent of my involvement . 99.9% of the credit should go to Howard Epstein & family, Mike Pratt and the Oxford brass who approved the project. It was much fun, a under-appreciated boost to the perception and ambiance of our community imo.

I would like to correct one thing. Universities do not supply books, paper or any other materials. Food at the MUM food court is subject to the same sales taxes as any other restaurant in town. The need for those books, paper and such would offer business opportunities in the downtown area to fill those needs.

I am not an economist, Keynesian or otherwise and as far as axiomatic (had to look that one up, lol), it's evident to me until we find out the specifics that nothing about this is self-evident other than we've bought the buildings. The benefits are all conjecture at this point.

 

Spider, you were there and didn't intro yourself; unless you did and I didn't realize who you were. Your recollection of Mr. Laubach's infrastructure statement is accurate.

 

Vet - I agree that the other members of council have shown no interest or support for this idea that I'm aware of. If they have, I'm sure we'll hear about it.  Mr. Laubach did say that he would prefer not to go the referendum route; he is correct that this should be a legislative issue decided by council. If citizens really want this and the council won't support it, the question becomes one of whether we can overcome apathy. I would not want to put money on that proposition.

 

I will do everything in my power, and would ask others for help, support, and facilitation after reading this, to bring busloads of people out to the polls that normally sit at home, to meet in the bursing and assisted living homes, with their grandchildren, and say, this must be defeated, because the city committed just like they did 5 years ago, they'd get than levy passed that did nothing to bebenfit the citizens, and made sure the fat cats remained fat.  

 

Heck, AJ Smith doesn't need to worry about a referndum, in Middletown they have done nothing, Salaries with a minor GDP adjustment, no pay cut, and no asking for a higher % all based on assuring the city workers, council will get that levy renewed. Whatever it takes to organize efefctively for a change, enough will be committed to roll back the tax to 1.5%.

 

What's the point of even discussing 2012, the precdent has already been set, other than now the sole focus on defeating the wasteful spending of ,25%, which will be pursued with zealous activity and purpose.