Red Line foes exaggerate a tad
A press release just came my way from the West-East Coalition against Red Line Alternative 4C in which the group boasts that its members "shouted down" Gov. Martin O'Malley at the Tuesday morning press conference in West Baltimore at which the governor announced his choice of that light rail alternative.
I was there. That isn't true.
Opponents of surface Red Line in their neighborhoods certainly made their presence known. Their banners were quite visible and their voices were loud. They were, however, far outnumbered by supporters of the Red Line plan. The governor may have been thrown a little off-stride by the yelling, but he finished his remarks without a significant interruption. He was not "shouted down."
I'm not sure why any group would want to brag about what is essentially rude behavior. Red Line foes certainly have every right to oppose the governor's plan and fight his re-election. But "shouting down" an official at a public event doesn't persuade others that the shouter is right, only that the shouter should have learned bettter manners.
Most of those doing the jeering appeared to be folks from Canton. As I was leaving the event, I was walking behind some West Baltimore Red Line opponents who were bemoaning the lack of civility shown by their east-side allies. This may be an alliance of convenience for now, but it's far from a comfortable coalition.
For a look at the full release from the opposition coalition, click below.
Enraged Citizens Shout Governor Down at Rail Project Press Conference
Opposition to Controversial Red Line Project Voiced -- Loudly
Governor O’Malley’s support for a surface train line through Baltimore neighborhoods was loudly shouted down by Baltimore residents at his Tuesday Press Event held at the West Baltimore MARC station.
The Governor has ignored our concerns about this project, if this is the only way to get him to hear us, this is what we will have to do,” said Jon Hyman, a member of the West-East Coalition, a volunteer citizen group supporting a properly designed mass transit system.
In his speech, the Governor spoke of jobs and Federal money the project would bring, but failed to mention that $1 billion would have to come from the state itself.
Congressman Elijah Cummings also proudly proclaimed that no one would have to be relocated from their homes for the project, but did not mention that it would cause roads to encroach closer to the homes people are staying in, that a network of wires would appear overhead, or that it would prevent people from taking direct routes to their homes because left turns will be prohibited.
To try to get costs down low enough to qualify for the federal funds the project has cut corners, including a proposal for a “death trap tunnel,” that would accommodate high speed two-way traffic on a single set of rails. It would be the only such project ever attempted in the country.
“The city is so desperately focused on Red Line Alternative 4C that it has ignored more sensible, less expensive and less disruptive alternatives, some of which had been proposed by the MTA itself,” said Nancy Braymer of the Canton Square Homeowners Association. “We all want what is best for Baltimore, not a project that is barely good enough.”
The West-East Coalition against Red Line Alternative 4C is a volunteer organization representing community leaders, neighborhood groups, and citizens from all parts of Baltimore concerned by the negative effects of the Red Line as currently proposed. The Coalition supports mass transit and the Red Line, including several alternatives proposed by MTA project engineers.
Learn more about 4C and its detrimental effect at www.baltimoreredlineunderground.org.
Press Inquiries contact baltimoreredlineunderground@gmail.com
Comments
"Shouting down" is apparently the new thing. Whether you're a whacked out, fact allergic birther, a member of the West-East coalition (btw guys, that name doesn't exactly roll off the tongue) or a staunch opponent of all Americans having access to affordable health care, going to meetings and shouting like a fool is the new cool tool to get your point across. It's like oral terrorism.
It's kind of strange too, given that there are so many outlets to express oneself nowadays....like blogs!
Posted by: Patapsco Jones | August 5, 2009 11:11 AM
The redline is the wrong project in the wrong place at the wrong time. It will not connect baltimore it will isolate baltimore from the job growth centers in our state- Ft Meade and Aberdeen. The citizens of canton know this and are only looking to have the project be invisible because they know it really does not serve theri needs. Is this really the best way to spend 1.5 billion to help reduce the average travel time in the metropolitan area? no one would answer that question yes. This is "edifice complex" at it worst with a transit project being used to meet goals other than transportation.
Posted by: telecommutenow | August 5, 2009 11:39 AM
Patapsco Joe,
Sorta like all the far left groups, i.e. Code pink, Move On, Think Progress, The anti-war protestres, the 9-11 conspiracy theorists, Global warming wackos, ACORN, unions, etc. right? Heaven forbid a new group also gets involved and engages in protests using the same tactics against those on the left who have been using these techniques for years to stifle differences of opinion, and who might I add, are also paid - whereas the ones you go on and on about are not - just concerned citizens who have jobs, and whom have never really protested in their life before, but want to start voicing their opinions. Have you seen what these groups do on college campuses? How about the incident where Tancredo was speaking at UNC and was shouted down and someone even threw a brick through the window - I guess that's acceptable in your eyes right? Dissent for me but not for thee must be your motto - Hypocrite.
Posted by: Lindsay | August 5, 2009 12:27 PM
Lindsay,
So you are protesting the Red Line because you don't like the tactics of ACORN and 'Global Warming Wackos?' And you are admitting to prostesting this line by using those same tactics?
And...wait? What? I'm very confused...
Posted by: Jed | August 5, 2009 1:42 PM
Kudos to you Linday - put Mr. Jones right in his place. He thinks the far left is entitled. I think they're finding out the American people have figured it out.
Posted by: chasd | August 5, 2009 5:22 PM
Mike and all - how's this for exaggerating "a tad:" - by "refining the model" the red line's ridership numbers increased by more than 25% to make the project close to federal cost effectiveness numbers. Talk about convenient. It seems clear that they fudged it.
Check out the new article here:
http://www.baltimoreredlineunderground.org/blog/?p=320
I especially think you'll like our new "fudge logo" for the red line corridor study graphic.
Posted by: Marty Taylor | August 6, 2009 12:46 AM
Seems the fact allergic right wingers have had a swift reaction on here.
First off comparing all of the groups Lindsay mentioned above to the Teabaggers/Birthers is absurd. The current fervor from these far right groups - for the noble cause of denying all Americans access to affordable health care, no less - is amongst the most virulent out of any political movement in the past 50 years. No facts will appease these people. No lies are too big for them to believe from their leadership in Rush Limbaugh's and Fox News' studios. Which they then spread, like a virus.
With that said, there has surely been shouting down that has occurred from the left. It has at times been as rude and ill placed as the current Teabagger tactics. Although nowhere near as common. The point however is two wrongs do not make a right, despite what those on the right wing are constantly asking us to believe (Iraq War, Capital Punishment, Guantanamo Bay Torture, and on, and on...) Rude and wrong know no political affiliations.
Speaking of wrong, to call those who care about Global Warming "wackos" demonstrates basically all any intelligent person needs to know about your lack of understanding of the world around you.
Posted by: Patapsco Jones | August 6, 2009 10:46 AM