"Speak Out" is an expression of opinion from the Editorial Board of WBTV, and is presented by General Manager, Nick Simonette.
See if this sounds familiar….
"I want to sell you a house, but YOU know you can't afford it.
Okay, wait.
If you'll buy the house right now, I'll give you a "special discount."
And remember, you did promise SOME of your family members you'd get the house, and they'll be mad if you don't.
It doesn't matter if you can't afford it - you PROMISED!"
Well folks, that's the situation we have with Charlotte's proposed streetcar purchase.
To us, it sounds similar to the sub-prime loan mess which just helped wreck our economy.
No doubt, the streetcar would be a pretty new ride.
It might even spur some development…eventually.
And some politicians say we can't afford NOT to build it.
If we don't act right away, we may lose out on federal dollars.
But we think the negatives outweigh the positives.
CATS is operating at a severe budget deficit already -- reaching three-hundred-49 million dollars over the next ten years!
It's seeking to raise fares by seventeen percent... cut services for the elderly and disabled... eliminate trolley runs... and delay building the next light rail line.
If we can't pay for the transit we have now; how can we afford to operate a new streetcar?
I'm sorry…the streetcar - like the new house with the sub-prime loan - might be enticing, exciting and fun…
But we simply can't afford it.
Tell us what YOU think. SpeakOut@wbtv.com.
