Subject: Brightline/VirginTrainsUSA
Boca Raton does not need another train station. City taxpayers should vote on this decision and city council should not make decision for them .
Marieg Parkanyi
Letters From BocaFirst Readers
December 4 2019 – Bob Fredrikson
written by BocaFirst Reader
Subject: Brightline/VirginTrainsUSA
Bob Fredrikson
Is there anyway the complete proposal of the proposed railroad station, parking garage, pedestrian bridge over Dixie and the RR tracks,and potential rezoning areas to go high rise apartments thanks to a TOD re-zoning, etc., go to the voters ? This is such a big deal with lots of taxpayer giveaways and risk in it that it needs to go to the voters. Virgin wants this so bad, they can wait for the public vote. Time is not of the essence. Go to the public vote.
November 12 2019 – Gary I Berg
written by BocaFirst Reader
Subject: Boca Regional Hospital
It is only good that Boca Regional is now connected to Baptist we won’t lose in the long run however United Healthcare now will be seen for what they are a bunch of grubby money-hungry top feeding Big Spenders. Our community will make out in the long run because Baptist Hospital is much better than what ever Boca Regional was and Baptist has a connection to M A Anderson which is a wonderful cancer hospital so it’ll only help everybody in our area. Unless you are stuck with an employer UHC plan, UnitedHealthcare isn’t the only game in town.
Gary I Berg
November 12 2019 – Jane Wynn
written by BocaFirst Reader
Subject: Brightline/VirginTrainsUSA
Jane Wynn
Library Commons is a development next to the proposed Brightline Boca station, a group of 80 homes. I bought because it was next to a butterfly garden, the library, and had easy safe walking access to downtown. There is NO attempt by anyone to address the problems this development brings to our community. This is foisted on us. As a community, most people accept the station is coming. We DO NOT want a 4-5 story parking garage next to our properties and want a walkway over Dixie Highway from our community so we can retain the walkability so precious to us allI have the feeling we are on our own with no one in government caring.
October 31 2019 – Linda Jackson
written by BocaFirst Reader
Subject: Brightline/VirginTrainsUSA
Boca Raton City Council should reconsider placing the Brightline station etc, on the corner of 18 Street and Dixie Hwy by the Hillsboro Canal, which i believe they are going to make a park. It eliminates huge traffic problems, provides easy access, plenty of space, better traffic flow, which we all know is going to happen in the proposed location.
Weren’t they going to close down Second Ave from Palmetto Pk Rd heading north to create a city compound? Where is that in all of this? Is it still on the table?I like the idea of the train coming to Boca, but NOT where THEY want to put it. It will provide jobs, more Uber, more buses, more cyclists. Plus more pick up space for people who are greeting a Brightline rider or dropping off (Which is going to happen in any location). We do not need any more over building in one location. SERIOUS reconsideration needs to take place.
Linda Jackson
October 17 2019 – Scott Shabot
written by BocaFirst Reader
Subject: Brightline Traffic
Scott Shabot
I want to commend you for this article especially your point that building a bright line station where they wanna have parking for 400 cars will only increase the traffic issues. I don’t see any steps the city has taken to improve infrastructure to handle increased traffic. As you point out there are thousands more residents coming to Boca how are they going to accommodate additional auto traffic? There’s no plan, no one has suggested light rail up and down Federal Highway and east west on Glades. Just seems to me we lack leadership on this issue.
October 17 2019 – John C. Gore
written by BocaFirst Reader
Subject: Traffic in Boca Raton
John C. Gore
Those who want to alleviate Boca’s increasing traffic congestion have three problems: 1) there in insufficient infrastructure (roads, bridges, etc.) to handle the amount of new and planned development; 2) most of Boca’s key traffic arteries cannot be expanded and there is no room for “new” roads; and 3) proposed non-auto “solutions” like trolleys or ride-sharing have either proven uneconomic or inconvenient. New development in Boca should follow the guidelines set down in Boca’s landmark downtown development Ordinance 4035: build the infrastructure BEFORE you build the buildings. If you can’t, then don’t. How’s that for a simple solution?
October 17 2019 – Marie Berman
written by BocaFirst Reader
Subject: Home Insurance Scams
Marie Berman
My insurance company Lexington insurance has now completely stopped doing business in Boca Raton due to scams between public insurance reps, contractors and lawyers. Apparently when a home owner has an issue, for example a flood, the lawyer has the homeowner sign something so the insurance company is not negotiating with the homeowner, only the lawyer . Apparently the public insurance reps, contractor and lawyers are in cahoots driving insurance claims sky high .
My insurance was $5,300 for great coverage .
Now I received quotes for $11,000-$19,000.
The $19,000 highest was Citizens, the government option!
This is a disgrace and needs to be investigated and laws put into place to control the scammers .
This will cause Boca to become a ‘Do Not Buy City’ .
Subject: Brightline Traffic
VINCENT R CONNORS
I would like to ask the people of Boca Raton, who think we need a Brightline station in Boca what roads they drive on? I have been a resident in Boca for 52 years and the traffic will only get worse. Right now the traffic signals are so messed up every time the Brightline comes by and the gates go down that you have to wait for 2 cycles before you get a green light. Furthermore I am a local business owner of 27 years and have to be on local roads everyday and it is not pleasant. You keep adding these buildings but have no way to expand the streets leading to I-95. You decision makers really need to think logically, not about the money that’s probably coating your pocket’s.