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| We're not magicians, we can't tear a dollar in half and "Shazam" make two dollars out of it. We can only spend a dollar one time! |
There is now suddenly a tremendous push to fully fund the roundabout study and also to fully fund the construction of the roundabouts at Pensacola Beach.
We have talked the issue to death, I'm not crazy about them.
I don't think they solve the issue of traffic, yet out of deference to my counterpart in D4 I have voted to move forward with the $1.3 Million engineering study for this project. (funded from D4 discretionary LOST funds.)
Then came our joint meeting with the SRIA. Nobody wants the roundabouts-everyone wants more parking. I honestly thought the roundabouts were dead after that meeting--even the ardent, diehard supporter on the board had no idea where the funding ($20 Million) would come from to build these traffic circles.
So at the last meeting we postponed taking action on stopping the study.
Subsequently, a meeting of community leaders has taken place. There is a push now to bring back the roundabouts. We'll see what happens, but if we commit the $20 Million for roundabouts, how in the world can we also commit $Millions for bringing home the $56 Million Triumph proposal to support ST Engineering Aerospace's 3 new hangars, an admin facility, and as many as 1700 more jobs to Escambia County?
This IS a binary choice...We can't do both. We can't spend a dollar twice.
I want to support bringing home $56 Million from Triumph, $Millions more from DOT, and other sources (including Millions more from ST Engineering)--but this will require the city and the county to each put up about $10 Million each.
Interestingly--many of the same players that want the roundabouts--also want the ST Project too!
But we can't do both. We have to pick one.
For my part--it is a no-brainer, easy decision. To land more than $100 Million in direct economic benefit and 1700 jobs---yeah, I'll support that choice all day every day.
Wonder which choice everyone else will make?
Please let us know where is the tremendous push is coming from.
ReplyDeleteChoices choices..Cheers..Happy hour...bottoms up..
ReplyDeleteRoundabouts won't help traffic on busy weekends(days), if there is no parking available. Roumdabouts aren't magic circles that will magically make traffic move when streets are full of vehicles and can't move. If $20 Million is to be spent at the Beach...add parking! But, there is a problem there also. You can't really add enough parking to help without a multi-level parking garage. The perfect spot for that, the current SRIA location. The money is still better spent on Jobs! Dump the roundabouts!
ReplyDeleteJobs, jobs, jobs. By this I mean higher paying jobs, technical jobs, long term jobs. ST seems to fit the bill.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Marshall Brinson and Anonymous 6:16--Jobs are the better investment to make. Even though those who possess common sense know this-there are naysayers out there (remarkably even some that are in positions of influence) that believe because unemployment is currently at a low percentage point, that the jobs problem is solved. This is naive, simplistic, and incorrect. Now is the time to double down on jobs diversification so that even folks that are currently employed can have a ladder up to a BETTER JOB. The thing most folks that hate economic development don't acknowledge is that there are a lot of folks working dead-end retail jobs (sometimes two of these jobs to make ends meet here in Pensacola) and a huge deal like the one contemplated with the new ST Aerospace Triumph proposal will offer more quality, long term and higher paying technical jobs for folks that want to do better than just dead end retail. I'm all for this. We need to CONSTANTLY be working to diversify the jobs base here. To land a huge expansion of the worldwide leader in MRO operations (and a concomitant $100-130 Million in additional, non-taxpayer funded cash injection in the community) is a massive gift horse for Escambia County. We can always look at roundabouts later--the beach isn't going anywhere. But this deal to bring an additional 1700 good jobs and a huge influx of cash--could be a one-off. We can't afford to miss this opportunity. And yes--roundabouts and this proposal would come from the same pot of money so this is truly an "either-or" scenario. We can't afford both.
ReplyDeleteCan not wait to get Dunderhill and followers unseated!!
ReplyDeleteYou need to get the message out on PNJ and WEAR more effectively. You are right about the Fake news and if more don't start speaking up (me included) even nationally, then it is, and has been a problem in Escambia County.
It has been so apparent locally over the past four years. I am happy it is being brought to light and the truth is breaking through.
I hope it's not too little too late as the psych of many have been programmed to think Cronley bad...I'm good.
The techniques implored must have been something learned in Naval Warfighter cryptologist, propaganda, training.
True, effective for a while until some come along and see through it.