QLine protest

[dtowncitylover]

So what is it exactly this group is protesting - the will of the people who voted to turn down last year's transit millage?


"A counter-rally is planned at about the same time at Grand Circus Park and in Ann Arbor [[and later in the day in Ferndale) by the Motor City Freedom Riders, seeking to get a regional transit millage on the ballot in 2018.
“The stark contrast between the limited service the QLINE streetcar provides and the scope of our regional transit crisis is why we are demonstrating at this ceremony,” according to an announcement from the transit activist group.
The group's plans are a reminder of the failed attempt in the fall to pass a millage to support the Regional Transit Authority of Southeast Michigan's master plan, which would have funded commuter rail between Ann Arbor and Detroit, bus rapid transit and other bus services as well as transit connections between Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw and Wayne counties." - DFP, May 12/17

I'm just going to be a snob and say the "will of the people" was a poor and wrong will. They didn't know what they were voting for because the Yes campaign used emotion instead of cold hard facts that people need to understand because it will show them how poor Detroit will do without coordinated and better transit.

Macomb and Oakland County made the wrong decision and Detroit needs to show up to the polls. Call them out.

Now our leaders are waffling on whether it should be on the ballot in 2018. It should and the organizing Yes side needs to state facts and not play to people's emotions. The No side only had "No new taxes". The Yes side needs to say, 1) A RTA will save you from sending your money out of state to other transit projects, 2) Increase economic vitality and investment, 3) Better transit options means you could potentially leave your car at home saving you thousands in gas and car repair money, 4) Less cars on the road and investment in transit and road work can lead to better and less worn roadways.

End rant.