The GreenLight Quid Pro Quo - Or Your Tax Dollars Being Bought

Wikipedia:

Quid pro quo ("something for something" in Latin^[1]) means an exchange of goods or services, where one transfer is contingent upon the other. English speakers often use the term to mean "a favour for a favour"; phrases with similar meaning include: "give and take", "tit for tat", and "you scratch my back, and I'll scratch yours."

I am surprised Pinellas GreenLight is not a sited example in the Wikipedia definition.

Here is a list of Friends of Greenlight contributors who have contributed $2,000 or more:

You can see all of the Campaign Finance Reports at: Friends of Green Light Campaign Finance Reports

Duke Energy	$50,000.00
TECO Energy	$20,000.00
Realtors Political Issues Comm	$20,000.00
Pinellas Realtor Organization	$10,000.00
National Association of Realtors	$245,000.00
Tindale-Oliver & Associates	$5,000.00
Tampa Bay Partnership	$53,216.00
Tampa Bay Rays	$25,000.00
Buccaneers Limited Partnership	$25,000.00
Carlton Fields Jorden Burt	$10,000.00
Bryant Miller Olive PA	$2,500.00
BayCare Health System	$25,000.00
Raymond James Financial, Inc	$50,000.00
Sykes Enterprises,	$50,000.00
American Strategic Insurance	$2,500.00
Florida Blue	$10,000.00
Valpak/Cox Target Media	$5,000.00
Bloomin'Brands Inc.	$10,000.00
Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce	$2,000.00
Parsons Brinckerhoff, Inc.	$50,000.00
BCC Engineering, Inc	$10,000.00
LTK Engineering Services	$3,000.00
Regions Bank	$10,000.00
Vology	$25,000.00
Jabil	$10,000.00
HSNi LLC	$10,000.00
Total	$738,216.00

Opinion

Just 26 contributors to friends of GreenLight have given almost 3/4 of a million dollars to get the sales tax approved.

Interestingly, there are no bus manufacturers represented in this list. The most likely reason being the amount of this sales tax that will actually be spent on buses is relatively small.

The big money is in the train and "transportation oriented redevelopment" it will bring

While there may be some altruism in these donations, I think even the most casual reader can see the main objective of these contributions is establish a strong basis for actual participation in the implementation of the GreenLight plan.

The Boondoggle of Greenlight is best described by this list. These are the organizations that will vie to play a major role in the $2.4 Billion dollar train.

All for a train that does not serve the 2% of Pinellas County residents who need and use public transportation, but will make some of the people on this list a lot of your money.

Watch My Video Green Light - It's a Bad Law before you vote.

E-mail Doc at: dr.webb@verizon.net. Or send me a Facebook (Gene Webb) Friend request. Please comment below, and be sure to share on Facebook and Twitter.
Disclosures: Contributor to No Tax for Tracks.

IS THIS LEGAL?

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ST. PETERSBURG, FL (September 2, 2014) – While supplies last, Greenlight Pinellas yard signs will be available for residents to pick up during normal business hours in the lobby of St. Petersburg City Hall, 175 Fifth St. N, the city’s Municipal Services Center, One Fourth St. N., Sunken Gardens, 1825 Fourth St. N. and at the following recreation centers. Limit one per residence please.

Azalea Recreation Center
Bay Vista Recreation Center
Campbell Park Recreation Center
Childs Park Recreation Center
Enoch Davis Center
Frank W. Pierce Recreation Center
Gladden Park Center
J.W. Cate Recreation Center
Lake Vista Recreation Center
Roberts Recreation Center
Shore Acres Recreation Center
Sunshine Center
Walter Fuller Recreation Center
Wildwood Recreation Center
Willis S. Johns Recreation Center

On November 4, 2014, Pinellas County voters will be asked to approve a one percent increase in the county2’s sales tax to overhaul the area’s public transportation system. The Greenlight Pinellas Plan will reduce the median St. Petersburg homeowner’s property taxes by 6%. The plan’s substantially expanded public transit services will be funded by a 1% sales tax, paid in part by non-residents while eliminating the current public transit property tax paid only by property owners.

 The Greenlight Pinellas Plan was developed as a partnership between PSTA, local governments, other transportation agencies, and the community. More than 90,000 citizens, business and community leaders, and other stakeholders contributed to the development of the plan.

 The plan includes a network of rapid bus services, more frequent local routes, more evening and weekend service, improved trolley services, new regional express routes, improved connector service, and passenger rail. If approved, Greenlight Pinellas will provide new and expanded services for the citizens of St. Petersburg.www.stpete.org/GreenlightPinellas.

 Watch My Video Green Light - It's a Bad Law before you vote.

E-mail Doc at: dr.webb@verizon.net. Or send me a Facebook (Gene Webb) Friend request. Please comment below, and be sure to share on Facebook and Twitter.
Disclosures: Contributor to No Tax for Tracks.

Thirteen Elected Officials who openly Support Lying to the Public and Misusing Federal Funds

PSTA CEO Brad Miller

If you would like to meet 13 elected officials who openly support lying to the public and misusing Federal funds click here: PSTA Board of Directors

 

The actions of the PSTA Board of Directors mystifies the mind.

Ken Welch PSTA Board Chairman

The PSTA Board has a letter from a federal agency that clearly indicates there may have been civil and criminal activity by their chosen administrator. 

They give him and their Chairman a unanimous vote of confidence.

Not a "mistake" a deliberate violation of a grant in an attempt to promote the Greenlight sales tax referendum.

The total response of Miller and Welch, "we made a mistake it won't happen again". What they mean is they will more cautions so they won't get caught.

I thought you might like to get to know these people you elected so when you see them you can thank them for their service. Click here: PSTA Board of Directors

You might also want to remember these names the next time you seem them on a ballot.

There are two citizen members on the PSTA Board. The often ask good questions, seldom get any answers from their fellow board members or the administration. 

When politically hot items like this misuse of funds issue arise both have that deer in the headlights look, and it seems to me they know what they should ask, but also know if they ask their ride on the PSTA, dais will likely end. 

You can get contact information here: PSTA Board of Directors

 

Here are 13 really good reasons to vote NO on Greenlight. 

Just imagine what these people will do with a yes vote on Greenlight and $130 million dollars a year of your tax money to play with.

E-mail Doc at: dr.webb@verizon.net. Or send me a Facebook (Gene Webb) Friend request. Please comment below, and be sure to share on Facebook and Twitter.
Disclosures: Contributor to No Tax for Tracks

PSTA Board Meeting - Public Comment a Waste of Time

It became abundantly clear at the PSTA Board meeting that spending time and energy riling at the PSTA Board of Directors hoping for an epiphany is a waste of time.

You can hurl all the innuendos you want all they do is respond in kind through their chairman and everyone comes off looking petty.

All of these so called public servants jumped on the Greenlight train to support their CEO's outside the law actions and their Chairman's undying support for whatever Brad Miller may do.

Interestingly some of them don't know the difference between voting for something and raising their hands in approval.

Why all the unanimous votes? Simple. If you break ranks you will lose that nice plush seat on the PSTA Dias, that little bit of PSTA pampering that makes you feel soooo good, and a day away from your real work.  Don't think so? Ask Norm Roche former Pinellas County Commissioner.

Welch got little hot at the meeting need a fan to cool down.  Probably all that needs to be said.

Rather than go through this debacle again, which really accomplishes nothing, it is time to stay off the PSTA meeting agenda and focus on the street. All of the folks on the dais are voting yes to whatever Miller and Welch want and nothing will change their mind.

I am tired of seeing people attacked for what kind of car they drive, the opinions they have and the positions they take by people whose salaries they pay.

They love Brad Miller and Ken Welch.

The PSTA CEO can do pretty much whatever he wants

The lying will likely continue, the cheating will likely continue, using public funds to convince voters to vote yes will continue and there is not one person in a position of authority that will say or do anything about it.

So from now to November 4th let's just call it what it is.

Greenlight is a $2.2 Billion dollar boondoggle designed to take $130 Million a year and more out of the Pinellas County economy and give it to a public organization run by people you elect who don't respect you or your hard earned money.

If you're OK with that vote yes.

If you're not, get a No Tracks for Tax Yard sign, plant it in your yard and then tell them how you feel on November 4th at the ballot box.

Vote  NO.

That's one comment they can't hurl back in your face.

E-mail Doc at: dr.webb@verizon.net. Or send me a Facebook (Gene Webb) Friend request. Please comment below, and be sure to share on Facebook and Twitter.
Disclosures: Contributor to No Tax for Tracks.