The 2002 transportation bill was defeated in a referendum.
A law suit regarding its unconstitutionality was pending since the judge said he would decide after the referendum (hoping he would not have to decide).
The 2006 transportation bill was found to be unconstitutional and contained a regional taxing authority that citizens could not vote for.
Both unconstitutional bills were voted for by most all the local delegates and senators, many of whom are lawyers and all of whom swore to uphold the constitution (and several of whom have since been kicked out of office - ed's note).
This includes our governor. Dishonest acts all that the public easily recognized.
To add insult to injury, the who’s who in Tidewater raised over $2,000,000 for a “Yes Campaign” to educate the public. Emotional arguments, downright misleading advertising and more failed to convince the public.
Fortunately, the public is not stupid as the elite believe.
Then there was a referendum in Virginia Beach regarding light rail with more emotional education efforts that the public saw through. There were no facts to support approving light rail.
Now, the same old “Yes Campaign” folks have started a “Light Rail Now” campaign to educate Virginia Beach citizens through a marketing program that they should be for light rail, even before all environmental impact and other studies are finished.
Editorials, guest columnists and letters are running hot and heavy. This is at a time when Hampton Transportation Authority is way over budget and schedule on the Norfolk light rail, when Norfolk admits that their light rail will reduce traffic and when citizens face more unemployment, higher taxes, reduced Medicare and other challenges.
They will be asked to support more debt for light rail that Norfolk says will average 16 miles per hour.
The following are some quotes pulled from the Virginian-Pilot website regarding light rail:
But not all light rail projects have been economic development success stories. "One thing that can happen is nothing," said Robert Dunphy, of the Urban Land Institute. "Transit advocates will claim if you put rail in, all of a sudden you'll have this money flowing. It's just not true.
Already, Norfolk has adopted a parking policy that limits the growth of downtown parking to encourage transit use.
A false picture has been painted about the military, that it needs light rail for mobilization. I have seen a letter from the Admiral in charge of the area supporting the concept about high speed rail but he mentions nothing about light rail.
Heck, it is not planned to run to the Navy Base so this is another emotional advertising ploy.
The Pilot’s editorial staff throws in some irrelevant emotion in one of its editorial discussing light rail by mentioning in 4 lines emergency evacuation. Duh!
In summary, the public needs honesty and facts, not slick, emotional advertising to sell and educate the public.
Give us the facts, just the fact.
Otherwise, we will recognize a con job when we see it.
Ben Krause - Virginia Beach
Letters To The Editor 
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