Once again we witness a group of Clark County citizens filing a lawsuit against C-Tran over their moving ahead with plans for Bus Rapid Transit after voters overwhelmingly voted down a funding measure for construction of BRT.
Two years ago this blog raised the question Voters Slap Down CRC & C-TRAN, But Will It Matter? and wrote of subsequent efforts by C-Tran to Bypass Voters on BRT and LRT to see them moving ahead with an approval of BRT this past April.
I was not included in the loop on this lawsuit, only receiving copies of the Summons and Complaint with no explanation or background on it. But it is obvious that a familiar group of names got together to seek an attorney to file it.
Commissioner Madore, not listed in the plaintiffs has made it known through his facebook “newspaper” page that this suit has been filed while claiming, “C-Tran sued by citizens for misappropriation of funds” and stating “The suit will likely prevent the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) from funding the BRT project until the alleged crime is settled” along with “I agree with the suit and will stand with Clark County citizens to uphold the law.”
Previous efforts in suing C-Tran have failed to stop the rogue agency from moving ahead, the CRC going comatose through efforts at denying funding at the legislative level.
But, as we have seen, it remains very much alive, although very quietly.
Staunch Madore critic and supporter of the rogue C-Tran agency, Ron Goodman said on the C3G2 facebook hate site, “Madore may well be contravening his fiduciary obligations as a board member, which could expose him to legal liability. The suit has ‘Madore’ written all over it. The references to voter’s pamphlets and C-Tran 20 Year Development plan are classic Madore arguments.”
Goodman adds, “Prediction: this suit goes nowhere. Madore’s malarkey is spreading thinner and thinner.”
This blog has no knowledge of any involvement by Commissioner Madore behind this suit, but will not argue the point.
Failed legislative candidate, Mike Briggs, another well-known Madore critic chimed in with, “Notice, John Ley, he is being maneuvered now to have another shot at the Legislature probably by appointment (if plans go well for the local Republicans). And Dan Coursey, Harvey Olson, Larry Patella, Tom Sharples, all very visible in Clark County politics” taking an obvious slap at the plaintiffs.
What any of that speculation has to do with this suit is beyond my ability to understand. But, that is Mr. 37% for you.
Will this suit actually accomplish what Madore hopes it will?
I remain skeptical of that as we have seen too often the will of the citizens thwarted by the like of Vancouver Mayor, Tim ‘the Liar’ Leavitt and others seated on the C-Tran Board of Directors that will spare no effort in undermining citizens.
I have long maintained that BRT down Fourth Plain has no useful function other than to link with Portland, Oregon’s financially troubled light rail extended into our community, also defeated numerous times by Clark County voters.
I do not oppose this suit, but won’t be surprised to see it fail, if it does. If it succeeds, I will be most pleasantly surprised.
The real way to stop this madness is a change in elected officials and I have to admit, I am completely baffled that voters, the same voters that have repeatedly refused every effort at forcing Portland’s ill-fated light rail into our community and refused to fund BRT keep returning to office the very scoundrels that continually ignore the will of the voters and keep moving ahead with this nonsense.
Then too, I am left perplexed as to why those that deem this blog and me as “irrelevant” also demand I cover matters they deem important instead of placing those demands on the CCGOP A-Team.
I now wait with bated breath at how the Lazy C and Lefty Lou Brancaccio will spin this in their usual manner.
