Decided to take a break from the mundane, bland Palm Springs election to take on CV Link and the trials and tribulations that are taking place between the supporters and opponents of the project.
While supporting the concept, I have remained deeply skeptical of the process. I had an hour long talk with Tom Kirk of CVAG and was impressed with what they were trying to do. but wondered whether they all had their ducks in a row.
What has always perplexed me is why they didn't put out the perspective routes sooner? Instead they made this grand splash and really dropped the ball in the beginning. Also the costs and nature of trail security should have been addressed right away.
Now that they have released their proposed routes, both Rancho Mirage and Indian Wells have objected. For his opposition, Rancho Mirage Mayor Dana Hobart has been portrayed as an Abe Simpson-like character. There has also been a whispering campaign that both cities are against the project because of racial undertones. That is unfair and ludicrous and needs to stop.
Now Rancho Mirage is going o hold an advisory vote on the matter in April. This will put CVAG and the powers behind the CV Link, including the Desert Sun in the odd position of initially opposing this move and then asking for a Yes vote. Talk about awkward!!!
At this point, there are really only 2 ways out of this mess and I am not sure either one is tenable.
A summit meeting brokered by a neutral 3rd Party such as Raul Ruiz. He doesn't have a dog in this fight. They could have it over at Palm Desert and all the towns should participate. Keep hammering away till an agreement can be reached. All the egos, Dana Hobart's, Tom Kirk's and especially Marion Ashley's need to be checked at the door. The problem though with this is that it remains to be seen if:
1.) Raul Ruiz would want to get involved with this train wreck.
2.) If the County Board of Supervisor's, which has 3 far right GOPers on it, would accept Ruiz as a neutral party.
A non-binding Valley plebiscite in June 2016. The problems which this approach are multitude and include:
A.) The towns would complain about the cost of the ballot.
B.) CVAG has already agreed to take money for the project. If voted down, could they return the funds?
The fight over CV Link is really just beginning and like everything these days, I am sure it will wind up in court.
Steve Kelly can be reached at skelly@rrbroadcastng.com
An interesting perspective about CV Link. I'm pretty much in agreement with the need for a neutral third party to help resolve differences between opposing interests. Not certain it requires the talents of Dr. Ruiz to serve as mediator (for one, I'd think his time far too valuable for what could be a lengthy series of meetings). And it probably needs more of a third-party facilitator than a mediator.
ReplyDeleteWe still don't have enough information to call for a public vote. The full construction and future maintenance costs remain unknown; the planned route (particular non-Whitewater River wash segments) was never properly publicized nor negotiated with the respective communities in which it would run; still no individual city commitments of full access and support for Neighborhood Electric Vehicles (NEVs); no agreement on funding sources (Measure A funds not agreed by all); route extension commitments remain in the "future plans" category - meaning probably never; and a bit more information is needed about benefits/beneficiaries and CV Link usage (bicyclists, pedestrians, NEVs - numbers, seasonal variations, destinations, frequency, length of trips, etc.).
The conclusion all are going to have to accept is that CV Link will only go through cities that agree to permit it within their city limits! That pretty much eliminates the option of forcing them to accept CV Link designs, costs and other decisions made by CVAG or others. There will need to be some give and take if the project is to produce the continuous Palm Springs to Coachella route envisioned in the planning documents.
Bond Shands
Desert Political Opinion blog - www.DesertObserver.com
The Notebook blog - www.BondShands.com
Twitter - @BondShands
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Also posted to the Palm Springs Local Government page at www.facebook.com/groups/PalmSpringsLocalGovernment
CVAG has already offered up a plan to eliminate NEV's through Rancho Mirage. This is at least a step towards finding a solution and may open a door to talks. I agree that a 3rd party mediator may be helpful without it being a political hot potato meaning Dr. Ruiz may be a Democrat but this is not a left/right issue.
ReplyDeleteLet's hope we see some movement on this soon.
We have a representative government. An "advisory" vote is another one of Hobart's stall tactics. I see no "train wreck" or boondoggle or any other term that is so overused without merit. Build it and move on. The whole subject is so unimportant in the scheme of things. Must be a slow news day Steve?
ReplyDelete