True North

(This originally appeared as a Letter to the Editor in the Strib, March 24th)

Hennepin County Commissioner Peter McLaughlin wonders how anyone can be against transit investment (Star Tribune, March 23). Simply put, wasting billions of dollars on transit will not reduce congestion or make our roads and bridges safe.

The $1.1 billion soon to be allocated to a dedicated transit fund should have been used to find and fix multiple bridges. That $1.1 billion should have fixed Crosstown, the "devil's triangle" and several other high-priority projects sooner. It could have added an entire 494-694 loop.

McLaughlin knows how to play this game; taxpayers saw a slightly different version with the Twins stadium. That worked so well this time they will use it in multiple counties to build a train.

Ramsey County Commissioner Tony Bennett tries to justify his vote for the sales tax increase with the tired old either/or lie. He believes he must vote to pass the sales tax increase or property taxes will go up. Now that's a promise he can't keep.

Taxpayers are demanding accountability. That $1.1 billion will now not be used to improve infrastructure or to hire cops and will surely never reduce property taxes. The taxpayers' pocket is a finite revenue source and taxpayers are stretched to the limit.

Commissioners and legislators, who willingly squander $1.1 billion on 19th-century transit boondoggles are only leading us down the path of higher property taxes and higher sales taxes. All the while Minnesota's families and businesses will continue to drive on congested roads and wait for bridge and road repairs.

SUE JEFFERS, NEW BRIGHTON