From: "Friends of Transit NEWS" To: Subject: Attached is a Letter to the Editor from Fellow Friend of Transit - Scott Hume Date: Wednesday, May 01, 2002 7:17 PM Attached is a Letter to the Editor from Fellow Friend of Transit - Scott Hume. We thought you might like a copy for your own files. As always, Scott raises some very good points. He especially brings to light the point that many of the transit opponents are once again spreading false information about transit in the East Valley Tribune. Many of you have expressed an interest in writing similar letters to the editor to help curtail this systematic false information. If you would like more information about how to contact the East Valley Tribune, please send me a reply e-mail and we'll get you the information. We especially need to here from our friends in the East Valley. (Of course we love to hear from our friends throughout the region!!) Thank you, David Schwartz Executive Director david@friendsoftransit.org -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- As much as I enjoy reading the "East Valley Tribune," I feel the paper is besieged with NIMBY-written letters. Usually, these missives are condemnations of monetary expenditures for civic projects not fitting into the authors' short-sighted worldviews. Monday, April 29th was a prime example. Ronald Monaco called buses "unattractive to commuters," primarily because the buses in HIS neck of the woods smell bad. Sorry Ron, but not living in here, you may not have been aware that Valley Metro is in the process of changing its fleet into clean-burning fuel vehicles. Monaco did, however, bring up an curious point, namely that his part of the country is "struggling to put back rail lines that existed 50 years ago...." Maybe buses are not the most aesthetically agreeable mode of transit, but ANY steps towards providing transit options is a good idea -- maybe even rail. But, not according to Pamela Mack (of Mesa, at least) who obviously doesn't understand the full positive impacts of mass transit. However, I DO agree with her, when she says: "We needs lots of things...parks, libraries, ball fields, more police, more red-light cameras, etc." With the populations increases that Maricopa County has enjoyed (endured) in the past few years, the East Valley quite a lot of a variety of services, including better transit. Unfortunately, there is a larger problem that needs to be addressed FIRST. Apparently, the City of Mesa may not apparently have enough money to fix street potholes or completely fund the city's bus routes. Sounds like Mesa has some infrastructure issues... Mesa is no longer a sleepy, little bedroom suburb, but a growing and vibrant city making a way for itself. And if Mesa wants to keep and attract residents and businesses, it needs a coherent and vivid civic vision. Maybe even a good 'deal' on a controversial stadium, IF it can be made 'equitable' for residents. Unfortunately, other structural concerns, such as traffic and transit management, MUST be addressed first, or the possible perks of Mesa's future plans may wind up winding down.