The Truth Squad, Updated
Back about 35 years ago, when I was a young whippersnapper, I worked as a press aide on the campaign of Ray Broderick, Republican candidate for governor of Pennsylvania. (Yes, ye doubters, I DID work for a Republican once upon a time!) It was a challenging campaign -- one which taught me many of the things NOT to do when running for office -- but we did have some fun. And perhaps the most fun surrounded my participation in the so-called "Truth Squad," a self-appointed trio of Broderick supporters who barn-stormed around the state in the wake of the Democratic candidate, Milton Shapp, who went on to a resounding victory that November. Our job was to shadow Shapp's campaign appearances and to set the record straight when he misspoke or took an unfair poke at our candidate. We held dozens of ad hoc press conferences around the state, but I'd say we ended up meeting as many bartenders as journalists. (The "Truth Squad" ordeal did not seem to hinder our career paths, however; Steve McEwen served as district attorney of Delaware County, Pa., and later as a state court judge, Henry FitzPatrick had a distinguished career as an attorney, and my next job was as press secretary to U.S. Senator Dick Schweiker of Pennsylvania.)
I've been thinking about the Truth Squad lately in connection with Cross Sound Ferry's attempt to sway public opinion on the North Fork ferry controversy. And since DA McEwen and Judge Fitzpatrick aren't currently available, I'm taking it upon myself to set the record straight on some of Cross Sound's most outrageous recent assertions. All I can conclude is that the ferry company is running very scared if it feels it must distort the truth like this in order to protect its franchise.
BIG LIE No. 1: Southold Town and ferry opponents seek to shut down Cross Sound Ferry. THE SIMPLE TRUTH: Nobody in their right mind advocates shutting down the ferry. It provides a vital transportation link to southern New England, and it is a resource that can -- within moderation and in accord with the town's standards and regulations -- continue to serve the people of Southold and eastern Long Island for generations to come. But its unregulated growth -- and the envionmental, economic and social negatives that flow from that growth -- must be brought under control. And that is what the town is attempting to do through its recent court action, the pending traffic study it has authorized, and the legislative action that is likely to result.
BIG LIE No. 2: Ferry traffic is an issue only in Orient and East Marion. THE SIMPLE TRUTH: Traffic headed to and from the ferry terminal at Orient Point does not magically materialize or evaporate at the blinker light on the North Road in Greenport. The vast majority of vehicles are heading to and from the South Fork via the North Ferry or Riverhead, or to and from Riverhead, Brookhaven and points west on the Main and North roads. If you're concerned about the increase in traffic on the Main Road in Mattituck, for example, look to Cross Sound Ferry as the single most significant contributing factor.
BIG LIE No. 3: A small, vocal handful of ferry opponents have forced the Town Board to seek remedial action on the ferry. THE SIMPLE TRUTH: More than 800 Southold Town residents -- from every hamlet from Laurel to Orient -- signed the petition that finally spurred the Town Board into action last summer. In addition, about 600 people attended the Labor Day 2005 ferry traffic rally at Orient Point. Town Board members are acting now to protect the interests of the people they represent.
BIG LIE No. 4: Increased traffic on the North Fork is due to increased tourism and Southold's population growth, not to the ferries. THE SIMPLE TRUTH: During the same time that Southold's population increased by approximately 12%, ferry traffic increased by more than 1,000%! To borrow a much-quoted phrase from political consultant James Carville, it's about the ferry, stupid!
BIG LIE No. 5: Cross Sound is your "hometown ferry." THE SIMPLE TRUTH: All of its paid advertisements, mass mailings, website propaganda, self-serving gift giving and media apologists not withstanding, this is a multi-million-dollar, out-of-state corporation that is slowly but surely ruining our town. Don't kid yourself: this is a case of big money versus the people of Southold. And the will of the people will prevail in the end, as it almost always does.
I've been thinking about the Truth Squad lately in connection with Cross Sound Ferry's attempt to sway public opinion on the North Fork ferry controversy. And since DA McEwen and Judge Fitzpatrick aren't currently available, I'm taking it upon myself to set the record straight on some of Cross Sound's most outrageous recent assertions. All I can conclude is that the ferry company is running very scared if it feels it must distort the truth like this in order to protect its franchise.
BIG LIE No. 1: Southold Town and ferry opponents seek to shut down Cross Sound Ferry. THE SIMPLE TRUTH: Nobody in their right mind advocates shutting down the ferry. It provides a vital transportation link to southern New England, and it is a resource that can -- within moderation and in accord with the town's standards and regulations -- continue to serve the people of Southold and eastern Long Island for generations to come. But its unregulated growth -- and the envionmental, economic and social negatives that flow from that growth -- must be brought under control. And that is what the town is attempting to do through its recent court action, the pending traffic study it has authorized, and the legislative action that is likely to result.
BIG LIE No. 2: Ferry traffic is an issue only in Orient and East Marion. THE SIMPLE TRUTH: Traffic headed to and from the ferry terminal at Orient Point does not magically materialize or evaporate at the blinker light on the North Road in Greenport. The vast majority of vehicles are heading to and from the South Fork via the North Ferry or Riverhead, or to and from Riverhead, Brookhaven and points west on the Main and North roads. If you're concerned about the increase in traffic on the Main Road in Mattituck, for example, look to Cross Sound Ferry as the single most significant contributing factor.
BIG LIE No. 3: A small, vocal handful of ferry opponents have forced the Town Board to seek remedial action on the ferry. THE SIMPLE TRUTH: More than 800 Southold Town residents -- from every hamlet from Laurel to Orient -- signed the petition that finally spurred the Town Board into action last summer. In addition, about 600 people attended the Labor Day 2005 ferry traffic rally at Orient Point. Town Board members are acting now to protect the interests of the people they represent.
BIG LIE No. 4: Increased traffic on the North Fork is due to increased tourism and Southold's population growth, not to the ferries. THE SIMPLE TRUTH: During the same time that Southold's population increased by approximately 12%, ferry traffic increased by more than 1,000%! To borrow a much-quoted phrase from political consultant James Carville, it's about the ferry, stupid!
BIG LIE No. 5: Cross Sound is your "hometown ferry." THE SIMPLE TRUTH: All of its paid advertisements, mass mailings, website propaganda, self-serving gift giving and media apologists not withstanding, this is a multi-million-dollar, out-of-state corporation that is slowly but surely ruining our town. Don't kid yourself: this is a case of big money versus the people of Southold. And the will of the people will prevail in the end, as it almost always does.
posted by Troy Gustavson at 2:53 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home