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Jim Cameron, chairman of the Connecticut Rail Commuter Council, believes Gov. M. Jodi Rell's proposal to close Metro-North Railroad branches to New Canaan, Danbury and Waterbury was an attempt to draw attention to a winter home heating program.
In a letter sent to legislators last Wednesday, Rell included a list of items that could be cut from the budget to make funds available for a program to help heat the homes of seniors and low-income families. In a statement released Monday, she said the list was prepared by the Office of Policy and Management and she had no intention of cutting the trains.
In response to last week's letter, Cameron sent a message to all commuters, asking them to contact their state lawmakers and "urge them to oppose this nonsensical move by the governor."
"When she first said it, I didn't believe it, it made no sense," Cameron said. He said he believes Rell knew commuters would be outraged and contact their legislators, which would draw attention to the heating issue.
"I spent a good part of my holiday weekend writing press releases, making phone calls, sending emails. And in the back of my mind I was thinking, 'She couldn't possibly be using me,'" Cameron said. He said many people he called said he shouldn't believe the rumors about the cuts.
He said Rell's actions left a bitter taste. "You can't cry wolf and have 4,300 commuters upset over their holiday weekend. It's not the right thing to do. The ends don't justify the means," Cameron said.
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