News from Omaha

[GRID]

It would sure look at lot better in a city like KC. KC needs a new modern tower badly to compliment the rest of the skyline which has not changed in decades. It just sticks out in Omaha but now two is better than just having one large tower.

Good for Omaha for having local companies committed to their downtown.

[missingkc]

Buffett on the Omaha streetcar:

https://www.thestreet.com/politics/bill ... iliar-face

"I seldom take sides on local issues," the billionaire wrote in his letter titled "Bring it to a vote." "Understandably, it can be off-putting to many to have a wealthy 92-year-old tell them what is good for their future. I’m going to make an exception on the streetcar issue."

"Public transit, it should be emphasized, makes sense as a matter of social equity. It requires subsidies, but it helps many," Buffett said. But streetcars, he added, "are expensive and have very limited utility."

"The population actually served is small and routes are inflexible. Residents can be far better served by extended or more intensive service by the bus system. As population, commerce and desired destinations shift, a bus system can be re-engineered. Streetcars keep mindlessly rolling on, fueled by large public subsidies. Mistakes are literally cast in cement."

[normalthings]

Their streetcar is being financed by extending their existing TIF Districts. The process is pretty far along and the ability to create and direct funds from TIF is established as an ability of city council.