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Blair Says ?No? to Light Rail

Posted: Dec 2nd 2009 By: mikeiles

(Tampa, FL) --- Government greed is at the heart of a proposed new sales tax in Hillsborough County, according to a former commissioner who?s now running for Florida State House.

Brian Blair is deeply troubled over a possible one-cent sales tax increase?a 14% hike?that would help fund light rail, buses, and road projects.

?In 2008, there was over $1 billion targeted to spend on roads and BRT (bus rapid transit),? Blair said. ?And it hasn?t been spent yet. So why ask for more taxes??

The Hillsborough County Commission has already voted, by a 5-2 margin, to draft language for the sales tax increase so that it can appear on the ballot in 2010.

People can have their voices heard at the County Center BOCC Meeting, 601 E. Kennedy Blvd in Tampa, Florida at 9 am, December 2nd.

?Why we?re even considering a new tax now, in this economy, with the unemployment rate where it is, when we have dollars that haven?t been spent yet, is beyond me,? Blair said recently.

The Tampa Tribune (supporters of Light Rail) report that the tax would cost $250 million per year, or about $7.5 billion over the life of the tax, which would be used to fund construction primarily of light rail in an effort to encourage more people to eschew cars as their primary mode of home-to-work transportation.

Blair cites research done by national transit experts in supporting his view that the tax is wrong?both in terms of timing and need. Hillsborough County has one of the highest unemployment rates in the State of Florida and along with the uncertainty of how much more burden federal government will put on our businesses and families makes timing even worse.

?Pushers of this tax will tell you that light rail and buses are the panacea for traffic congestion, but that?s just not the case,? Blair said. ?National transit authorities have already indicated that an average community can?t take more than five percent* of traffic off the road simply with light rail and buses.?

?Worse?, Blair said, is what he terms ?government greed? at work in this instance.

?We have yet to spend the approximate $1 billion in transportation funds the local government already has in place,? Blair said. ?Yet we have the gall to ask the taxpayer for more? This is a time when local government should be cutting taxes and living within its means.?

Blair also pointed out that bus ridership in the county is down 3.1% for the past fiscal year, an indicator that mass transit isn?t as attractive as proponents would have the public believe. It?s likely that Light Rail could compete against buses for ridership.

?We can?t get many people to ride buses,? Blair said. ?So how can we expect them to start using light rail??

Blair referred to Miami/Dade County?s situation with its light rail system.

?They call it ?Metro Fail,? ? he said.

Blair also expressed disappointment in fellow Republican Mark Sharpe, who has ?carried the water? for this tax, according to Blair. ?I like Mark,? Blair said, ?but I can?t believe he?s pushing this tax, when the professionals have serious doubts as to the success of light rail in Hillsborough County.?

Blair?s objection to the sales tax increase?hardly the first time he?s opposed new taxes in his efforts to ease burdens on county residents?has many facets to it:

CUTR (Center for Urban Transportation Research at USF) studies have indicated that light rail in Hillsborough County is likely to fail and fall short of expectations

? A 14% sales tax increase would make Hillsborough County the highest-taxed county among the 67 counties in Florida

? With such heavy tax burdens, residents might go to neighboring counties to buy big ticket items like cars and furniture

? A 14% local sales tax increase would oppress residents and small business

? Less than 20% of residents have reasonable access to rail*?including counties where densities were already planned around mass transit

?Construction of a light rail system would also likely mean the displacement of people from their homes via Eminent Domain?, Blair fears.

?Rail is fixed, number one,? he added. ?Bus routes can be changed or altered, depending on need and use.?

?Get ready for a long liberal media spin of the facts about light rail in Hillsborough County,? Blair said.

Blair also invoked the words of former Governor Bob Martinez.

?Governor Martinez said, ?People will not choose rail over car as long as they can afford to drive and park.? And he?s just as right now as he was then.?

Blair, a Republican, announced in August that he was seeking the State House seat for District 47, which includes portions of Hillsborough County and will be vacated by fellow Republican Kevin Ambler in 2010.

Ambler is term limited and is running for State Senate.

For more information about Brian Blair, visit www.BrianBlair.com.

For Brian Blair interview requests, contact Shannon Rose at (813) 960-8412; (813) 389-0801, or info@mediaproductions.tv.

Brian Blair lives in Tampa with his wife, Toni. The Blairs have been married for 23 years and have two children?Brett, 17, and Bradley, 14.

Tags: Brian Blair