I don't understand what the main anti-rail reasoning is...
Is it cost?
Is it something about homeless people?
Is it simply because you wouldn't use it?
What's the main hangup here?
My only hang up is that I think it makes very little sense from a transportation perspective. I looked at blogs like Totola suggested, and I couldn't find anything beyond "perception" as reasons a streetcar makes more sense than busses.
It's a foot in the door approach to a rail system, which is more convenient than a bus system. Denver has now low speed/high speed rail, Mall Ride (Basically our version of streetcar) and a complex bus system that travels every block it seems and all are highly used.
In what way, exactly? Aside from it being free.
It will help development down there and then the light rail hub will be placed along that line in the future. Just like other cities have done.
bolstering development makes it more "convenient" than busses? 
From an article...
Streetcars have greater capacity than buses.
Streetcars can be more affordable than buses over the long term.
Streetcar tracks reassure riders they’re on the right route.
Streetcars stand out.
Streetcars are more comfortable to ride than buses.
Streetcars are economic development magnets.
Streetcars are quieter and cleaner than buses.
Streetcars are sometimes faster than buses.
Most streetcars have at least 3 doors, and many models have 4 or more. That means passengers at stations can load and unload faster, meaning streetcars can spend more time actually moving, and less time dwelling at stations waiting for passengers. Thus, when streetcars are not held up by other traffic, they’re faster than buses.
Streetcars attract more riders than buses.
For all these reasons, people who would never consider riding a bus will ride a streetcar. Operational details trump all else, but when every other detail is equal, rail attracts more riders.
Of course, buses are useful tools too, and are the right choice in many (in fact most) situations. Buses must be a major part of every city’s transit network, including both local and rapid bus routes. But buses are demonstrably different than streetcars. They have different characteristics, accomplish different goals, and are more appropriate in different places.
Bus advantages:
Buses are usually cheaper.
Buses can put more service in more places.
Buses are more flexible.
Buses can skip ahead.
