I must admit, my opinion on FECI has evolved. When I first heard about the re-invigoration of passenger trains, I loved the idea. For years, I had been extolling the virtues of passenger rail service instead of driving or flying. FECI stated that they would provide this service with no government money subsidy. They were going to install new technology that would minimize the disruptions to us. I thought the bridge over the river would be modernized which would have resulted in shorter times to raise and lower it. We could even be lucky enough and get a stop in Stuart which could act as an economic booster.

Unfortunately, it appears none of this will happen.  The Treasure Coast is to be sacrificed for the glory of increased economic benefit to Miami, Orlando and, to a lesser extent, for Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. The most FECI can promise is that Florida as an economic entity will do better while we, here, pay the price. Besides being bypassed by the behemoth, the company will not only be receiving incentives for building massive buildings in the big cities but they also have received the right of way to build out to Orlando Airport and over $200 million dollars of Floridian tax dollars.

Washington will also be giving them “loans” so that they can modernize their track bed along the route.  By law, these loans are only possible if they are to improve track that will carry passengers. To my mind, “All Aboard Florida” is not about moving people but it is a way for FECI to develop real estate and be ready for the increase freight anticipated by the widening of the Panama Canal.

Most recently, I listened once again to another presentation from “All Aboard Florida” at a Martin/Stuart Chamber luncheon during and after marveling how tone deaf a company can be to Treasure Coast residents. They must either believe that they have both Washington and Tallahassee in their back pocket (which is more than probable) or they just don’t believe we matter very much. Their goals do not include anything for us as was evident in their presentation.

So the Fortress Group, a hedge fund that is the parent of FECI, extolls the virtue of the market unless they have to compete in a free market. This entire farce may have been created as a way of getting taxpayers to subsidize a private company’s expansion. Perhaps it is time that we actually give capitalism a chance to work. It shouldn’t only be the little guys that have to compete. If it were up to me, no company or industry would receive one dollar in tax payer money to operate. Unfortunately, Washington and Tallahassee would rather use your dollars to give to companies so that the politicians can receive pennies back in campaign contributions.