This Randal O'Toole seems to be a bit of a Tool :)

Scott

peter guttridge wrote:

> Two letters in today's "Sunday Mail" indicate the "Histerical

> misinformation" and the more informed writers in the debate over our

> tram extension.I'll let you decide which is which! I can't wait until

> the extension is open and a success. Then all these wingers who don't

> want progress might shut up.

>

> On the Oregon trail

>

> Mr Conlon,where did you get your 70 per cent approval for the trams?

> My discussions with a number of people show the reverse is true.

>

> Also.if you are using the Portland example to support your claims for

> the benefits of the new tramline,how do you counter the comments of Mr

> Randle O'Toole,a portland Oregon resident and expert on public

> transport? He says the growth that Portland has seen was from billions

> of dollars in grants being spent to get the urban renewal.

>

> PETER HAYNES

>

> "Expert" derailed

>

> I am Disgusted with the Sunday Mail for bringing in supposed US

> "expert" Randal O'Toole to weigh in on the tram debate,and with the

> one-sided reporting of this issue in general.

>

> Research on the internet reveals O'Toole Cato Institute is funded by

> big oil companies and he has been active in campaigning against mass

> transit throughout the US.

>

> His background is desribed as "economist" not urban planner.

>

> As for the survey cited,I was unable to find this on the web,but I did

> find that Portland Chamber of commerce members are very much in favour

> of the city's mass transit.Members were quoted at a September 2006

> meeting to discuss the city's vision as saying they wanted "greater

> mass transit" "valued the city's public transport" and would "like to

> see light rail lines run 24 hours a day"

>

> Hardly the attitude implied by Mt O'Toole.

>

> ELINOR HURST

>

>

> Send instant messages to your online friends

> http://au.messenger.yahoo.com

>

>