Matty sues feds

[Reality_Check]

Just in from the Freep:

The owners of the Ambassador Bridge, along with several Detroit groups, filed a lawsuit today challenging the Federal Highway Administration’s approval of a rival span little more than a mile downriver.

. . . The Detroit International Bridge Co. – owned by trucking magnate Manuel [[Matty) Moroun – and the other plaintiffs argue the FHA’s approval violated federal laws, relied on erroneous traffic data and failed to thoroughly examine alternative crossing locations.

http://www.freep.com/article/2009051...ver+rival+span

Stamper says:

The state's approval process for this unnecessary multi-billion dollar taxpayer project has been a sham from the beginning. Information that did not support the Highway Administration's goal was systematically ignored or dismissed. The result is that the DRIC bridge, if built, would needlessly destroy the Delray community.

All evidence shows that the DRIC bridge is unnecessary and a massive waste of taxpayer money. Moreover, it would destroy the value of the Ambassador Bridge Gateway Project -- a privately financed project -- before it even opens. Existing crossings, including the Ambassador Bridge, have sufficient capacity to handle traffic volumes for the foreseeable future.

[BShea]

Crain's story, including PDF of the lawsuit and a list of who the plaintiffs are:

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article...FREE/905149970

[kraig]

The tripped out part is, if you took all the money that both sides are going to end up spending on this, you could put up another bridge, fix up Delray and do a lot to seriously mitigate some of the environmental concerns in Southwest Detroit.

No matter who wins, the neighborhoods lose.

[urbanoutdoors]

FYI, Matty is paying for the suit the others who joined have there various reasons mainly financial.

LASED, Citizens with Challenges [[Otis Mathis), Detroit Association of Black Organizations, Detroiters for Progress [[Adolph Mongo--paid consultant of the bridge company), Mana De Metro Detroit [[Belda Garza: Moroun donated to campaign), Mexican Patriotic Committee of Metro Detroit [[Belda Garza, Gloria Rocha)

Its sad because the DIBC cares nothing about the delray neighborhood, they just want to stall so their bridge can be built first....
I personally don't want either bridge but if one has to be built....

[gnome]

Detroit Association of Black Organizations:

Whorace Sheffield
www.dabodetroit.org/mission.html

the Detroiters for Progress ... was formed just for this cause ... typical Mongo move.

LASED and Mana De Metro Detroit are housed in the same building on W. Vernor just east of Scotten.

Too bad the news folks haven't dug a little deeper about these so-called community organizations. Guess Bill was busy doing something more important.

[Gannon]

Ol' Matty KNOWS a mile is a l-o-n-g way longer to drive when you wanna get across...the pay bridge on Grosse Ile always had a waiting line, even though a free crossing was a few miles further downstream.

This new bridge could seriously empty his coffers, he has to fight it with all his mighty might and whatever other dirty means necessary.


I was telling someone about Heinz Prechter and HIS quest for a southern bridge a few nights ago, and then my conspiracy mind hiccuped at the thought that Manny might've been behind Heinz's untimely demise...I've NEVER liked the story of him hanging himself with that vacuum cleaner cord, no matter how deep his depression.

I'm just sayin'...

[BShea]

Detroit Association of Black Organizations:

Whorace Sheffield
www.dabodetroit.org/mission.html

the Detroiters for Progress ... was formed just for this cause ... typical Mongo move.

LASED and Mana De Metro Detroit are housed in the same building on W. Vernor just east of Scotten.

Too bad the news folks haven't dug a little deeper about these so-called community organizations. Guess Bill was busy doing something more important.

Are they, or are they not, listed a plaintiffs in the lawsuit? They are, regardless if they're front organizations for Moroun and his plot to piss off the denizens of Detroit Yes.

You really think LA SED is a tool of Moroun's bidding? I suppose you could, since some on here are speculating he could have been behind Heinz Prechter's death.

Just when you think the blinding Morounhate has reached bottom ...

I would bet that if Jesus Christ signed on as a plaintiff, someone on here would say he was nothing more than a crook who ripped off his carpentry customers.

[SWMAP]

Oh, God. Jealous Belda. She's the one-time legislator who put food in her pocketbook when at a civic breakfast. And she is nearly illiterate. And she is famous for moving her son out of Michigan as a fugitive when he was involved in a gang murder. A real low-life.

You can know Maroun by the bad company he keeps.

[Retroit]

All evidence shows that the DRIC bridge is unnecessary and a massive waste of taxpayer money. Moreover, it would destroy the value of the Ambassador Bridge Gateway Project -- a privately financed project -- before it even opens. Existing crossings, including the Ambassador Bridge, have sufficient capacity to handle traffic volumes for the foreseeable future.

Amen. As usual the government is wasting OUR money when they don't have to.

Bill [[yes, you, BShea), don't feel the need to defend yourself against every belittling comment from the peanut gallery. You and your paper do a great service keeping Detroiters informed. [[Same applies to you Steve...Wilson.)

[kraig]

Amen. As usual the government is wasting OUR money when they don't have to.

Bill [[yes, you, BShea), don't feel the need to defend yourself against every belittling comment from the peanut gallery. You and your paper do a great service keeping Detroiters informed. [[Same applies to you Steve...Wilson.)

It's too bad that MDOT doesn't show the same commitment and effort to the state roads and bridges that our tax dollars are intended to pay for as they do the DRIC.

[FlyByDon]

June 6 2009

Attachment 1615

[drjeff]

The fact is that there should not be privately owned bridges at international crossings. We already have one in Detroit. We do not need another. Add to that the fact that Maroun is one of the most irresponsible property owners in the city and it becomes a "hell no" kind of proposition.

[SWMAP]

Who/what agency cares about maintenance of the privately-owned Bridge. I am telling you that the DIBC has a "demotion by neglect" agenda going on. If you are a Bridge user, can you remember when you last saw the seasonal painting/rust removal crews working on the Bridge? Its been a few years. Look at the iron barricades on the south [[east) side of the Bridge [[the side facing the downtowns). many of them are rusted through with holes that you can put your fist through, especially as you approach the Canadian side. The bridge is being neglected and I wonder if the DIBC wants to use references to its bad shape in order to argue for 'retiring' it. There is no reason to have this state of disrepair if the DIBC keeps up an annual maintence schedule. But what is that and who monitors it?

[kraig]

Who/what agency cares about maintenance of the privately-owned Bridge. I am telling you that the DIBC has a "demotion by neglect" agenda going on. If you are a Bridge user, can you remember when you last saw the seasonal painting/rust removal crews working on the Bridge? Its been a few years. Look at the iron barricades on the south [[east) side of the Bridge [[the side facing the downtowns). many of them are rusted through with holes that you can put your fist through, especially as you approach the Canadian side. The bridge is being neglected and I wonder if the DIBC wants to use references to its bad shape in order to argue for 'retiring' it. There is no reason to have this state of disrepair if the DIBC keeps up an annual maintence schedule. But what is that and who monitors it?

Check with Modjeski and Masters Consulting Engineering. The Project Manager is Michael Borzock. He may be able to provide you with inspection info. They're the same firm that inspects the Blue Water Bridge and will probably inspect the DRIC when/if it ever happens. They're arguably the best when it comes to bridges.

[4real]

whats wrong with a privately held bridge crossing on an international border?
at least people have a choice.

[Corktown Mark]

The DIBC bridge currently is a monopoly. A span at Delray would ADD competition. One additional thing to consider. Until the public began to look at a new bridge the DIBC had no interest in a replacement bridge. The DIBC only needs to kill the new span at Delray. When that is accomplished DIBC can "delay" it's own new bridge forever.

[kraig]

The DIBC bridge currently is a monopoly. A span at Delray would ADD competition. One additional thing to consider. Until the public began to look at a new bridge the DIBC had no interest in a replacement bridge. The DIBC only needs to kill the new span at Delray. When that is accomplished DIBC can "delay" it's own new bridge forever.

Here's one of the problems with trying to compete with a private entity. Since the state has tied up so much of its money for a road/bridge project [[DRIC) that won't open for at least another six years, the money that could be used for the state's 20% in matching funds for 704 million dollars in federal funds isn't available. Not having the money causes the state to cancel 137 projects. We're trading 137 projects for 1 project all in the name of "competition". So, while you're everyday ride on the freeway 365 days a year will be screwed up, at least you will have the pleasure of knowing that your state and federal government is providing competition to the bridge that most people in michigan only drive on once every few years.

[BShea]

The DIBC bridge currently is a monopoly.

And all of a sudden that's a problem for MDOT?

The feds haven't cared since 1929, when the bridge opened. The feds control the bridge because without customs agents, no one crosses.

Any Canadian argument in favor of competition is utter nonsense because the desire there stems from the authoritarian sense that the government must control more of life than it does on the U.S. side.

[Detroitnerd]

I think most Americans have had a pretty dim view of monopolies since the days of the robber barons. So, for me, fighting the monopoly is a pretty good tactic. Actually, say "monopoly" to most people and they respond unfavorably. Unless they're too busy kissing a billionaire's hinder parts.