AFS Cinema
Don't Blame the Libertarians
RECEIVED Fri., Sept. 17, 2004
Editor,
In response to a letter by Jean Harper on Sept. 10 ["Postmarks"], Mike Clark-Madison replies, "As with most of our Austin Toll Party friends, this writer makes claims that are simply untrue: Nowhere in the CTRMA plan is there one foot of "existing" highway – that is, lane miles that people drive on right now – that is 'paid for' that is being converted to a toll road. Not one foot."
The section of Highway 183 between Highway 290 East and Loyola is, and has been for 20 years, open freeway. The section between Techni Center and Montopolis is also a freeway. That's about 21,120 feet of paid-for freeway that "people drive on right now." It will cost motorists $1.50 to use these miles if CTRMA's plan is effected. (That's $900 per year for a commuter.) The alternative will be to drive on the frontage roads and stop at every light. This wastes gas and creates pollution.
Mike continues, "If 93% of the respondents are wrong about that basic fact, then they are wrong, period, no matter how loud and nasty they get." Mike is wrong. He should apologize to Jean and the 93% of Austinites who are right. (At least he didn't call them "asshole(s)" as he did recently with another prominent person.)
CTRMA has the power to use tolls collected from motorists to build sewage lines into pristine areas of Barton Creek. My question to Mike is this: Who are you going to blame when that happens? Don't blame the Libertarian Party. Republicans created CTRMA and Democrats like Dawnna Dukes, Gonzalo Barrientos, and Sam Biscoe nurture it. Not one of them cares about poor people on the Eastside.
In response to a letter by Jean Harper on Sept. 10 ["Postmarks"], Mike Clark-Madison replies, "As with most of our Austin Toll Party friends, this writer makes claims that are simply untrue: Nowhere in the CTRMA plan is there one foot of "existing" highway – that is, lane miles that people drive on right now – that is 'paid for' that is being converted to a toll road. Not one foot."
The section of Highway 183 between Highway 290 East and Loyola is, and has been for 20 years, open freeway. The section between Techni Center and Montopolis is also a freeway. That's about 21,120 feet of paid-for freeway that "people drive on right now." It will cost motorists $1.50 to use these miles if CTRMA's plan is effected. (That's $900 per year for a commuter.) The alternative will be to drive on the frontage roads and stop at every light. This wastes gas and creates pollution.
Mike continues, "If 93% of the respondents are wrong about that basic fact, then they are wrong, period, no matter how loud and nasty they get." Mike is wrong. He should apologize to Jean and the 93% of Austinites who are right. (At least he didn't call them "asshole(s)" as he did recently with another prominent person.)
CTRMA has the power to use tolls collected from motorists to build sewage lines into pristine areas of Barton Creek. My question to Mike is this: Who are you going to blame when that happens? Don't blame the Libertarian Party. Republicans created CTRMA and Democrats like Dawnna Dukes, Gonzalo Barrientos, and Sam Biscoe nurture it. Not one of them cares about poor people on the Eastside.
Vincent J May