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Rail Rip-Off

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 22, 2007

Regarding 'Last Stop In Rail Plan: Tampa' (Nation/World, Sept. 9):

How is it that once again in a country supposedly governed 'by the people and for the people,' the citizenry's best interests can be so eclipsed by the back-door politics and financial interests of the extremely rich and powerful?

Thank goodness for our political watchdogs and the fine reporting by Lindsay Peterson and Billy Townsend of The Tampa Tribune that Tampa Bay area residents and surrounding neighbors have been informed about how our former governor and his financial cohorts planned to 'give' Florida what they deemed it needed in terms of railways, under the auspices of doing good, to set up a system to pad their own or their buddies' coffers by the billions in future rail revenues.

I believe the consulting lawyer, John Bottcher, who was quoted in the article, encapsulates the point most euphemistically: 'There is a point where CSX Transportation's profits would exceed the public benefit.' Thank goodness former Gov. Jeb Bush was not able to finalize the rail job before he left office: 146 days was obviously not enough time. At least the DOT will get a chance to 'perform an analysis to see whether or not the public is getting a good deal.' Time seemed to be on the public's side.

CHERYL FLAHERTY

San Antonio

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