PHOENIX — A contractors’ group has filed a lawsuit seeking to stop planned light-rail projects from returning to voters for additional approval.
The Arizona chapter of the Associated General Contractors of America filed the suit on Wednesday, the Arizona Republic reports, seeking to block an effort by light-rail opponents to require voters to approve or deny planned extensions to the Valley Metro system. [See “Phoenix group aims to take light-rail project back to voters,” Trains News Wire, Sept. 17, 2018]
The suit alleges that light-rail opponents Building a Better Phoenix left out important details in the description of their initiative and paid petition gatherers by the signature, which the contractors group believes is illegal under state law.
Building a Better Phoenix gathered 40,000 signatures for its initiative; if those signatures are verified, an election would be required to decide the fate of future light-rail expansions. Signatures must be verified by Jan. 18.
Phoenix Mayor Thelda Williams and council member Debra Stark supported the suit in a statement, noting that Phoenix voters approved a transportation plan including the light-rail projects in 2000 and 2015, and in a regional vote in 2004.
Many suspect that the “Phoenix Felony Foley Trolley” has lost its value in moving folks from a desired point (A) to the required point (B), i.e. work!
City wide I-10 & I-17 are parking lots along with SR-51 and SR-60. The “Felony Foley Trolley” has been a boondoggle for politicians and their campaign coffers.
The {Law Suite} is another act of corporate welfare seeking protected class to “Their Private Bond Funds”.
As most all suspected from the beginning the “Phoenix Felony Foley Trolley” was NEVER intended to address commuter traffic congestion!
The beauty (or damnation) of an organization like Building A Better Phoenix is that the people behind it are shielded by the corporate veil. It almost doesn’t matter what shenanigans they pulled, the only real sanction is to stay the right of the organization itself (e.g., the corporate person) from litigating.
This does not stop the formation of Building A Greater Phoenix (which is probably already formed and on hot standby), a completely different corporate person, to continue the harassment.
Rinse, repeat.
I wish I could say I had never seen this before but sadly, this is a classic anti-growth tactic.
The above comments are general in nature and do not form the basis for an attorney/client relationship. They do not constitute legal advice. I am not your attorney. Find your own damn lawyer.
One might suspect the role of “dark” money behind the petition sponsored by “Building A Better Phoenix.”