ARCHIVES 2009
12/29:
SAYING WHAT YOU MEAN...MEANING WHAT YOU SAY
A POP EDITORIAL
by
NORM ERICKSON
CLICK HERE: POP EDITORIALS
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ARTICLES ON CURBING GROWTH AND COMMUTER RAIL,
WHICH NEEDS TO BE SUPPORTED WITH GROWTH
CLICK BELOW FOR THE ARTICLES:
COMMUTER RAIL:
FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TRACKS
GROWTH:
Does the County know how to say no? Does the County know it can negotiate? State officials concluded the county has not demonstrated any need for growth and housing in that area and the wooded, remote location of the land makes it unsuitable for development. So why was it approved to begin with? Why was it recommended? It's not the developers and it's not a lack of rules or codes or Comp Plans....it's an unwillingness or inability (but probably both) of elected officials at the local and county level to follow those codes in a responsible manner...and permitting up to ten times more than what an applicant is allowed is not responsible in my opinion. This is a classic example of how a state with growth management laws has irresponsible growth and why it adopted the most stringent growth management practices during the 70's culminating in the 1985 Growth Management Act, yet it is for naught if the elected officials simply don't follow them or torture the language in mitagation deals to render the guidelines impotent.
Norm Erickson
12/28:
SunRail comes at high cost
By Paula Dockery Guest columnist
December 28, 2009
Congratulations, Central Florida, on SunRail.
Your political and economic leaders waged a herculean effort to secure this commuter-rail contract, believing it the best possible deal. I hope everything works out just as they've imagined.
For no matter what you've read, I'm a big supporter of rail transit and the need to diversify our transportation systems, where it makes sense.
I just don't believe that commuter rail should come at such an extraordinary cost, particularly in these tight times.
Keep your fingers crossed that Florida's deal with CSX Railroad — the most expensive rail sale in U.S. history — doesn't raise your taxes.
So that you know, Central Florida is obligated to pay hundreds of millions of dollars over the next 30 years, and no one has said where the money will come from. You deserve an answer.
And let's hope CSX freight engineers never cause an accident after we buy the tracks and allow them to use them for 12 hours a day.
Because if they do, you'll pay the bill. Florida has created dangerous public policy by agreeing to transfer the negligence of a Wall Street company onto the backs of Main Street businesses and families.
In the beginning, the pitch for SunRail was about congestion relief. But since the freight line doesn't go places people want to go — such as Orlando International Airport, the University of Central Florida, International Drive or Disney World — its first-year ridership was estimated at just 3,500 people, an estimate later revised without explanation to a still-paltry 4,300 people.
Let's hope the line doesn't become a white elephant that gives commuter rail a bad name.
Next, proponents argued that it would cost even more to widen Interstate 4 to carry the growing traffic. But since SunRail will take so few cars off I-4, plans exist to widen the interstate anyway.
Plus this deal says taxpayers must build CSX a railyard in Winter Haven that's expected to add another 1,500 big trucks a day to Central Florida roads. Let's hope those extra 18-wheelers don't make I-4 congestion even worse than it is today.
Finally, the pitch became about jobs. Without a doubt, Florida needs fertile ground that grows businesses capable of creating new jobs.
But did you see how the Florida Department of Transportation projected SunRail's fantastic job numbers? DOT Assistant Secretary Kevin Thibault put it this way: If it creates 200 jobs over 30 years, that adds up to 4,100 new jobs because different people might hold those jobs at different times.
Are you kidding me? This is the kind of fuzzy math that inquiring citizens have come to expect from FDOT, an agency that's gotten too cozy with private industry and gets too little oversight when spending your money.
It was disturbing to see FDOT officials — not those from CSX — lobby the Legislature to push this overpriced deal. As a state agency, FDOT is supposed to give information and negotiate on behalf of taxpayers, not lobby on behalf of a Fortune 500 company.
But this particular state agency spends tax dollars like play money, forgetting they come from your pocket.
Perhaps you've heard that my office made a public-records request for e-mails about the deal. Before the legislative vote, the agency could find just 121. But once the deal passed, it suddenly found another 8,037 e-mails, some with subject lines such as Pancakes and French Toast, including from the secretary herself.
We're wading through them now, but already it's clear: CSX is pulling the strings at Florida's transportation department.
In the end, special interests and the forces of development became too strong for those who sought a better deal for you, the taxpayers.
Nevertheless, I wish the best for Central Florida's commuter-rail system. I hope it succeeds despite the poorly negotiated terms of the contract.
I only wish we could be confident that our government had looked out for the taxpayers, not the special interests.
Paula Dockery is a state senator from Lakeland and a Republican candidate for governor of Florida
12/26:
Posted on Sat, Dec. 19, 2009
Nothing but trouble, debt behind rail bill
You've probably sat in the bleachers before, the nosebleed section, where you're barely aware of what's going on. That's OK for sporting events, but it costs you dearly in Florida politics, where special interests call the shots.
This month our Legislature agreed to a $1.2 billion commuter rail start-up by spending $641 million of our tax dollars for a rail corridor with an assessed value of $22 million, taking that property off the tax rolls, shifting liability for accidents from CSX to Floridians and saddling us with a financial liability for the ages.
Why?
Reportedly, so 3,500 people -- less than 2 percent of I-4 drivers -- will get off the road. That was the first sales pitch. It then changed to transit-oriented development -- don't we have enough vacant condos now? -- and finally jobs, jobs, jobs.
But there is no dedicated funding for annual operating deficits for this start-up, SunRail, and only $40 million in federal money has been approved; not the guaranteed $300 million carrot Congressman John Mica dangled to entice local officials to sign on. SunRail will use 19th century diesel locomotives with high noise and vibration levels; not the promised self-propelled rail cars. And CSX will run unlimited freight through the nighttime hours.
Gas-tax revenue of $15 million will only partially fund Tri-Rail's $40 million-plus annual operating deficit. Up in their mahogany bleachers was a mostly clueless Senate majority, oblivious to the details and costs, deciding all of this without considering the massive state budget deficit of $2.6 billion and the fact that Florida is borrowing $300 million per month from the feds to cover unemployment benefits, which, by the way, must be repaid.
Our local media must share responsibility for this fiasco. Rather than sit in the bleachers, they have been biased cheerleaders for the project selectively disseminating information and deliberately omitting salient facts that surely would have increased public opposition to the steep costs associated with SunRail.
Going forward, there is no relief in sight. Florida's population is declining. Services are being reduced or eliminated. Programs such as Florida Forever go unfunded. County and city employees are losing their jobs. Our educational system is failing. Very real bills will be coming due and, with revenues declining, it becomes a game of robbing Peter to pay CSX.
But the money will have to come from somewhere. That somewhere is you, the taxpayer, through increased fees, higher taxes or even a state income tax. If the Central Florida local governments choose to stay in the game, they must come down from the bleachers, understand the true costs and determine how their constituents and future generations will pay. The clock is ticking.
BETH DILLAHA, city commissioner, Winter Park
12/23: Orlando Sentinel Poll on Sunrail:
40% say "YES"...
48% say "NO"....too late
SUNRAIL IN WINTER PARK
READ ABOUT IT BY CLICKING BELOW:
COMMUTER RAIL: FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TRACKS
Orlando Sentinel
Volusia concerned about SunRail costs
December 18, 2009
VOLUSIA COUNTY — Officials still want to be part of the SunRail project but are concerned about the
long-term costs. The County Council voted 6 to 1 Thursday to sign the latest version of the joint
agreement for the commuter rail project, but County Manager Jim Dinneen said the county could
be responsible for more than the estimated $136 million originally estimated. Dinneen said the
cost of the DeBary station could be higher than anticipated.
12/20:
A Breach of Faith: Light Rail and Smart Growth in Charlotte
Click Here: CHARLOTTE LIGHT RAIL
SUNRAIL TAX TALK IS ALREADY STARTING:
VOTE FOR IT NOW...FIGURE OUT HOW TO PAY FOR IT LATER...READ THE SENTINEL'S EDITORIAL IN:
COMMUTER RAIL: MANNA FROM HEAVEN, SWEETNESS, LIGHT, AND OTHER PROPAGANDA
12/19:
Only now that SunRail has passed are there articles about funding, costs to taxpayers, hesitation, outrage, and inquiry. There will be a land rush before Hometown is voted through. The coverage in the papers and on tv has shifted.
It's all too late but makes the link "Commuter Rail: Manna from Heaven, Sweetness, Light and other Propaganda" all the more relevant.
Next up: fare prices that were sold to us will increase, as well as the cost for the project and perhaps a station will be dropped to save some money...
"They who imagine truth in untruth, and see untruth in truth, never arrive at truth, but follow vain desires." From the Buddha, The Dhammapada
WHAT'S HAPPENING TO THE GREATEST TRANSIT SYSTEM IN THE WORLD?
IT'S GOING BROKE...
CHECK OUT THE STORY BY CLICKING BELOW:
COMMUTER RAIL: FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TRACKS
12/18:
A sourced, documented overview of Smart Growth: POP Editorial by Norm Erickson
CLICK HERE: POP EDITORIALS
He said/He said:
Congressman Mica says Florida a finalist for high speed rail. DOT says not true.
By
Zack Stein December 18, 2009 4:16 WDBO Local News
While in town to bask in the glow of commuter rail passing in Florida, Congressman Mica had some breaking news for the board of Metroplan Orlando. But it may not be true.
Mica claims Florida is one of five finalists for federal high speed rail funds, based on a list he has. He says the others are Texas, Illinois, and two in California.
Mica says he wasn't sure our consideration was the line between Orlando and Tampa, or another project. But he says it still seems quite likely that Florida will receive federal funds for high speed rail.
But the DOT contacted WDBO late Friday and issued this statement: "Congressman Mica does not have a short list of high speed rail projects. The Obama Administration will make its announcement when we have finished evaluating all applications, not before then."
10 Billion for Commuter Rail...Crist avoids the question. Click below to watch the video:
10 BILLION FOR COMMUTER RAIL?
CLICK HERE: FEDERAL MONEY HAS YET TO ARRIVE FOR SUNRAIL
CLICK HERE: SUNRAIL TO COST LOCAL TAXPAYERS
County Council Sign on to...something for some amount of cost...details in the coming years...
December 18, 2009
Rail deal wins cautious support
Volusia council leery of $135M burden
DELAND -- The Volusia County Council cautiously renewed its commitment to the SunRail project Thursday with a one-year extension of an interlocal operating agreement.
Being one of five partners in the rail project could cost the county more than $135 million over 27 years, county officials estimate.
But the figures are only estimates and county officials said they are awaiting more concrete numbers from state officials. (Meanwhile, we'll just vote for something, for some cost, and see if we get some kind of return which will probably be: debt - Norm)
The vote to extend the agreement, while trying to retain some rights from previous agreements that address cost caps and other considerations, was not unanimous.
Councilman Josh Wagner was the sole opponent of the extension, but his fellow board members said they understood his position, as he was not on the Council when the original commitment to the project was made.
Wagner said to him, the project "does not make sense" for Volusia County when stacked against the costs. (Reading this sentence was like a lightening bolt in my Cheerios. Thank you, Mr. Wagner - Norm)
He also said he doubts the effort to retain certain rights in the original agreements -- which might allow the county to walk away if council members decide later to opt out -- will be effective.
"By signing on, we're signing on," Wagner said, to whatever the future of the rail project holds.
Though the group of council supporters decided to move forward in the process, which they hope will help to alleviate some congestion on Interstate 4 and spur economic development and tourism, concerns remain about the financial burden it will place on local residents.
"I still have serious reservations about how we'll pay for it," said Councilman Jack Hayman, and Councilwoman Pat Northey concurred.
But council members Joie Alexander and Andy Kelly said they believe the payoff will be worth the risks it in the end. (Payoff for 1-3% of the population at a debt of billions - Norm)
Kelly called SunRail an "opportunity of a lifetime" that he didn't want to miss. (The last time I heard about an "oppurtunity of a lifetime" it involved some land, a bridge, and the 4th or 5th planet from our sun - Norm)
And while the project will likely bring more benefit to residents in Orange and Seminole counties than those in Volusia, Councilman Carl Persis said he feared that walking away now could close the door on opportunities yet to be fully understood. (Yet to be fully understood...this article makes it clear why to vote "No" to this thing...Norm)
"I'm afraid there will be ramifications if we don't (proceed)," Persis said. (Wow! Ramifications...such as? I think I'll go make sure all of my horses still have their heads - Norm)
SunRail is planned to stretch 61 miles from DeLand to Osceola County, carrying passengers through Orlando. The first phase would be about 31 miles.
I thought it was about congestion:
Crist, calling the event "an A-letter day," said, "This is about jobs, jobs, jobs. If ever there was a time that we needed an infusion [of jobs] … this rail project makes our statement loud and clear."
Subsidies and Sweetheart Deals...already...
December 17, 2009
Governor should veto giveaways in commuter rail bill
Special interests won the day in Tallahassee last week. For two years, a coalition of my Florida Senate colleagues demanded that the Florida Department of Transportation renegotiate a sweetheart deal with CSX Railroad for a new commuter-rail line around Orlando.
But in last week's hastily called special session, a tidal wave of special interests overcame common sense -- and stuck you, the taxpayers, with the bill. If Gov. Charlie Crist signs this overpriced bill, as he said he will, Florida taxpayers will pay $10.5 million per mile of track. Compare that to Massachusetts, which will pay $1.5 million per mile for a similar project, or Warren Buffett, who just bought a railroad for $1.37 million per mile. Plus, once Florida buys the tracks and taxpayers start paying for maintenance and operations, the freight carrier will still get to use the line 12 hours a day! Worst of all: when freight accidents kill people on state commuter-rail lines, taxpayers will pay the bill.
I never imagined leading a fight against a commuter-rail deal. I'm an advocate of rail transit, and an early leader of private-public partnerships for high-speed rail. But as Ross Perot famously said, the devil's in the details and what the Legislature just passed is a terrible deal. Tell the governor to veto it. This deal says a Wall Street company can no longer be held responsible for its negligence -- horrible public policy.
I hardly recognize some of my fellow Republicans in Tallahassee these days. When did we become the party of big spenders, big government and corporate giveaways? Like most people, I assumed the state transportation department would be a tough negotiator when a Fortune 500 company approached with an offer to sell an asset, in this case, 61.5 miles of heavy freight track through Central Florida communities and back woods. But bad things happen when big-money interests meet behind closed doors with state officials who spend taxpayer money like free money. You can bet they'd drive a harder bargain were they reaching into their own pockets.
Supposedly, last week's special session was called to solve a problem for South Florida's Tri-Rail commuter-rail system, which runs through Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties. Tri-Rail is running a $40 million annual deficit, so the Legislature gave it a $15-million band-aid from extra gas-tax revenues. How does a one-time infusion solve Tri-Rail's need for a dedicated funding source?
Supposedly, too, this session was called to prove Florida is serious about rail and should be awarded federal stimulus dollars for high-speed rail. But nothing in the federal application said that to be competitive, Florida must first award Wall Street-style subsidies. Had this legislation truly helped Tri-Rail, forced CSX to take responsibility for its negligence and created a statewide rail vision without unnecessarily growing the size of government, lawmakers might have reached consensus. But an army of lobbyists made sure the bill passed as is, corporate giveaways intact.
Soon, the Legislature will go into regular session, where we face a $2.6 billion budget gap. My concern is ensuring that Florida doesn't pay the CSX bill by further taxing people who are struggling to keep their homes. Neither should the money come from education, criminal justice, or health and human services.
Republican State Sen. Dockery lives in Lakeland.
WHERE ARE WE GETTING OUR RAIL CARS?
FLASHBACK ONE YEAR AGO:
12/31/08:
Just in before 2008 closes:
Colorado Railcar Manufacturing FAILS
This was the company selected to build our "double-deckers" and we've already paid twenty million dollars.
Read the articles from the Oregonian by clicking
on the links below:
Company behind TriMet WES railcars fails
and this one where Florida is discussed in Portland:
Posted by CFCRjoke on 12/21/08 Guess what!
Congressman John Mica from Florida has also ordered Colorado Railcar cars for its Central Florida Commuter Rail. This commuter rail hasn't even been approved yet by the Florida legislature because of liability demands by CSX Rail which the commuter rail would share tracks. The Florida Department of Transportation continues to poor money into this debacle and the costs continue to increase practically by the minute. Now they say they are changing to another supplier for the rail cars. I guess this would be why. What a debacle.
TOP FIVE CANDIDATES FOR CITY MANAGER:
1. STEPHEN A. MARRO
2. DAN PARROTT
3. ANTHONY OTTE
4. JOHN DRAGO
5. FRED F. VENTRESCO
POP EDITORIAL
by Norm Erickson
Click here: POP EDITORIALS
POP EDITORIAL
by John Likakis
Click here: POP EDITORIALS
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Please read the excerpt from this interview below and see if it doesn’t stir a memory of something that happened in DeBary not too long ago…hmmmm
December 6, 2009
Malcolm Gladwell
Author and Writer for "The New Yorker" Magazine
Q&A Podcasts
Malcolm Gladwell:
"And I said, this is marvelously analogous to what happens with quarterbacks, because, if you look at the history of NFL teams’ decisions in drafting college quarterbacks, you’ll see they don’t do a very good job of predicting who’s going to be a good pro quarterback or not. And the reason for that is not that they’re stupid, or not that they’re not trying hard enough, but just because the college game is so dramatically different from the pro game, that doing well at one doesn’t help you predict what you’re going to do at the other.
He had a problem with this. And so, I e-mailed him and I said, why don’t you think – why are you so sure that NFL teams actually do do a good job of predicting who’s going to be a good quarterback? Can you give me your scientific sources?
Because I had a scientific source. I had an article in the journal of – one of the – I had an article in an economics journal.
So, he e-mailed me back, and his sources weren’t from the scientific literature at all. They were, like, a blogger and some other blogger. And so, I was like, why are you attacking me when all your sources are bloggers?"
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SUNRAIL BILLS ARRIVE BEFORE THE TRAIN
READ THE ARTICLE:
COMMUTER RAIL: FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TRACKS
Click below for the article:
LIGHT RAIL KILLING ANOTHER TRANSIT SYSTEM
1600 Visitors to DeBaryPOP during November
12/3:
Last Night's Meeting:
Council to move forward with Gambling Ordinance and Resurrect Strategic Planning Committee; EDAC to be sent directions
Will Commuter Rail Be Voted In?
COMMUTER RAIL: FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TRACKS
12/2:
WAS THIS THE DEAL THEY WANTED TO VOTE "YES" ON:
The CSX deal has caused the most controversy, and rightly so. As originally negotiated, it was a lavish giveaway. It's still generous under the new plan, given that CSX will be leasing back the track to run freight trains 12 hours of each day.
READ THE FULL EDITORIAL IN:
COMMUTER RAIL: FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TRACKS
Will SunRail Be Voted IN This Week?
COMMUTER RAIL: MANNA FROM HEAVEN, SWEETNESS, LIGHT, AND OTHER PROPAGANDA
11/29:
DCA Has 20 Objections to Miami Corp Development:
Concerned with suitability of the site for the proposed level of development. Public facilities, and internal consistency.
11/28:
Getting it wrong
The Daytona Beach News Journal reported the following:
"Erickson, who joined Conoley and Councilman Lenny Marks in firing Courson on a 3-2 council vote..."
That's simply not true; the vote was 4-1 and this easily researched fact was missed.
11/26:
Repeating the mistakes of the present:
While bailing out Tri Rail, we're getting ready to start the whole process over again with the boondaggle that is SunRail. Read about it in:
COMMUTER RAIL: FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TRACKS
11/25:
New Citizen Editorial
November Reign Over 25 Days:
11 (plus 2 I haven't run)pro SunRail articles
2 Objective articles
11/25:
Orlando Sentinel Poll on SunRail:
Yes: 39%
No: 53%
New Article:
We just...just...JUST found tax dollars to clear way for SunRail...do you hear angels singing?
COMMUTER RAIL: MANNA FROM HEAVEN, SWEETNESS, LIGHT, AND OTHER PROPAGANDA
From Sen. Paula Dockery:
"It's like saying, 'I'll sell you my house... it's worth $200,000, but you have to pay me $2 million for it. And, by the way, if I set the house on fire, you have to assume the liability,'" she proclaimed.
Dockery said federal funding is no guarantee even if the legislature passes SunRail - something it's failed to do twice.
She called the current proposal a "sweetheart deal" for the CSX corporation.
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
11/21:
ONE DAY TWO ARTICLES:
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Praising SunRail:
COMMUTER RAIL: MANNA FROM HEAVEN, SWEETNESS, LIGHT, AND OTHER PROPAGANDA
Special Article to the Sentinel about the consequences of passing SunRail:
COMMUTER RAIL: FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TRACKS
11/17:
Before we get SunRail going, we need a dedicated funding stream for Tri-Rail...taxes, taxes, taxes....even before it's built
Read about it in:
COMMUTER RAIL: FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TRACKS
11/16:
Jack Hayman to step down. Disagreements with County Manager.
POP EDITORIALS
11/14:
Yes, another SunRail article in the Sentinel...it's about everyday now. If this isn't a study in propaganda and the manipulation of the press, then what is? Meanwhile, the DBNJ rarely reports on it and the station will be in Debary and, eventually, Deland.
COMMUTER RAIL: MANNA FROM HEAVEN, SWEETNESS, LIGHT, AND OTHER PROPAGANDA
11/12:
SHAZAM!
Ok, four days has been looooonngg enough. Yeah, an old, new SunRail editorial. This will continue to happen until the special session is over.
STOP THE PRESSES...THERE WAS AN ARTICLE ON 11/11 AS WELL......CLICK BELOW TO READ BOTH ARTICLES FROM TODAY AND YESTERDAY...
11/10:
See the future of SunRail by reading this article about MARTA in Atlanta
"Relying on one-time grants and reserves is not a long-term solution," Jones said.
CLICK HERE:
READ ABOUT IT IN COMMUTER RAIL: FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TRACKS
COME FULL CIRCLE:
The End of an Eminent Domain Error:
Pfizer R&D Headquarters Closes in New London, Conn.
Land Taken in Infamous Kelo Supreme Court Case Remains Empty More Than Four Years After Ruling
Arlington, Va.—Pfizer, Inc., announced today that the company will be closing its former research and development headquarters in New London, Conn. This was a project that involved massive corporate welfare and led to the abuse of eminent domain that ultimately bulldozed the home of Susette Kelo and her neighbors in the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case Kelo v. City of New London.
This was the same bogus development plan that five justices of the U.S. Supreme Court refused to question when the property owners of New London pleaded to have their homes spared from the wrecking ball. Justices mentioned that there was a plan in place, and that so long as lawmakers who are looking to use eminent domain for someone’s private gain had a plan, the courts would wash their hands. Now, more than four years after the redevelopment scheme passed constitutional muster—allowing government to take land from one private owner only to hand that land over to another private party who happens to have more political influence—the plant that had been the magnet for the development is closing its doors and the very land where Susette Kelo’s home once stood remains barren to all but feral cats, seagulls and weeds.
Scott Bullock, who argued the Kelo case for the Institute for Justice on behalf of the New London homeowners, said, “Today’s announcement that Pfizer is closing its research facility in New London demonstrates the folly of government plans that involve massive corporate welfare and that abuse eminent domain for private development. The majority opinion in Kelo v. New London described the Fort Trumbull project as a ‘carefully considered’ plan, but it has been an unmitigated disaster from start—and now—to finish.”
Bullock continued, “Project supporters blame the economic downturn for this turn of events. That is all the more reason why taxpayer dollars should not be put at risk in speculative and risky development schemes.”
Despite the Court’s Kelo ruling, much change for the good has occurred.
Dana Berliner, a senior attorney with the Institute for Justice and co-counsel in the Kelo case, said, “In the face of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Kelo ruling, 43 states have now reformed their laws to better protect property owners. What’s more, seven state high courts have stepped in post-Kelo to protect the rights of homeowners against eminent domain abuse. The high courts of Hawaii, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Missouri, New Jersey and Rhode Island have all ruled in favor of property owners and against eminent domain for private gain. None has made Kelo the rule under their own state constitutions.”
The tragic saga of the Kelo case is detailed in Jeff Benedict’s book Little Pink House: A True Story of Defiance and Courage (Grand Central Publishing; 2009). In it, Benedict shares with readers how Kelo took on the City of New London, a cast of politically powerful villains and, ultimately, the U.S. Supreme Court, in a case that sparked a revolutionary change nationwide in eminent domain laws—except in Connecticut.
Christina Walsh
Director of Activism and Coalitions
Institute for Justice
FOUR DAYS...FOUR ARTICLES
11/8:
HOW DOES THE ORLANDO SENTINEL LOVE SUNRAIL...LET US COUNT THE WAYS:
ARTICLES ON 11/5,11/6 AND NOW TWO ON SUNDAY...AMEN, BROTHER
TWO FOR ONE ON COMMUTER RAIL:
COMMUTER RAIL: MANNA FROM HEAVEN, SWEETNESS, LIGHT, AND OTHER PROPAGANDA
11/4:
Nemesis:
A source of harm or ruin; An opponent that cannot be beaten or overcome.
From the Orlando Sentinel:
SunRail nemesis Paula Dockery joins governor's race
So, if you ask questions that can't be easily answered, challenge propaganda, and the result is CSX comes back to the table with a better deal for citizens, you are deemed a "nemesis".
Read the rest of the story:
COMMUTER RAIL: MANNA FROM HEAVEN, SWEETNESS, LIGHT, AND OTHER PROPAGANDA
2nd BIGGEST MONTH EVER:
OVER 1600 INDIVIDUALS CAME TO DEBARYPOP
THANK YOU!
OH, AND REMEMBER TO GO BACK TO WATERING YOUR LAWNS ONCE A WEEK TO CONSERVE WATER. COMING SOON: AN UPDATE ON THE FARMTON COMMUNITY OF 20,000+ HOMES BEING BUILT...THAT'S SARCASM, FOLKS...
11/1: WE'VE BEEN GIVEN AN ULTIMATUM ON COMMUTER RAIL
HALLOWEEN IS SCARY BUT HERE IS SOMETHING THAT IS TRULY FRIGHTENING:
IN LESS THAN 30 DAYS THERE HAVE BEEN NO LESS THAN 15 ARTICLES ON COMMUTER RAIL...THIS IS FACT. LITERALLY EVERY OTHER DAY THERE IS AN ARTICLE ON COMMUTER RAIL AND WE'RE NOT EVEN CLOSE TO THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION WHERE IT WILL BE DECIDED ON...AGAIN.
OF THESE 15, 3 WOULD BE CONSIDERED OBJECTIVE IN MY OPINION AND THE OTHER 12 WOULD BE BIASED IN FAVOR OF COMMUTER RAIL. TWO ARTICLES WERE FROM THE DAYTONA NEWS JOURNAL AND THE REST FROM THE ORLANDO SENTINEL.
THE COST TO TAXPAYERS IN FIVE TO SEVEN YEARS WHEN THE FEDS PULL OUT OF THIS DEAL WILL BE UNTENABLE. WE WILL CUT BUS SERVICES, ADD TAXES TO MANY EXISTING SERVICES LIKE RENTAL CARS, AND RAISE TAXES IN GENERAL TO PAY FOR COMMUTER RAIL THAT 1-3% OF THE POPULATION WILL USE.
FLASHBACK:
10/27: I'VE GOT A FEELING... I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS...MAYBE IT'S BECAUSE HALLOWEEN IS FAST APPROACHING, MAYBE IT'S PRE-WORLD SERIES JITTERS, OR MAYBE IT'S JUST TOO MUCH FIBER IN THE DIET.
BUT I FEEL A COMMUTER RAIL ARTICLE IS ON ITS WAY IN A NEWSPAPER. AFTERALL, IT'S BEEN FOUR OR FIVE DAYS...HOLD ON...CASSADAGA IS CALLING...
11/1: It's fun to be right:
Central Florida's two-year fight to roll its commuter-rail plans through Tallahassee may be almost over. Two weeks ago, Florida Senate President Jeff Atwater and other legislators went to Washington to hear that Florida must jump-start the $1.2billion, 61-mile SunRail project and help out South Florida's Tri-Rail if it hopes to land $2.5billion in federal funding for a high-speed train between Tampa and Orlando.
Atwater promptly called for a special session in December to approve the rail plans to avoid risking a loss of the federal rail dollars.
To read the rest of the column click here:
COMMUTER RAIL: MANNA FROM HEAVEN, SWEETNESS, LIGHT, AND OTHER PROPAGANDA
"THIS IS LIKE DEJA VU ALL OVER AGAIN."
LIKE A THUNDERBOLT IN MY CHEERIOS:
KENNETH S. WEAVER APPLIES FOR CITY MANAGER JOB
What's happening to DeBary:
DEBARY -- Deputies arrested 15 suspects today in an oxycodone ring run, for the most part, in several homes within blocks of each other in this small West Volusia city.
The ringleader, himself a drug addict, engineered a "massive pill-pushing criminal enterprise," said Gary Davidson, Volusia County sheriff's spokesman.
John Davey, 41, was arrested Oct. 2 and is being held at the Volusia County Branch Jail on $1 million bail, Davidson said. Investigators began dismantling Davey's organization at 8 a.m. today and rounded up 15 of 20 of Davey's accomplices.
to read the rest of the story click here: 15 arrested in big DeBary oxycodone ring
10/30:
Getting it wrong with New Urbanism
READ ABOUT IT IN: GROWTH
10/28: #15 since 10/3:
I did not see this article yesterday, but people will probably not believe me, so this won't count towards my prediction above; however, Sunrail is NOW not about transportation or even gambling...it's about JOBS:
COMMUTER RAIL: MANNA FROM HEAVEN, SWEETNESS, LIGHT, AND OTHER PROPAGANDA
The next thing you know...to get Sunrail really pushed through...Mayor Dyer will promise shorter meetings and less talk by Council in DeBary if Sunrail is passed...THEN there will a RUSH to Sunrail...
10/27:
"Volusia County will be divided and it'll be destruction as far as I'm concerned. (Water wars?) Oh yes," said DeBary Mayor Bob Garcia.
READ ABOUT IT IN: GROWTH
CLICK HERE: NEW CITIZEN EDITORIALS
Smart Growth Editorial by a builder
CLick Here: GROWTH
10/25:
8 to 1 says politicians will be suffering from trichinosis when SunRail passes. And we all thought it was JUST about traffic.
Click below:
GAMBLING AND TRAINS GET BUNDLED
10/24:
Planned Problems
A POP Editorial by Norm Erickson
Click here: POP EDITORIALS
CHECK OUT CITIZENS' EDITORIALS
10/23: Yes, another editorial (#14 since 10/3)pushing Rail from DBNJ
Does anyone know what the economy will be like in 12 months? Not sure, but in 20 years we know this:
7,400 daily passengers, DeBary to Orlando, in 2030
Read about it in:
COMMUTER RAIL: MANNA FROM HEAVEN, SWEETNESS, LIGHT, AND OTHER PROPAGANDA
Tri-Rail Ridership Down 20%
10/22: A Baker's Dozen:
A commentary on...yeah...commuter rail X 3 by Mike Thomas:
COMMUTER RAIL: FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TRACKS
Florida Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher said when he led the high-speed-rail opposition in 2004: "It makes no sense to build something that people won't use."
Mike Thomas writes:
Miami already has commuter rail in place and is gaining passengers.
Norm Erickson: Not true. It's down 20% from last year. Source: Miami Today, September 24th, 2009:
n
Tri-Rail seeing double-digit ridership declines. Tri-Rail ridership has seen double-digit deceleration for four months running compared to last year, in part reflecting today's low gas prices and high unemployment.
The most recent count shows an average 11,559 rode the commuter system weekdays last month, down 20.7% from August last year.
Here is the link to read the whole article:
Tri-Rail Ridership Seeing Double Digit Decline
10/21:
Commuter Rail article #12: Another editorial from the Orlando Sentinel.
COMMUTER RAIL: MANNA FROM HEAVEN, SWEETNESS, LIGHT, AND OTHER PROPAGANDA
10/20:
December special session considered for SunRail
CLICK BELOW:
COMMUTER RAIL: FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TRACKS
10/19:
Commuter Rail article #11
COMMUTER RAIL: MANNA FROM HEAVEN, SWEETNESS, LIGHT, AND OTHER PROPAGANDA
10/16:
Citizen's Editorial about Smart Growth
10/16:
Andy Kelly says NO to Miami Corp Development
Everyone else is a YES
Vote passes 6-1
County Chair Frank Bruno said the plan is a perfect example of the smart growth principles the county and region has been talking about.
"We should have been doing this many, many years ago where we can cluster and preserve green space and protect the wildlife," Bruno said.
Read about it in:
GROWTH
Although I'm sure the County Council did their homework on Smart Growth, here's a quickie link for County Chair Frank Bruno and anyone else to click on:
THE FOLLY OF SMART GROWTH
10/15: BUSY, BUSY DAY!
Article #10 about Commuter Rail in:
COMMUTER RAIL: MANNA FROM HEAVEN, SWEETNESS, LIGHT, AND OTHER PROPAGANDA
Do we REALLY Have A Water Problem?
Go to GROWTH and read some articles on Water and Growth, they are all interconnected:
GROWTH
Florida can no longer base its economy on building more homes
posted Oct 15, 2009
Guest Commentary by Peter Johnson
Citizens across Florida, not just those of us who live in the northeast, are concerned about the statistics that register the state’s economic downturn. Many of our fellow citizens are part of the statistic, and that is most unfortunate.
Our downward spiral is, of course, closely linked to the national recession in real estate, irresponsible sub-prime lending, and credit restrictions. But Florida’s economic problems are both different and worse than the national mean.
Because Floridians have built their economy on the back of population growth and ever-expanding residential housing construction, we have been especially afflicted by the national recession. For the first time since the Great Depression, except the World War II period, Florida’s population growth has declined and is expected to decline further in the coming years. Some economists say the population decline will continue after the recession.
We currently have an extraordinary glut of residential real estate, measured by 10 to 12 months of housing inventory. The normal inventory is two to three months, according to experts who follow such measures.
Sean Sneath, a University of South Florida economic forecaster, noted, “The days of 3 percent to 4 percent population growth ... are gone, and that’s going to bring with it a host of challenges in terms of financing government, and also what are going to be the engines of growth for Florida’s economy in the decades to come.”
Political answers to this circumstance vary across the state, but in no case has there been an effort to reduce the housing inventory. Quite the contrary; the solutions fostered by our elected political leaders have been to reduce impact fees paid by developers and cut the price of building permits in an effort to increase construction — as if facilitating an increase in housing inventory is the answer.
We all can’t help but notice the tendency toward increased property taxes. With reduced population and large numbers of empty homes, someone must bear the burden of the essential services we all require.
In other words, poor economic policies are inevitably leading to higher taxes.
But the point of these paragraphs is not to criticize past actions, but to try to point a way forward toward a better quality of life and the creation of a new generation of jobs. Instead of a real-estate-oriented economic base, we must be looking at formulas that will revise the economy toward a different kind of industrial base.
If we cannot count on continued population growth, we clearly should not be planning to rebuild the economy by building more houses. A sea change in growth-management policy is needed.
In 2010, there will be rigorous debate across the state between two important economic forces. Those who argue for continuing with our unsatisfactory growth-management policies will back a “Smart Growth” petition to amend the Florida Constitution. Details about this prospective amendment can be found at the Fernandina Beach/Yulee Chamber of Commerce Web site, www.aifby.com/From-the-Chamber-President.com.
On the other side of the argument is the Florida Hometown Democracy advocacy. Details about this amendment (Amendment 4) can be found at www.floridahometowndemocracy.com. This measure will be on the 2010 ballot as a result of more than 1 million petitions by Floridians.
The case will be made by the “Smart Growth” advocates who are invested in the construction-based economy that we should continue on the current path under the assumption population growth will resume, the recession will pass, and fundamental changes are not necessary.
The large number of citizens who support Hometown Democracy Amendment 4 will show us why current growth-management policies can and must change, by placing more responsibility directly in the hands of the voters.
The debate will be caustic and probably angry. Much of the argument will have as backdrop the polarized political tone that characterizes too much of today’s policy debates.Let’s try to avoid that as much as possible. We have obligations as citizens to understand the differences and responsibly sort the facts from the fictions.
Serious resources will emerge across the year to help us with these definitions. Use them, compare the arguments, and begin to think through the best answers for our state. It’s important.
— Johnson, who lives in Nassau County, is director of the Amelia Island Association.
October 15, 2009
Does Volusia need another city?
Today, the County Council will decide if Miami Corporation, the largest landowner in Volusia County, will be granted the right to build an unincorporated "city." There is nothing there now but trees and critters, but if our County Council waves its wand and grants a corporate wish, there will be about 30,000 new homes and 6 million square feet of schools, hospitals, hotels, industrial, warehouses, office and retail.
There could not be a worse place in all of Volusia County to build a city. Except for a few scattered pin-head areas, the county shows the entire 47,000-acre property as wet and poorly drained. Every inch of it lies within the county designated Natural Resource Management Area. About 34,000 acres of it lies within the 100-year flood plain. It is literally in the woods and comprises the most environmentally important land in Volusia County, including Cow Creek and Deep Creek, tributaries of the St. Johns River, Crane and Spruce Creek Swamp, Buck Lake and the headwaters of Spruce Creek.
Why then, did the Volusia Planning Commission, an advisory panel for the County Council, unanimously vote to endorse it? Why does our county staff enthusiastically approve it?
Some might call it shoddy work. Some might whisper corporate bribes or allies with Satan. I think it is simply that greed is often more appealing than public good. Greed is prettier. It falsely flatters and smiles and dresses nice while public good is candid in its complaints, constantly reminding government of its responsibilities.
But ask Miami Corp. and county staff the same question, and the reply would be this: By allowing about 80,000 new residents in a poorly drained forest, our government is actually partnering to promote the public good. Yes, our government gets to make greed and the public simultaneously grateful. If the council today awards Miami Corp. the right to build an unincorporated city, Miami Corp. will generously (eventually) place around 75 percent of the land under a permanent conservation easement which will become part of a regional conservation corridor.
It will be a regional conservation corridor surrounded by 80,000 people and crossed by new highways, but as Phil Laurien, executive director of the East Central Florida Regional Planning Council recently suggested at a Florida Greenways and Trails meeting, conservation is good business for developers. Why? Because developers can use conservation as a marketing tool. He even cited the Miami Corp. tract as an example. And that is exactly what this conservation land in exchange for houses is, a very clever marketing ploy presented by a corporation who has its sights on a single goal: profit.
The land offered as a conservation corridor is already mostly permitted as a wetlands mitigation bank. Under Florida law, the protective language for a mitigation bank is pretty solid -- much better in fact than any language the county has come up with to protect environmentally crucial lands. It has language like this: "The proposed mitigation bank will be adjacent to lands that will not adversely affect the perpetual viability of the mitigation bank due to unsuitable land uses or conditions" (Florida Statute 373.4136(f)).
The corporation applied for and received a mitigation permit not because it was concerned about the environmental importance of the land but because at the time, it was the most profitable avenue to take. But now, our county could offer its investors so much more.
Why keep land in a permanent mitigation bank that would be forever protected from urban intrusion when our County Council could bless Miami Corp. with 30,000 homes and 6 million square feet of nonresidential development, making the mitigation bank seem shabby. But not so shabby as to let go of it right off. The corporation intends on keeping the mitigation bank intact and profitable until at least 2025 while at the same time achieving an increase in housing and commercial densities so high as to make its land very desirable to buyers. The bottom-line is that this is not and never was about conservation. It is about corporate earnings.
And if the County Council today grants Miami Corp. its wish, the council will greatly lessen, not increase, the conservation value of land that would have stayed within a mitigation bank if a more lucrative plan had not been developed by a corporate board.
Then there is water. Miami Corp. claims it has plenty, and it has the right to build a water facility and sell it to the 80,000 new residents it hopes our government will be guaranteeing. And the rest of us will be offered access to whatever water is left over via a joint venture agreement between Miami Corp. and our county government.
Councilwoman Joie Alexander and Councilwoman Pat Northey once declared their belief in urban growth boundaries. County Councilman Frank Bruno won his chair seat by reaching out to the 71 percent of Volusia voters who demanded urban growth boundaries. Today, who will they support -- the voters or corporate profit?
Moen, a conservationist, lives in New Smyrna Beach.
10/11:
DeBary POP is keeping count:
From 10/3 to 10/11 the Orlando Sentinel has run 7 articles/editorials on Commuter Rail that slant toward accepting it.
You can read these articles and editorials here on DeBary POP in Commuter Rail: Manna From Heaven, Sweetness, Light and other Propaganda and in POP Editorials.
9 days...7 articles/editorials
“Think of the press as a great keyboard on which the government can play.”
Joseph Goebbels Director, Reich Ministry for Public Enlightenment and Propaganda
CLICK BELOW FOR UPDATES:
GROWTH: Mike Thomas on Smart Growth
COMMUTER RAIL: MANNA FROM HEAVEN, SWEETNESS, LIGHT, AND OTHER PROPAGANDA
10/10:
Telling the truth and being attacked for it...
Another Sunrail commentary in:
COMMUTER RAIL: MANNA FROM HEAVEN, SWEETNESS, LIGHT, AND OTHER PROPAGANDA
10/7:
Four days ago I predicted the editorials on SunRail would commence...it's fun to be right. While Tri-Rail is going down the tubes, we need to vote through TWO more trains few will ride. And the Sentinel compares highways that everyone uses to a train that few will ride. In addition, surcharges on rental cars are already being pushed. We have money for this stuff?
Norm Erickson
Check it out in:
COMMUTER RAIL: MANNA FROM HEAVEN, SWEETNESS, LIGHT, AND OTHER PROPAGANDA
10/4:
Orlando Sentinel admits that city and county councils are breaking their oaths when it comes to voting on growth and developments.
POP Editorial by Norm Erickson
Click Here:
POP EDITORIALS
10/3:
Let the articles and editorials begin:
Nothing is dead until it's buried:
SUNRAIL RISES AGAIN
Read about the latest in
COMMUTER RAIL: MANNA FROM HEAVEN, SWEETNESS, LIGHT, AND OTHER PROPAGANDA
10/1:
Record Month for September:
Over 9400 Hits
Over 2300 Individuals
9/28:
The Cost of Water
Click below:
GROWTH
9/25:
Another break for SUNRAIL
COMMUTER RAIL: SWEETNESS, LIGHT, AND OTHER PROPAGANDA
9/26:
CITIZEN EDITORIALS ACTUALLY DEALING WITH CITY ISSUES
Back to the issues:
DO WE REALLY HAVE WATER ISSUES?
Volusia County gives 1st approval to Farmton -- city in the wilderness
Read the article by clicking below:
GROWTH
9/22:
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH
POP EDITORIAL BY NORM ERICKSON
ON THE FUTURE OF DEBARYPOP
CLICK HERE:
POP EDITORIALS
What's going on with Miami Corp? Check it out in the Growth Section of POP:
GROWTH
9/18: A NEW CITIZENS EDITORIAL
CLICK HERE: CITIZENS' EDITORIALS
POP Editorial:
WHEN IS ENOUGH ENOUGH?
The search for a City Manager opened the doors to the additional behavioral characteristics of the Mayor. It is time to list some of the actions that have taken place which are embarrassments to the City and in some instances personal verbal attacks on individuals.
This conduct is unbecoming the office of Mayor:
- Refusal to accept a 4-1 vote by the Council. By doing so he subverts the Council and undermines its effectiveness.
- His actions against Mr. Weaver, even after a contract was signed, and accepted by the Council, showed a total disregard of the majority vote.
- Derogatory and slanderous comments about Mr. Weaver’s credentials including the statement – “…and if that Son of a …gentleman can’t handle…”. Only one word fits in the pause regardless of his protestations.
- After the 4-1 vote he continued to speak against the vote and the individual. To a local newspaper; “I am not happy with the selection of the new City Manager and I may not sign the contract.” “I would only sign it under protest.”Effectively forced Mr. Weaver to withdraw his acceptance for the position of City Manager. “I cannot move my family into such a hostile environment.”
And here are some other instances of conduct unbecoming of any Mayor – or public official.
- 8/24/09 Council Meeting: discussion between Vice Mayor Erickson, Councilman Marks and the Mayor concerning the Mayor’s refusal to accept Mr. Gonzalez’s resignation. When asked about this by Vice Mayor Erickson, the Mayor again stifled the conversation with the use of the gavel and verbal abuse directed at the rest of the Council. The voices became louder until the Mayor slammed the gavel down and said, “…there will be no more discussion…” cutting both men off.
- Confrontation and verbal abuse against Mr. Conoley in a public place – City Hall. Mr. Conoley filed a police report because of the intensity of the confrontation.
- Counter suit filed by the Mayor.
- The Mayor cut off discussion when a public speaker mentioned “recall”. Yelled at the man and said “meet me outside after the meeting and we can debate it.” “In reference to Mr. Weaver I don’t regret anything I’ve done. I would do it all again.”
- When the Mayor said he asked the Finance Administrator to get after the FEMA money ASAP, he acted against the Charter by telling Staff what to do. It should have gone through the Acting City Manager. Besides that, the Finance Administrator was far behind in budget preparation because of projects constantly being given to him that helped create the budgetary mess the City is in right now. Again, the Mayor cut off any further comment on this issue.
- When Vice Mayor Erickson brought up the subject of the missing audit, understood the need, etc., the Mayor began saying, over and over: “Mr. Erickson, I’m going to dance with you tonight. Oh, I'm going to dance with you a lot, sir." And, “I’m running this meeting”. Cut off further discussion. Those words were more than a veiled threat and a bit disconcerting when directed at an individual. And certainly do not belong at a Council meeting.
And there’s more. Not hearsay. Not, third party comments. Not unsigned accusations over the internet. Not wild statements that when checked turned out to be way out in left field, untrue and offered as gospel to people who just wanted to support Mr. Gonzalez. There is a saying:
The tongue has no bones, but it can break many.
Are we still in a Democracy where a majority vote counts? Doesn’t a 4-1 vote mean that all Councilmen go back to work to implement the vote? When did the gavel become a substitute for discussion? When did censorship replace Democracy? How many more gavel pounding and shouting Council meetings must the Citizens and Council suffer? How does this behavior affect the ability of the City to attract good help and new businesses?
The Mayoral pattern of total control became apparent early on when he began identifying everything as “MY City”, “MY Council”, “MY City Manager”. He’s still trying. Mr. Lenzen told him he can’t. The rest of the Council told him he can’t.The Charter Section 4.02 (d) tells him he can’t.
We know what total control by the previous City Manager has brought: it brought us lawsuits, it brought us a scrambled financial structure, and it brought us a disregard of the Land Development Code, and the Comprehensive Plan to mention but a few. An inheritance that is coming home to roost that is creating more work and more expenses for the City.
What will it take for the Citizens of DeBary to wake up?
If you don’t care about what happens to your City, if you don’t care about what happens to your neighbors, and if you don’t care about the rule of law and your future quality of life, then you’re on your own.
If you do, then that’s democracy in action.
Thanks,
John Likakis
9/6: Mr. Weaver on Meet the Press? Click on the link below and move the cursor forward to 4:31 and listen for a minute and half about internet accusations by Tom Friedman of the New York Times and Tom Brokaw. I swear they are aware of what is happening here in DeBary.
MEET THE PRESS
The transcript from Meet the Press:
MR. BROKAW: Well, I've--one of the things I've been saying to audiences is this question comes up a lot, and a lot of people will repeat back to me and take it as face value something that they read on the Internet. And my line to them is you have to vet information. You have to test it the same way you do when you buy an automobile or when you go and buy a new flat-screen television. You read the Consumer Reports, you have an idea of what it's worth and what the lasting value of it is. You have to do the same thing with information because there is so much disinformation out there that it's frightening, frankly, in a free society that depends on information to make informed decisions. And this is across the board, by the way. It's not just one side of the political spectrum or the other. It is across the board, David, and it's something that we all have to address and it requires society and political and cultural leaders to stand up and say, "this is crazy." We just can't function that way. (We did in DeBary, Mr. Brokaw)
MR. FRIEDMAN: You know, David, I just want to say one thing to pick up on Tom's point, which is the Internet is an open sewer of untreated, unfiltered information, left, right, center, up, down, and requires that kind of filtering by anyone. And I always felt, you know, when modems first came out, when that was how we got connected to the Internet, that every modem sold in America should actually come with a warning from the surgeon general that would have said, "judgment not included," OK? That you have to upload the old-fashioned way. Church, synagogue, temple, mosque, teachers, schools, you know. And too often now people say, and we've all heard it, "But I read it on the Internet," as if that solves the bar bet, you know? And I'm afraid not.
9/5: New Citizen's Editorial in Citizens' Editorial.
CITIZENS' EDITORIALS
9/4:
SON OF A GUN!!
Jack Wilson stated that Mr. Kenneth Weaver worked in Wisconsin as requested by the Attorney General. The Kenneth Weaver that declined to come to DeBary never worked in Wisconsin; he's never been there. I did a strange thing: I actually called Mr. Weaver and asked him.
Allegation is too kind a word for what has happened to Mr. Weaver. Supposition is the word which means to "suppose" which means "to pretend".
While Bob Garcia, Jack Wilson and Mark Meister could not be convinced by the many facts presented in May of 2008 concerning the former city manager, they are totally won over and persuaded by suppositions they themselves admit are only allegations: assertions without proof.
To quote Jack Wilson speaking to the Council: "Stupid lasts forever."
Now I know why.
Norm Erickson
9/3:
NEW CITIZEN EDITORIAL TAKING ON THE MAYOR, MR. WILSON, AND MARK MEISTER:
CLICK HERE:
CITIZENS' EDITORIALS
AUGUST 2009:
RECORD MONTH FOR DEBARYPOP:
7,000 HITS
OVER 1500 INDIVIDUALS
INTERNET ALLEGATIONS
ONLY.
NO CRIMINAL ACTIONS.
NO SMOKING GUNS.
COUNCIL TO START ALL OVER WITH A BACKGROUND CHECK ON FINAL APPLICANTS...BUT WILL ANYONE SURVIVE ANONYMOUS ALLEGATIONS?
THE NEW VETTING SYSTEM IN DEBARY:
ANONYMOUS BLOGS.
Last night Jack Wilson put on the record about Mr. Weaver having worked in Alaska and New York. The Ken Weaver that declined to come to DeBary never worked in Alaska or New York. I didn't find this out through Google or a blog; I did a very curious thing: I called Ken Weaver.
Norm Erickson
Click on the following links for Erika path:
ERIKA'S CONE FORECAST
ERIKA'S SPAGHETTI STRAND ROUTES I
ERIKA'S SPAGHETTI STRAND ROUTES II
THREE DAY CONE FRON NOAA
FIVE DAY CONE FROM NOAA
8/30:
KENNETH WEAVER
DECLINES POSITION
OF CITY MANAGER
Full Story at Deland Beacon click on link:
DEBARY'S NEW CITY MANAGER SAYS NO TO JOB
The (watch) Dog Days of August...
8/30: Still More Citizen's Editorial concerning Mayor Garcia's comments about Mr. Weaver:
CITIZENS' EDITORIALS
8/20:
The new City Manager by a 4-1 vote:
Kenneth Weaver
8/18: Citizen editorial on City Manager selection: Mr. Drago
8/17:
I was reading the blog and took notice of the comments regarding the ALF in residential neighborhoods. The citizens should be aware that the Florida State Statutes have mandated that local zoning cannot mandate zoning laws to prevent or affect a request of any person wishing to open a group home with 6 or less clients. However, the State does require all such properties to meet the building and fire code regulations. The State licenses all Adult Living Facilities, Adult Family Care Homes and all Developmentally Delayed Group homes with more than 2 residents. They will not license any of these homes until they can show proof of a satisfactory Fire Safety Inspection by the local jurisdiction. The ALF in Summerhaven was required to install a Fire Alarm System and to prepare an emergency evacuation plan for fire emergency. It was also required to submit an Emergency Disaster plan to Volusia County Emergency Management to assure that all residents will be able to be safely cared-for during emergencies of all types.
Karen L Munson, retired Fire Inspector
8/15: Citizens' Editorials: Mark Meister apologizes and makes a choice for City Manager
8/12: POP Editorial by Norm Erickson. Click here on POP EDITORIALS
8/10: New Citizen Editorial
8/7: Three new editorials in Citizens' Editorials on a variety of topics
8/2: Citizen's editorial about the newsletter and Mayor Garcia in Citizens' Editorial.
8/1: Citizen's Editorial about Mayor Garcia in Citizens' Editorials
7/1: 3 New Editorials by Mark Meister about Water Wars. They're in Citizens' Editorials.
Riding a 2-way rail
I can't believe U.S. Rep. John Mica is still touting SunRail. He as much as voted against it when he voted against President Obama's stimulus bill. Mica can't have it both ways.
DONALD PATCHIN, Deltona
6/30:
PAULA DOCKERY
IN HER OWN WORDS ABOUT CSX, COMMUTER RAIL,
AND CONGRESSMAN MICA.
SHE'S FOR COMMUTER RAIL BUT AGAINST BACK ROOM DEALS THAT ARE QUICK TO SPEND TAXPAYER MONEY IN THE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS WHICH SUBSIDIZE DEVELOPMENT DEALS. AND WHEN SHE SAID AS MUCH...SHE WAS PAID A VISIT.
CLICK ON THE LINK(S) BELOW TO WATCH:
(1) PAULA DOCKERY SPEAKING ABOUT CSX AND COMMUTER RAIL
(2) PAULA DOCKERY AND HER MEETING WITH CONGRESSMAN MICA ABOUT COMMUTER RAIL
6/29: Will the DeBary Art League Respond to Mr. Mangin or DeBaryPOP?
Since april and of course you have not responded to the improper and unjust use of my 2000 design for the debary arts building- no sign on the building stating, as you promised sandy, giving credit to me for my design concept-
Vincent Mangin
Here is the letter from 4/21/09 that was in the DeBaryPOP Archives:
To Sandra Wilson
Sub. DeBary Gateway Center for the Arts
As a past resident artist of DeBary and member of the DeBary Art League I created the original concept design of the Art Center. At our meeting I handed you and the other members a copy of my concept drawing with an oral description of its multiple uses. The drawing began in 2-4-00 with revisions in the upper right corner on 7-11-00 and 1-9-01 which will correlate in the meeting minutes.
The only request I made in return for my design and exterior ground use was I be given credit, a building marker with my name as concept designer. You, an artist I worked with and raised money with for this very project, have apparently stolen my Art without conscious. The least you can do is correct this ‘error’. I expect to here from you personally about this correction. My drawing will be faxed to any interested party.
Friends still in DeBary sent the ’06 Forum article with no mention of my design nor is it on the present building.
Sincerely, Vincent R. Mangin
A response from a citizen in Citizens' Editorials
6/26:
There's dead...and then there's dead:
Orlando Sentinel Exclusive:
SunRail commuter train might be back from brink
Back for a 3rd time after being voted down twice in one week just a couple of months ago, is this how government is suppose to work? Are we going to follow the classroom size amendment that was voted in by the PEOPLE years ago and government has had YEARS to prepare for it? How long did it take the Hometown Democracy to get their initiative on the ballot? What will really change in this round of Sunrail discussions? Will the insurance issue be fixed? Will the funding of this billion dollar project be discussed? If water rates are going up, you can add this to the bill as well because in seven years the parties pull out of SunRail and Volusia County and its cities are stuck with the bill. It's the responsibility of our elected leaders to deal with such details instead of just thinking: the taxpayer will pay.
Norm Erickson
6/19: A website has been created wherein the leadership of County Manager Jim Dineen is the focus: DUMP DINEEN
Mark Meister's newest editorial on the mishaps, mistakes and misteps that the city has been taking. It's in Citizens' Editorials.
6/15: Mark Meister has a fresh one in Citizens' Editorial. A citizen responds to comments made by Mark Meister and John Likakis. All future responses to this issue will be put in Citizens' Editorials.
After reviewing the comments made by Mr. Likakis and Mr. Meister....these are my comments:
I have to agree with Mr. Likakis regarding the fire services, the county sent the city a letter pulling out! The city did not initiate this, the county did. Mr. Meister is trying to make it look like the city council made that decision, that is incorrect.
Also, Mr. Meister stated that Maryann Courson helped out with the recent heavy rains, flooding, etc., during this past May. That is incorrect, too. Maryann Courson was terminated April 10th. The rains/flooding started in May....she wasn't around in May. Sorry, bud, you missed the mark on this one. Maybe Mr. Meister is referring to last years flooding, but it was clear that Mr. Likakis was referring to the most recent rain/floods. I appreciate Councilman Marks, as well as, the other council members assisting during this time. Also, kudos go out to Anthony Gonzalez, Dave Hamstra, Tom V. & all the crew on staff in his department for their quick response, dedication, and wisedom to handle this occurance in a timely manner. Good Job!
However, I tend to agree with Mr. Meister regarding the meeting summaries written by Mr. Likakis.....I believe it would be better for an neutral individual to write the summaries and giving the straight facts instead of some facts with some opinion. Sorry, Mr. Likakis, just think it would eliminate any bias-information. BUT, I do admire Mr. Likakis in many ways...his wisdom, his insight, his dedication. Most of the time he is right on.
I have enjoyed viewing the recent meetings, and can see things moving in a good direction. Keep up the good work, councilmen.
As you well know, there are many issues facing the city today and the future. Would your energies best be spent on these issues instead of whinning about the past?
MaryAnn Courson is gone, that is the past. It's done, over, move on.
The horsetrack didn't fly, that is the past. It's done, over, move on.
You are sounding like a spoiled brat that didn't get his way.....I believe that if you want to contribute something, then look at the issues at hand instead of those past.
Just my opinion.
Click on GROWTH (CLICK HERE FOR GROWTH LINK) for update on new Senate Bills and Florida Hometown Democracy. We will be utilizing this link for these kinds of issues, so if you are for or against what is happening in terms of bills and growth, write in and express yourself. Mr. Meister repsponded to John Likakis:
In Response…..
I wasn’t present at the meeting on June 3, 2009 but I will inform you that I was watching from the webcam. I am always watching Mr. Likakis I will assure you. Just because I do not always attend these long winded recitals from this Council doesn’t mean that I am not interested in what is going on with the City.
As for looking at the John Likakis Report, I find most of these very one sided towards the blog Masters Erickson and Marks. I tend to read your summery after I watch the cast if I am not watching the same day. I learned some of the information from Channel 9 and, not 2 and ,in my opinion, it is just like this site to take a cheap shot at Mrs. Courson after she has been taken out of office by a well conceived plan by the voting block of the Council. How am I looking at the best interests of this city? I talk to the people whether they are involved with this click or not and what I have heard from many of the people is that this City will see hard times from the lack of skills of bringing in revenue and affording the hard days to come.
I “took a shot” at Marks not for his diligent service during the floods that everyone pitched in to help, including Mrs. Courson, but to the always miserly ways he sees fit to cut money on services including his diatribe with the Volusia County Sheriffs Department and Ben Johnson. He as a retired fireman should know that these valuable services are much needed and if we go the way of using another city’s services, this in the long run will take away from the sovereignty of this City. He should be the FIRST person to be finding and negotiating a way to keep our services the same as they are at this time. Thank goodness we have a very good Mayor that is trying to accomplish this.
Technically speaking, the firefighters themselves were the ones that set up this website and if you were so informed, you would have reported this as so. As for this Council “straightening out” the supposed fiascos of the past, it depends on the people of DeBary that you speak to quite frankly. And you are right about one thing wholeheartedly, if the people do not like THE JOB THAT THEY ARE DOING, THEY WILL NOT RE-ELECT THEM. If I am doing a disservice to the people of DeBary, I guess that is a matter of opinion too.
Mark Meister
6/14: The following is in response to Mr. Meister's editorial which follows John's editorial.
The Epitome of Misinformation Has Arrived Again
How difficult would it have been for Mr. Meister to attend the June 3rd Council Meeting or for him to read the Summary of the meeting as it appeared on this website?
How difficult would it have been for Mr. Meister to look at the May ‘08 Council meeting Summary or minutes to see that on August 25, ‘08 the City received a letter from the County Manager regarding “Contract Services” which included “…provision of general public works to the City will not be continued after Sept. 30, 2009.” And a letter from the County dated 4/27/09 which stated, “At this time the county will not provide fire service to the city beyond the 180 day period required for notice of termination of service.” Does that sound like the City wanted fire services terminated?
As for the 10 year contract, had Mr. Meister done any of the above he would have known that the 10 year contract the Fireman’s Union representative presented was news to everyone. Incidentally, it was the Fireman’s Union who arranged for Ch. 2 TV to appear at the meeting. Why? If such an offer was made to the City, then for whatever reason, it never got past the City Manager. He would have also known that Councilman Lenzen said, “I’ve been on previous Councils and have no recollection of any discussion about a 10 year contract and a free fire house.” Councilman Erickson and Marks also never heard anything about a 10 year contract and free fire house. And just for the record, neither did I and I’ve been “at it” for over 10 years.
You take a “shot” at Councilman Marks, “…an ex-fireman himself who is one of the three to decide this matter.” What three? Not only was Mr. Marks “hands on” during the May storm lasting several days, but also he was all over the City making sure pumps were running, checking lake elevations and working with David Hamstra and Anthony Gonzalez and Tom VanDeHay answering citizens questions and in general making sure they could help keep this most recent event from getting out of hand. You, Mr. Meister, accuse them of not working for the best interests of the City. How are you working for the best interests of the City?
Who set up the web page “Rescue DeBary Fire”? You? The fireman’s Union? The guys at 33? Pat Hatfield.
You have done a gross disservice to the City and its Citizens. You have done a disservice to the firemen of the City who know the City wants them to stay.
I could go on regarding the cheap shots that have been taken about the “three” by yourself and others who may not be happy with the improvements that have been made in City Government.
I will not dignify these attempts any further. Each attempt to discredit the “three” has failed miserably.
The people of DeBary are smarter than you may perhaps think. If they don’t like them, they won’t re-elect them. I don’t know where your information sources come from, but ask around and you’ll find that those citizens who care and are watching what’s happening know that this City Council is finally starting to straighten out the fiascos of the past.
I’ve gone against my pledge to not respond to individual commentary or get caught up in who can make the biggest letters in the snow bank. This misinformation affects the entire City. It must be stopped.
A very concerned citizen,
John Likakis
6/12:
We want our Fire Service!!
Another bravado move by The DeBary City Council has resulted in the County possibly pulling our fire service in DeBary because our City council would not sign a ten year contract for continuing of this much needed service. DeBary City Council has decided that money means more than the saving of lives and property. The ironic part of it all is that Lenny Marks who is an ex fireman himself is one of the three to decide this matter.
The Volusia County Fire Department that works in DeBary wants to stay with the City and plans to express themselves to the Volusia County Council on June 18th in Deland. If the City would have agreed with this contract, Volusia County would have built a new station in DeBary. We also will be losing HAZMAT, technical rescue, and other special services because we did not agree. The DeBary City council has tried to negotiate with Deltona and Orange City to assist with our fire service. Do you the residents of DeBary think this City Council is really thinking of the needs of its people or are they catering to their agenda and desires? We the residents of DeBary should stand up and acknowledge to these councilmen that they are not working in our best interests and are putting our property and lives in jeopardy and we will not stand for these actions. If the County does withdraw our fire service, October 31st would be the last day.
The fire fighters have set up a web page. www.rescueDeBaryfire.com where residents can enter their names and addresses to generate a letter to the county Pat Hartfield writes in the Deland – Deltona Beacon. If you want to continue our fire service, please enter your information before this City Council takes this much needed service away from us too.
Mark Meister
Abc642aaa@yahoo.com |
6/2: Crist signs bill loosening controls on growth. See POP Editorials.
5/31: Citizens' Editorials: a point by point response to Ms. Bustin's original editorial (5/26) about Anthony Gonzalez...'nuff said.
5/29: SHAZAM! Four MORE Citizens' Editorials for today. City Manager, Anita Gonzalez responds and Mark Meister returns...
5/28: 4 Citizens' Editorials about the City Manager and city issues.
5/26: Two Citizens' Editorials for the price of free: one on the 10 million dollars for stormwater and one about who should not be the next city manager for DeBary.
5/24: Does the Council have a process for hiring the next city manager? Citizen Editorial explores this.
POP Editorial on Hometown Democracy, Senate Bill 360 and should the economy be a reason to strip growth controls? And by the way, who IS sponsoring Senate Bill 360? Check it out in the POP Editorials.
5/21: Citizens' editorial about Van Conoley
5/15: Commuter Rail: From the Other Side of the Tracks has been updated with an article from the Tampa Tribune from July 2008.
5/14:
Commuter Rail: Manna from Heaven, Sweetness, Light and other Propaganda has been updated.
Nothing is dead until it is buried. Oh, and notify Major League Baseball: no longer is it "three strikes and YOU'RE OUT!!"
It must be nice to afford such a high level of strategies.
Miami Corp has submited its plans to the county for the building of a new city in 49,000 acres of woods. According to their reps, by building a new city with industrial, commercial, manufacturing and about 50,000 new residents, they will be assisting the county in reaching its smart growth goals.
Remember, there is absolutely nothing under the county's growth plan allowing this magnitude of growth within the green heart of Volusia. They have no given right to this. It is all going to be based on politics. If they can convince four of our county council that this is indeed assisting the county in its smart growth future, they will move forward.
Miami Corp's next marketing forum is June 2. Hope we can be there to follow this through from the beginning and kill it at the end.
The Peer Review Panel meeting is open to the public and is part of our ongoing and proactive efforts to gather input and make continued improvements to the Plan.
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Peer Review Panel meeting
June 2, 2009
8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Daytona State College | New Smyrna Beach-Edgewater Campus
940 10th Street | New Smyrna Beach, FL 32168
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5/10: From the Orlando Sentinel:
But SunRail still might run if leaders in Central Florida and Washington, who remain eager to fund it, can drive it past obstructionists in Tallahassee.
Go to Commuter Rail: Manna from Heaven, Sweetness, Light and other Propaganda to read the TWO opinion pieces in the Sentinel.
5/8: Citizens' Editorials updated.
Oops...look what Frank Bruno said a looooong time ago...well...6 days ago:
"SunRail is gone forever," Volusia County Chairman Frank Bruno said earlier Friday when asked what a nay vote would mean for the project. "You won't have all those partners again. You won't have the federal funds."
Congressman Mica: There's still hope for Central Florida commuter rail
By Al Everson
BEACON STAFF WRITER
posted May 8, 2009
Down but not dead. The proposed Central Florida commuter-rail system is still a viable project, according to its leading supporter.
Although the Florida Senate voted down a liability measure necessary for SunRail's development to go forward, and although funding is tenuous at best, U.S. Rep. John Mica, R-Winter Park , is not giving up.
"We've got to explore all of our options and see if we can move forward. There may be a delay in the service," Mica told The Beacon. "We've invested eight years. We have $100 million in public hearings and planning."
The Florida Senate's May 1 vote to block the state from sharing in CSX's liability was the second such action. Last year, the upper house of the Legislature rejected the idea of making the Florida Department of Transportation partially liable for damages in accidents.
The Legislature did, however, approve funding last year for commuter rail, and the state appropriations secure a federal appropriation of approximately $300 million.
Unless the development of SunRail proceeds, Mica warned state and local officials, the federal transit dollars will be taken away from Florida and shifted to states and cities operating commuter trains. Mica is a ranking member of the U.S. House Transportation Committee.
Since 2000, Mica has pressed for commuter-rail service between West Volusia and Downtown Orlando. Over the years, the concept has evolved to run from DeLand to Poinciana, a distance of 61 miles, on the CSX rail corridor. Transportation planners envision the short-haul rail line as an alternative to a congested Interstate 4.
Mica refused to concede SunRail is beyond hope. He intends to call together all of the stakeholders for a thorough review of the project and its possibilities.
Federal and state officials, along with representatives of CSX Railroad, would join the leaders of Volusia, Seminole, Orange and Osceola counties and the City of Orlando , in salvaging SunRail.
Mica is not the only partner willing to keep the $1.2-billion project on track. The Florida Department of Transportation is already working to save the regional rail system, FDOT District 5 spokesman Steve Olson said.
"Our official position is, we're in the process of looking at the options. We're talking with our funding partners," Olson added.
He said District Secretary Noranne Downs is conferring with federal and state transportation officials about SunRail's fortunes. "We're in the process of re-examining where we are," he said.
The FDOT is providing the bulk of the funding for SunRail. The state agreed to purchase the CSX rail corridor between DeLand and Poinciana, and it is planning to lay double tracks to lessen the danger of train collisions and to provide bidirectional service at peak commuting hours.
Moreover, under an agreement between the FDOT and the five local governments claiming jurisdiction over the commuter-rail line, the state is to pay to retire the local governments' bonded debt for their share of the system for the first seven years of its operations.
Volusia County Chair Frank Bruno sounded less upbeat than Mica about SunRail's future.
"It doesn't look like it's going anywhere. I was very depressed when I found out the Senate voted it down," Bruno said.
Long a steadfast supporter of commuter rail, Bruno confirmed Mica is not yet willing to pronounce the project dead.
"The congressman called me and indicated we need to sit down and see what our options are. I said, 'Do you think this can proceed?'" he added.
Volusia County has already spent $1.8 million to plan and design proposed rail stations in DeLand and DeBary. Those expenditures will stop, Bruno said, in the absence of a firm and definite commitment to the rail system.
"We're not putting another penny into it," he said.
Neither Bruno nor Mica nor Olson could say when or where the roundtable conference on the future of the rail proposal may be.
"I don't see it, personally. I don't see it going anywhere," Bruno said, regarding SunRail.
The Metropolitan Planning Organization, a transportation-planning agency whose board includes elected officials of the county government and the cities within Volusia County , will also have something to say about SunRail later this month.
"It will definitely be discussed at our next meeting," said Karl Welzenbach, executive director of the Volusia County Metropolitan Planning Organization.
The MPO convenes for its monthly meeting at 8 a.m. Tuesday, May 26, at 2570 W. International Speedway Blvd. , Daytona Beach . The meeting is open to the public.
From Norm Erickson:
It's amazing that this issue can be voted down THREE times and be brought back by an oligarchy, yet Hometown Democracy can't even get on the ballot with hundreds of thousands of signatures.
Classroom size amendment: voted in by citizens, yet they will effectively kill it by not punishing schools who do not follow it;
Bullet train: voted in by citizens, killed by government: not enough money;
Commuter Rail: voted down three times, twice in one week: it will be brought back.
Only in Florida, kids...only in Florida.
AND THIS JUST IN:
Despite intense pressure from 200 professional lobbyists, the Florida Senate voted to kill SunRail last week. Some voted against SunRail because they felt the $600 million paid to CSX was too much, others because they felt we should use the money for education instead, and some because it will lose $100 million a year for 99 years. Most taxpayers were against SunRail because they felt it was not an effective transportation solution.
In my study of commuter rail I found even the proponents of rail did not like commuter rail. Commuter rail uses diesel trains that take two miles to start and stop. It is a far cry from the slick trains promoters visited in Charlotte. But central Florida still has transportation problems, so now what?
The answer in my opinion is an independent Citizens Transportation Task Force to study the problem and potential solutions. Not a group of government employees influenced by special interests, but a group of taxpayers who have a stake in the cost and the benefits. The group needs all voices including those who lobbied against commuter rail because they bring facts to the table that are needed to make an educated decision.
After the vote Mayor Buddy Dyer said; "I think the forces of evil have won." No Buddy, the collective wisdom of the taxpayer won. Those pesky little evil taxpayers have a common sense not found in government today. These pesky little taxpayers know special interests influence government spending by donating millions of dollars to campaigns in exchange for tens of millions of taxpayer dollars to fund their projects. Democracy works when elected officials listen to the collective wisdom of the taxpayer.
The Commuter Rail saga illustrates how "Friends of Big Government" have taken over. We are taxing small business and giving the money to big business and that is destroying our local economy. The Magic arena is nice but the consequence of $480 million in new taxes is higher business failure. The boost to the economy our government promised never happened because unemployment has tripled since the project was approved. Small business is the heart of our economy. Anything that adversely affects small business is bad for the taxpayer.
So now it is time to give the government back to the people. It is time to separate the "Friends of Big Government" from our elected officials and listen to the taxpayer. It is time to create policy that will help the average taxpayer, not a few special interest groups. It is time for you, the pesky little taxpayer, to take back your government.
I invite all pesky little taxpayers to join me at the July 4th Tea Party. We are tentatively scheduled for 11 a.m. at the Amway Arena. Send this email to everyone in your address book. Let the revolution begin.
Matthew Falconer
Orange County Taxpayer Budget Review Board
www.TaxpayerBudgetReviewBoard.org
5/3: The latest in Propaganda from the Orlando Sentinel is in Commuter Rail: Manna from Heaven, Sweetness, Light and other Propaganda.
5/2:
SunRail defeated, 'gone forever'
By JAMES MILLER
Staff Writer
TALLAHASSEE -- The proposed Central Florida commuter-rail system crashed to defeat -- for the second time in two days -- in the Florida Legislature on Friday.
The failure in the Senate of language backing SunRail appeared to ring a death knell for the proposed 61.5-mile system connecting DeLand and metropolitan Orlando.
SunRail language was brought up unsuccessfully Thursday on the Senate floor in a dramatic debate that was reprised in the final hours of Friday's session.
"SunRail is gone forever," Volusia County Chairman Frank Bruno said earlier Friday when asked what a nay vote would mean for the project. "You won't have all those partners again. You won't have the federal funds."
Commuter Rail: From the Other Side of the Tracks has been updated with an article from the Tampa Tribune:
Senate hammers spike through SunRail's heart
Why do people conform? Click on the link below to read about an interesting experiment that discusses social pressure to conform even when you know that what you're saying is wrong.
Solomon Asch Experiment: A study of conformity (1958)
Excerpt from Asch Experiment:
Some of the subjects indicated afterward that they assumed the rest of the people were correct and that their own perceptions were wrong. Others knew they were correct but didn't want to be different from the rest of the group. Some even insisted they saw the line lengths as the majority claimed to see them.
Asch concluded that it is difficult to maintain that you see something when no one else does. The group pressure implied by the expressed opinion of other people can lead to modification and distortion effectively making you see almost anything.
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5/1: As predicted, the Orlando Sentinel Editorial can be read by clicking here:WHAT WE THINK: SUNRAIL'S LAST RIDE
Will this really be Sunrail's last ride? How much time and energy has been put into this project that has now been voted down...not once...but TWICE? Will the "powers that be" just keep bringing it back more times that Sylvester Stallone has brought back Rocky to the ring? Or is this really the final round? Something tells me the "suits" want a holy trinity.
Mayday! Mayday! Sunrail went down...again:
TALLAHASSEE -- In the dying hours of the session, the Florida Senate brought back the SunRail amendment for one final showdown on the floor -- and defeated it on a 16-23 floor vote.
Sens. Lee Constantine, Carey Baker, and Jeremy Ring, offered an amendment that contained the insurance language for the CSX-SunRail deal, including a $2 rental-car surcharge for Tri-Rail that requires a non-binding referendum.
The Senate extended its session until 8 p.m. The House stood down, and lawmakers and lobbyists around the Capitol building watched as one of the most controversial issues of the session met its fate.
Sen. Paula Dockery, R-Lakeland, took the floor and didn't sound like she'd had a change of heart.
"Members, we don't have a lot of money," she said. "We're cutting $6 billion from our budget."
Ring, a Broward County Democrat, then implored his members to support the amendment because it would keep Tri-Rail from laying off half its staff of 300.
Then Constantine, R-Altamonte Springs, closed on the amendment by reminding senators that $432 million was going to CSX and that that was the appraised price of the rail line. "This is the most important issue for Central Florida and I believe the future of the rest of the state," he said.
To no avail. But SunRail finally got its vote.
4/30: THE PEOPLE WIN...SUNRAIL VOTED DOWN.
COMMUTER RAIL: FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TRACKS HAS THE FULL STORY
ORLANDO SENTINEL PREPARES EDITORIAL RESPONSE AS WE SPEAK
SunRail bill is withdrawn -- and probably dead
The Senate has just adjourned, as sponsors of the SunRail bill pulled it from the floor. The sponsors had lost a 17-23 vote on a compromise amendment intended to get votes from South Florida Democrats.
"The forces of evil have won," said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer.
But others said there was a slim chance the $1.2 billion project could be resurrected on the floor tomorrow.
From Norm Erickson:
Mayor Buddy Dyer says, "The forces of evil have won." Wow. Think about that. "evil". The 23 individuals who voted against it are "evil"? Evil?
The Orlando Sentinel only reports in favor of this issue. What forces of evil is Dyer talking about? Maybe he is talking about this website www.debarypop.com. Or maybe he's talking about WRONG TRACK 4 FLORIDA.com.
Maybe it is just the idea of people having a different position than Dyer; people who ask questions like "How are we going to pay for this?" "What have the impacts been elsewhere?" Dyer is not in favor of doubt or dissent, questioning or clarification. To do so, in his opinion, is "evil".
In Central Florida, if you question how billions of taxpayer dollars are going to be spent over the next, say, forever, then you're evil. I disagree; I think the forces of reason, not evil, have won. But for Dyer, reason and evil may be a difference without a distinction.
4/28: Citizen Editorial on what the former City Manager was seen doing on webcam from 4/22.
CLICK HERE: CITIZENS' EDITORIALS
WILL SUNRAIL SUNSET?
SunRail has 3 days to get 21 senators on board
TALLAHASSEE -- Gov. Charlie Crist has been lobbying on behalf of the SunRail commuter train all week and he believes the $1.2 billion project is close to getting the 21 votes it needs to pass in the Senate, said his spokesman Sterling Ivey.
SunRail proponents, meanwhile, are working on an amendment that could be attached to a bill that would be heard in the Senate tomorrow, setting up a showdown vote.
The train has to go the amendment route because it could not get on the calendar before the session ends. It got hung up in the budget impasse that was largely cleared Tuesday.
If SunRail hits the floor tomorrow, look for a long, drawn-out battle.
Lead opponent Paula Dockery, R-Lakeland, has fought SunRail throughout the session and is expected to offer numerous amendments that -- if passed -- would make the deal unacceptable to CSX, the Jacksonville railroad company that would sell 61.5 miles worth of tracks to the state.
The train would link Volusia, Seminole, Orange and Osceola counties along a 17-stop system that includes DeBary to the east, downtown Orlando and Poinciana in Osceola County to the west.
The vote actually is about approving a $200 million insurance policy that assigns liability in the case of an accident.
4/25: Is the DeBary Art League not giving credit where credit is due? Click on Citizens' Editorials to read about it.
The search for a new city manager begins.
What will happen to SunRail? Only days left for decisions. Click on COMMUTER RAIL: MANNA FROM HEAVEN, SWEETNESS, LIGHT AND OTHER PROPAGANDA to read the latest from the Orlando Sentinel.
4/18/09:
Sunrail Vote moved to MONDAY...
Citizens' Editorials on the termination of City Manager...
3/30:
A New Citizen's Editorial in Citizens' Editorials. Well worth your time...
3/22: Updated Citizens' Editorials:
CLICK HERE TO READ THEM: CITIZENS' EDITORIALS
Is it still a good idea?
Four articles from around the state of Florida about SunRail.
CLICK HERE: COMMUTER RAIL:
FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TRACKS
3/21: Mark Meister weighs in on the DeBary Debacle...Citizens' Editorials. CLICK HERE TO READ THEM: CITIZENS' EDITORIALS
3/20: Three more Citizen Editorials on the City Council meeting.
CLICK HERE TO READ THEM: CITIZENS' EDITORIALS
3/19:
Shortest Citizen Editorial ever is in Citizens' Editorials.
3/16:
Probably not your favorite kind of six pack but...
Six articles on Commuter Rail from REASON Magazine. From 1998 to 2007.
Check them out by clicking here:
COMMUTER RAIL: FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TRACKS
3/15:
NO OVERSIGHT ON GROWTH AT THE STATE LEVEL. GELD THE DEPT. OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS?
NO OVERSIGHT WANTED AT THE COUNTY LEVEL TRYING TO CASTRATE VGMC?
Never let a crisis pass without taking advantage of it.
Economic recession a reason for uncontrolled growth...literally.
Read about it.
Click here: EMINENT DOMAIN/GROWTH
3/14:
2 Stories:
1. Ocala Star-Banner: CSX Numbers Don't Add Up
Submitted by ProCitizen Media on Fri, 03/06/2009 - 20:17
-- The numbers don't lie, and the numbers are telling us the SunRail plan is overpriced and under-vetted... One forecast is for 260,000 jobs for construction, operation and transit-related development...
Ocala Star-Banner Editorial
The numbers being used to justify building a 61-mile rail commuter line for metro Orlando just keep getting more confounding.
Questions already swirl about the enormity of the project's price tag. So far, the Florida Department of Transportation is prepared to dole out $795 billion in borrowed state money — $432 million to CSX for acquisition of its A-line and more millions to make improvements on CSX's other Florida tracks.
Meanwhile, local governments in Orange, Volusia, Seminole and Osceola counties are on tap to kick in another $764 million toward the project. Add to that hundreds of millions in federal matching money and start-up and operational costs, and FDOT estimates the total tab for getting SunRail up and going at some $2.6 billion.
All in the midst of the state's worst financial crisis in memory, maybe history.
All with little public debate or vetting.
Now comes ridership projections from the Florida Department of Transportation. If anything should cause the Legislature to pause and take stock of this massive public works proposal and its potential return on investment, it is this analysis. The FDOT projects that by 2030 — that's right, two decades from now — an estimated 14,500 passengers a day would use SunRail. That from a metropolitan area whose population is forecast to be about 3.5 million in '30.
http://www.ocala.com/article/20090225/OPINION/902240918/1016/ENTERTAINME...
2. Tidal Wave Of Lobbyists Pushing CSX Bill
Submitted by ProCitizen Media on Wed, 03/11/2009 - 09:36
Lakeland Ledger reporter Joe Follick missed the lead in his Saturday story about the number of lobbyists trying to push the $2.6 billion CSX deal through the Florida Legislature.
CSX and Orlando have close to 200 lobbyists trying to get this deal done!
Now consider the number on the other side: One.
The lone lobbyist trying to prevent this disaster is Lori Weems, who is giving voice to railroad signalmen who will likely lose their jobs because of the bill's union-busting provisions.
200 to one. If this is such a great bill, why so many hired guns?
Attached you'll find the list of lobbyists. Count for yourself.
And here's a link to Joe's story: http://www.theledger.com/article/20090307/NEWS/903075032
The all time quote about rail supporters from Houston's Mayor Lanier: “First they say, `It's cheaper.' When you show it costs more, they say, ` It's faster.' When you show it's slower, they say, `It serves more riders.' When you show there are fewer riders, they say, `It brings economic development.' When you show no economic development, they say, `It helps the image.' When you say you don't want to spend that much money on image, they say, `It will solve the pollution problem.' When you show it won't help pollution, they say, finally, `It will take time. You’ll see.”
Bob Lanier, before becoming Mayor of Houston
quoted in Houston Metropolitan Magazine,
November 1990, page 49.
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3/10: Commuter Rail Propaganda Updated: Click here: COMMUTER RAIL: MANNA FROM HEAVEN, SWEETNESS, LIGHT, AND OTHER PROPAGANDA
3/9: Citizens' Editorials updated with Mort Culligan...'nuff said.
Future of SunRail: CLICK BELOW:
DOT SITE PLAN DEBARY STATION
FUTURE OF SUNRAIL
FUTURE OF SUNRAIL/CSX - THE WHOLE STATE
3/7: POP Editorial on how the economy is being used to strip growth controls. Perhaps this is what lurks behind proposed changes to the VGMC. This editorial is NOT by Norm Erickson; he is simply posting it. Check out POP Editorials to read it.
COMMUTER RAIL CLEARS FIRST HURDLE:
Orlando Sentinel:
Commuter rail bill gets testy trial in Senate
Sen. Dockery challenges the wisdom of the deal with CSX
The insurance bill (SB 1212) cleared its first stop in the Senate Transportation Committee by a 6-3 vote after a testy, two-hour hearing.
OBSERVATION: "TESTY"? SO IF THERE WERE NO QUESTIONS ASKED, WOULD THE HEADLINE READ: SENATE PASSIVELY PASSES RAIL BILL. DOUBTFUL.
FROM wdbo.com 2 different sources and stories, yet they both say the same thing:
"Of the $1.2 billion dollars that they're talking about spending on this project, only a fraction of that is actually going to commuter rail," says communications director Rich Templin.
He says the rest of the money amounts to corporate welfare for the CSX corporation.
"This is an arrangement that was structured - mostly behind closed doors - to benefit CSX."
Templin calls the project the most expensive rail project in the history of the country. He says the price per mile is ten times that of the second most expensive project - California's commuter rail.
The AFLCIO says the project lacks appropriate safety standards and dedicates too much public money to freight routes that benefit the "politically connected."
AND:
That's not the only opposition though. Matt Falconer with the Orange County Taxpayer Review Board wants opponents to write their Senators. "It's going to affect education and public safety. So I'd like people who care about education and public safety to let legislators know those are the priorities they want." Falconer says drivers trying to get across town on surface streets will suffer. "Commuter rail will not decrease traffic on I-4, it will increase traffic in communities on the route there, and it will not serve a lot of people."
In the billion dollar bill $615 million goes to build commuter rail here, the rest goes to CSX for rail improvements throughout the state. It passed a House committee 14-3 before the full session started, and Dyer says construction could start as early as August.
READ MATT FALCONER'S PAPER ON "THE TRUTH ABOUT COMMUTER RAIL". HE WROTE INTO THE DEBARYPOP. YOU CAN READ IT BY CLICK ON: COMMUTER RAIL:THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TRACKS
Norm Erickson
2/26: Check out Citizens' Editorials. Two contributions and Mark Meister agreeing with a previous writer that this website is one sided and both sides have to be presented.
Oh, and I've also posted the two editorials from the Orlando Sentinel in the last 12 days urging lawmakers to pass Commuter Rail because, like last year, "it's now or never"
You can find it in Commuter Rail: Manna from Heaven, Sweetness, Light and other Propaganda with all of the other articles the Orlando Sentinel has published only in favor of Commuter Rail.
Norm Erickson
2/25:
Like a thunderbolt in your Cheerios...we're back! We will not bow down to "The Man". DeBaryPOP will continue to offer a place for citizens to express their opinions and to bring the other side of the issues to light.
So keep the comments coming...it's cheaper than sending it by mail.
Speaking of which, go to Citizens' Editorials to read a scathing email about the founders of this website and our bringing news of Commuter Rail to this website.
If you agree with Angie, pile on. If you feel like you're getting hornswaggled, let us know. It's YOUR website. It's YOUR City. Shouldn't it be YOUR decision? Yes? No? Write in.
From the Tampa Tribune:
CLICK BELOW:
SHADOWY RAIL DEAL NEEDS GOOD SCRUBBING
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LOOK WHAT'S HAPPENING IN CHARLOTTE:
CLICK BELOW FOR THE LINK:
CHARLOTTE LIGHT RAIL: TAKING CITIZENS FOR A RIDE!
CLICK HERE FOR THE SECRET DEALS AND WHO GOT PAID AS REPORTED BY THE TAMPA TRIBUNE
CLICK ON THE LINKS BELOW TO READ VARIOUS COMMUTER RAIL ARTICLES FROM AROUND THE STATE:
The Tampa Tribune: Secret Deal For Railroad Hub Lays Bare Shady Practices At DOT
TAMPA TRIBUNE ARTICLE ON THE COSTS OF COMMUTER RAIL
CONGRESSMAN MICA RESPONDS TO TAMPA TRIBUNE
RESPONSE TO CONGRESSMAN MICA'S EDITORIAL
Miami Herald: Tri-Rail wants the Legislature to make people who rent cars pay a new fee that would fund most of its operations.
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2/2/09: Citizens' Editorials updated with a response from Mort Culligan.
The link below is short article "Understanding the Mythology of Rail". It has many links you may click as you read it.
Link: UNDERSTANDING THE MYTHOLOGY OF RAIL
Commuter Rail: Manna from Heaven, Sweetness, Light and other Propaganda has been updated with the THIRD editorial from the Orlando Sentinel for Commuter Rail in a three day period.
1/31: Sent in by Joe Braxton: New link to an editorial on a "mobility tax" for New York City transit. Amazingly, how many hundreds of thousands of people use mass transit in NYC and the seven surrounding counties and yet they are 1.4 billion in debt. But that's New York...we'll have more citizens using the commuter rail in Central Florida than New York City and seven counties. Click on Commuter Rail: From the Other Side of the Tracks for the editorial from the Poughkeepsie Journal.
1/30: Letter to Gov. Crist about DeBary Downs. Read it in Citizens' Editorials.
The Miami - Honolulu Connection:
Click on the link below to see what is happening to Commuter
Rail in Honolulu. It looks like in Miami they explore both
sides of the issue. I wonder if they'll do that here?
CLICK BELOW:
HONOLULU RAIL
Quotations relating to traffic and transportation
The all time quote about rail supporters from Houston's Mayor Lanier: “First they say, `It's cheaper.' When you show it costs more, they say, ` It's faster.' When you show it's slower, they say, `It serves more riders.' When you show there are fewer riders, they say, `It brings economic development.' When you show no economic development, they say, `It helps the image.' When you say you don't want to spend that much money on image, they say, `It will solve the pollution problem.' When you show it won't help pollution, they say, finally, `It will take time. You’ll see.”
Bob Lanier, before becoming Mayor of Houston quoted in
Houston Metropolitan Magazine
November 1990, page 49.
1/26: UPDATE: The latest from the Sentinel on Commuter Rail. It's fun to be right. Commuter Rail: Manna from Heaven, Sweetness, Light, and other Propaganda
1/25/09: Citizen response to the City being sued over Horsetrack. Citizens' Editorials
1/20:
CLICK BELOW FOR UPDATES:
Commuter Rail: From the Other Side of the Tracks
Meanwhile, we'll probably hear a few snippets about the success of Portland. Why not read an analysis of twenty-four pages and over one hundred sources. Will the proponents offer the same kind of analysis for the success of commuter rail? Indeed, there is a consensus that it won't break even and we'll be consigned to incredibly high density growth for low or very low income residents and a tax bill that will out live Methuselah.
CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW TO READ THE REPORT:
DEBUNKING PORTLAND: THE CITY THAT DOESN'T WORK
Norm Erickson
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Check out Commuter Rail: From the Other Side of the Tracks: The Rail Company we invested in is out of business. Now it's used locomotives and twice the fuel. But it's worse in Oregon because they pumped millions into this company when they, too, knew it was a bad deal.
Here's what they are saying about us in Oregon:
Posted by CFCRjoke on 12/21/08 at 11:59PM
Guess what!
Congressman John Mica from Florida has also ordered Colorado Railcar cars for its Central Florida Commuter Rail. This commuter rail hasn't even been approved yet by the Florida legislature because of liability demands by CSX Rail which the commuter rail would share tracks. The Florida Department of Transportation continues to poor money into this debacle and the costs continue to increase practically by the minute. Now they say they are changing to another supplier for the rail cars. I guess this would be why. What a debacle. Thank you Congressman Mica!
Why did this citizen in Oregon know about this before citizens in Florida were told three weeks later!
SHAZAM!
SCOOPED!
We at debarypop scooped the Orlando Sentinel because this whole story was reported by us in December of 2008:
ARCHIVES 2008
No, I don't work at Casadaga, but I forsee editorials still supporting Commuter Rail even with used rail cars using twice the fuel, emitting twice the pollution, and consigning citizens to a hellacious tax not even Dante could have imagined.
Norm Erickson
1/14:
City Council Meeting 1/7/09
The Past is Prologue
You have the chance to continue to restore trust and common sense in how we grow, how we protect the environment we live in and understand the restrictions that nature has given us within which to work. All the things that impact our quality of life. I’m still looking for someone who knows how to make water.
No “Sweet Sixteen” list of things to do in 2009. This year it’s up to you to create goals that will first and foremost benefit the City of DeBary and its residents without hocking our socks to pay for them. Fiscal responsibility is called for in all we do.
We hear the word “vision” again. Hopefully, not one of the first two in Webster’s : “Something seen in a dream, trance or ecstasy. A supernatural appearance that conveys a revelation.” Our new Mayor’s comments on salary created a lot of Press – even as far south as Boynton Beach and West Palm. The eyes of Central and Eastern Florida are upon us.
We’ve started using our Comp Plan, LDC and DRC as they are supposed to be used to keep us out of trouble. You may inherit some older projects that may not follow the rules. Be prepared.
We’ve survived an attempt to place a racetrack and Card Room in our City. Our citizens and a 3-2 vote kept it from happening. We’re getting better at saying “NO” when we’re supposed to.
We survived Fay, though not as nicely as we could have. Much work has been done with much more to go. Maybe we’ll be in better shape for the upcoming storm season. However, I urge you to create a TRUE Disaster Response Program. An organization of people that will be physically able and trained to respond to any sector of the City. Ready to go on short notice when severe weather is forecast. This has to be done early this year so we’ll be ready before the first storm hits. I presented a suggested Disaster Plan outline last year after discovering there was no Plan. A lot of people put in a lot hours and they are to be commended, but that is not a Plan.
We survived the onslaughts of developers trying to make our City something it is not with the lure of tax dollars and questionable placement or design of their projects.
Let’s concentrate on improving what we have. With the help of our businesses, a willing City Government, a willing County Government and the support of our citizens we can create the look needed to unify the section between Highbanks and Plantation through Grants, FDOT, paint, minor structural changes, making some of the small vacant lots into municipal parking lots so people can park and walk to stores. Landscape the median – even if it’s just grass. It can be done and should be done. Increased business. Increased pride in our City. Promote the city and County Parks, lakes, St. Jon’s River, Gemini Springs. Historic sites, nearby Blue Spring Central Florida Zoo. Become a part of the Trail System Heritage trail. Eco-Tourism promotions.
It’s not as far fetched as you may think. Provided it’s planned as a TOTAL package, not piecemeal, devoid of personal agendas with fiscal responsibility for each segment, etc.
I believe this Council can make DeBary the place for people to come live, work and play.
These are my marching orders to you. Commuter Rail is another story.
Thank you,
John Likakis
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1/10: Two new Citizens' Editorials
1/4/09: Gene Stump and Mort Culligan in Citizens' Editorials
From the Daytona Beach News Journal
1/16/06:
Patrick Fulton about debarypop.com:
“I think some of their comments on the site are frankly obnoxious," Fulton said.
3rd YEAR ANNIVERSARY
SHAZAM!!
DECEMBER 2008 WAS OUR BEST
MONTH SINCE STARTING
WITH MORE THAN 5400 HITS
AND MORE THAN
1100 CITIZENS (no tent necessary)
VISITING OUR SITE
With our 4th year underway we are ready to bring more information and "obnoxious" commentary for consumption.
www.debarypop.com was founded by:
John Likakis
Lenny Marks
Norm Erickson
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