Bankrupt in 2022 - PSTA Seeking Taxpayer Bailout in 2020

Pinellas Suncoast Transit Agency (PSTA) is going bankrupt. Instead of fixing their fiscal crisis, they are seeking bailouts and new revenue sources. PSTA wants another transit tax referendum on the 2020 ballot because they are insolvent in 2022.

PSTA Needs a Housecleaning! Rep. Linda Chaney's PSTA Local Bill HB1487 Is A "START"

PSTA CEO Brad Miller misused Federal funds
Why is he still at PSTA?

PSTA needs an internal housekeeping.

State Rep. Linda Chaney;s PSTA local bill HB1487 is a start. The bill was approved by the Pinellas County local delegation on November 29, 2023. 

Chaney's bill is a first step to bring better governance, more transparency and accountability to the mismanaged transit agency. The bill also begins to address the flawed process PSTA uses to ram road diets thru without proper public engagement, without public support and with little accountability.

Misuse of Funds, Lies and Videos While The Overseers Circle the Wagons

WTSP Channel 10's Mike Deeson has his latest report on the misuse of DHS federal funds by PSTA:

There are calls for resignations for some top officials in charge of the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) after 10 Investigates stories about the misuse of federal funds.

PSTA is now getting called out for not only misusing the funds, but also lashing out at critics who called them out.

PSTA was supposed to use the federal money to help protect bus riders from terrorists instead of promoting the transit tax, Greenlight Pinellas. The agency was forced to return $354,000 and could face federal criminal and civil charges.

Pinellas County Commissioner Ken Welch, who is also chair of the PSTA board, decided to mock those who attended the PSTA board meeting requesting those responsible for the misuse of funds resign. According to Deeson's report, Welch responded:

"So my answer to you is consistent, not only -- no, will I not resign, but heck no I will not resign."

Today we have so many government scandals it is hard to keep count of them all. But there is one thing consistent with all of them - no one is being held accountable. We are seeing the same result here with this local scandal - no accountability. That is why there is so much distrust of government agencies and elected officials today.

The Tampa Bay Times reported 

Under fire from critics energized by a botched federal grant, the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority board of directors voiced unanimous support Wednesday for its chairman and CEO. 

The board of elected officials and two citizens also approved some safeguards that members hope will ward off more errors in the critical last two months before the Nov. 4 vote on the Greenlight Pinellas referendum. (emphasis mine)

PSTA was forced to hastily return the DHS funds, thinking that would take care of the situation and the issue would simply go away. It did not and the PSTA board circled their wagons to protect Miller as the Times reported:

"Nobody works harder for transportation and the PSTA. Nobody," said board member and St. Petersburg City Council member Wengay Newton. "This gentleman goes above and beyond the call of duty, and that's what's expected, and I think taxpayers ought to be happy that their money is being spent on an individual that does just that."

"We don't want to overemphasize a small thing that happened," board member and Pinellas County Commissioner Susan Latvala said before making a motion to support Miller and Welch and their recommendations.

Is PSTA playing by the rules? 

According to this report by Channel 10's Mike Deeson, DHS sent a 5 page scathing letter to PSTA with a cease and desist order to stop using the DHS funds. DHS also states they can pursue civil or criminal remedies even if the funds are returned. 

Why do the Times and PSTA keep calling this issue that puts PSTA in the position for potential civil or criminal liability an "error"? Why would Pinellas County Commissioner Susan Latvala think it's a "small thing". A warning by DHS to PSTA they may face criminal charges is a "small thing" compared to what? 

Apparently, what PSTA stated on their DHS application for what they planned to use the DHS funds for does not match how they actually used the money. That is called FRAUD, and it is especially specious when the taxpayer funds fraudulently being spent is to promote a tax increase referendum that will benefit PSTA. 

From a Public Records Request submitted, I received a copy of the RFP issued in 2011 for the Emergency Awareness and Response Strategy Program aka EARS. The RFP's Scope of Services includes a Transit Watch Program, a program to ENHANCE transit security and coordinate with emergency personnel and first responders:

PSTA's RFP for use of DHS funds

Remember the June 25 PSTA Board meeting?  PSTA CEO Brad Miller stated the DHS federal funds were used in two phases.  Phase 1 included developing a bilingual public awareness program, outreach and training to emergency and first responder personnel and hosting public awareness events.

PSTA DHS Funds Phase 1

At approximately 7:30 in the video, Miller states that Phase 1 produced a brochure. What happened to the rest of the task items in Phase 1?  Did they ever get completed?

At approximately 8:00 in the video, Miller states that the ads and bus wraps were funded by a Phase 2 of the DHS funds.  Miller then states he circled on a document what "Homeland Security had approved": "a mass media campaign to further promote public awareness of security issues related to public transportation". 

PSTA DHS funds Phase 2

We now know that DHS never approved the videos and bus wraps.  

The videos apparently have been taken down by PSTA and are no longer available online but some of the ads can still be found where Channel 10's Mike Deeson first reported on the issue here. These ads were nothing more than PSTA "feel good" advertisements for people to ride the bus and then encouraging them to go to their Greenlight Pinellas website "to learn more".  Greenlight Pinellas doesn't even exist. It's a proposal that's part of the sales tax referendum.  It defies logic to connect the dots between a program to promote public awareness of security issues and a plan that does not even exist.  

A company called Witt and Associates, an emergency preparedness, crisis management and disaster response consulting firm, was the only vendor to respond to the RFP and they were awarded the contract. Was the RFP specifically written for Witt? A copy of the contract was received via a Public Records Request.  

PSTA awards DHS funding contract to Witt and Associates

There's controversy surrounding that company too. James Lee Witt, founder of Witt and Associates, was a former FEMA director appointed by President Clinton. He founded his company after leaving his FEMA post. According to this NBC report in 2007 there were accusations that his company profited on Katrina. PSTA and controversy seem to go hand and hand. 

FEMA is the DHS agency that actually awards the transit security grants to transit agencies. Could there still be some coziness between Witt and FEMA? Certainly a professional emergency preparedness consulting firm such as Witt and Associates would know the allowable uses of DHS funds under the transit security grant program. Did Witt and Associates knowingly aid and abet in the misuse of these funds? 

Only in government does an agency's incompetence, dereliction of duty or willful fraudulence bring unanimous support for them by a board appointed to oversee them. Only in government is misuse of taxpayer funds considered an "error" and a "small thing". It is absurd. 

The continued arrogance of the PSTA Board, which consists of ALL elected officials and two citizens, on this issue is breathtaking. Perhaps a housecleaning of the entire PSTA board is needed and they all need to step down. 

Instead of trying to sweep potential criminal activity away, the PSTA board should be demanding a full independent audit of all grant money received and spent since Brad Miller has been CEO at PSTA. According to Miller, PSTA has received at least $2.5 million from DHS. Where did it all go? Where has all of PSTA's money gone?

In addition, the PSTA board should demand a Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) audit be done for 2011-2012. Was PSTA's financial position misrepresented when PSTA was pursuing the 30% property tax increase in 2011? PSTA had threatened a huge deficit and cuts to bus service if they didn't get a property tax increase. When PSTA got the 30% property tax increase October 2011, did PSTA's deficit of over $5 million suddenly swing $13 million to become a $7 million surplus within months of receiving the increased tax revenue? 

Some questions need answers. How did that swing happen? Did PSTA use the 30% property tax increase to wrangle a million dollars from taxpayers to pay for their Greenlight Pinellas lobbying, marketing and advocacy campaign? What else is PSTA hiding?

Quick recap:  

• Brad Miller was hired as CEO of PSTA in July 2011
• EARS RFP issued in August 2011 
• PSTA votes for property tax increase in September 2011 (beginning October 2011) 
• PSTA receives DHS grant awarded by FEMA at end of 2011
• Witt and Associates, founded by a former FEMA Director, is the only vendor who responds to RFP and PSTA awards contract for use of the DHS/FEMA transit security grant funds to Witt and Associates in January 2012
• PSTA begins receiving the 30% property tax increase for 2012 and they quickly swing from a deficit to a surplus
• PSTA uses $400K of taxpayer dollars in 2013 to hire PR firm Tucker Hall and launch their Greenlight Pinellas campaign
• PSTA wraps their buses with Greenlight Pinellas ads and runs their "feel good" videos created by Witt and Associates using DHS federal grant funds 
• PSTA states in 2014 they will use at least another $400K of taxpayer dollars to continue their Greenlight Pinellas marketing campaign
• PSTA is caught misusing the DHS transit security grant funds, at first denies the misuse and then several weeks ago hastily refunds $350K back to DHS/FEMA
• DHS/FEMA sends PSTA a scathing cease and desist letter August 14 stating criminal and civil action can be pursued even when funds are returned
• Concerned citizens call for the resignation of Brad Miller

The only reason PSTA (mis)used the DHS/FEMA transit security grant funds for Greenlight advertising is because they thought they could get away with it. But they got caught.

PSTA has no ethics and apparently the PSTA board doesn't either.  

Audit PSTA NOW, clean house and get rid of the perpetrators.

Welch and Miller doing the Duck and Weave

There is a lot of press and media comment today about the Brad Millers' misuse of federal funds to promote the Green Light sales tax initiative.

Best summary: Christopher O'Donnell in the St. Pete Tribune: Board to rein in Pinellas transit boss.

The problem is they are focusing on the Grant and the misuse of federal funds, which is serious enough to warrant a civil or criminal investigation, but no comment on what authority Miller had to issue a  check  spending $ 354,090.67 of your tax dollars to cover his potentially illegal activity.

PSTA Board Chairman Welch said, “There are questions; I think they’ve been addressed.” “Like any CEO, it’s all about performance. I’m seeing the kind of adjustment I need to see and the board needs to see.”

Really.....

Just what "adjustments" might Miller and his top staff be making?

If it was improper to use the federal funds to promote Greenlight and it is illegal to use taxpayer dollars to encourage voters to vote yes on Greenlight; then how will Miller, Welch and the Board square the original approval of the ads or the unauthorized issuance of the check to FEMA?

Here are the real questions for the PSTA Board

1. Did Brad Miller violate PSTA Policies and Procedures?

2. Do the misuse of Federal Funds and the unauthorized issuance of the refund cheek amount to a violation of the PSTA Ethics Policy?

3. If so, should Mr. Miller be terminated with cause?

Welch is going to try to "remain calm" and sweep this one under the Greenlight rug.

Let's hope there are enough PSTA Board members tired of Welch's tap dancing and Miller's political maneuvering with local and federal money to make some needed changes.

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 misses another opportunity for funding as a grant request disappears from the State budget

Opinion by: E. Eugene Webb, PhD
Coauthor of: So You Want to Blog

In Friday's PSTA planning meeting the subject of the disappearing million-dollar PSTA State budget line item came up briefly. The response from the PSTA administration was "we will make an application to FDOT and get the money from them".

It is hard to tell if the decision to pass on a budget line item for a PSTA grant is just a State budget issue or a not so subtle message to the PSTA Board and Pinellas County.

It could just be that the people who actually control the way money flows in Tallahassee are sending a suggestion that it is time for the PSTA to clean up its house and replace the team that pushed all of the limits in the GreenLight debacle up to and including the misuse of Federal FEMA funds which ultimately had to be returned.

I am not sure why any State or Federal funding agency would want to get in bed with Brad Miller and a public board that condones his misuse of federal funds and then gives a vote of confidence to those who misused the money.

The PSTA Administration cited State Senator Jack Latvala as the likely emissary to help acquire the FDOT funds. The good Senator might want to think twice before he hitches his star to an organization that views outright misuse of funds as "bad judgment".

There is no doubt that public transportation in Pinellas County is a major problem. But the real problem at PSTA is how it is being run. It may be time for a call to the governor's office and full scale complete review of PSTA and its Board.

These public transportation boards made up of elected officials sound good on the surface, but in reality all they seem to do is centralize everything bad about elected officials and their in ability to really represent the citizens.

FDOT should be cautious about turning over any funds to PSTA unless there will be extensive follow-up on how they are used.

Probably the most difficult thing to understand is why the PSTA Board has not moved to replace CEO Brad Miller who was at the center of all of the shenanigans at PSTA.

Then again maybe it's really not too hard to understand at all.

E-mail Doc at: mailto:dr.gwebb@yahoo.com or send me a Facebook (Gene Webb) Friend request. Please comment below, and be sure to share on Facebook and Twitter. See Doc's Photo Gallery at Bay Post Photos

Disclosures:

Contributor: Waterfront Charter Amendment (Vote on The Pier), Carly Fiorina for President

Greenlight Pinellas: Deception, Skepticism and Abuse of Taxpayer Monies Continues

The Clearwater Beach Chamber of Commerce sent this letter to PSTA regarding Greenlight Pinellas.

The letter begins by stating the Chamber's support for Greenlight and continues that there is a need to pursue improvements in the County's transportation system. But what exactly does the "high expectations" of our international visitors mean? Did the Chamber survey  international visitors and find these visitors have an overwhelming demand for a $2.5 Billion train to take them from downtown St. Pete to downtown Clearwater?  Or are these international visitors demanding improved bus service? How many international visitors did they survey? No matter how many international visitors come to Pinellas, the huge capital costs for Greenlight, especially for light rail, will be paid for by US/local taxpayers not international visitors.  

Then the Chamber letter becomes even less clear.

The Chamber admits that some of it's members have valid concerns about PSTA.  Well PSTA did spend over $4 million of taxpayer money on their Alternatives Analysis and there are still many questions left unanswered. Has PSTA been good stewards of your tax dollars in the past? How confident are you that PSTA will be good stewards of billions of new tax dollars headed their way?

Then it appears the Chamber "hopes" Greenlight Pinellas has done it's proper research regarding what is actually needed, the county's population growth and that Greenlight Pinellas is not being swayed by politics.  

The Chamber must have missed our previous post about Greenlight's misleading population growth numbers Greenlight was touting. Greenlight Pinellas spent $400K last year lobbying politicians and targeting specific groups to get the Pinellas County commissioners to put the referendum on the ballot. Greenlight Pinellas is spending at least another $400K this year advocating for the initiative and is currently being investigated by the FDOT about these questionable and ethically challenged expenditures. None of that is political sway?

Did the Chamber also miss the fact that high cost light rail does nothing to reduce traffic congestion? Certainly there are smart folks at the Chambers and elsewhere in Pinellas who understand there's no need to waste taxpayer dollars on a $2.5 BILLION train to improve Pinellas County's bus service. Improving bus service can be implemented at a fraction of the cost of light rail.

Proper research would have easily found the truth about Pinellas County's future population growth. Proper research would find studies indicating light rail does not reduce traffic congestion, that it costs too much, benefits too few and ends up hurting bus service. 

This Chamber appears somewhat skeptical of Greenlight Pinellas - and they should be...because the deception of Greenlight Pinellas continues.

Greenlight Pinellas has spent more taxpayer dollars retooling and scrubbing their website. They conspicuously scrubbed their website of the picture below which advertised their taxpayer funded trinkets they were giving away. Do you think that was done because Greenlight is now being investigated for how they have and are wastefully spending taxpayer dollars?

Display of trinkets now scrubbed from Greenlight Pinellas webpage

Greenlight Pinellas and their supporters know that high cost light rail is so toxic they are now deceptively attempting to portray the plan as a bus improvement plan. Scroll thru the banners at the top of their homepage. Below is the ONLY reference to a rail or train that is made and it includes a nebulous false statement.  

Banner of new webpage with false statement that rail will reduce congestion

The FACT is rail does NOT reduce traffic congestion.  Even the Washington Post reported 

...over at Atlantic Cities, researchers have had trouble finding evidence that urban light-rail systems really do curtail traffic congestion.

The other point is that mass-transit systems can lessen road traffic, but only if they're part of a broader shift by a city to move to denser development. 

Did PSTA/Greenlight Pinellas not do their proper research or are they simply ignoring the results of actual studies?  Did PSTA/Greenlight Pinellas miss or ignore any of this type of information Light Rail Doesn’t Work?  

PSTA CEO Brad Miller, stated at an event last summer when asked why rail is part of the Greenlight Pinellas plan, that rail is included for "economic development".  Study after study reflects trains are NOT for mobility and congestion relief - they are to enable transit-oriented development, which most of the time is also taxpayer subsidized.  Is that why so many special interests developers support Greenlight?  Could this be why the Pinellas Realtor's association gave the pro rail Friends of Greenlight PAC $250K?  Follow the money!

We have previously stated that light rail cannibalizes bus service and takes ridership from previous bus riders not from those driving their cars.  That can result in bus service being cut which negatively impacts the lower income who depend on the bus to get to work.  Atlantic Cities blog posted the conclusion of research done

Growing rail shares in the light rail corridors have mainly come from buses and the evidence for light rail reducing car use is less clear. This latter finding is of particular significance, given that a major justification for investment in light rail rather than bus schemes is their presumed ability to bring about major modal shift by attracting substantial numbers of car users. 

With that in mind, the work still underscores some important lessons. For starters, it offers a sound piece of advice: cities considering a light rail system should strongly consider whether improving the local bus system would be cheaper and just as effective (emphasis mine).

Greenlight Pinellas deception continues with "their" description of "Preparing for Two Futures".  Where's the train? Note there is NO mention that if the 14% sales tax increase passed, the taxpayers are on the hook to pay for a $2.5 BILLION light rail train and to sustain it's operating and maintenance costs into perpetuity.  In addition, light rail systems must be replaced or incur major rehab in about 25 years.  Where is that money going to come from?  The US currently has about $78 BILLION in backlogged rail system major maintenance today and we haven't figured out how to pay for that.

Why would Greenlight Pinellas not highlight light rail as being part of their plan - it's a huge cost.  Is light rail that toxic?  Does Greenlight Pinellas think everyone is a low information voter in Pinellas? 

Of course PSTA resorts to threats of bus service cuts if the referendum fails, and it is very likely to fail.  PSTA said the same thing when they voted to raise property taxes 30% just a few short years ago.

If PSTA truly wanted to improve their bus service, then PSTA should have proposed a common sense, fiscally responsible plan to do just that at a fraction of high cost light rail. 

Instead, it's all about getting federal tax dollars. However, once federal dollars, with all the strings attached, are taken for rail boondoggles, it's like Hotel California:  you can check in but you can never check out without paying back the feds all the money that was taken.

Federal dollars are dwindling and the Highway Trust Fund (HTF) is bankrupt. Greenlight Pinellas plans to get over 36% of the light rail capital costs from the bankrupted HTF - your federal gas tax dollars. How likely is that? If all the federal dollars don't come thru, aren't the local taxpayers on the hook for the gap? There are no guarantees of getting any federal dollars.

In addition, Sunbeam Times blog just reported the suspected misuse by PSTA/Greenlight Pinellas of Federal DHS grant money that is supposed to be used to help protect transportation infrastructure.

The DHS Transit Security grants were used to create three television ads (scripts at bottom and youtube video above). The three ads separately feature happy bus riders and extoll the virtues of the PSTA bus system’s link to technology, convenience and environmental friendliness. Each ad ends the same way: “And PSTA is working to make it easier to get around the county. To learn more, visit Greenlight Pinellas.com or PSTA.net”. The end of each ad features a Greenlight Pinellas logo, PSTA CARES logo and disclaimer indicating the ad was paid for by a grant from the Department of Homeland Security.

These ads are totally misleading. They are not educating the public about transit security and how to look for suspicious packages, they are advocacy ads asking the public to go to the Greenlight Pinellas website "to learn more".

Pinellas county voters and taxpayers deserve honesty, clarity and accountability, not systematic deception and abuse of the use of their tax dollars by PSTA/Greenlight Pinellas.

PSTA needs an immediate overhaul and new management, not another cent of taxpayer money!

Vote No on Greenlight Pinellas in November and send PSTA packing back to the drawing board.

Cannot Trust Brad Miller or PSTA - Vote NO!

PSTA CEO Brad Miller again shows bad judgment and now there is more proof Mlller and PSTA knew they were misusing DHS transit security funds.

Miller is supporting a boycott of businesses who oppose Greenlight Pinellas the Sunbeamtimes blog reported yesterday.

The Greenlight Pinellas team is using bully tactics to punish Greenlight opponents and suppress support.

The Transit Union workers posted a call on their facebook page calling for a boycott of Crabby Bills on Indian Rocks Beach and Tiffany’s in Palm Harbor based on their opposition to the highest sales tax in the state for the Greenlight Pinellas plan. In what many have viewed as an inappropriate action, PSTA CEO Brad Miller endorsed the boycott by “Liking” the post on Facebook.

The Transit Union page told their union member bus drivers to give the message to their “patrons”. Thus is appears the Union worker’s goal is to abuse their position as a government employee to tell bus riders what business are “union-approved”. 

Sunbeamtimes blog post included the Facebook page post Miller "liked". 

PSTA CEO Brad Miller endorses boycott
of business opposed to Greenlight

The Tampa Tribune picked up the story today.

Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority CEO Brad Miller is under fire again, this time for appearing to endorse a boycott of businesses opposed to Greenlight Pinellas. 

Miller liked a Facebook post made by the transit workers union that called for union members not to refer people to two local restaurants that supported Greenlight foe, No Tax for Tracks.

When asked by the Tribune about this, Miller reacted by stating this:

“I really don’t think that is a major issue; I can’t even remember doing it; it was 11 o’clock at night,” he said.

Miller can't remember what he does...What kind of excuse is that? I am expecting the dog ate my homework any day now. This deception appears to be a pattern of behavior by Miller and this incident proves again that Brad Miller will do ANYTHING to ram the Greenlight rail boondoggle onto the backs of taxpayers.

Just breaking tonight related to the misuse of the DHS transit security funds, is another report by Channel 10's investigative reporter Mike Deeson which continues the latest lies and deception by Brad Miller and PSTA (emphasis mine):

Shocking emails have been uncovered by 10 Investigates showing the PSTA plotted to misspend a federal grant to promote its upcoming transportation ballot issue Greenlight Pinellas, and now Congressman David Jolly is calling for Homeland Security to investigate.

Pages and pages of emails we obtained through a public records request show that instead of using hundreds of thousands of dollars of Homeland Security money to make the buses safer, PSTA had a plan to advance its transportation initiative that goes to the voters in November.

While Welch tried to pass off the misuse of federal money as an honest mistake, the emails show it was intentional.  

In one email Director of Marketing Janet Recca stated, "We were able to leverage our federal grant dollars and further Greenlight efforts." 

In another, Miller says of the ads they must have the Greenlight logo. "I insist on this and won't approve payment on anything else."  

And another Miller again says, "And I know you [referring to Chief Development Officer Cassandra Borchers] and Janet have heartburn about how this grant is being used[...] we can easily add some stuff about your beloved security."

These latest incidents are just another reminder of how PSTA and Miller operate:

• PSTA/Miller uses $400K of taxpayer dollars last year to hire a public relations firms to create the Greenlight Pinellas brand.  This brand was used to target specific groups, friendly to their rail cause, to lobby Pinellas County commissioners to place the rail referendum on the ballot.
• PSTA/Miller did a bus study last year and PSTA knows they can improve their bus service at a fraction of the high cost of light rail. Check out this interview with Barbara Haselden.  She explains the results of PSTA's own bus study which confirms the need for PSTA to do due diligence for improving their bus service, not asking for a huge tax increase for a costly light rail few will ride.
• PSTA /Miller uses another $400K of taxpayer dollars and other PSTA resources this year to advocate and market a tax increase that will benefit PSTA.  PSTA buys and hands out campaign yard signs throughout Pinellas county at PSTA and other taxpayer funded agencies. PSTA calls doling out campaign signs and other campaign/marketing trinkets "education". PSTA distributes their taxpayer funded literature at Pinellas libraries and colludes with other taxpayer funded entities like St. Petersburg who includes Greenlight Pinellas glossy brochures in their water bill.

• PSTA/Greenlight Pinellas uses elected officials, who have dollar signs dancing in their heads, and the elected officials bully pulpits, to advocate for the over $100 million a year tax increase. 
• PSTA and Brad Miller wraps their PSTA buses with Greenlight Pinellas ads for which they receive ZERO revenue while refusing to allow NoTaxForTracks to BUY some bus wraps and actually pay for them providing revenue to PSTA.

PSTA wraps their buses with their own at their
 expense their own Greenlight ads

• PSTA decides they don't like all the Public Records Request they started getting from concerned citizens since pushing the Greenlight boondoggle and decides to publicly name all who have submitted a PRR on their website.  Public outrage forced them to take that information down.
• PSTA's CEO Brad Miller colludes with the private pro rail PAC.  On taxpayers time and dime, Miller spoke at the pro rail PAC Yes for Greenlight kickoff event held in February.

PSTA's CEO Brad Miller speaks at pro rail
PAC's kickoff event in February

• PSTA's CEO Brad Miller was caught lying on a video from the PSTA June 25 meeting that DHS had approved the use of the DHS transit security funds (go to 11:15 in video).  DHS never approved the Greenlight Pinellas "feel good" ads as we previously reported here that included reports by Channel 10's Investigative Reporter Mike Deeson.  PSTA/Miller misused those funds and Miller was forced to hastily return the $345K to DHS, hoping the issue would simply go away. It didn't.
• Our previous post also provides a quick recap of PSTA activities since Brad Miller was hired by PSTA in July 2011. 

PSTA's CEO Brad Miller encouraging and endorsing a boycott of those businesses who oppose Greenlight and the "shocking" emails admitting Miller knew PSTA was misusing DHS transit security funds is proof that Miller and PSTA simply cannot be trusted. 

Miller and PSTA cannot be trusted with a 14% sales tax increase that hands him and his corrupt agency a $100 million a year tax increase.

Brad Miller continues to be found lying and Miller needs to be fired.

PSTA needs new management and it's board a complete housecleaning.  

The answer to PSTA and Brad Miller's poor judgment, unethical and possibly criminal behavior is simple.

Vote NO on Greenlight Pinellas boondoggle!

You can stop the GreenLight Train Wreck

Tuesday those of you who have not yet voted will go to the polls and vote on some very important races and issues.

None is more important than the Pinellas County Sales Tax referendum question. It is the last item ON THE BACK of the Ballot

It Reads like this:

Levy of Countywide One Percent Sales Surtax to Fund Greenlight Pinellas Plan for Public Transit.

Summary: Shall the improvement, construction, operation, maintenance and financing of public transit benefiting Pinellas County, including an expanded bus system with bus rapid transit, increased frequency and extended hours, local passenger rail and regional connections be funded by levying a one percent sales surtax from January 1, 2016 until repealed, with the proceeds deposited in a dedicated trust fund?

 

        ______   YES, for the 1% sales surtax 

   
      __X__    NO, against the 1% sales surtax

If you vote yes you put an additional $100 Million annually into the PSTA coffers.

Over the last few months the PSTA administration has been investigated for electioneering, misused federal homeland security funds, lied to the public and spread misleading information about the train they want to build and its intended purpose.

They have stone walled public records requests, refused to answer direct questions and berated those who would question their actions and motives.

Just over 30 people have donated almost all of the $1 million raised to support the passage of this tax. They all expect to get their money back and then some, and the tactics of the current PSTA Administration and complete lack of oversight by the Board of Directors makes it a real good bet.

This sales tax referendum was never about public transportation, although I believe that there are some on the PSTA Board that still believe it is. It was always about a train that requires property and right of way acquisition for track and stations and the redevelopment around the stations and the rail line.

The nature of PSTA and its leadership can be seen in the e-mails unearthed by News Channel 10's Mike Deeson.  News Channel 10 PSTA E-MAILS

The inability of the Board to control the PSTA Administration is evident the actions of its CEO.

If he is not concerned about misusing and directing his staff to misuse federal funds why would we expect anything less when the sales tax dollars start rolling in?

Don't pay more for virtually everything you buy so the PSTA can repay the political cronies that supported GreenLight and waste the money on a train that does not serve those who actually use public transportation.

Don't put this County in to debt for up to 90 years that you as a citizen cannot control and those who represent you won't control. 

Right now you are in the driver's seat.  You can stop this train wreck before it happens.

You can vote NO

If GreenLight passes, Pinellas County does not own a train, a train will ultimately own Pinellas County.

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.