I ask Rocky River city government elected officials ‘TO RESIGN’ if they do not support ‘commuter rail service’ in Rocky River and in the West Shore. Furthermore, stop your ‘hold up’ on commuter rail, and build it! This is getting old, fast!
WHY?
· 9,318 Rocky River residents commute to work (mostly by motor vehicle.) (U.S. CENSUS 2000).
· “In its annual Summer Fuels Outlook, the U.S. Department of Energy predicted Tuesday that prices would peak in May at a national average of $2.87 per gallon, …” (“Pain at the pump may peak in May” Plain Dealer April 11, 2007.)
· 9,318 Rocky River residents commute to work. + A U.S. prediction that gas prices would peak in May at a national average of $2.87 per gallon = ‘Commuter Rail Service’ for Rocky River residents. Hello?
· Why should ‘about half’ of Rocky River’s population (and voters) have to drive or car pool to work every day and pay ‘big prices’ at the gas pump? When we can one day save money and take ‘commuter rail’?
· Rather, than spend our life savings on the upkeep of our car and paying high prices for gasoline, so we can just get to work and back. Not!
WHY ‘THE HOLD UP’ ON COMMUTER RAIL?
· ‘Commuter Rail Service’ has been discussed by city officials of the West Shore (including Rocky River) ‘ad nauseam’ since summer 2006.
· In addition, Rocky River city council has ‘put on hold’ support of commuter rail. By ‘putting on hold’ time and time again at council meetings Rocky River Council Resolution: 10-07 “An emergency resolution in support of federal funding for West Shore Corridor alternatives analysis”. It is pathetic!
· What is Rocky River ‘elected’ city government’s problem? “The legislation was approved by several communities, including Cleveland, Lakewood and Westlake and groups such as the Lorain County Port Authority and Lorain County Commissioners.” (Is rail plan still on track?” West Shore Sun March 29, 2007).
· It appears to me the cities that passed the ‘said resolution’ so far, want commuter rail for future development and a means of transportation for their residents.
· Though Rocky River needs commuter rail to spark re-development and to provide another means of transportation for its residents. Yet, Rocky River City Government sits at the ‘side of the tracks’ ‘putting on hold’ their support 'to help Rocky River and other communities’ with commuter rail. It appears to me “Rocky River city government does not work well with others.” I give them a grade of “F” so far on ‘commuter rail” in the West Shore.
· Yet, I thank Bay Village city government in forwarding the letter (Bay Village, Rocky River, Lakewood and U.S. Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich signed) to Mr. Bruno Maestri, Vice President Government Relations, Norfolk Southern Corporation, dated March 27, 2007. - (TO VERIFY IF THE WEST SHORE’S ‘1998 LIMITED TRAIN USE AGREEMENT’ WITH NORFOLK SOUTHERN CORPORATION – WILL BE IMPACTED BY ADDING COMMUTER RAIL SERVICE ON THE TRACK WHERE THE ‘LIMITED TRAIN USE AGREEMENT’ WAS MADE FOR.) - As the letter states, “… we feel it would be important to have absolute written clarification that the operation of commuter rail would not affect the agreement in any way.”
WHEN ELECTED MAYOR OF ROCKY RIVER IN 2007. I WILL PUSH AND LEAD - TO ESTABLISH COMMUTER RAIL SERVICE IN ROCKY RIVER AND IN THE WEST SHORE.
· Yet why wasn’t this ‘letter of confirmation to Norfolk Southern Corporation’ sent in the ‘summer of 2006’ when the West Shore communities (including Rocky River) started discussing commuter rail?
· Will the ‘said letter’ and the response it may bring, halt commuter rail service from proceeding in Rocky River and in the West Shore? NOPE!
· When I am elected Mayor of Rocky River in November 2007. I will push aggressively and lead towards the establishment of ‘commuter rail service’ in Rocky River and in the West Shore. SEE: ROCKY RIVER COMMUTER RAIL SERVICE
· With (1.) 9,318 Rocky River residents commuting to work (U.S. CENSUS 2000) and the (2.) U.S. Department of Energy, ‘summer gas price prediction’ of a national average price of $2.87 per gallon.
· There is no debate. ‘Commuter Rail’ should and will be aggressively pursued and established not only in Rocky River but throughout the West Shore.
· All you elected officials from the West Shore. Stop wringing your hands, stop pointing fingers and stop talking about roadblocks to commuter rail in the West Shore. Just build it. Gee Whiz! If not, I will.
IF ROCKY RIVER’S CITY GOVERNMENT ELECTED OFFICIALS DO NOT SUPPORT COMMUTER RAIL IN ROCKY RIVER AND IN THE WEST SHORE.
THEY DO NOT SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING AS WELL.
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Resident and Voters: that want cheap and efficient transportation that commuter rail will bring.
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Developers: that want an economic boost for (1.) future development in the West Shore (2.) and for a successfully implemented Rocky River Master Plan, that commuter rail will bring.
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Business Women and Men: that want ‘increased customer accessibility’ to their shopping and commercial establishments in Rocky River and in the West Shore, that commuter rail will bring.
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City Planners: that want to ‘implement plans’ to improve their cities and to improve their contiguous countryside that commuter rail will bring.
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Those ‘Sensitive Souls’ Who Want To Stop the Continued Flight of Residents and Businesses out of Rocky River and Cuyahoga County: and to make life better, happier and unique - for residents and for those who do business in Rocky River and in the West Shore. That commuter rail will bring.
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Those Who Want To Put Rocky River and Cuyahoga County Back On Its Economic Feet and Make It Number One (1) Again: by attracting and keeping residents and businesses in the West Shore and in Rocky River. That commuter rail will bring.
IN CLOSING
· Elected Rocky River City Government Officials’ ‘Hold Up’ of Commuter Rail Service in Rocky River and in the West Shore is rather tiring and amateurish.
· It also makes me wonder if there is any ‘real leader’ in Rocky River city government’s Elected Administration or in its Elected City Council. I have not seen anyone from Rocky River lead on the ‘commuter rail service’ for Rocky River and the West Shore, Yet.
· If ‘You’ Elected Rocky River City Government Officials, don’t support commuter rail, ‘You’ do not represent Rocky River. Nor support The West Shore.
· If ‘You’ Elected Rocky River City Government Officials, don’t support commuter rail, I ask ‘You’ all to step down from ‘Your’ role as ‘elected leaders’ in Rocky River, Ohio.
