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VALLñYVÖICË Mid-valley resident has many questions on CV Link benefits Over the last year or so I have read many letters in The Desert Sun on the pros and cons of building and maintaining the CV Link. To be perfectly transparent, I am completely against what I consider a $100 million dollar boondoggle. Tom Wells Having said that, I would ask the decision makers (as I .or any other of the residents of the valley will not have a comments and projected say) to consider my reasons estimates as to the increase for coming to the conclusion I in.tourism and the accompa- have reached nying increase in revenue If this project were to be that will come to the valley, financed with municipal thanks to the Link. If this is bonds that would be repaid tiue, and I am skeptical, with our tax dollars, and re- where will these people stay? quired a vote of the people, I Every hotel and rental prop- firmly believe it would never erty is fairly well-booked in receive the necessary votes the season, and most of the to pass. In that case, the peo- rest of the year it would be ple would have spoken. too hot to utilize the Link. The nearest põssible point Does that mean that the in- of entry to the wash for me, flux of tourists will have stay and those around me, for the in new hotel rooms, or newly Link is at Cook Street near built homes. If so, what does Palm Desert High School, that do to current water us- which is about two miles age? frommyhome. (Will the If the valley governments "link" bridge Cook?) If there have $100 million dollars to will be access there, or for spend, why not give it away that matter at any entry in the form of scholarships, Þoint, there will need to be or build decent low-income adequate and safe parking. housing, or put that money The maximum safe range toward repairing the Salton of my golf cart, and I suspect Sea, or (vou fillin the most of those in the valley, is bhnk ãtñêE äre untold eight miles. Therefore, once I numbers of better uses for reach the wash at Cook, I this money). would only be able to take the I hope the decision makers link three miles in either consider the points I have direction, and where does made. At the very least, they that take me? How can any should consider building a reasonable person believe portion, say 10 miles, and see there will be much use þy how much it is used for â drivers of golf carts on the couple of years first. I know Link? governments don't have to If I were going to walk on justify expenditures like a the Link (I'm too old to run) I private business must, but either must walk the two maybe, just maybe, the Link miles to get to the wash or should be the exception to , drive tlere in my car or golf that norm. caft. EmailTomWells olPalm There have been many D es ert at tw ells3@ dc.rr. com. Veatch Hank Plântè Gloria Franz COMMUNITY MEMBÊR COMMUNITY MEMBËR 5-/3-/5 # VALLHV \d&$CË CV Link's critics should join effort to resolve issues It is difficult as an elected official to question an elected official of a neighboring ju- risdiction but I witnessed something in the city of Ran- cho Mirage that compels me to do so. Ironically, the same day that Mayor Dana Hobart sent Jan Harnik out a long email criticizing the cv Link project I wit- nessed a terrible bike acci- dent in the city of Rancho nance funding plan. Addition- Mirage; A S5-year-old bicy- ally, at Thursday's council clist, Mario P., had been rid- meeting the Rancho Mirage ing along the l{ighway 11L City Council pasSed yet an- sidewalk. When it came to an other resolution barring CV end he took a horrible fall. Link from traversing High- First responders were way 111 or Bob Hope Drive. efficient, slowing traffic, The Rancho Mirage City rushing Mario to Desert Re- Council knows full well that gional Hospital with severe, they are blocking all conceiv- but fortunately not life- able routes through their city, threatening, injuries and then seemingly in an effort to quickly cleaning the blood off derail the project. the sidewalk and street. Mayor Hobart continually Mayor Hobart and the City asserts he is not opposed to Council of Rancho Mirage CV Link despite ongoing have made it abundantly efforts that indicate other- clear they do not want CV wise, including asking the Link coming through their executive committee of city. The city requested cer- CVAG to stop work on the .tain routes removed from the project. If Mayor Hobart is project. Most of them were true to his word, I ask that he along the country clubs and state a route that would be CVAG accommodated their acceptable through the city requests. At a recent work- of Rancho Mirage. Let's have shop held at Mayor Hobart's' a rational and reasonable request, he spoke and ques- discussion dealing with oper- tionèd CVAG o¡ the operation ations and maintenance costs. and maintenance costs, quot- More than $75 million i4g excessive and incorrect towards tne.$tOO million con- numbers. At that same work- struction cost has been raised shop a group.of private land- without asking Coachella owners with residences on a Valley cities for one dime. public trail testified CV Link CVAG is working on grants would disrupt their use of the and funding for the additional trail. Soon thereafter the City $25 million. , Council took action opposing Let's all work together to +he CV Link from passing make this a valuable Coachel- hrough the Butler Abrams la Valley assèt, not take ac- Tþail (a public trail). They tions to stand in the way. Let's also opposed connecting and provide a safe route for bicy- providing access to the pop- clists, pedestrians and low- ular community resource, the speed electric vehicles. Rancho Mirage library. If we build the CV Link up At CVAG, Mayor Hobart to Rancho Mirage's borders testified that "operations and there willbe many more maintenance charges, over accidents like Mario's when the course of decades, comes users are forced to take what- up to hundt'eds of millions of ever route they can through dollars." Despite myriad and Rancho Mirage. Let's not substantiated evidence to the foróe them to do that. contrarf he continues to JanHarnikis amember of maintain and state these ove- the Palm Desert City Councí\, rinflated figures and despite chair s th e C o achella V all ey Mayor Hobart's assertions to As sociatíon of Gov ernment s the contrary, no CVAG com- executíve commíttee and serves mittee. has reviewed, consid- on CV AG's Tl ansp ortation ered nor taken any action on Aòmmitt ee. EmaíI her. at an operations and mainte- jharní[email protected]. Y$LÍR ry*¡(Ë nance: Pathway and electric, Better uses for money they are "uninformed and massive pension and health inflammatory." He goes on to liabilities, should first main- etc.3. Crime: Vandals, graffiti, Why is Supervisor John robbers, muggings, abduc- say, "Building roadwaYs is tain the roads within their own Benoit oushins so hard for the exþensive, MAINTAINING sphere of influence, before tions, insurance, etc.4. Costs: CV Link? Whal does he gain if they thèm is far less expensive' But adding the CV Link. How high with really this boondoggle goes through? Responsibilities: Coun- doing so periodicallY is critical Jens Mueller, Cathedral CitY rise? 5. The entire just Task Force (over- Project so you don't have to fix major ty, Valley With all the things smells bad! oroblems later." sight committee), or cities? is this so questions our valley needs why ' "Maintaining" them is far Too many You read a book from begin- important? end. but when have less expensive? ReallY? Has he It is said that Your life can't ning to You With the drought, the Salton with the end driven some of his county eo according to Plan if You a olãn vou étart Sèa, crime stopping and manY your way back. roads Or is he trans- have no plan. It's also been said arid wórt< items on our lately? you doing the more important ported about on some magic that when you make a Plan Shame on for not agenda, a pathwaY for trash, plan the due ðarpet? Because last I checked make sure You see it through entire for Public's vãgrants, crime and now it is a þotential the county of Riverside needed to its fullest. The CV Link is a diligence. As of other costly waste seems un- nowherê. some serious road mainte- sreat idea at first sight except bridge to important. Wouldn't the Robert F. SYlk, LaQuínta nance. Rancho Mirage main- Tvhat happens next? The first amount of money this will cost tains its roads on a regular costs werì projected in the $53 be better spent elsewhere? schedule! million to $77 million dollar J ohn Pf eifrer, P alm D es er t More than he deserves Here's a suggestion for our range. Now we are at about the county supervisor and avid $100 million. Re: "Killer'living cyclists that reallY, reallY want What about the following? 1' dream,"'May 10 Roadworkneeded Martinez is a con- this government "boondog gle." Safety: Fence, cameras every Ernesto Mr.

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