Flack: Car-wash owners behind anti-rail campaign

By DAVID MARTIN

A couple building a car wash on Main Street is bankrolling the campaign to defeat the light-rail initiative, according to a spokesman.

Citizens for Sensible Transit has raised approximately $58,000, the committee’s spokesman, Patrick Tuohey, says. Michael and Donna Messina, described by Touhey as Main Street “shop owners,” have contributed $50,000 to the cause.

Tuohey says the Messinas are concerned that the light-rail line will disrupt their business. Vehicles traveling north on Main will likely lose the ability to make left turns if the proposed route goes into construction. “They’re worried about the street being dug up,” Tuohey says.