Gee, wouldn’t it be great if our local monopoly newspaper debunked false claims by politicians and activists?
Here is The St. Pete Times slapping down an absurd claim by Mike Huckabee that most signers of the Declaration of Independence were members of the the clergy.
Surely any newspaper would jump at the chance to correct such howlers. Evidently not.
The Save The Tax campaign continues to lie non-stop and lie with impunity. Case in point, the mailer I received yesterday. Here are the bullet points presented as the results of repeal of the tax:
“Congestion will worsen”
Lie. It will get worse regardless and the next rail project planned, the $470 million North line, will have virtually no impact on congestion in that corridor.
“Bus service will be reduced”
Lie. There is at least $20 million worth of fat in the current CATS bus operation. In addition, the biggest long term threat to the bus system is a hyper-expensive light rail system the half-cent cannot possibly pay for.
“Property tax may replace the sales tax”
Interesting half-truth modifying a previous lie. Before the claim was that property absolutely, positively would go up for all voters were the tax repealed. That overlooked options for bringing the half-cent back with a better transit plan, the chance that non-Charlotte jurisdictions would not vote to raise taxes, as well as the general political uncertainty of what would come next.
“Air quality will deteriorate”
Flat out lie. If the current plan does next to nothing for congestion, air quality cannot be impacted. In addition, as the vehicle fleet gets cleaner, air quality will improve regardless. Mass transit takes so few total vehicles off the road it can have littler overall effect. Plus, within the transit corridors themselves diesel buses and diesel heavy rail would not necessarily be a net plus to air quality. Finally, let’s not forget the air quality impacts of building transit lines. Carbon burned by construction equipment must be counting in the mix as well.
“Economic development will be threatened”
I say Lie but perhaps just utter stupidity mixed with corporate welfare. Ask Pineville how it is doing since opting out of the South line in 2002. Didn’t dry up and blow away. But would future subsidized development be threatened if we ditched a transit plan that is focused on “place making” and redevelopment in favor of one focused on transportation and mobility? You bet your ass.
Speaking of which, it may be on fire.
