The city where big ideas come to die.

Does this sound familiar?  It's happening all over the country - same reasons, same retorts. Cities all over are going to die!

New mayor Cranley forges ahead to stop streetcar | Cincinnati.com

John Cranley became Cincinnati’s mayor Sunday – an achievement he barely paused to enjoy as he pushed forward on his campaign promise to bring a quick halt to streetcar construction.

He and the new anti-streetcar City Council were sworn in twice – first in a quick, official City Hall ceremony, and then with a bit more pomp at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.

Neither Cranley nor any of the nine council members said the word “streetcar,” but the $133 million project loomed large, with committee and council votes expected Monday to at least temporarily halt construction.

“The question is not if we can solve the big problems, but what questions will the leaders of this generation step forward to solve,” Cranley said at the Freedom Center swearing-in. “Let us focus less on building objects for the few and more on building opportunity for all people.”

The Mount Lookout attorney received nearly 58 percent of the vote against fellow Democrat Roxanne Qualls on Nov. 5 with his promise to stop the streetcar and the 30-year lease of the city’s parking system. Detractors have pointed out that only 29 percent of voters turned out.

Democratic Councilman Chris Seelbach, a streetcar supporter who is shaping up to be Cranley’s most outspoken foe on council, warned of the possibility that “Cincinnati will become known as the city where big ideas come to die.”

Between the two swearings-in, hundreds of people gathered at Washington Park and along the proposed 3.6-mile streetcar line to show support for the streetcar. The newly formed group We Believe in Cincinnati announced that a petition drive for a referendum would start as soon as any anti-streetcar measures are passed.

Maneuver could mean quick stop to streetcar

However, their hope to force streetcar construction to continue while they collect signatures might not pan out.