A new report on the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) spending Homeland Security funding for ads promoting the Greenlight Pinellas initiative has state Senator Jeff Brandes piping hot.
"This shows a remarkable pattern of taking federal dollars and using it for purposes that I think it was never intended for," Brandes said Tuesday morning. He was reacting to Monday night's report by 10 News reporter Mike Deeson that the transit agency is running ads promoting the tax plan that would increase bus and rail service in the county from a half-million Department of Homeland Security grant.
"It seems to me if you're getting money to combat terrorism that [it] shouldn't be used to promote a tax increase," the GOP state legislator representing Pinellas and part of Hillsborough County adds.
This isn't the first time that PSTA has been accused of crossing the line from educating the voters about the plan to outright advocacy. But earlier this month the inspector general with the Florida Department of Transportation ruled that there was no evidence the agency broke any laws when conducting its voter education and outreach regarding their proposal that will go before Pinellas County voters this November.
PSTA Executive Director Brad Miller told WTSP's Deeson that "It's about this general idea of making the transportation system feel more safe and secure," but the Channel 10 reporter notes that PSTA's internal documents and the Homeland Security website say the grant "is one that encourages transit patrons to alert authorities if they see anything suspicious" and to "further promote public awareness of security issues related to public transportation."
PSTA Board Chair Ken Welch told CL in an email that he had he had spoken with Miller and "Brad is confident that we are in full compliance with the DHS grant requirements (as we were with the recent FDOT inquiry)." He further went on to say that he's asked Miller to update the PSTA board at their meeting on Wednesday. "The Board is committed to meeting the letter and intent of all laws and grant provisions," Welch adds.
When asked if this new report rises to again calling for an investigation, Senator Brandes suggested it might be appropriate for "one of our Congressmen to look at. That's the level that it's risen to now. Is it OK for dollars designated to fight terrorism to be used to help advocate for a tax increase? I don't think it is."
Could another review be coming? PSTA's Brad Miller told Deeson in his report that "I feel very comfortable how the money was used and would welcome any kind of review of that."
Meanwhile, several Pinellas mayors (as well as Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn) are scheduled to talk about Greenlight and transportation overall at a a St. Petersburg Chamber-sponsored “Green Bench Conversations” town-hall like event tonight at the freeFall theater in west St. Petersburg, beginning at 5:30 p.m.