With scattered squabbling around town that the last thing Omaha needs is a $300 million plus streetcar, Republican Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert now has the public backing of her four predecessors at City Hall, two other Republicans and two Democrats.

Republicans PJ Morgan, elected in 1989 and Hal Daub, elected in 1995 are joined by Democrats Mike Fahey, elected in 2001 and Jim Suttle elected in 2009, insisting along with Stothert, that a "modern" streetcar is a must—by the way Stothert beat Suttle in 2013.

The five jointly writing in the Omaha World-Herald: "Streetcars bring significant economic development to their communities and greater opportunities to the cities that build them. We believe a streetcar would create a more vibrant and prosperous Omaha. It would move us toward an Omaha that makes our young people want to stay here — and urges other people to build their lives here."

Last year when the streetcar was tied to the new Mutual of Omaha skyscraper NCN's Joe Jordan questioned Stothert:

NCN’s Joe Jordan: It wasn't that long ago in 2017 when you were running for your first reelection that you said if there was going to be a streetcar there be a vote of the people I don't hear a vote of the people in this message.

Mayor Stothert: And you know what I said Joe at that time was the city would not build a streetcar if it requires a citywide property tax increase. And I said if the public is asked to pay then they will be given the opportunity to vote. That's what I said and so the public is not being asked to pay, this is not a citywide tax increase. It is not a property tax increase, sales tax increase, occupation tax increase.

NCN’s Joe Jordan: If there was a vote of the people would it pass?

Mayor Stothert: I would certainly hope... I've got a sound finance plan that will work it'll pay for construction and operations so now is the time.

That finance plan involves big donations and so-called TIF money, allowing the city to build now-pay later, with money that joins the tax rolls in 15-20 years.

The five mayors write that the streetcar "literally" pays for itself: "The plan requires no city-wide tax rate increase, but instead generates funding to pay off the necessary infrastructure bonds through tax increment financing."