Media Alert

COLUMBUS CITY COUNCIL MEDIA ALERT   For Immediate Release: November 09, 2010   For More Information: John Ivanic, (614) 645-6798 Web – Facebook – Twitter

 

 

Councilmember A. Troy Miller to Host Public Hearing on

Health Care Legislation

 

 

WHO:
Councilmember A. Troy Miller

 

WHEN:
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
5:00 pm

 

WHERE:
Columbus City Council Chambers

City Hall, 2^nd Floor

90 West Broad Street

Columbus, OH 43215

 

Councilmember A. Troy Miller, chair of the Administration Committee, will hold a public hearing on proposed legislation to allow the City of Columbus to comply with all federal and state health insurance guidelines.  The hearing will also discuss proposed language to offer health insurance coverage to eligible dependents of Columbus city workers.

 

 

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USDOT Secy Lahood letter to John Kasich on 3C

This letter dated Nov. 9, 2010 from USDOT Secretary Ray LaHood to Gov.-elect John Kasich....

http://freepdfhosting.com/37ba48ffbe.pdf

...was accompanied in an e-mail with this information from the USDOT regarding stimulus spending for transportation projects in Ohio....

___________

Background: In addition to the $400 million in Recovery Act funds awarded to Ohio for high-speed rail, the Recovery Act has provided Ohio with more than $1.1 billion for road, bridge, transit, and airport projects across the state. These Recovery Act funds have helped fund 492 transportation projects for Ohio, including:
o $919.9 million for 395 road and bridge projects
o $181.7 million for 44 transit projects
o $24.4 million for 5 airport projects

Olivia Alair
Press Secretary
U.S. Department of Transportation
Office: 202-366-0100
Olivia.Alair@dot.gov

_____

Ken Prendergast
Executive Director
All Aboard Ohio
12029 Clifton Blvd., Suite 505
Cleveland, OH 44107
(216) 288-4883 cell
kenprendergast@allaboardohio.org

www.allaboardohio.org

As boomers age, 1 in 5 drivers will be oldsters

How timely this article is! Last month, my 80-year-old mother who lives in a SW Cleveland suburb could not attend the funeral of her brother in Cincinnati because Ohio does not have trains. She couldn't drive as the last time she drove long-distance she fell asleep at the wheel and hit a guardrail. So the only option for her was to get to downtown Cleveland to catch the 4:30 a.m. Greyound to Cincy, which wasn't an option. Had there been a train that left SW Cleveland at 7 a.m. and got to Cincinnati by noon, as proposed, she could have attended her brother's funeral. We may not all be poor or disabled, but we will all get old...
_________________

Nov. 9, 2010
As boomers age, 1 in 5 drivers will be oldsters
By JOAN LOWY, Associated Press Joan Lowy, Associated Press

WASHINGTON – Remember "The Little Old Lady from Pasadena"? Baby boomers who first danced to that 1964 pop hit about a granny burning up the road in her hot rod will begin turning 65 in January. Experts say keeping those drivers safe and mobile is a challenge with profound implications.

..."For many, our homes will not be just a place to age, it will also be house arrest," said Coughlin.

A 40-year-old needs 20 times more light to see at night to see than a 20-year-old, Coughlin said. Older drivers generally are less able to judge speed and distances, their reflexes are slower, they may be more easily confused and they're less flexible, which affects their ability to turn so that they can look to the side or behind them.

"As people get older and lose the ability to drive, they narrow and narrow their circle of friends and their circle of activities until it gets to the point where they are housebound and they don't move at all," Rosenbloom said.

READ MORE AT:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101109/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_aging_drivers

 

Ken Prendergast
Executive Director
All Aboard Ohio
12029 Clifton Blvd., Suite 505
Cleveland, OH 44107
(216) 288-4883
kenprendergast@allaboardohio.org
www.allaboardohio.org

Gov.-elect Kasich letters to Strickland, Obama

The scorched-earth campaign against Obama for 2012 is now underway in Ohio. Mission: Destroy the economy of swing-state Ohio, eliminate energy-efficient travel choices in advance of global petroleum shortages which the Pentagon says will start in 2012, then blame the president for both.

 

Copies of both letters are below.....

 

November 8, 2010

 

Ohio Governor Ted Strickland
Riffe Center, 30th Floor
77 South High Street
Columbus, OH 43215-6108

 

Dear Governor Strickland,

 

I am writing to request that you immediately cancel all contracts relating to your passenger rail program in the most cost-effective manner possible, and that you spend no additional taxpayer money on this program.

 

As you are aware, I am opposed to this program and will terminate it upon taking office. Given that, I am sure that you will agree that it would simply be wasteful to spend any additional money on this program. At a time when Ohio is facing an approximately $8 billion budget shortfall, every step should be taken to eliminate waste and prevent unnecessary spending. While there are remaining legal issues concerning the contracts themselves and the funds appropriated in execution of these contracts, in light of the fact that they allow for their termination without the state incurring their full cost, the sooner that you terminate them the more money Ohioans will save.

 

I realize that we disagree on this issue, but I am confident that you and your Administration will respect my request and take the steps that are in the best interest of Ohio taxpayers.

 

Thank you in advance for your prompt attention to this request.

 

Sincerely,

 

John Kasich
Governor-elect of Ohio

 

___________

 

Here's the letter to Obama:

 

November 8, 2010

 

President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

 

Dear President Obama,

 

I am writing to inform you that I upon taking office as governor of Ohio on January 10, 2011, I will terminate work on Ohio's passenger rail project, the "3C-QuickStart" program. Further, I have asked Ohio Governor Ted Strickland to immediately terminate all contracts related to Ohio's passenger rail project which received $400 million in federal funding through the High Speed Intercity Passenger Rail Program (HSIPR).

 

Passenger rail is not Ohio's most pressing infrastructure concern at this time. Instead, Ohio's existing freight rail and highway transportation infrastructure has significant upgrades needs. Therefore, I request that you make provisions for the $400 million to be used to support other vital transportation infrastructure projects in Ohio.

 

In the event that you cannot accede to my request, I ask that you take no actions to spend the funds allocated to Ohio so that these funds can go toward reducing the federal government's $1.4 trillion deficit.

 

Thank you in advance for your attention to this request.

 

Sincerely,

 

John Kasich
Governor-elect of Ohio

Meeting Highlights 11-8-10

COLUMBUS CITY COUNCIL MEETING HIGHLIGHTS   For Immediate Release: November 8, 2010   For More Information: John Ivanic, (614) 645-6798 Web – Facebook – Twitter

 

Keeping Columbus’ streets and highways safe:  The Columbus Division of Police will receive assistance with help from a grant from the Ohio Traffic Safety Office (OTSO) in covering the cost of overtime when officers work during high traffic periods.  The OTSO works to reduce traffic-related crashes to save lives and reduce injuries and economic loss.  Ordinance 1536-2010, sponsored by Safety Committee Chair Andrew J. Ginther, allows the City to spend $100,326.31 for the High Visibility Enforcement Overtime 2011 project.   This project will target reducing fatal crashes by strict enforcement on speed, aggressive driving behaviors, OVI, seatbelt violations and driver inattention within the Interstate system within the City of Columbus and major arterial streets during specific holiday and national mobilization periods.

 

WORKING TO PREVENT BASEMENT BACKUPS:  The Department of Public Utilities (DPU) is working to prevent the backup of sanitary sewer systems into Columbus homes.  Ordinance 1422-2010, sponsored by Utilities Committee Chair Eileen Y. Paley, will authorize the contract modification in the amount of $700,000 for the Clintonville Private Source Inflow and Infiltration (I/I) Project.  Construction includes the installation of approximately 120 private sewer laterals as well as the installation of cleanout, point repairs, and lateral tap lining which will help prevent water backup and overflow in homes.  The contract modification is necessary to expand the project to accommodate the participation of more homeowners than were initially part of the project.    

 

PROVIDING EFFICIENT TRASH COLLECTION FOR COLUMBUS RESIDENTS:  The Division of Refuse Collection is responsible for trash collection throughout the city of Columbus.  The Division utilizes 96 gallon containers in its mechanized collection system.  These containers are distributed to new residents and are also used for replacement parts.  Public Service Committee Chair Hearcel F. Craig is sponsoring ordinance 1497-2010 to authorize the expenditure of $310,759 for the purchase of mechanized containers and container parts.  The city collects trash from more than 320,000 households each week.  The mechanized system makes trash collection safer for collectors, faster for residents and more cost effective for the city.

 

FIGHTING TRUANCY:  Recognizing that truancy is often times a gateway activity to more serious criminal behavior, the Columbus Division of Police continues to work with various agencies to combat the problem.  Health and Human Development Committee Chair Charleta B. Tavares is co-sponsoring, along with Councilmember Ginther, ordinance 1568-2010 to authorize the Director of the Development Department to amend the Truancy Intervention Program contract with the YMCA of Central Ohio by extending the termination date to December 31, 2010.  The modification is a procedural step and has no fiscal impact.  The YMCA works with the Columbus Public Schools to reduce truancy.  Columbus Police officers who catch students skipping school transport the minors to designated Truancy Centers.

 

MILLER HOLDING PUBLIC BRIEFING TO DISCUSS HEALTH INSURANCE BID PROCESS:  Columbus City Councilmember A. Troy Miller, chair of the Administration Committee, will hold a public briefing on Tuesday, November 9, 2010 at 5:00 p.m. in City Council Chambers to explain the health insurance bid process used by the City of Columbus before contracting with a service provider. The meeting will be broadcast live on city government television channel C-TV.

 

FUNDING the MUSIC IN THE AIR program:  For the past 38 years, Columbus families have enjoyed free outdoor concerts and dance in city parks through the Recreation and Parks Department’s Music in the Air program.  The program features the finest local, national and international artists in music and dance. Recreation and Parks Committee Chair Priscilla R. Tyson is sponsoring ordinance 1535-2010 to appropriate $233,000 from the Recreation and Parks Grant Fund to pay for various staffing costs associated with the operation of Music in the Air program during the 2010 season. Funding for the program is provided through grants and donations each year. 

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Andrew Cuomo Wouldn't Mind Some Extra Federal Money

Andrew Cuomo Wouldn't Mind Some Extra Federal Money
By Reid Pillifant
November 5, 2010 | 2:54 p.m

In his first act as governor-elect, Andrew Cuomo just issued a press release saying he wouldn't mind sopping up some federal money from other states.

Cuomo wrote a letter to Transportation Secretary Ray Lahood asking to be considered if newly-elected governors in Ohio and and Wisconsin turn down the money, as they've pledged to do.

"High speed rail is critical to building the foundation for future economic growth, especially Upstate. If these Governors-Elect follow through on their promises to cancel these projects, a Cuomo Administration would move quickly to put the billions in rejected stimulus funding towards projects that would create thousands of good jobs for New Yorkers," Cuomo said in the release.

READ MORE AT:
http://www.observer.com/2010/politics/andrew-cuomo-wouldnt-mind-some-extra-federal-money

 

 

 

Ken Prendergast
Executive Director
All Aboard Ohio
12029 Clifton Blvd., Suite 505
Cleveland, OH 44107
(216) 288-4883
kenprendergast@allaboardohio.org
www.allaboardohio.org

Here is why Ohio passenger rail MUST be saved!

Is now really a good time to derail the development of an energy-efficient mode of transportation in the Midwest's busiest travel corridor between metro areas? To me, derailing 3C is akin to shunning a lifeboat in the face of this looming, iceberg-sized threat to our delicate economic security....

 

 

US military warns oil output may dip causing massive shortages by 2015
Terry Macalister
guardian.co.uk, Sunday 11 April 2010 18.47 BST

The US military has warned that surplus oil production capacity could disappear within two years and there could be serious shortages by 2015 with a significant economic and political impact.

The energy crisis outlined in a Joint Operating Environment report from the US Joint Forces Command, comes as the price of petrol in Britain reaches record levels and the cost of crude is predicted to soon top $100 a barrel.

READ MORE AT:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2010/apr/11/peak-oil-production-supply

 

 

 

09/01/2010
'Peak Oil' and the German Government
German Military Study Warns of a Potentially Drastic Oil Crisis
By Stefan Schultz

A study by a German military think tank has analyzed how "peak oil" might change the global economy. The internal draft document -- leaked on the Internet -- shows for the first time how carefully the German government has considered a potential energy crisis. The term "peak oil" is used by energy experts to refer to a point in time when global oil reserves pass their zenith and production gradually begins to decline. This would result in a permanent supply crisis -- and fear of it can trigger turbulence in commodity markets and on stock exchanges.

READ MORE AT:
http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,715138,00.html

Goldman Sachs predicts oil price jump
Posted by ali on October 15, 2010 in Business

Global investment firm, Goldman Sachs Group, says oil prices will "substantially" rise in the second half of 2011 and 2012, as global inventory surplus is exhausted.

READ MORE AT:
http://dailymessenger.com.pk/business/2010/10/15/goldman-sachs-predicts-oil-price-jump/

Alaska's untapped oil reserves estimate lowered by about 90 percent
October 27, 2010|By the CNN Wire Staff

The U.S. Geological Survey says a revised estimate for the amount of conventional, undiscovered oil in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska is a fraction of a previous estimate.

READ MORE AT:
http://articles.cnn.com/2010-10-27/us/alaska.oil.reserves_1_undiscovered-oil-national-petroleum-reserve-exploration-wells?_s=PM:US

 

 

 

2010 October 10 Sunday
QE2 To Cause Oil Price Surge That Suffocates Economy?

If QE2 is enough to cause a large oil price spike then a real economic recovery will cause an even larger price spike. When I look at trends in global production and Asian consumption growth I do not see where the US can get the oil needed for economic growth.

 

 

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Ken Prendergast
Executive Director
All Aboard Ohio
12029 Clifton Blvd., Suite 505
Cleveland, OH 44107
(216) 288-4883
kenprendergast@allaboardohio.org
www.allaboardohio.org