Letter to the Editor: Regarding Tampa Rail Article

Dear Bradenton Times,
 
I am writing in response to your recent article ”’Grassroots’ Tampa Rail Organization Has Deep-Pocketed Backers That Stand To Profit.“  This article is an unfair and inaccurate misrepresentation of the facts.  

The article purports to expose a fact that we have freely disclosed at every opportunity – that the Tampa Bay Partnership, a coalition of many stakeholders across our region , has played a leadership role in forming and supporting Moving Hillsborough Forward to promote the adoption of the County’s plan to improve Countywide transportation. While the leaders of the Tampa Bay Partnership provided a strong foundation for the launch of the Moving Hillsborough Forward campaign, many groups and individuals who agree we must address our transportation needs have joined forces through Moving Hillsborough Forward to support this effort.  The Tampa Bay Partnership has always been open, honest, and transparent about its relationship with and support of Moving Hillsborough Forward.  To imply otherwise is a deliberate distortion of the facts. Why would we or should we hide something we believe strongly in and are proud to support?

Since its inception, Moving Hillsborough Forward has raised funds from a broad cross-section of voters and organizations in Hillsborough County who support the Countywide Transportation Plan.  These diverse supporters include many individuals and organizations, including seniors, students, workers, Democrats, Republicans, the Sierra Club, labor unions, community organizations, our sports teams, and large and small businesses of all kinds.  The broad-based support for this referendum should not come as a surprise.  A recent poll shows that a majority of voters in Hillsborough County favor the referendum, as contrasted with only 39% of County voters who oppose it.  

Do the supporters of this referendum stand to gain from its adoption?  Of course they do!  All voters have a vested stake in this referendum, and the whole County will benefit from its approval.  This is why Hillsborough County has proposed this plan in the first place as the best solution to our transportation needs for years to come based upon the recommendations of a Task Force created to study all pertinent data and to propose the best solution for the County. 

Finally, the article attacking Moving Hillsborough Forward as a ”front“ for leading area businesses misses the point entirely that these businesses, and many others who favor progress, would not be investing their time, resources, and credibility in this campaign unless they believed that it would strengthen our economy and our County.  The article substitutes personal attack on the many supporters of this referendum for any facts or persuasive arguments against the adoption of a plan that will in all likelihood give our County more services and greater economic benefits for less cost for many years to come than we will ever hope to see by continuing our exclusive reliance on highways that are already strained beyond their capacity.

From Gary Sasso
President & CEO, Carlton Fields
Chair, Moving Hillsborough Forward
Chair, Tampa Bay Partnership