The GR media made a huge deal out this story back when she vetoed the bill that excluded Detroit from the funding. Rick Albin and the GR Press went a bit nuts trying to point the finger at her- I went a bit nuts back at them and actually got a LTE printed in the Press. Follow the links for all the details if you are so inclined.
Fast forward to June- here she is, the deal went through, we got our pork, and where is the media? Small story on 13. Rick Albin didn't cover it at all. We will see what the Press does later today.
But here you go Grand Rapids- you got your money. Good luck trying to tear up East Grand Rapids.
Grand Rapids - Governor Granholm came to Grand Rapids Thursday to promote public transportation.
She held a ceremonial bill signing ceremony at the Rapid's central bus station.
The bill extends the time transit agencies can tax citizens from 5 to 25 years.
That allows agencies to take advantage of federal funds for long term projects like light rail systems.
Rep. Kooiman says, “So they can continue to study and design a fixed guide way system in Kent County that will go a long way towards improving our mass transit system here.”
Now you might understand why I jump on Albin so much. He does this sensationalist bullshit (he's Ted Baxter, without the humor) back in January, and then he won't give credit when credit is due in June.
Perhaps the Press would like to write a big Sunday editorial on how wrong they were, too. Let's throw in the 131 extension on top of it, yet another issue they screamed their heads off about.
Gov. Jennifer Granholm said clamoring from West Michigan persuaded her to take the U.S. 131 improvement project in St. Joseph County off the shelf and fund it.
Granholm told the Kalamazoo Gazette Thursday that "loud voices" from the region trumped the Michigan Department of Transportation's recommendation to defer a project that includes a U.S. 131 bypass around Constantine and eventual improvements from the Indiana line to north of Three Rivers.
"I sent the new MDOT director down (to St. Joseph County) and told him, `Look at the situation for yourself,' when we were hearing so much from people," Granholm said during a meeting with Gazette editors and reporters.
Granholm said construction won't begin this year on a westerly bypass around Constantine, but she said a commitment to accelerating a statewide, 10-year infrastructure program to take place over three years will push along the project's design phase. She also reiterated the state's commitment to planning and land purchases that will allow for upgrading the two-lane highway to four lanes "as the need dictates."
Everyone happy now? Can't tell by the news.