Hypocrisy In Action
Just a flash in pan for Harris County commissioners?
This is a far more diplomatic reading of what would otherwise be an incredibly cynical outburst on my part.
Want more?
Two articles on legal troubles for El Paso Energy & Centerpoint:
Why is it, I wonder, that those who claim liberal bias among the Chron never seem to have a problem with lax business reporting?
May 20, 2004, 8:35PM COMMUTER RAIL Just a flash in pan for Harris County commissioners? Copyright 2004 Houston ChroniclePrior to last November's vote on the Metropolitan Transit Authority's long-range mobility plan, Metro Solutions, members of Harris County Commissioners Court touted commuter rail as a better option than light rail. The county paid for a feasibility study. After a majority of voters said they indeed want more light rail, court members said commuter rail still could serve as a valuable component of a regional mobility system.
More recently, enthusiasm on Commissioners Court for commuter rail has waned, raising suspicions that the championing of commuter rail corridors was a ploy to dampen voters' support for the Metro rail plan. The county had been expected to approve a contract with transportation consultant DMJM+Harris for a $420,000 study on commuter rail feasibility along six major transportation corridors. All of a sudden, commissioners say they no longer care to lead on the issue, don't want to pay for it and aren't sure whether other agencies are willing to get on board.
That last excuse ignores the fact that representatives of the Texas Department of Transportation, the Metro board, new Metro President and Chief Executive Officer Frank Wilson, and city leaders all already have expressed interest in commuter rail as a component of an overall regional mobility plan.
Successful commuter rail links such as the service that joins Dallas and Fort Worth show that this is a concept whose time has come. Rising fuel prices, increasing air pollution and frustration with clogged roadways have spurred renewed discussion on establishing a line between San Antonio and Austin.
County commissioners ought to be out beating the drum for commuter rail, not just as a foil to Metro's light rail plans, but because of the huge benefits such a system could provide their far-flung, traffic-weary constituents.
Famous for their devotion to senior citizens, who vote regularly, commissioners could do a great favor to the county's aging population. Elderly suburban residents could enjoy longer years of independent living if they could rely on commuter rail to connect them with buses and light rail even after advancing years rob them of the ability to drive.
Despite being road builders practically by nature, Harris County commissioners for several months showed a refreshing understanding that laying concrete can't solve this area's traffic problems. Their recent back-pedaling on commuter rail hints discouragingly that their initial interest in commuter rail was not an epiphany regarding the obvious need for a modern, fully functional multimodal transportation system that so many had hoped for.
Comments
I'm confused. What is it I'm supposed to be outraged over?
Th link to the Reuters article on El Paso isn't working. I googled the headline and came up with this:
http://www.forbes.com/business/energy/newswire/2004/05/13/rtr1370454.html
This wasn't in the Chron, I assume. You think it ought to? I would think so too. Of course, that story came out before ChronicallyBiased.com opened for business.
Posted by: Rob Booth (Slightly Rough) | May 22, 2004 10:19 AM
I have come to the obvious conclusion that ChronicallyBiased.com is just what their name implies. Think about it. They are on the road to becoming as "chronically biased" as they claim the Chronicle is. Okay, they admit this up front. But why don't they allow "comments" and so far why are all the "letters to the editor" so skewed to their "one sided viewpoint"?
Posted by: NewMorphy | May 22, 2004 07:03 PM
MewMorphy: Comments are back. The explanation why they were gone for a while was posted, and I've emailed numerous readers who have emailed about it.
Further, I've not refrained from posting critical emails. Emails tend to run about 90% positive. Not surprising -- we have a sympathetic audience. If you go through Letters, I think you'll find that the positive-neutral-negative mix has not been skewed 90% positive. As the person posting most of the things, I'm willing to take the heat for our selections. But I do try to post critical emails. Personally, I think those are the most fun. I also try to email and ask permission to post. Some of the negative emailers have tended not to answer those requests. Not sure if they've used fake emails or just can't be bothered, but I'm hesitant to run something I can't at least verify with an email.
Greg: When you find examples of the Chron dropping the ball, why not send 'em my way? If they don't appear with credit and linky love back to you, then you'll have confirmed that we're not interested. I think you'll find that I am very interested.
Posted by: kevin whited | May 24, 2004 10:30 AM