I voted for rail both times it was on the ballot. Each time before election day I campaigned for it on a personal level. I had two reasons for voting for rail service in Austin. First, I had used commuter rail in California before moving to Texas and experienced the benefits it offered and saw how much people enjoyed it. Second, and more importantly, I thought of it not so much as a need for us now but as a need for our great grandchildren and their children.
Go back with me in time to the late 80’s, early 90’s. At that time I was an assistant manager in a bookstore in Hollywood. And as fun and wild as it is in Hollywood, it was even more fun and wild in Tijuana. Plus it was a dangerous city, which was an added attraction for me. Kind of like some people are attracted to unsuitable people.
To get to “T.J.” I took Amtrak from downtown Los Angeles to downtown San Diego. There, in the same station, I would buy a one-way ticket for the commuter rail for two dollars. Then get on the red line to San Ysidro, the last town in California. A very small town. I think it was the size of Austin’s downtown and surrounding business district. It had more dirt roads than paved. Continue reading “A Tale of Three Cities”
r reaching the million mile safe driving mark. The award was given to me by the National Safety Council. It was presented to me by Tony Dugas, from the Capital Metro Safety Department, and Erica McKewen took pics. I also received some patches, which earlier today I took to the cleaners to have them sewn onto my uniform.