Listening to local radio news, it appears that Mayors Royce Pollard and Tom Potter have decided we will have Light Rail, like it or not and totally ignoring that we Clark county voters said NO!
As can be expected, both the Columbian and C-Trans support the move to shove Light Rail down our throats and even tries to fool us by telling us polls show strong support for the idea, neglecting to mention that of the 540 respondents polled, only 104 were from Clark County.
This is our elected officials ignoring the clear statement of Clark County voters when the idea was rejected by a 2 to 1 margin.
Portland’s Max Line, which is what we will be tied to, has been beset with crime and delays, it is an expensive and inefficient system being forced on us. Outgoing County Commissioner, Betty Sue Morris admitted as much in her final State of the County speech this past February.
Still, we know we need to replace the aging I-5 Bridge to unsnarl the bottleneck seen on it twice daily. But, will the proposals accomplish that? Don’t bank on it.
The proposed replacement bridge will consist of 3-lanes in each direction, what we have now. Of course, Light Rail will be an additional lane, even though few people use public transportation into Portland now.
Estimated cost is over $4 Billion, including Light Rail. Eliminate Light Rail and that estimated cost is drastically reduced.
Once we have Light Rail along with a new bridge, we can expect tolls on the aging I-5 Bridge, the I-205 bridge and the new bridge once completed. Add to that taxes will undoubtedly go up as Light Rail will draw few riders and will require heavy subsidies by us, either in yet another sales tax increase or property tax increases.
Light Rail riders will pay as little as possible, to try to draw riders and we taxpayers will pay for it, just as we do now with nearly empty C-Trans buses in North County.
Once operating we can expect the criminal element that has been preying on Portland’s Max riders to make it into Clark Counties Light Rail and prey on our citizens too.
Portland politicians embrace proposed tolls as a means to discourage Clark County’s commuters from driving into Portland. That so many work there and pay Oregon taxes without any voice is ignored as Portland’s Mayor Tom Potter spoke to KPAM 860’s Bob Miller just this morning (downloadable MP3 at 06/25/08 – Mayor Potter endorses new I-5 bridge) and admitted it is a move to “force people out of their cars.” (about 8:30 into the interview)
Did we elect these people to “force” us out or in to anything? Are we no longer the Land of the Free with freedom and liberty for all? Is this “representative government” when they intend to “force” us to do their bidding?
We aren’t being given a chance to reject this, as both Potter and Pollard know the voters don’t want it. The Mayors and Commissioners have rejected us voters as they have decided to shove this down our throats, like it or not.
We can’t reject it, but we can reject those forcing it upon us by voting them out of office next time up for reelection and calling, emailing or writing to them and telling them all where to shove their Light Rail proposals!
Let them know they work for us, not the other way around.
Tell them WE DON’T WANT THE LIGHT RAIL. We want a third bridge!
