Omaha’s Crazy Developers

Western Residents Can Revolt

I remember when Taylor Royal ran against Mayor Stothert a few years back. He galvanized the concerns of West Omaha residents who wanted and needed better and expanded roads. He reminded people, downtown Omaha is not all of Omaha.

For those who do not know Omaha, the City is heavily politically and culturally divided, between east and west. Some say this boundary is at 50^th street, but many will say 72^nd street, but some may say it is now at 90^th Street. Also Omaha, in the eastern parts, is heavily divided by north and south along Dodge street. The divisions often baffle visitors and new residents.  Also, Omaha is one of those cities where people love to complain about potholes. But once those potholes are filled, people complain about speeding drivers. The end result is the potholes are replaced with speed bumps. Transportation in a city is a constant concern.

Anyhow, regarding the proposed streetcar, I am not 100 percent against the idea. I understand, it will create economic activity but it will mostly take such economic activity away from other parts of the City unless it is prudently designed. Right now, developers from Jay Noddle and Mutual of Omaha advocate for a streetcar because it will enhance investments in the area which they have ALREADY planned or hoped to do. The streetcar merely enhances the investment of these developers.

Many think I am being a cantankerous cynic, but I remember Omaha’s history. Decades ago, the Hilton Hotel company wanted to build a huge hotel in Omaha (https://www.omahamagazine.com/2012/12/25/304538/the-doubletree-building). The hotel cut off 16th street, cutting downtown Omaha from virtually all of northern Omaha. Those in Omaha may think I am bringing up a red herring issue, but Mayor Stothert and her administration have looked into doing something about the hotel (https://omaha.com/news/local/omaha-leaders-talk-of-tearing-down-or-tunneling-under-doubletree-hotel-reconnecting-16th-street/article_9646f9ad-9c59-5102-b032-e5a1f70a0724.html). Omaha should carefully evaluate grand plans and not fall for what developers want.

The streetcar, as currently proposed, will do more to divide the City instead of unite the City. I wish I was pulling this out of thin air, but I am not. Omaha has very inept people making decisions over public transportation. A Taylor Royal revolution may be in the making, but it will not be over a mere streetcar but numerous decisions of many government entities.

The Omaha Metro (public transportation entity) taxes all Omaha property owners but it mostly services areas east of 72^nd Street. They are happily pontificating at how great they are for providing free transportation to K through 12 students (https://www.ometro.com/press-releases/metro-extends-k-12-rides-free-program-through-summer/). Yet, no Westside High school student could possibly use such a program to go to school as there are no bus routes going near Westside High School (https://www.ometro.com/maps-schedules/map/)

Hey, you can point out how Rosa Parks faced racial discrimination on a bus, but at least she had a bus to ride on. The Westside High School students do not. This is why public transportation is seen as entrapment, a cage, and a restriction on freedom and rights. And the discrimination does not end with transportation.  There are still no buildings rising up in the old Crossroads mall area.