Comments on: Miami Voters May be Asked to Consider Abandoning Transit Tax http://www.thetransportpolitic.com/2009/04/29/miami-voters-may-be-asked-to-consider-abandoning-transit-tax/ Sat, 11 Feb 2012 00:43:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Steven http://www.thetransportpolitic.com/2009/04/29/miami-voters-may-be-asked-to-consider-abandoning-transit-tax/#comment-1115 Steven Thu, 30 Apr 2009 11:31:03 +0000 http://thetransportpolitic.com/?p=2090#comment-1115 I really don't see it as such a horrible scenario as is being mentioned in the comment above. Realistically, with the corruption in Miami-Dade County hall, I sincerely doubt that they would actually repeal any form of money funneled into the county coffers. In reality, it was just one commissioner who proposed cutting the tax but I really doubt he would even get a second. Even then, it would have to go before the entire county for approval. Realistically, most in the county still believe in the intent and goal of the tax and understand the need for transit expansion in the county. The reality is though that nothing will be build as long as the county commission has any say in the matter. I really don’t see it as such a horrible scenario as is being mentioned in the comment above. Realistically, with the corruption in Miami-Dade County hall, I sincerely doubt that they would actually repeal any form of money funneled into the county coffers. In reality, it was just one commissioner who proposed cutting the tax but I really doubt he would even get a second. Even then, it would have to go before the entire county for approval. Realistically, most in the county still believe in the intent and goal of the tax and understand the need for transit expansion in the county. The reality is though that nothing will be build as long as the county commission has any say in the matter.

]]> By: Rick http://www.thetransportpolitic.com/2009/04/29/miami-voters-may-be-asked-to-consider-abandoning-transit-tax/#comment-1114 Rick Thu, 30 Apr 2009 03:32:32 +0000 http://thetransportpolitic.com/?p=2090#comment-1114 I'd like to see them try. It will play out just the way it did in Charlotte, NC in 2007. There will be an army of minions from APTA, Light Rail Now, and big money transit construction companies decending on Miami. Has a guy named nawdry shown up down there yet? He's a Light Rail Now hack out of Texas who shows up wherever anyone questions rail. Eventually they'll get some visits out of Todd Litman from Canada. Eventually, they'll hire a consultant to support keeping the tax. That person will get with the department of social services to gain access to the most vulnerable members of society and start scaring them into voting to keep the tax. They'll say kidney patients will start dying because they can't get to treatment. They'll tell the rich that their property tax will go up if they don't keep the tax and they'll tell the chamber of commerce that the city will grind to a halt if the tax is repealed. Best of all, they might promise the bus riders that keeping the tax and building rail will not impact bus service at all and that it can all be built for a half cent. The tax will be kept. A year or so later, bus service will be cut and they will be asking for another half cent to build more trains. That is exactly what happened in Charlotte - scare tactics and all. I’d like to see them try. It will play out just the way it did in Charlotte, NC in 2007.

There will be an army of minions from APTA, Light Rail Now, and big money transit construction companies decending on Miami.

Has a guy named nawdry shown up down there yet? He’s a Light Rail Now hack out of Texas who shows up wherever anyone questions rail. Eventually they’ll get some visits out of Todd Litman from Canada.

Eventually, they’ll hire a consultant to support keeping the tax.

That person will get with the department of social services to gain access to the most vulnerable members of society and start scaring them into voting to keep the tax. They’ll say kidney patients will start dying because they can’t get to treatment.

They’ll tell the rich that their property tax will go up if they don’t keep the tax and they’ll tell the chamber of commerce that the city will grind to a halt if the tax is repealed.

Best of all, they might promise the bus riders that keeping the tax and building rail will not impact bus service at all and that it can all be built for a half cent.

The tax will be kept. A year or so later, bus service will be cut and they will be asking for another half cent to build more trains. That is exactly what happened in Charlotte – scare tactics and all.

]]> By: Juan Felipe http://www.thetransportpolitic.com/2009/04/29/miami-voters-may-be-asked-to-consider-abandoning-transit-tax/#comment-1113 Juan Felipe Thu, 30 Apr 2009 00:38:10 +0000 http://thetransportpolitic.com/?p=2090#comment-1113 Just a side note about something related to this: I have been looking at your "planned" and "under construction" pages as well as the "upcoming" list on the right side of the page, and there is no mention of the fact that the Miami Intermodal Center-Earlington Heights Connector (a 2.4-mile line connecting the existing Metrorail line to Miami International Airport) will have its groundbreaking ceremony this Friday. For details, please see: http://www.miamidade.gov/transit/releases/09-04-23-metrorail_airport_link.asp Thanks, Juan Felipe Just a side note about something related to this: I have been looking at your “planned” and “under construction” pages as well as the “upcoming” list on the right side of the page, and there is no mention of the fact that the Miami Intermodal Center-Earlington Heights Connector (a 2.4-mile line connecting the existing Metrorail line to Miami International Airport) will have its groundbreaking ceremony this Friday. For details, please see:

http://www.miamidade.gov/transit/releases/09-04-23-metrorail_airport_link.asp

Thanks,
Juan Felipe

]]> By: Steven http://www.thetransportpolitic.com/2009/04/29/miami-voters-may-be-asked-to-consider-abandoning-transit-tax/#comment-1112 Steven Wed, 29 Apr 2009 17:41:46 +0000 http://thetransportpolitic.com/?p=2090#comment-1112 Part of the problem in Miami is that the county commission stripped the power that the CITT committee had. Just recently, they all but eliminated the committee from exsistance. Part of the problem in Miami is that the county commission stripped the power that the CITT committee had. Just recently, they all but eliminated the committee from exsistance.

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