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From: "Tom
Bazan" <tbazan@houston.rr.com>
To: "Harris County District Attorney" <da@dao.co.harris.tx.us>
Cc: "Wall, Lucas" <Lucas.Wall@chron.com>,
<viewpoints@chron.com>,
<rarnold@kprc.com>, "Randy Wallace" <wallace@fox26.com>,
"Paula J. Alexander" <PA04@ridemetro.org>,
<paul_bettencourt@co.harris.tx.us>, <newsdesk@eldiausa.com>,
<michael.moore@cityofhouston.net>, <mayor@cityofhouston.net>,
<judge_eckels@co.harris.tx.us>, <jcolley@bizjournals.com>,
<houstonreview@hotmail.com>, <edd@ksevradio.com>,
"Don Gallagher" <dongallagher@sbcglobal.net>,
<districti@cityofhouston.net>, <districth@cityofhouston.net>,
<districtg@cityofhouston.net>, <districtf@cityofhouston.net>,
<districte@cityofhouston.net>, <districtd@cityofhouston.net>,
<districtc@cityofhouston.net>, <districtb@cityofhouston.net>,
<districta@cityofhouston.net>, <desk@kprc.com>,
<chrisbaker@clearchannel.com>, <bballeza@kprc.com>,
<atlarge5@cityofhouston.net>, <atlarge4@cityofhouston.net>,
<atlarge3@cityofhouston.net>, <atlarge2@cityofhouston.net>,
<atlarge1@cityofhouston.net>, "Alan Clark" <alan.clark@h-gac.com>,
<aframnews@pdq.net>, <11listens@khou.com>
Subject: METRORail
CONTINUES FREE FARES ANOTHER TEN DAYS - TAXPAYERS SHORTCHANGED
AGAIN
Date: Fri,
9 Jul 2004 19:20:13 -0500
It was my understanding
that METRO sent a letter to FOX 26 Investigates, after Randy
Wallace's wonderful undercover expose, stating that Stored Value
Cards, where METRO had been knowingly allowing anyone to ride
the tram for free, would no longer be accepted for the tram.
I heard on the 5 PM local radio news that METRO has graciously
extended the termination date until July 18, 2004.
This is a clear effort to allow several hundred thousand free
fare rides this weekend for the MLB events as well as all of
next week.
If it was improper, and METRO ordered that this subterfuge end,
why is it allowed to continue one moment longer?
Taxpayers have been shortchanged likely well over a million dollars
this year by METRO allowing free fares to virtually anyone.
It is my contention that METRO is trying every trick in the transit
book to boost the "body count" for their
application to the FTA for several new start rail projects.
METRO has concocted ridership numbers all along, as the higher
the initial count, the larger the overly optimistic "ENRON-Style"
forecasts will be, which would have a direct impact on federal
funding levels.
METRO is a worse fiscal boondoggle than AMTRAK. At least Amtrak
tried to collect a fare from all riders.
Where's a cop when taxpayers need one?
Who's watching out for whom?
Tom Bazan
P.O. Box 2786
Houston, TX 77252
832.673.0018
BAZAN, a long-time
real estate broker, appraiser and environmental consultant, is
the Independent Candidate for the 18th Congressional District
of Texas, running to replace Sheila Jackson-Lee
www.BazanForCongress.com
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