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.   

 

I do take one exception, although its impact on tax revenue I suspect is moot (as I am NOT a tax attorney or declare myself to be the cty auditor), small colleges and community two year programs indeed do have food courts run by the university or entity, cafeteria's, tsometimes outsourced (very typical for universities), and book stores. Oxford has both the Coop and a campus bookstore, and I believe MUM's is run by the university, but it could be outsourced. But, books, paper, candy, drinks, and calculators, are taxed.

 

The point to be made was: will this help a business downtown, or will someone open it, or will it be oncamus run by them (either way the sales tax is collected). I venture to say it will be within the Cincinnati State location.

 

But, the good news! Students will stop by UDF to fill up their Prius and stop in at Dillman's for the ham salad and other goodies, and may even grab a pizza out by LaRosa's. I personally prefer the Coop in Oxford over the university bookstore, they still carry the older Miami Redskin decal and better sweatshirts!  Hmmm.....would a Starbucks, Jmmy John's, and Chilpole's be a good investment downtown? Excuse me TonyB, I'm doingmy market research and targeted marketing using spot mapping.  

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 suspect Cincinnati State will have a student center (union), a cafetertia like MUM< a small rec room. I suppose those revenues are some how impacting Middletown in some fashion on taxation of sales. Books and all that, will be at Cincinnati State, no seperate Kennedy Bookstore or Coop like at Oxford. To date, we still have absolutely no idea on timing, curriculum, numbers of faculty, numbers of students, or any of that. But, your point is well made. It beats a "stick in the eye"; ergo, better than tearing down the rest of Middletown. I'm not quite as convinced on numbers moving or even driving to Middletown from Trenton, other areas. The culinary school has a fine reputation, virtually every other program is on parity with MUM, Miami Jacobs, Sinclair, and for those that don't know it....the best deal in the US is Ohio University's paralegal program for $1,000, done in a few months, vs Cincinnati State's two year program.

 

At the end of the day, I suspect State will focus heavily upon culinary and perhaps their green and IT programs.

 

You should have gotten credit for the great venue at MUM, more of that is needed to off-set the negatives associated with the usual press Middletown gets. It would be interesting why State chose Middletown over other suitors. i suspect it was a deal too good with incentives to pass up and they think they can turn the Manchester around, maybe use it for a cafeteria, and lodging. Too few details, too many questions, but you are rigt. Considering the stick in the eye, its a better option.        

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.