Passenger Trains > [FL] Stuart, Martin County + AAF share a lobbyist

The TC Palm has been diligently following the efforts of All Aboard Florida to begin higher speed passenger rail service on the FEC, and the equally diligent efforts by Martin County and others to block the service. Today's episode reveals that Martin County's principal lobbyist in the state capitol is also the lobbyist for All Aboard Florida and its related companies.

Apparently this was known some time back, and the county has used a different lobbyist to express its views. But the second lobbyist is not authorized to lobby the governor (who can block several of the 17 needed permits).  The county is also on record as supporting passenger rail service when Amtrak floated a trial balloon a few years ago. And, also supporting AAF when the county believed AAF planned to stop some trains in Stuart. After it became clear that no plans for a Stuart stop were in the first round, at least, the county reversed course, and opposed AAF.  The conflicted lobbyist was apparently part of the support process, as I understand this version of the story.

Work is good...

Extrmely cynicslly speaking .... Considering that the Governor has proved to be quite "purchasable" in proper Florida style of operation, and that neither Stuart, nor Martin County can match the buying power of the Fortress Group, this whole thing is a side show of a side show. :)

Opposing the whole project because they can't wait for a station stop further later on?  That's dumb, unless there is no Phase 2 to add intermediate stops,  Then it makes sense, but as Jishnu pointed out, these folks think they're in a cirucus, I guess. 

Sounds like campaign 2016, all 3 rings of it.

sums007 Wrote:
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> Opposing the whole project because they can't wait
> for a station stop further later on?  That's
> dumb, unless there is no Phase 2 to add
> intermediate stops,  Then it makes sense, but as
> Jishnu pointed out, these folks think they're in a
> cirucus, I guess. 

Posted from Android

The whole thing is confusing. However, the history of Martin County is a good guide.

The control of the county commission changes hands between the growth people and the slow/no growth people. Right now the slow/ no people are in control.

The anti- train people are loud and well financed. The commission is well aware of them.

Posted from Android

See, at most they can delay higher speed running through Martin County. They cannot really stop a railroad from operating trains on a pre-existing railroad that runs through a right of way zoned railroad through the county. They will eventually lose, like they did on I-95, and pack their bags and sulk off to wherever. Meanwhile they will piss away taxpayer money while failing to give raises to their emergency workers who are leaving in droves for surrounding counties. This is what they think is responsible governance.