How long must we sit and listen to the M-CORES panels and yes, the Task Force members talk, talk and talk about non-relevant items? Hours were spent today listening to chatter about broadband for the masses, those in rural areas without it.
But what does this have to do with toll roads?
It is time for the Task Force members to speak their minds about the toll roads and say “no build.”
Yes, internet connection is a useful and wonderful thing, but no, we don’t have to build toll roads in order to build rural infrastructure for broadband.
Broadband is carrot dangled in front of rural North Florida’s nose to entice endorsement of unneeded and destructive toll roads. Another word to use is “bribe” to sweeten the pot.
During the public comments at least three people made strong points on the irrelevance of broadband to the toll roads. And they were right on the mark.
Even though your historian was finally able to speak against the roads today, we do not like the virtual meetings and they should be discontinued. One must sit through two hours of discussions before public comments are heard, and then your connection to speak may not be successful.
Today was the second consecutive meeting where the we were told that those unable to respond when called to speak the first time around would have a second chance, and that they would circle back again after the list was completed. This did not happen, not last week and not today. Some were unable to unmute their phones the first time around and had no second chance. This is another reason to stop the virtual meetings, as the public is not given ample opportunity to speak.
The next virtual meeting will be on June 23, 2020, for those patient enough to sign up.
Comments by OSFR historian Jim Tatum.
jim.tatum@oursantaferiver.org
– A river is like a life: once taken,
it cannot be brought back © Jim Tatum
There is no way of knowing if the panel even hangs around for public comments. It feels like speaking into a void.