In a 22 column-inch puff piece in the Sunday News of Nov. 18th headed “Streetcar group picks board, seeks momentum,” less than one inch is devoted to the merest mention of wide scale public disenchantment with the proposal.
The article concedes in brief: “… there’s been considerable criticism from those who worry that a streetcar system would be an expensive anachronism, dependent upon public subsidies to survive.”
While trolley advocates are quoted at length, there isn’t a single comment from opponents of the project. This is typical of how the monopoly newspapers cover projects endorsed by their owners. Whatever happened to the days when the newspapers would take opposing sides on local issues?
Totally disregarded are the low ridership on the current “trolley bus” (only eight passengers per hour); traffic congestion caused by the trolleys running in the center of the street and, at intersections, in the curb side lane; dangers to pedestrians because of silent running and slow braking; and whether the estimated $300,000 annual deficit is a far too optimistic projection.
The power elite has been drafting board members from every institution in town to make a show (more a sham) of support for the project. But critics have yet to be invited to participate.
