CSX Getting Beat Up In Massachusetts, Too

Poor, poor CSX. It seems they just don't undestand why citizens don't want to be fed garbage politely with a spoon...

If Floridians thought we were the only ones suffering from CSX trying to shove liability down our throats for this commuter rail project, fret no more. They're doing it in Massachusetts, too.

Downtown Lakeland Partnership Executive Director Julie Townsend recently was interviewed by the Worcester Business Journal for an article on the topic. You can read the article here.

Anti-CSX Rally in Munn Park Well-Attended

I left today's Anti-CSX Rally with one question lingering in my mind: what kind of PR machine does CSX have, that they would basically shut down the trains in the area during the rally?

Seriously, have you ever been in Downtown Lakeland in the middle of the day and not heard a train roll through? Well, you should've been among the 250-300 protestors at the rally today, because you would have heard a glorious sound- no train whistles.

I guess CSX prefers backroom deals to face time on the evening news and in the morning papers, rolling through the background of a rally, giving obnoxiously noisy sound bites as evidence to why the protestors are there in the first place.

I'm going to jump around a bit, but stay with me; there was a lot that was discussed today:

NOT A DONE DEAL
Downtown Lakeland Partnership Executive Director Julie Townsend reminded all in attendance that this CSX deal is not a "done deal." As I mentioned in a previous post, Sen. Paula Dockery reported on Friday that the bill was dead in the Senate. However, there are two more crucial weeks in the session and she must continue to fight until the bitter end to ensure this bill goes nowhere.

What can you do to help her? Write your state elected officials. Let them know that you oppose this deal.

LOST JOBS
John Gaige, who is with the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen union, spoke today about jobs that likely will be lost if this deal becomes a reality. Winter Haven officials have thrown out big numbers on job growth in the area that will result from the CSX hub they want built in their city. But what about existing jobs that will be cut andor given to other people as a result of this deal for CSX?The BRS is made up of workers who operate and maintain the critical rail switching systems in Florida. A memo written after a meeting between FDOT and CSX officials mentions that "the FDOT proposal would provide the freedom to undertake the operations and maintenance of the corridor using non-union, contract labor, which would be the most cost-effective and efficient approach."

If that happens, safety surely will suffer, said Gaige, who works on the South Florida Rail corridor. This is highly safety-sensitive work.

"In the name of creating jobs, they're gutting the union jobs of professionals with experience in upholding federal safety standards," he said in a television interview at the rally.


WHO DOES FDOT WORK FOR?
Very powerful lobbyists for CSX are working on state elected officials every day. When Townsend went to Tallahassee recently to speak on the CSX issue, who were Florida Department of Transportation officials sitting with? CSX representatives.

Townsend said it is time to remind FDOT who they work for- taxpayers, not CSX. They are supposed to be considering what's in the best interest of the taxpayers, not CSX.

SWEETHEART DEAL
Here's what happens if this deal goes through:

CSX continues to run freight and collect revenue, while turning over to the state the responsibility of building up the tracks to accommodate increased freight traffic and performing all the maintenance. Oh- and assuming all of the liability, even when CSX is at fault.

CSX Information Presented at Downtown Lakeland Kiwanis Meeting

Lakeland Director of Community Development Jim Studiale spoke on the CSX project at the Kiwanis meeting yesterday, and I'm glad I was there to hear it.

I'm one of those bloggers who just hasn't wanted to get involved in this topic. Chuck over at Lakeland Local , Josh at Empirical Polk and Billy Townsend at the Tampa Tribune have done a superb job at covering the controversial topic and they seemed to know and understand far more about it than I perhaps cared to know. But to be honest, the more I read of their blogs, the more irritated I got at the fact that this project may very well happen, whether the citizens like it or not. So it was great to get a crash course of sorts on the CSX project yesterday.

Throw in Sen. Paula Dockery's comments at the end, and I was sold on what a railroad job (pun intended) this has turned out to be.

Here are some myths that were busted- again- yesterday:

Myth #1- Train traffic will increase by just 2-4 trains daily.

Currently, 20 trains go through Downtown daily. Improvements to the S Line will make it possible to increase that to 54 trains daily. Sen. Dockery and Studiale both said CSX officials have indicated a desire to put as many trains as possible on that track.

Currently, the trains that roll through Downtown are 1,000 feet long. If the CSX deal goes through, future trains will be as much as two miles long.

Myth #2- Lakeland is opposed to commuter rail.

The city built the Downtown train station with future commuter rail in mind. They certainly didn't sink all of that money into building a nice train station for the four Amtrak trains that used to stop in Lakeland, which has dwindled to two stops today.

Myth #3- The CSX project will bring $40 million per year in taxes to the county.

Railroads have special taxing. This project actually will generate about $437,000 in tax revenue.

Senator Dockery

The good news, according to Dockery, is that as of Friday, this deal is dead in the Senate. The bad news is that there are two weeks left in the session.

This is not a commuter rail project, Dockery said, adding, "This is a freight project to get a subsidy into CSX's pocket."

Dockery's argument is that if they want to do that, they can do it with their own money, not taxpayer dollars. And there's no reason why they shouldn't- CSX is a company whose revenue has risen 12 percent to a record $2.7 billion.

Regarding the infamous liability issue where CSX wants the state to assume all liability for accidents that occur on the tracks- even those caused by CSX- Dockery mentioned that the state would be taking on a company "with a very bad safety record."

Here are some additional facts presented yesterday that I feel are worth repeating:

• Lakeland's urban area includes about 255,000 people. Those in favor of this project have drawn a picture of a sleepy little town full of NIMBYs who don't want progress. In fact, Lakeland is the largest city in inland Florida, after Orlando.
• Lakeland has managed growth with a Downtown bias. Downtown truly is the heart of the city. Years of work by the CRA has resulted in a thriving downtown community that until recently, only lacked a residential element. Today, renting and owning housing Downtown is a reality. Increased freight traffic will make additional residential opportunities more difficult.
• In other cities, Lakeland is heralded for its inner city growth and comprehensive plan. The city recently purchased 16 acres behind the Lakeland Police Department- a severely drug- and prostitution- infested, blighted area- and has plans to bring 500 units to the area. This will not be low-income housing.
• Lakeland's Citrus Connection bus system increases in ridership every year. Last year, it increased by 36 percent. Because of the bus station's location near the S Line, increased train traffic will make it impossible for buses to remain on time. This will jeopardize ridership, because people will not use the buses to get to work or appointments if it's going to take an inordinate amount of time to get from Point A to Point B, or if they can't be reasonably assured that the bus will arrive on time.

As a voter and a resident of Lakeland, I don't want this raw deal to be spoon-fed to Lakeland residents. On Monday, April 21, the Downtown Lakeland Partnership will hold the Anti-CSX Rally in Munn Park. People will begin gathering at noon and speakers will take the stage at 12:30 p.m.

For more information, contact DLP Executive Director Julie Townsend: 863-513-3669.

Lakeland and Polk County Landmarks

Can you identify these Lakeland and Polk County landmarks? Hint: one is a rolling landmark...

Downtown Farmers Curb Market Celebrates American Pie Day

Looking for something fun to do this weekend? Stop by the Downtown Farmers Curb Market on Saturday for some good, old-fashioned pie-related fun.

There are pie baking, pie eating and pie throwing contests. The little birdie told me that the folks from Mayhem in the A.M., City Commissioner Justin Troller and Pat Alderman had volunteered to be targets for the pie throwing contest.

Here's the activities line-up:
PIE BAKING CONTEST* (PROFESSIONAL/AMATEUR)
AUCTION OF WINNING PIES • 1 PM
CHILDREN’S PIE MAKING • 10 AM - 1 PM
SALES OF PIE-BY-THE-SLICE
PIE EATING CONTEST
PIE THROWING FOR CHARITY


For more information, call 221-4633. You can view the flier here.

Black and Brew to Increase Seating

Those of you who frequent Downtown Lakeland's Black and Brew like Vonya and me soon will notice some changes in the seating arrangements.

The sofas and loveseats, coffee table and end tables have been sold, according to my insider source, and soon will be replaced with bistro tables to increase seating by about 20.

This sounds to me like a great sign that business is good for the B&B brothers. I'm glad. I know they get enough of my money every week!

Southeastern University and Longfellow Blvd.

If you have to drive the entire length of Longfellow Boulevard in Lakeland, you might want to find another route March 10-12. Otherwise, you'll be re-routed around Southeastern University. It appears the city is doing some work around Lake Bonny, directly behind Southeastern's Mira Lago dorms. I hope they're building a drainage swale . That's what it looks like to me.

Speaking of Southeastern, did anybody read this morning's Ledger article about Jeb Bush and the CSX project? I bet Chuck did, CSX fan that he is.

I got a kick out of it, simply because of my past experience having worked at Southeastern. I can imagine there were at least two people instrumental in the planning of the National Leadership Forum who were FUMING that a reporter would have the audacity to ask a non-Forum-related question of the Jebster at their event.

Kudos to Robin, or whichever reporter attempted to ask the question. CSX is a huge issue for Polk County residents, it has divided entities on the issue, it will have a HUGE impact on us all, and people want answers. Reporters may not always be liked or appreciated for their actions, but they have an obligation to make reasonable attempts to gather information for valid news stories.

Lakeland Farmers Curb Market Celebrates American Pie Day

It warms my heart to attend the Lakeland Farmers Curb Market each Saturday and witness its growth. I'm seeing more vendors selling fresh fruits and vegetables and for the past two weekends, a lady who makes and sells homemade pet treats has been there. I bought the peanut butter flavored treats for Lucy and Callaghan two weekends ago and last night they polished off the last of them. If they had thumbs, they would have given the treats four thumbs up.

Now there's yet another reason to visit the Farmers Market- American Pie Day (View the flier here). On March 15, the market will feature pie baking, eating and throwing contests. Entry forms can be viewed and downloaded here. Pre-registration deadline is March 10.

The pie baking contest has a professional and amateur category. The entry fee is modest at $5 per pie unless you wait until after the 10th. In that case, you must include a $10 fee with your entry.

So dust off the cookbook and enter your best pie!

Mark Calendar for the Next Pics on the Promenade

The next Pics on the Promenade in Downtown Lakeland is March 14, and the feature this time is West Side Story.

If you haven't been to one of these yet, I can't recommend it enough! This free event is a great time for date night or a family night out. Last month's feature of Casa Blanca attracted about 600 movie watchers.

The City of Lakeland has created a Web site for the event, which offers all kinds of information and tips to follow to make your experience pleasant. Check it out: www.picsonthepromenade.com.

I hope to see you there!

Attend the Speed Networking Event

I wrote this for the Polk County Business Journal, but wanted to post it on my blog, too. I think this is a great idea and if you're looking to make some business connections, you should plan to attend.


LAKELAND- The Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce of Polk County will offer a new spin to an old business activity on March 7.

Business networking will be done in speedy fashion during the “Rapido Networking” event held 8:30- 10:30 a.m. at Black & Brew Coffee House & Bistro.

The event is similar to speed dating, but with a business twist, said Ana Rivera, Chamber president and the event’s organizer.

“I attended a speed networking event in Brandon a while ago,” Rivera said. “It’s being done in larger cities.”

Just because Lakeland is a nice, quiet community doesn’t “mean we don’t have metropolitan people who live here” and could benefit from speed networking, she said.

Here’s how the event works:

Attendees pay a $5 entrance fee, which includes coffee and a coupon good for food discounts at Black & Brew.

Each person gets a name tag with several table numbers listed on it. Attendees go to their first assigned table and have two and a half minutes to introduce themselves and the company they work for and explain what they hope to get out of the event, Rivera said. After five minutes, attendees move on to the next table listed on their name tag and repeat the process.

“No one ends up talking to the same person the whole time, Rivera said. “Each person could get to meet up to 90 people.”

Rivera anticipates having 25 people attend the first event, which is open to everyone. For more information call Rivera, 863-838-2084 or visit the Chamber’s Web site: www.puertoricanchamberofcommercepolkcounty.org

Black & Brew is located at 205 E. Main St.

How well do you know Downtown Lakeland?

If you read this blog, I guess it's no secret that I'm a huge fan of Downtown Lakeland. I love its history. I love the fact that there remains clear signs of what Downtown Lakeland was in its prime. That is- pre-revitalization. I'm not saying it's not in its prime now. In fact, I believe it very likely is every bit as good today as it was way back when...

Above are two of my favorite shots of Downtown Lakeland nostalgia. For those of you who, like me, spend a lot of time in the area, I'm sure these are easy to identify. So this is mainly to those who don't fit that category. Any ideas as to where these photos were taken?

Volunteer for the Great American Cleanup

Wow...long time, no blog. Been mighty busy with work these days, but in the midst of all that, I've been able to carve out some time to give back to this community I love. I'm volunteering again, and it feels great to be contributing.

Recently I was invited to serve on the Keep Polk County Beautiful Board of Directors. It's not a huge stretch, really. I served as the organization's executive director for three years, so it's a no-brainer that I believe in the mission.

KPCB's signature event, The Great American Cleanup, is March 29, so that's what I am focusing on today. This is a day where thousands of volunteers band together to make this place a bit more beautiful. They pick up litter from parks, roadsides, schools and businesses. They plant flowers. They collect items for recycling.

Here's a sad fact: every year, KPCB gets more volunteers than the previous year, but they also pick up more trash. Shouldn't it be the other way around? Shouldn't the work of a litter prevention organization accomplish so much that each year, less trash is picked up because there's less of it out there? I wish that were true.

You can help make that an attainable goal several ways:

1. Do your part by volunteering to participate in the Great American Cleanup.
2. If you have children, teach them not to litter. Your first step should be setting a good example and not being a litterbug yourself!
3. If you are a smoker, cigarette butts are litter, too. STOP THROWING THEM OUT YOUR CAR WINDOW AND ON THE GROUND.
4. If you live in unincorporated Polk County, the city of Lakeland, or several other cities that offer curbside recycling, participate in the program. If you don't have a recycling bin, call your Solid Waste Department and request one. They'll deliver it right to your door.
5. Cover your load. If you're hauling something in the back of your truck, cover it or properly secure it so it won't fly out. If trash blows out the back of your truck, you are littering.
6. Report people who you see littering. The KPCB Web site offers a way of doing so by submitting a Litter Trooper Report.

Volunteers who participate in the Great American Cleanup will receive free T-shirts and free passes to Historic Bok Sanctuary, while supplies last. For more information, call the KPCB office: 863-676-7019.

If you live in Lakeland and you can't participate in KPCB's March 29 event, sign up to participate in a Lakeland Clean & Beautiful event by calling 863-834-3306. Winter Haven residents can participate in Keep Winter Haven Beautiful's event on March 15 by calling 863-291-5662.

None of these dates are good for you? Don't worry. Great American Cleanup activities begin March 1 and run through May 31. Don't be afraid to gather your friends, family members and neighbors and do your own cleanup. KPCB and the other local Keep America Beautiful affiliates provide gloves, trash bags and litter grabbers for cleanups any time of year.

For those of you who don't live in Polk County, I invite you to visit the Keep America Beautiful Web site. Here, you can find an affiliate near you so you can get involved in the Great American Cleanup.

Promenade and Pancakes

Friday night's Music on the Promenade was awesome. Above is an early shot of the crowd- oh, and my husband. Karasoul was an awesome band, as long as they stuck to covers. Sadly, I didn't dig the original stuff. I planned ahead this time and packed a picnic basket full of Riesling, cheese, crackers, kiwi, strawberries, veggies, dip and pretzels. Mike's oldest son and the girlfriend joined us for a while, so there were plenty of snacks to go around. The sunset was beautiful, the weather was perfect and we can't wait til next month's event.

This morning, it was off to the annual Kiwanis Pancake breakfast. Note to those who attend next year: I'm told by an insider to get there before 9 a.m. and you can zip right through. Mike and I ate a bunch of warm, buttery pancakes with some sausage and OJ on the side. Yum!

I'm ashamed to say that we missed the Lakeland Farmers Market today. After pancakes, we were so full and tired that we came home and took a nap.

What's This Guy's Beef?

I went to The Chop Shop in Downtown Lakeland with a friend today for lunch and saw this guy at the Mid-Florida Building on Kentucky Avenue. Does anyone know what the deal is with him?

Pics on the Promenade- Hollywood Comes to Downtown Lakeland

This was sent to me today by a city of Lakeland employee:

LAKELAND, FL (January 22, 2008) -- The City of Lakeland will play host to an
exciting new outdoor movie event called Pics on the Promenade. The three-month spring
series starts on Friday, February 8, 2008 with Casablanca.

The monthly movie series takes place at the Lake Mirror Amphitheater, which is between
Hollis Garden and the Lake Mirror Center. The event is free to the public and families
are encouraged to attend.

Bring dinner and a blanket and enjoy the lake setting with movies under the stars. Snack vendors also will be on site.

All shows start at dusk: about 6:30 p.m. Be sure to come and claim your spot early.

Casablanca:
One of the most popular romantic movies of all time. Set during World War II in the
Moroccan city of Casablanca, the film stars Humphrey Bogart as Rick Blaine and Ingrid
Bergman as Ilsa Lund. Originally released in 1942, Casablanca won three Oscars: Best
Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay. The American Film Institute has
ranked Casablanca as the greatest love story of all time.

Mark your calendars for more upcoming movies:

West Side Story: Friday, March 14, 2008.

Loosely based on Romeo and Juliet, this beloved musical is about two youngsters from rival NYC gangs who fall in love. Originally released in 1961, West Side Story won 10 Oscars, including Best Picture. The American Film Institute has ranked West Side Story as the second greatest musical of all time.

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid: Friday, April 11, 2008

With humor, action, and romance, there is something for everyone. Originally released in 1969, the film stars Paul Newman and Robert Redford and was nominated for seven Oscars including Best Picture.

Pics on the Promenade is sponsored by NFocus, The City of Lakeland, Lakeland
Parks & Recreation Department, Trinity Presbyterian Church, and Mid Florida Credit
Union.

Parking is available at the Lake Mirror Center's parking lot and in the Iowa Street
parking garage. No glass bottles within the park please. For more information regarding
the series, contact Justin Wilson at 863-834-6021.