Don't Get Any Ideas

Some time ago, when one was operating under the mistaken belief that becoming involved in the governmental affairs of this city was noble and mattered – namely “BL” (Before the Landslide) – this author volunteered to be part of a focus group on the Jolley Bridge.

The focus group met today. The focus group was exceedingly well conducted by a very professional company hired to conduct a bridge study.

All of the focus group participants agreed that there is no basis for a new bridge now or anytime in the foreseeable future and that there is no factual evidence to the contrary. And that if a new bridge is mandated, putting a toll on either end would be a very serious mistake for a plethora of reasons. All agreed that if any work is done on the bridge, including building a new one, the cost should be borne entirely by the state – as in the State of Florida.

Anecdotal information put a toll anywhere from 50 cents to 5 dollars. The moderator noted that the bridge is in good condition with a rating of 81 (scale of 0 -100). That nothing needs be done to the bridge for another 10 years. That the Goodland bridge is actually much worse with a rating of 47.

No on seemed to know why replacing the bridge was even a matter for discussion, except to reach back to some arcane discussion by two councilpersons. When this author asked for ONE independent engineering report recommending that the bridge be replaced for ANY reason, the answer came back that there was but … ready for this? … we can’t see it because it’s classified as a national secret by the Department of Homeland Security. (Seriously, you have admit ... think about it, isn’t that just so funny?)

Having been down this road before (asking for ONE scientific report stating that the septic tanks on Marco have or will ever introduce one iota of anything into the waterways – at least in that case the answer came back as “there isn’t any such study”), and analyzing the focus of the discussion into one topic (more on “how bad will a toll really be” as opposed to “is a bridge really needed”) it became clear that a toll on a new and soon to come Jolley Bridge is a foregone conclusion. No vote, another decision made by God knows who impacting those who remain.

Merely to imitate two other seemingly lost causes – Jesus holding up the shekels from the money traders and Ghandi holding up the salt – this author held up the below sign to the cameras.