Appraisals add fuel to CSX commuter rail debate (Jeb's sweet deal with CSX)

[seafan]

Appraisals add fuel to CSX commuter rail debate

By David DeCamp
March 14, 2008

TALLAHASSEE — Two new appraisals of the route for the proposed Orlando commuter rail likely will spark more debate over the contested project.
Florida transportation officials have said the $491-million deal benefits the state because major freight improvements also will be done instead of paying for the market value of 61.5-miles of railroad.

But early appraisals suggest the Central Florida route is worth less than the value of the 2006 deal.

The appraisals were filed Feb. 28 and March 3 as part of the expected summer closing on the purchase. The Department of Transportation provided the reports Friday at the request of the St. Petersburg Times.

The Feb. 28 report valued the rail land and improvements at $407.5-million. The March 3 report was $420.7-million.

Last week, Transportation Secretary Stephanie Kopelousos told the Times that the state "instead of handing CSX money, a blank check" worked out "a deal that was good for the whole state." <<<:eyes:>>>

"The $150-million that we pay for the actual tracks, I mean the value of the land and the tracks is far more than what we are paying," Kopelousos said. '"Our view was instead of handing them a check for all that, we asked for what was important."

Besides the money to buy the Orlando area rail, the state is paying $341-million on a variety of improvements related to CSX's freight business.

But Tampa Bay area lawmakers, led by Sen. Paula Dockery, R-Lakeland, have questioned spending so much to benefit a private company in a deal they say lacked enough public scrutiny and would increase freight traffic in downtown Lakeland.

Dockery questioned the timing of the appraisals, because the deal was announced by Gov. Jeb Bush in August 2006.

"Had they been done before (the deal), we could have publicly discussed them," she said.

.....

But that's EXACTLY why the appraisals were not done until long AFTER Jeb's deal with CSX. That added another layer of secrecy to it all, dontcha know.



One by one, Jeb's sweetheart deals doling out state money to his corporate buddies are exposed.



And surprise, surprise:

Two Republican lawmakers could receive large financial benefits if this theft of taxpayer money orchestrated by Jeb Bush goes through.


2 Lawmakers Backing Rail Hub Could Benefit Financially

By LINDSAY PETERSON
March 14, 2008

TAMPA - Two state lawmakers could benefit from the state's multimillion-dollar plan to help CSX Transportation expand its freight operations into a major hub in Winter Haven.
State Sen. JD Alexander, R-Winter Haven, controls a warehouse and distribution business that partners with CSX to serve warehouse customers near the proposed hub. State Rep. Marty Bowen, R-Haines City, owns property a few miles away along the CSX tracks, adjacent to the proposed hub site.

The state plans to spend $491 million to buy 61 miles of CSX tracks in the Orlando area for commuter rail and help CSX improve its tracks statewide and move to the proposed 1,250-acre hub.
Lawmakers are split over the effects of the Department of Transportation proposal. Some say it will bring unwanted truck and train traffic into their communities; others say it will bring needed jobs and relief for commuters.

Key components of the proposal, including the money the DOT wants to give CSX, will come before state lawmakers this session.

Alexander supports the $491 million deal, in particular the efforts to help CSX move from its rail yard in Orlando to Winter Haven. He thinks it's "a great economic development opportunity for Polk County," said Bud Brewer, spokesman for the land management company Atlantic Blue. Alexander is Atlantic Blue's president and chief executive officer.

In January, Atlantic Blue bought storage and warehouse business Phoenix Industries, which is less than five miles from the proposed hub. Phoenix serves businesses that contract with CSX to ship goods across the country.

.....

State Sen. Paula Dockery, R-Lakeland, an opponent of the CSX proposal, said that lawmakers who could benefit from the deal should not take part in discussions or activities concerning its fate in the Legislature.
"I think there's a general distrust among citizens of government, and a lot of people think elected officials are involved in deals," she said. "We owe it to constituents to be up here and not be taking part in things that are good for ourselves or family members."

.....

Several lawmakers also are leery of a liability package that CSX wants the state to sign. It would make the state responsible for all accidents on the commuter line, even those caused by CSX while using the line.
Without the Legislature's approval of the liability package, the deal can't go through. Lawmakers must also approve the DOT's budget, which includes money for the deal.

.....

Nice how that works, isn't it?


As Jeb used his office to broker secret deals giving state money to his fat cat corporate buddies in the form of cash handouts or massive tax cuts, the people in this state now suffer under a tremendous budget shortfall that is hitting education, health care, police and fire services, the court system and our ability to support our families.


And Jeb "My Way Or The Highway" Bush still thinks he is bred to rule.

[sandnsea]

1. Carlyle group owns a chunk of CSX

or did. Easiest to just google it, read, and cry.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=csx+carlyle

[seafan]

2. Lots of Carlyle/CSX info in these old threads:

Carlyle Group Acquires Majority Stake in CSX Lines: December 2002

While we were being deceived into war, Carlyle Grp bought up CSX Shipping

Carlyle sold CSX Lines/Horizon Lines to Castle Harlan, a NY private equity investment firm



And while we're talking about Jeb's deals for his railroad buddies, CSX isn't alone.

Railroad Executives Had Hand In State Funding Plan (Heavy Jeb Bush influence)



Jeb has lots of friends to *take care of*, you see.