SCHUMER AND KAWASAKI RAIL

I'm taking the train downtown!

Everyone in Kingston has heard the news that this City is one of three finalists to be chosen to demonstrate a new rail system. Not to be confused with the High Speed Rail that's included in the "stimulus" package.

Well, the news went out the other day that our Sr. Senator Chuck Schumer has written the head of Kawasaki to use Kingston as the site for a test of the company’s new battery-powered trolley. I say bravo!

According to the AP: Senator Schumer made a personal call to Akira Hattori, the CEO of Kawasaki Rail Car, Inc. last week urging the company to choose the city of Kingston for their pilot program that will test a battery-powered light rail trolley.

Much of the needed track is already refurbished and the remaining link to E Chester St could be the focus in 2009. The new light rail will provide clean, reliable public transportation in Kingston and serve to boost tourism. (If we ever get back in the business of promoting tourism)

Chuck was quoted: “The City of Kingston is the perfect spot for Kawasaki to test a battery powered light rail system." Mayor Sottile alerted me to this development weeks ago, since he knows I'm a big train enthusiast.

There are 1.5 miles of tracks from the trolley museum to Kingston Point Park and an additional mile cutting through the Avenues and over the 9W Bypass. Folks from Foxhall to Mary's Avenue could walk to the rail station behind Rondout Savings and catch a ride to the Hoolie!

It would be just one more attribute for the Main St Manager to promote for the City of Kingston come next year.

Personally, I'd like to see the City reopen the Canfield Street Tunnel and link the light rail from the Rondout to the Plaza. Talk about a "stimulus" plan.

CORPORATE BAILOUT INFURIATES AMERICANS

We all got to hear President Obama's comments regarding the CEOs of the companies we are bailing out, getting millions in bonuses. Well here is a new item to piss everyone off even more.

Citigroup is in contract to the naming rights of the new New York Mets ballpark, to the amount of $400 Million. This was one of the first companies to get in line when President Bush wrote the first check.

According to the AP: Reps. Dennis Kucinich and Ted Poe sent a letter to new Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner on Thursday, urging the government to demand that the company drop the agreement. If you think about it logically, you'd have to agree with them.

Kucinich was quoted: "At Citigroup, 50,000 people will lose their jobs. Yet in the boardroom of Citigroup, spending $400 million to put a name on stadium seems like a good idea. The Treasury Department, which forced Citigroup corporate executives to give up their private jet, should also demand that Citigroup cancel its $400 million advertisement at the Mets field and instead begin to repay their debt to the taxpayers.”

Citigroup reached its agreement with the Mets three years ago. It is among several American banks that have received financial assistance from the federal government in recent months.

Poe, a Texas Republican, said: “While average Americans are hunkering down worried about their jobs, food, clothes, and mortgage payments, these irresponsible executives are blowing hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars.”

The comments Thursday from Obama on the CEOBonus issue, should give the American public some reassurance that the second half of the stimulus package will be watched more closely for continued abuse.

Every dollar Citigroup and the other corporate monsters are forced to return will be that much more availible for infrastructure repairs throughout the country. Lets see if the Congress and President will actually back these strong words of constraint with action.

Should we pester our Reps Maurice Hinchey and John Hall to add thier support for the Citigroup refund?