SMART Poll Shows Palmetto Bay and Surrounding Cites Want Rail or Tax Repeal if Buses Win Out

The following is from an official Village of Palmetto Bay media release:

Palmetto Bay, FL (July 7, 2018) - South Miami-Dade residents have spoken. The results are overwhelmingly in favor of rail as the preferred mode of mass transit along the 20-mile South Dade Busway. Don't let the consultants highly misleading numbers fool you. Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez has called for a vote on the matter July 19th. Here are the numbers from a recent poll that was taken regarding rail v BRT (Bus Rapid Transit). This poll was developed to gauge real voter sentiment after misleading numbers. State Rep. Kionne McGhee, former Pinecrest Mayor Cindy Lerner, Cutler Bay Mayor Peggy Bell and Palmetto Bay Mayor Eugene Flinn, along with the Councils of Cutler Bay and Palmetto Bay have continuously endorsed rail as the only viable solution..   The poll was conducted via telephone: Palmetto Bay: 82% responded yes, the County did not keep their promise on the 1/2 Cent sales tax 83% Indicated that they want rail 74%  Would support repeal of the 1/2 cent transportation sales tax in the event we do not get rail. Cutler Bay: 70% responded yes, the County did not keep their promise on the 1/2 Cent sales tax 77% Indicated that they want rail 75% Would support repeal of the 1/2 cent transportation sales tax in the event we do not get rail. City of Homestead: 60% responded yes, the County did not keep their promise on the 1/2 Cent sales tax 69% Indicated that they want rail 56% Would support repeal of the 1/2 cent transportation sales tax in the event we do not get rail. Florida City: 47% responded yes, the County did not keep their promis on the 1/2 Cent sales tax 80% Indicated that they want rail 60% Would support repeal of the 1/2 cent transportation sales tax in the event we do not get rail. Leaders from these communities are glad to see that they are right in advocating for rail.    "The taxpayers have been paying on promises since 2002. It's time for those promises to be kept, rail to be delivered, and not another failed attempt at taking taxpayer's monies for maintenance and operations", says Palmetto Bay Mayor Eugene Flinn. "We polled our residents in Cutler Bay to ensure their voice was heard on this issue", said Cutler Bay Mayor Peggy Bell. "We heard them loud and clear - Give Us the RAIL! Over 2 billion dollars have been spent in 16 years in more affluent communities, while our residents pay the same but only get inadequate bus service". State Representative Kionne McGhee echoes the frustration of his colleagues. "Denying the North and South Dade communities the opportunity to experience MetroRail is simply a continuation of the county suppressing our abilities to have public access to the best of what Miami-Dade has to offer". Concerned residents are encouraged to contact the Miami-Dade Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) TPO@mdtpo.org and attend their next SMART Plan meeting. It will be held Thursday, July 19, 2018, at 1:30 pm, 111 NW 1st St., Commission Chambers, 2nd Floor, Miami, FL 33128.

(L to R) State Representative Kionne McGhee, Cutler Bay Mayor Peggy Bell, former Pinecrest Mayor Cindy Lerner, and Village of Palmetto Bay Mayor Eugene Flinn. For More Information: KCraig@palmettobay-fl.gov