Concerned Citizens Addressing Critical Transportation Issues
Fox 4 Wants to Know
Do state lawmakers read the mail you send them?
March 31, 2009 Justine Waldman reporting
Do state lawmakers read the mail you send them? Three weeks ago, a group fighting the move to lease Alligator Alley sent 82 binders to state lawmakers. It had 373 pages of articles, research and figures on why the state should not lease Alligator Alley. The Citizens Transportation Coalition put together The Alligator Alley Blue Book, each page a plea not to lease out the Alley.
Four in Your Corner wants to know did any of the 82 elected officials the group sent the book to read it?
I called the top players to find out, starting with the governor. I had to leave a message with his press office. The person who answered the phone could not confirm if Gov. Charlie Crist even got the book.
Next Lt. Governor Jeff Kottkamp. I had to make a formal interview request, which his office has yet to grant.
Then on to our local leaders on the mailing list. Rep. Gary Aubuchon's office is not positive he even got the binder. I had to leave a message for House of Representative Chief of Staff Dudley Goodlette.
I did talk to Representative Matt Hudson. He told me he did get the book and has started to read it, "I've worked my way through it. To be honest, it is 200 or 300 pages. I have seen most of the material before because I have been at every single public hearing," he continued, "at the end of the day I am still against the project."
Up next, a call to all 13 members of the Legislative Budget Commission. The group has the most influence when it comes to the lease deal. My calls got a mixed response. Most of people who answered the phone said they do not know if their senator or representative has gotten the Blue Book. Some said they never got it. Others said yes, they got the the book, but are not sure if anyone has read it.
Rep. Hudson is confident at some point they will, "an aid will most likely read it and give a briefing."
Four in Your Corner will be sure to keep calling to find out.
As for why some of the leaders did not get the Blue Book the head of the CTC says all the books went out and none were sent back. All the addresses were correct.
As for the lease process of Alligator Alley, bids are due on May 8th.
Book on Alligator Alley in the mail
March 9, 2009 Fox 4 News Justine Waldman
The wheels are moving again to lease Alligator Alley. The state wants a private company to take over the 78-mile stretch of road that connects Naples to Fort Lauderdale. The state says it could get a lot of money for road projects this happens. This was supposed to be a done deal in January, but the recession slowed the bid process down until May.
The delay has bought the group fighting the plan more time to organize new opposition efforts.
One page at at time, volunteers sort and stuff a binder to the brim with information. From newspaper articles and editorials to research on the results of leasing Alligator Alley. The Alligator Alley Blue Book is a 373-page notebook on why the state should not lease Alligator Alley.
"It is a publicly owned roadway paid for with public money. It shouldn't be given away for another corporation to make a profit," says Citizens Transportation Coalition Director Gina Downs. CTC organized the gathering.
The work is tedious but meaningful to the volunteers.
"Most of us are here because we care about our community and we want to make it a better place," says Donna Caron.
"I believe in this cause. I don't think we should give our road to a private company to take care of," says Ellen Clarke.
"I want to do what I can do delay the inevitable," says Jim Burke.
The group moves faster now with the deadline for companies to place bids approaching, "We're actually more worried now because the governor will have a fire sale on this road with deep deep discounts."
Each binder cost about $50 to make. Donations paid for the materials. "The money came pouring in actually," says Downs.
In all, they will send out 100 binders. Starting at the top to the governor, lieutenant governor, all the members of the Budget Legislative Committee and local leaders.
"I know they won't read it. They will probably hand it to an aid to read. Hopefully, it will make an impact on that aid and they will bring it to the attention of their representative or senator," says Downs.
The Alligator Alley Blue Book will go in the mail first thing Tuesday morning. CTC plans to follow-up next week to see which elected officials have read the material.
