Thread about writing to improve the infrastructure and push to get funding to do so. Feel free to add, this is meant to help write a good and convincing letter or e-mail.

List of members who want to write: (optional)
1. I-275westcoastfl
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Please no debating or off topic discussion in this thread.

Quotes that may help.

Good points Smiley! I will use a few especially the mica one and comparing other states. I think every Florida member here at SSC should write a letter, all in a similar time frame and within the next few weeks. It honestly doesn't take that long once you get going, the letter I wrote to Nelson was about a page long and I did it fairly quickly. Those of us passionate about improving infrastructure really should have no problem doing this. If we try and fail then we can complain, I know I have at least another few years here and I'm sure a quite a few of us are staying in FL about that or longer.

Points to bring up:
-We need to hit this from all angles, we need to ask for more highways and mass transit especially if we want to please those who will not have transit near them and to improve traffic.
-Talk about how better infrastructure can save the state money or make them money by property taxes and so on.
-Bring up ways how other states fund roads and transit(sales tax, toll roads, other taxes)
-Florida's main industries are real estate, tourism, agriculture, and health care. Better roads and transit can improve all of them, healthcare is a little difficult to work with but there are a few points.
-Make sure everything you are saying makes sense and is written well, we should let them know that educated people want better infrastructure. Bring up points about being in school or your work if applicable and how the status quo has negative impacts on you and people you know. I'm gonna start a thread for those interested about writing our representatives since we are going off topic here.


Just like I did in the HSR - if you are concerned, start nagging the mayor candidates NOW - demand a plan of action and demand to know what they are going to do:

Buckhorn http://www.bobbuckhorn.com/contact.html

Ferlita http://www.roseferlita.com/contact.html

Turanchik http://www.fastrailconnectus.com/cms.php?action=Contact

And nag the County Commission
http://www.hillsboroughcounty.org/bo.../contactus.cfm

You are not that weak - local elections are won in small numbers so noise counts. But remember - the purpose of an election is to WIN so they must be reasonable.

Since all you are doing is complaining, I will help you out with something useful:

Congressman Mica http://mica.house.gov/Contact/ContactForm.htm

Congresswoman Castor http://castor.house.gov/Contact/

Congressman Bilirakis http://bilirakis.house.gov/index.php...d=79&Itemid=44

Senator Nelson http://billnelson.senate.gov/contact/index.cfm

Congressman Young http://www.house.gov/young/contact.shtml

Congressman-elect Webster http://www.electwebster.com/contact

Rick Scott http://www.rickscottforflorida.com/home/contact/

Say you want HSR - say it is imperative to the jobs, present economy and future of Tampa Bay and Florida. Be polite but firm. Talking about the county v the city will get you nowhere.

Learn how to be politically active. You would be surprised how it sometimes actually works.


Some points:

1) infrastructure projects create jobs now and help economic development in the future. It is an investment, not a handout. This is jobs now and in the future.
2) there is no reason Orlando should get money but not Tampa Bay. We have a bigger population and still get less. This is unacceptable.
3) this is a regional economy and a statewide project. It should not be derailed over petty regional powerplays.
4) You and your friends vote, and this is important to them.
(to local congresspeople): 5) if they let Mica cut our money, they will be held accountable and the next election is only 2 years away - with different, more balanced districts.
5) FLORIDA ALREADY DOES NOT GET ITS FAIR SHARE OF TRANSPORTATION MONEY BACK COMPARED TO OTHER STATES AND NOW MICA WANTS TO MAKE IT EVEN WORSE. THIS CANNOT BE ALLOWED TO HAPPEN.

Feel free to copy as much as you want.

Dear Congressman/Congresswoman/Senator ______:

A day after the recent midterm election, Congressman Mica (change this to “you” if it is to Mica) stated that he is considering cutting Tampa Bay off of the planned high speed rail line in central Florida. He stated that he just wanted a high speed rail line from Orlando International Airport to Disney.

I take great offense to Rep. Mica’s self-serving proposal. It is self-evident that Mr. Mica’s main goal is simply to funnel money and jobs to Orlando while cutting out the Tampa Bay area and Polk County. It is the shallowest form of pork politics.

A rail line for such a short distance will never be “high speed” and would be completely useless. However, connecting the entirety of central Florida from Tampa to Orlando with modern transit could be “high speed” and is exactly the kind of infrastructure investment that creates jobs both now and in the future and promotes greater development of the Florida economy. Despite any nice words of concern regarding protecting the public purse or pursuing what is good for Florida, Mr. Mica is simply trying to position Orlando against Tampa and should be called on it.

It should be noted that Florida is a net loser in terms of Federal transportation funds, and has been for some time. Mr. Mica’s proposal simply increases this injustice while harming the 3 million or so residents of the Tampa Bay area for no apparent reason except his regional bias – while gladly accepting stimulus dollars for his district, it should be pointed out.

It should also be noted that nothing was made clearer on election day than that the electorate is in flux and the next Congressional election is in two years. My friends and I all support high speed rail from Tampa to Orlando. We reject it in just Orlando. We also vote.

Please ensure that the high speed rail line extend to Tampa as has always been planned.

I don't want to inspire apathy here, or indolence... This is the kind of stuff that's needed...

..but in my experience, Legislative members and congressional people have ignored letters I have written, or their staff write replies that show how little they paid attention to the original letter.

Anyone who commits to this would not just have to participate once. You'd have to do it repeatedly in a dedicated fashion and try to gain a back-and-forth with whomever you talk to.

I don't want to inspire apathy here, or indolence... This is the kidn of sstuff that's needed...

..but in my experience, Legislative emmbers and congressional people have ignored letters I have written, or their staff write replies that show how little they paid attention to the original letter.

Anyone who commits to this would not just have to participate once. You'd have to do it repeatedly in a dedicated fashion and try to gain a back-and-forth with whomever you talk to.
You are right which is why I think if we all submitted letters within a range of a few weeks, hell if we could get all the FL members on board we would have quite a few people and it might have an effect!

Here is another thing to add..

http://www.bls.gov/web/metro/laulrgma.htm

41 Jacksonville, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 11.5%

42 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area 11.8%
...
42 Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 11.8%

44 Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 12.1%

45 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 12.4

46 Sacramento--Arden-Arcade--Roseville, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area 12.5%

47 Detroit-Warren-Livonia, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area 13.4%

48 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area 14.8%

49 Las Vegas-Paradise, NV Metropolitan Statistical Area 15.0%

Florida cities all with highest unemployment of metro's above 1 million in the USA. Write how infrastructure can create jobs, attract jobs, and if they don't how it will negatively effect us.

Unless you can get your little movement at least up the level where it legally files as a Non-Connected PAC, nobody who matters will care what you do or say. I've been down this road already. I did the research, spoke with people and so on... This is pointless, unless someone's got a bunch of money they don't know what to do with.

I say go for it (you don't need a PAC) - but don't expect one email or meeting to work. You need a lot for each individual, over and over - to keep pushing - like a NIMBY. With all your friends - and get a catchy name and a website to keep pushing. I'm sure the college architecture kids can set that up pretty fast - and get to know the reporters for the papers. No, they don't really care about you, but they will like a good story of college students complaining about the future of the area.

Most of the politicians don't care about you either - they care about themselves - but so what - that is why you keep pushing and make yourselves loud.

When it comes to the newly elected commissioners like Hagan and Murman, try to connect the referendum and transportation to job creation even more. Both want to add more jobs to Hillsborough and they won't get the same numbers that they expect with having a mediocre transportation system and roads.

I wrote Scott and Mica before seeing this thread. I'm up for writing the others.

I've written so many, but will do so again. My choice is transportation is a vehicle, so roads(not building more but upgrading the ones we have) is my top concern. Transit should be everyone's concern because one day, and it will happen, a big hurricane will hit and our 2 and 3 lane interstates won't get the people out in time.

Make noise http://www2.tbo.com/content/2010/nov/05/mica-private-sector-must-kick-in-money-for-high-sp/c_2/#comments

Edit - Double post

Make noise http://www2.tbo.com/content/2010/nov/05/mica-private-sector-must-kick-in-money-for-high-sp/c_2/#comments
Allow me to break it down for everyone else... :)


(FL congressional delegation) We're REALLY super duper committed to HSR!

(FL state officials) Good, then you fund it becuase we're not spending a cent, under any circumstance.

(private Enterprise) Don't look at us, we're not getting involved in your state's continued economic collapse.

i know people in the news/ papers if you need help

Good luck, guys! :dunno:

I've been reading all the back and forth regarding the local efforts to get the transportation tax on the ballot again along with the discussion on scaling back the HSR now that the local tax was defeated.
While I can understand the sentiment of "bad timing" for increasing taxes, I wonder what the locals are going to think if the HSR is, in fact, scaled back and Tampa is not connected for any reason.
I compare at it to being one of the secondary cities in the country without an international airport. Just think about that for a moment, having to literally drive to another city which could be several hours away just to catch a flight. Imagine if we had to drive to Orlando or Miami to catch a flight somewhere.
Essentially that's exactly what will happen IF the Tampa leg/connection were delayed or does not happen in this round. I travel very extensively and to be honest was surprised we were chosen to be one of the first in the national push for HSR. I am not discounting Tampa in any way but can assure you there are larger areas with a denser population this first round could have gone to.
Just imagine if Tampa is eliminated and instead the Orlando portion is built and then the portion to Miami. From there, it will make sense (cents) to connect to Jacksonville and then Atlanta and then Charlotte and so on. Tampa will be added much later as the goal will be to connect the national network before sending out "spokes" to the secondary and smaller markets.
IF someone from our region did want to utilize HSR, they would literally have to drive or FLY to either Orlando or Miami to catch the train!
Unbelieveable that the locals don't realize that all these things tie into each other and if we don't step to the plate, we ARE going to be left way behind!!!
To say I am disappointed is an understatement!!!

In the past 350 years that this country has existed, it has seen the age of the train, airplane, ships, and highways/roadways. And for every one, they have seen their peaks and then fallen. And the same can be said about the demographics where people have moved between the cities and rural areas, we've been in a time (20 so years) where people have moved to sprawling developments throughtout the country. Florida has been one of the worse affected by this with the whole ideology of "build it and they will come".

I make this point because I believe that we're in a generation and age where more and more people are wanting to live in the cities, rely less on cars, and have necessities closer nearby and at walking distance. Cities and regions that make this transition will get the attentions of businesses, residents, and unfortunately more federal money. If Tampa/Hillsborough fails to make this transition (even though some in this county want to continue living in their boondocks), it will recieve less from the state and feds and will be overlooked by companies and businesses. The state and feds have seen more in Orlando than Tampa and that is why it has recieved more in federal funding for their highways and recieved the federal cash that Mica asked for SunRail. To believe that Bilirakis or any other state politician that represents Tampa and Hillsborough could do the same is laughable. Tampa and Hillsborough can stay behind but the only thing they are hurting is theirselves.

Orlando does have its at together better in terms of operating more cohesively as a region, presenting a strong image and laying a foundation for its future. At this point, the two regions are almost neck and neck in terms of appeal, IMO. However, because of the things mentioned, I believe Orlando is positioning itself better to become that "next great city" that Tampa says it wants to be, but doesn't have the gonads to become. The "think big" culture of Orlando (Disney) is really paying off.

We could really use some regional unity. I think that's the only way transit will get done here. It's ok for Tampa to be the lead city, and the rest of us be supporting cast. We all benefit just the same.

Gains Adams was a good player his first 2 years on the Bucs but then after that i never really seen him do that well so i dont know but the Bears need a DE i think