From: "Friends of Transit" To: Subject: A Major Victory for Light Rail in the Valley Date: Tuesday, January 25, 2005 6:29 PM Friends, In case you missed it, yesterday the Valley's Light Rail project received a grant of $857 MILLION - assuring the project's future. Below is a column by John Talton. We couldn't have said it better... Special "Thank You" to the more than 300 people who attended this Full Funding Grant Agreement Signing Ceremony. David Schwartz Executive Director _____ Cross-party cooperation on light rail is a cause for hope Jan. 25, 2005 12:00 AM , John Talton How sweet it is. Nobody wanted light rail, or so the Kookocracy claimed. Nobody but voters and a growing list of business and civic leaders. With Monday's full federal funding signing ceremony, we're finally going to begin building the transportation options a big city needs. A huge cheer erupted as Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon hoisted the document, Truman style, for the crowd to see. The event in downtown Phoenix was a reassertion of real Arizona leadership. Both Democrat Rep. Ed Pastor and Republican Rep. J.D. Hayworth were headliners. They were instrumental in steering the project to a federal commitment of $587 million. Such cooperation was once a given, which is how Arizona turned in a few decades from wilderness to one of the fastest-growing states. In addition to adding 1,600 full-time jobs, light rail will be a catalyst for development and link ASU campuses. The ceremony showed the depth of support. In addition to mayors and council members from Glendale, Mesa, Phoenix and Tempe, attendees included Valerie Manning, president of the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce; developer Eric Brown; Marty Shultz of Arizona Public Service; and Don Keuth of the Phoenix Community Alliance. Members of the Legislature, where the Kookocracy hides in its spider holes, were invited. They declined to come. . . . _____ To Unsubscribe, Please Click Here