Case for paying for rail
Regarding "Don't give up on light rail; it's our future" (Page B12, Sunday), Cindy Clifford insists that the light rail system has "broad" public support, citing a 2003 referendum where voters supposedly demanded that Metro begin construction on four new lines.
While this claim is a little hyperbolic, it is not unfair to say that the electorate supported some form of rail-based mass transit. In fact, public support for rail has been expressed at the polls going back to 1998.
What is notable is the reason why it is popular: federal funding. The three existing lines that have been built were funded overwhelmingly with the earnings of people who not only don't live in Houston, but don't live in Texas, which brings us to the eternal question: If projects like light rail are so popular, why don't Houstonians - citizens of one of the richest cities in America - pony up the bucks to pay for it?
Unwittingly, Clifford blows up her own argument with her quote from the movie "Field of Dreams", when the main character, Ray Kinsella, is told: "If you build it, they will come." What Clifford doesn't bother mentioning is that Kinsella spent his own money to build that infamous baseball field in the middle of nowhere.
Kinsella literally bet the farm to fund his boondoggle, and it paid off. By comparison, Houstonians risk only a modest tax increase to fund theirs.
Bottom line, if Houstonians want more light rail, they should pay for it themselves.
Pete Smith, Houston
http://www.chron.com/opinion/letters/article/Wednesday-letters-NCAA-Houston-rail-India-5542951.php
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Regarding "Don’t give up on light rail; it’s our future" (Sunday Outlook), Cindy Clifford insists that the light rail system has "broad" public support, citing a 2003 referendum where voters supposedly demanded that Metro "begin construction on four new lines". While this claim is a little hyperbolic, it is not unfair to say that the electorate supported some form of rail-based mass transit. In fact, public support for rail has been expressed at the polls going back to 1998.
Regarding "Don't give up on light rail; it's our future" (Page B12, Sunday), Cindy Clifford insists that the light rail system has "broad" public support, citing a 2003 referendum where voters supposedly demanded that Metro begin construction on four new lines.
While this claim is a little hyperbolic, it is not unfair to say that the electorate supported some form of rail-based mass transit. In fact, public support for rail has been expressed at the polls going back to 1998.
What is notable is the reason why it is popular: federal funding. The three existing lines that have been built were funded overwhelmingly with the earnings of people who not only don't live in Houston, but don't live in Texas, which brings us to the eternal question: If projects like light rail are so popular, why don't Houstonians - citizens of one of the richest cities in America - pony up the bucks to pay for it?
Unwittingly, Clifford blows up her own argument with her quote from the movie "Field of Dreams", when the main character, Ray Kinsella, is told: "If you build it, they will come." What Clifford doesn't bother mentioning is that Kinsella spent his own money to build that infamous baseball field in the middle of nowhere.
Kinsella literally bet the farm to fund his boondoggle, and it paid off. By comparison, Houstonians risk only a modest tax increase to fund theirs.
Bottom line, if Houstonians want more light rail, they should pay for it themselves.
Pete Smith, Houston
http://www.chron.com/opinion/letters/article/Wednesday-letters-NCAA-Houston-rail-India-5542951.php
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regarding "Don’t give up on light rail; it’s our future" (Sunday Outlook), Cindy Clifford insists that the light rail system has "broad" public support, citing a 2003 referendum where voters supposedly demanded that Metro "begin construction on four new lines". While this claim is a little hyperbolic, it is not unfair to say that the electorate supported some form of rail-based mass transit. In fact, public support for rail has been expressed at the polls going back to 1998.
What is notable is the reason why it is popular: federal funding. The three existing lines that have been built were funded overwhelmingly with the earnings of people who not only don't live in Houston, but don't live in Texas, which brings us to the eternal question: If projects like light rail are so popular, why don't Houstonians - citizens of one of the richest cities in America - pony up the bucks to pay for it?
Unwittingly, Cindy Clifford blows up her own argument with her quote from the movie "Field of Dreams", when the main character Ray Kinsella is told: "If you build it, they will come". What Clifford doesn't bother mentioning is that Kinsella spent his own money to build that infamous baseball field in the middle of nowhere.
Kinsella literally "bet the farm" to fund his boondoggle, and it paid off. By comparison, Houstonians risk only a modest tax increase to fund theirs.
Bottom line, if Houstonians want more light rail, they should pay for it themselves.
Pete Smith
Houston, TX
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