Rick Scott's Argument Pitful and Untrue, Legislature to Sue over High Speed Rail

[Jimmy]

I guess all responsibility flows, ultimately, back to the voters of Florida.  We've got to do better next time.

[thelakelander]

True. The same goes for our local elections. We screw this up like we did in 2003 and we'll get what we deserve.

[Jimmy]

Well said.  I think more than any election of my lifetime, this local election will make or break Jacksonville.  Or at least seal our fate for the next 20-30 years.  Which is distressing to me because I'm 34.  If we have no chance of positive momentum from City Hall, I have to evaluate carefully if this is a place where I can continue to live.  As a native, that's hard to say.

[BridgeTroll]

Yep... the real bummer is EVERYBODY in the state knew what Scott was going to do if he got in.  First plank of his platform was "kill hsr".  Guess no one believed him...

[urbaknight]

Well said.  I think more than any election of my lifetime, this local election will make or break Jacksonville.  Or at least seal our fate for the next 20-30 years.  Which is distressing to me because I'm 34.  If we have no chance of positive momentum from City Hall, I have to evaluate carefully if this is a place where I can continue to live.  As a native, that's hard to say.

I hear you, I want a vibrant city to live in before I'm past my prime! (I don't to wait until I'm too old to enjoy the hip young stuff when we finally do get it)

[thelakelander]

Hmmm, it appears the HSR project hasn't been officially buried yet:

Nelson Says There Is One More Chance at Rail Money

LEDGER WIRE SERVICES

Published: Friday, March 4, 2011 at 2:01 p.m.
Last Modified: Friday, March 4, 2011 at 2:01 p.m.

WASHINGTON, D.C. | U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson's office has issued a release that says a proverbial “Hail Mary” pass was thrown today â€" even as the federal government prepared to give Florida’s $2.4 billion in high-speed rail money and associated 24,000 jobs to someone else.

Taking one last shot at saving the project, Nelson said federal Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has offered to review whether the grant process could be reopened and whether the money could then be awarded directly to the local governments that just formed a new regional rail coalition in Florida, including the cities of Lakeland, Tampa, Orlando and Miami.

LaHood, according to Nelson's office, pledged in the wake of today’s Florida Supreme Court setback to have his lawyers review whether the new regional rail authority in Central Florida could be allowed to compete against the likes of California and New York and other states clamoring for the money rejected by Florida’s Gov. Rick Scott. LaHood and Nelson agreed to talk again Monday or Tuesday.

“If it can’t be done, then we’re done,” Nelson said. “Meantime, there’s an old proverb: fall seven times, stand up eight.”

Earlier today, the state Supreme Court ruled that Scott didn’t overstep his authority in rejecting the rail money, although the justices did not address the merits of the project itself.

Given the court decision, a number of states now will be getting in line. “We will take that money,” declared U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I-VT ) at a Senate Budget Committee hearing Thursday. “If other states do not want it, that is fine.”

Sen. Christopher Coons ( D-Del. ) joined Sanders and Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse ( D-R.I. ) and Mark Warner ( D-Va. ) in asking LaHood at the meeting for Florida’s money. “Should the governor of Florida be so foolish as to turn back funds … it is our hope that the Northeast corridor will be highly competitive in that,” Coons said.

http://www.theledger.com/article/20110304/NEWS/110309850/1410?Title=Nelson-Says-There-Is-One-More-Chance-at-Rail-Money

[FayeforCure]

LaHood, according to Nelson's office, pledged in the wake of today’s Florida Supreme Court setback to have his lawyers review whether the new regional rail authority in Central Florida could be allowed to compete against the likes of California and New York and other states clamoring for the money rejected by Florida’s Gov. Rick Scott. LaHood and Nelson agreed to talk again Monday or Tuesday.

I like it!

That would completely by-pass King Scott.

I bet Paula Dockery is furious..........she gave up running for Governor and was one of the first to endorse Scott. But then again...........who has $72 million of stolen money laying around to buy themselves the governorship?

I don't think she had much choice, but I would have voted for her even though I think Sink is very capable too. I like strong gutsy women, that are smart too. You already know who that excludes.......

[Ocklawaha]

Maybe Nelsons coalition of Jacksonvilleless towns and cities, if they pull this off, will have the freedom to completely abandon the stupid planning that has gone into this thus far. Get those trains running city center to city center and watch for some success. If Nelson doesn't get in the door with his Hail Mary, then we in Northeast Florida have a unique opportunity to capitalize on Orlando-Tampa-Miami's loss.

If we REALLY want to increase Jacksonville's chance of leading this technology, rather then the proverbial tail of the dog, we should get behind North Carolina-Virginia-Maryland's efforts. THEY are working toward bringing SOUTHEAST HIGH SPEED RAIL as far as Carolina, and maybe down to Columbia, SC. If that happens, next stop Savannah and Jacksonville.


OCKLAWAHA

[thelakelander]

Couldn't you say the same thing about Florida's plan?

If we REALLY want to increase Jacksonville's chance of leading this technology, rather then the proverbial tail of the dog, we should get behind Florida's efforts. THEY are working toward bringing FLORIDA HIGH SPEED RAIL as far as North Florida and the Panhandle and already have secured $2.4 billion to get the first phase under construction in 2011.  If that happens, next stops Miami and Jacksonville.

[jaxlore]

Man how disgusting is this. I am not the cursing type. But when I read the news I did exactly that. This guy that bought the governership and could care less what his constituents think. Your all right about the local election if we get the wrong mayor in this town we are doomed. People are way to complacent in this city and need to get off there @$$ this election or someone will be turning downtown will be turned into parking lost central and the sky way will be a ghost train.

[JeffreyS]

I will take both and link them.

[tufsu1]

Couldn't you say the same thing about Florida's plan?

If we REALLY want to increase Jacksonville's chance of leading this technology, rather then the proverbial tail of the dog, we should get behind Florida's efforts. THEY are working toward bringing FLORIDA HIGH SPEED RAIL as far as North Florida and the Panhandle and already have secured $2.4 billion to get the first phase under construction in 2011.  If that happens, next stops Miami and Jacksonville.

+100

[Ocklawaha]

Couldn't you say the same thing about Florida's plan?

If we REALLY want to increase Jacksonville's chance of leading this technology, rather then the proverbial tail of the dog, we should get behind Florida's efforts. THEY are working toward bringing FLORIDA HIGH SPEED RAIL as far as North Florida and the Panhandle and already have secured $2.4 billion to get the first phase under construction in 2011.  If that happens, next stops Miami and Jacksonville.

No because it makes no economic sense as proposed, it is not a viable railroad, but the 600 mile long SEHSR mainline from New York to Jacksonville and from Atlanta to Jacksonville is.  The people behind FLHSR would promise you the moon and the stars to get their hands on that money, and they have about as much real intention of taking their railroad to the panhandle as I do moving to North Dakota!

But like my stance or hate it, the SEHSR is alive and well, and FLHSR is on life support at best. We have a REAL shot with SEHSR and are likely to get NOTHING of substance from the Florida project as it now stands.

OCKLAWAHA

[thelakelander]

We'll probably be long and gone before SEHSR gets anywhere close to Jax. It's not like GA's political machine is anymore favorable or rail than Florida's. Plus, by the time it gets to Jax, I seriously doubt we'll be a leader in anything related to it.