T a ‘must have’

To the editor:

As previous letters I have written to the editor will attest, I derive all of my personal income from the retail used car sales industry in Lawrence. Knowing this, some people might think it unusual that I, as well as the owners and other employees of the dealership where I am, support the tax bill to keep and improve Lawrence public transportation, the T.

Our sales staff meet people every day who are not able to qualify for an automobile loan due to factors that are often beyond their control. However, situations do change for the better. To take their optimism for a more mobile life away and make things more difficult for those who need our help the most is not just showing a bad civic conscience, it’s also bad for business. Substantial companies considering a move to our city have a short list of “must-haves'” and public transportation is usually on that list. A sure way to ensure stagnant growth for any city is to go backwards in its city services.

I spent many years living in Arlington, Texas. It is known as the largest city in America with no public transportation. Every street there is a nightmare. As the city grew, so did the bumper-to-bumper congestion, not to mention the smog.

Let’s not be so cheap and shortsighted that we cost ourselves jobs and tax revenues in the years to come. Vote “yes” in support of the T.

Thomas Langas and the staff at Academy Cars,
Lawrence