As the Cincinnati Streetcar prepares to take its first real trip around the Queen City’s downtown, would a future phase include Northern Kentucky?
The Covington Business Council is hosting an All-Star panel discussion at its monthly luncheon on Thursday, January 21.
Topics include:
- How will the streetcar benefit Cincinnati?
- Is it something that Northern Kentucky’s River Cities should be exploring a connection to?
- Is this what the next wave of residents want in an urban core?
Panelists include Cincinnati City Councilman Chris Seelbach, former Cincinnati Mayor Roxanne Qualls, and transit activist John Schneider.
“We all know what a hot button issue the Cincinnati Streetcar is, so as it comes to fruition, what does it mean for the Queen City, and what could it mean for Northern Kentucky? That’s what we’ll explore at this luncheon,” said Pat Frew, executive director of the Covington Business Council. “Cincinnati’s redevelopment success has proven to be a successful model for Northern Kentucky to complement and as we see success with connectivity through initiatives like Cincy Red Bike on both sides of the river, a discussion about the streetcar makes sense, too.”
The Covington Business Council, which serves as an advocate for the downtown business community, hosts a luncheon each month at the Madison Event Center.
The cost is $15 for CBC members and $30 for non-members and includes a buffet lunch. Networking begins at 11:30 a.m. and the program runs from noon to 1 p.m.
BIOS OF PANELISTS:
Chris Seelbach – A Cincinnati city councilman currently serving his second term, Seelbach is a supporter of the Cincinnati Streetcar project. A native of Louisville, Seelbach lives in Cincinnati’s Over-the-Rhine neighborhood with his partner Craig Schultz and their four cats.
In 2004, he was active in the campaign to repeal the anti-gay Article XII item from the city charter, and since his election in 2011, has been named a “New Power Player” by Cincinnati Magazine and a “40 Under 40” by the Cincinnati Business Courier in 2012.
Roxanne Qualls – A former mayor of Cincinnati, Qualls was first elected to city council in 1991 and served as mayor from 1993-1999. She has served as a fellow at Harvard University and as a visiting professor at Northern Kentucky University, and holds a master’s degree from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. Qualls returned to city council, elected to 2-year terms in 2007, 2009, and 2011. She is a supporter of the Cincinnati Streetcar project and currently serves as assistant to the provost for civic affairs at Xavier University and is a Realtor with Sibcy Cline.
John Schneider – A vocal supporter of the Cincinnati Streetcar project, Schneider is a longtime resident of downtown Cincinnati. He has led more than two dozen delegations to Portland, Oregon so that locals could see and understand the impact of a streetcar in an urban area. In 2002, he helped lead the campaign that was known as MetroMoves, a $2.7 billion transportation plan that included a 60-mile light rail system and a $100 million extension of bus service. He is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati and has lived in downtown Cincinnati since 1976.
Covington Business Council
Why is Northern KY trying to be Cincinnati? We have strengths of our own and do not need to emulate our northern neighbors with the trials we have seen them encounter. We simply do not need a streetcar in our area. We already have TANK/ Southbank shuttle and even the duck. Public transportation around NKY is fine. And heck if a person would want to go to Cincinnati they can find a way. We do not need the streetcar. It is a bloated project appealing to the hipster mentality. Let Cincy keep it.