Mad money going to fill up gas tank

This is a front-page story in today's Columbus Dispatch:

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/business/stories/2011/03/04/mad-money-going-to-fill-up-gas-tank.html?sid=101

 

While Americans complain about gas prices, they fail to make the connection that America's (and especially Ohio's) transportation policies have made it impossible for alternatives to driving to exist. The Interstate highway system has become the nation's only legal monopoly, and a government-owned one at that.

 

So the Dispatch article makes no mention:

 

+ of how already abysmal state funding is (42nd in the nation for state transit funding per trip, even though Ohio ranks 12th in transit use. SOURCE: ODOT);

+ that transit funding is being reduced further in the upcoming two-year ODOT budget. If Ohio's transit funding ranked as highly as its use, Ohio would spend $250 million per year in transit, not $20 million as proposed for FY2012 and FY2013;

+ that federal funding for transit may be illegal if Senate Bill 5 is passed as federal transit funding requires collective bargaining rights for transit employees;

+ that expanding transit funding immediately creates jobs and improves access to jobs while letting working families save money;

+ of Ohio completely eliminating passenger rail funding while less wealthy places like Morocco, Kazakhstan, Turkey, Iran, Brazil, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and others have High-Speed Rail or are moving forward on constructing it. Marketresearch.com estimates the accumulated market value of global HSR manufacturing sectors was $244 billion in 2005-2009 and will grow to $907 billion between 2010-2015.

You can help raise the awareness! Please write a short letter to your local newspapers (see tips at the bottom):

 

Columbus Dispatch

Mail: Letters to the Editor, The Columbus Dispatch, 34 S. 3rd St., Columbus, OH 43215

Fax: 614-461-8793

E-mail: letters@dispatch.com

 

Akron Beacon Journal

Mail: Letters to the Editor, The Akron Beacon Journal, 44 E. Exchange Street, Akron, Ohio 44308

Fax: N/A

E-mail: vop@thebeaconjournal.com

 

Cincinnati Enquirer

Mail: Letters, Enquirer Editorial Page, 312 Elm St., Cincinnati, OH 45202

Fax: 513-768-8569

E-mail: letters@enquirer.com

 

Cleveland Plain Dealer

Mail: Letters to the Editor, The Plain Dealer, 1801 Superior Ave., Cleveland, OH 44114.

Fax: 216-999-6209

E-mail: http://www.cleveland.com/plaindealer/letter-to-editor/

 

Columbus Dispatch

Mail: Letters to the Editor, The Columbus Dispatch, 34 S. 3rd St., Columbus, OH 43215

Fax: 614-461-8793

E-mail: letters@dispatch.com

 

Dayton Daily News

Mail: Letters to the Editor, Dayton Daily News, 1611 S. Main St., Dayton, OH 45409

Fax: (937) 225-7302

E-mail: http://www.daytondailynews.com/opinion/65916.html

 

Hamilton Journal News

Mail: Letters to the editor, JournalNews, 228 Court St., Hamilton, Ohio 45011

Fax: N/A

E-mail: http://www.journal-news.com/opinion/65960.html

 

Mansfield News Journal

Mail: Letters to the Editor, The Mansfield News Journal, 70 W. Fourth St., Mansfield, OH 44903

Fax: N/A

E-mail: http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/section/CUSTOMERSERVICE03

 

Springfield News-Sun

Mail: Letters to the Editor, Springfield News-Sun, 202 N. Limestone St, Springfield, OH, 45503

Fax: N/A

E-mail: http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/opinion/65954.html

 

Sun Newspapers (Cleveland-area)

Mail: Letters to the Editor, Sun Newspapers, 5510 Cloverleaf Pkwy, Cleveland, OH 44125

Fax: 216-986-6071

E-mail: lkinsey@sunnews.com

 

Toledo Blade

Mail:  Readers Forum, The Blade, 541 North Superior Street, P.O. Box 921, Toledo, OH 43697-0921

Fax: 419-724-6191

E-mail: letters@theblade.com

 

Youngstown Vindicator

Mail:  Letters to the Editor, The Vindicator, 107 Vindicator Square. Youngstown, OH 44503

E-mail: letters@vindy.com

 

Tips: Keep your letters to fewer than 200 words to improve the chances it will be published. Sign your printed/faxed letter, or use a script font to sign your e-mailed letter (do not attach it, copy and paste it into your e-mail!). Be sure to include your address, city, zip and a daytime phone number as the newspaper will want to confirm you wrote/sent the letter.

 

Thank you!

_____________________

 

 

Ken Prendergast
Executive Director
All Aboard Ohio
12029 Clifton Blvd., Suite 505
Cleveland, OH 44107
(216) 288-4883
kenprendergast@allaboardohio.org
www.allaboardohio.org