The Flying Monkey Of JTA, or The Enemy Within?

[Ocklawaha]

How does JTA take on a railroad guy? Old Hippie? Class Clown? A typical and interesting approach is pure human reaction. Ask the "Trolley Guy" why he paints us as "Flying Monkeys", Mar's Aliens, or Morphing Werewolves? Tell him you personally love Trolleys and Rail, and hope for the day when Rail will reach into the far corners of our City. Perhaps you loathe the attacks you took so personal, unaware that you were never the real target. Have you come to expect his bombastic posting style, use of color, and railroad background to pounce to the attack...

Here are the facts about the Flying Monkeys of JTA. No matter what I have written, it has been with a friendly jab at the ribs. I do not really believe anyone at JTA is a werewolf, though I do think the political machine is a blood sucker. JTA, The people, are not unlike the rest of us. Saddled with a job to be all things to all people and still carry the mandate of being whatever Tallahassee, Washington or City Hall, decides it should be. In order to keep their jobs, JTA employees would do well not to rattle the cage of this many colored beast. Citizens? Sorry y'all but when you spend your time dancing in political mine fields, we are low on the list. So is the JTA that I attack REALLY the people? No, it's the "Thing," the JTA, behind the JTA. The something in this City that cut up 4 original Jacksonville streetcars since 1981. The creature that stomped the historic streetcar barn flat for a highway that was never built. The all knowing eye that decided 200+ Million for a "Free" Skyway was far better then San Diego's 68 Million dollar light rail system, built at the same time, and 14 miles longer. That mystery force that visits concerned and activist citizens and tells them, "If you want to work again, leave town..." Old families? Past graft? Motor Transit? All were involved in killing Florida's largest Trolley system in 1936. Could it be hidden within JTA? Is it outside of JTA? No one knows, it is just there, it consumes it's enemies as GM, Firestone, Standard Oil and Company consumed the Street Railways of the Nation. The FACT is this Spirit of Motor Transit Company, is still with us, and today we call our Transit Operator JTA. So for want of a better place to place the blame, JTA assumes the position by default, until we learn better through experience. Is Jacksonville still Cowford enough to allow that ghost to raise it's ugly head and smite anyone that promotes rail over bus? Whatever or whoever that unknown force is, I plan to finger you, and YOU my evil little friend are the original FLYING MONKEY OF JTA...

Our fight is not against mere mortals, but against highways, and oil, and automakers, and tires, and pollution, and mindless sprawl, transit and rail ignorance, and gridlock. For those at JTA who REALLY want and are pushing quietly for Rail Transit, you may well be the heroes of the day and hour, and I might really be your best friend. So ahead at flank speed, but be forewarned, among you may be the Anti-Christ of Transportation. Our very own FLYING MONKEY.

The rest of you, at JTA or otherwise, feel free to call, I'll put on the Iced Tea...


Ocklawaha