  Ray Member Username: Ray Post Number: 648 Registered: 06-2004 Posted From: 68.42.220.37 |
I know some of you don't share my politics, but one thing we have in common is our love of Detroit. So please consider this heartfelt appeal. Our Congressman in OC is Joe Knollenberg. He has a leadership position on the transportation subcommittee of the appropriations ctommittee. For those of you like me who don't understand the intracies of Congress, this means that he runs the committee that doles out money for mass transit. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for the state to get mass transit dollars. I had a chance recently to talk to him at some length about mass transit for the Detroit region, and was pleasantly surprised to hear him describe with great enthusiasm his positive experiences using the Metro in DC. I really think he gets it. I really think he would be receptive to it if there were tangible evidence of support among voters. The trouble is the message he's getting from constituents (and in particular those consituents who are most active in OC politics) is "no money for mass transit, build more roads." There's deafening silence from the pro-transit camp. If this forum could generate letters asking him to consider mass transit, I really think it might help. The address is: Congresssman Joe Knollenberg 30833 Northwestern Highway, Suite 100 Farmington Hills, MI 48334 I know you are all busy, but I think we are blowing an opportunity here if we do not reach out. Even if we move the needle one teeny tiny bit, it would be worth more than a thousand online bitch sessions about the lack of transit. Please consider doing this tonight or tomorrow. PS: if you want your letter to really get read, consider addressing it to Shawn Ciavattone, his public-spirited and very savvy District Field Director. (Message edited by ray on March 20, 2006) | ||
Lmichigan Member Username: Lmichigan Post Number: 3364 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 67.172.95.197 |
Though they may not carry the same weight as a hand-written letter, you can also contact him via email at this link: http://www.house.gov/knollenbe rg/contact/default.htm It also lists his Troy and Washington D.C. offices. | ||
Detroitduo Member Username: Detroitduo Post Number: 553 Registered: 06-2005 Posted From: 221.12.238.2 |
bump | ||
Gogo Member Username: Gogo Post Number: 1338 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 198.208.251.21 |
Some zip codes in the 9th district that you can use when emailing... 48340 Pontiac 48331 Farmington/Hills 48332 Farmington/Hills 48328 Waterford/Twp 48329 Waterford/Twp 48359 Orion Twp 48009 Birmingham 48012 Birmingham 48007 Troy | ||
Upinottawa Member Username: Upinottawa Post Number: 243 Registered: 09-2005 Posted From: 198.103.184.76 |
Metro Detroit needs to gets its act together on regional issues, especially when it comes to transit. Eventually that Federal transit money is going to dry up when Congress and the White House realize that running massive deficits is irresponsible thus triggering significant budget cuts. U.S. lets debt rise to almost $9-trillion http://www.theglobeandmail.com /servlet/story/LAC.20060317.IR AQ17/TPStory/?query=bush+defic it | ||
Naturalsister Member Username: Naturalsister Post Number: 537 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 69.212.45.176 |
The war in Iraq is wack! The war in Iraq is wack! The war in Iraq is wack! later - naturalsister (in picketing fashion) | ||
Lmichigan Member Username: Lmichigan Post Number: 3371 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 67.172.95.197 |
Naturalsister kind of hit in on the head. Our Congress and current Presidential administration are running around, at the moment, like chickens with their heads cut off wondering how to "solve" the current War in Iraq. Most everything else has fallen by the wayside. There is no way we can rebuild our cities, efficiently, with this perpetual war going on. Hell, even New Orleans, a city completely devestated by a nautral disaster, can barely get the governments ear, at the moment. Let alone a city the government has left for dead for decades. It's going to take some creative regional cooperation/funding to make up where the government is increasingly retreating from cities. | ||
Ray Member Username: Ray Post Number: 651 Registered: 06-2004 Posted From: 68.42.220.37 |
Personally, I don't know much about the war in Iraq, it looks like a bad situation. But setting that aside, we've got a chance here to get more federal money for transit in Detroit and I think somebody with some influence and a well-thought out agenda needs to work on our Congressman, who is deluged with anti-transit opinions from his voters. | ||
River_rat Member Username: River_rat Post Number: 68 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 207.195.241.66 |
Inside the beltway there is little support for mass transit for Detroit. Why? Not Iraq. There is little confidence in the competence and cooperation in Detroit and SE Michigan governments that would be necessary to have a successful service. Good money after bad. river rat deep inside the beltway | ||
Bob Member Username: Bob Post Number: 857 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 64.12.116.204 |
River_rat does make a great point, we had a chance in the 1970s and we blew it. We almost had a chance a few years ago and John Engler blew it with his veto. And since we fight about the zoo and water, I don't blame people it they don't take us seriously in terms of mass transit. | ||
L_b_patterson Member Username: L_b_patterson Post Number: 291 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.254.148.52 |
don't forget Kilpatrick sits on the other side of the sub-committee too. |
