Rose Ferlita is taking a direct response approach to the flap over her friend's alluded position on rail.  Here at TR you've already gotten my general commentary, but, and God bless this here internet, Ms. Ferlita certainly gets her turn to speak.  Which she takes:

June 8, 2009
Official Statement from Rose V. Ferlita
County Commissioner, District 1

For the record, I am fully in support of a public transportation system that is multi-modal, including light rail. Many groups have worked tirelessly towards a successful effort. Now is the time to come together. Give the public the facts, with clarity, transparency and completeness. It is our responsibility to do that; it is the citizens. right to know the details of a referendum we are asking them to support.

I look forward to November 2010, when after all questions have been answered, our citizens will have the opportunity to support a transportation system that will be instrumental in moving our community forward.

You can read the original statement at her website.  The statement is posted at Bill Dallas's Facebook Group page as well.

I Will Only Add This

I do appreciate this deceleration, and it's a good move and I believe a sincere one.  But, and I say this generally of any politician, advocate, or voter in Hillsborough County, it's not enough to be for the facts when it comes to altering the fundamental course of transportation choice in any region. 

Folks, here's the fact: A multi-modal transportation system that includes light rail is god-damned expensive to build.  That's the fact.

Pure and simple.  Hence, you don't do it lightly, and you don't do it in complete absence of appreciation for its value.  So, while I applaud anyone who wants the public to know the facts of what they are voting for, I sure as heck hope that the same people are given the facts as to value.  The omission of value when the Florida high speed rail network was repealed was, in my mind, for instance, entirely unlawful.  You can't give people a cost until you honestly weigh it against value, which was not part of the analysis when some huge price tag was thrown out there by Jeb Bush and that murky PR firm hired to campaign for the repeal.

Building expensive alternatives to the Car Captive $tatus Quo does not take merely lopping out the rail idea with a price tag and waving it around for a quick approval or a quick rejection.  If you aren't for rail, for showing people a life where they save money with less auto expenses and more free-wheeling mobility, you aren't entirely doing the rail movement as big a favor as you might. We would all be better for not just revealing facts, but, revealing truth as well.

(whew).  Okay, now, if you want to enjoy the fluffy comfy piece that was supposed to be posted here instead today, you can proceed right along to it.