To the editor:

I have never written a letter to the editor before now, but the tone of debate among some Lawrence citizens over whether or not the T should be continued has caused me to speak up.

I work for a well-known nonprofit in Lawrence and the individuals supported at my place of employment are able to hold jobs in the community, shop or go to appointments on their own ONLY because public transportation is available to them. If this independence is lost, the cost to the community to support these individuals in other ways may be more significant than the 25-cent tax per $100 of sales revenue that the city is proposing.

And what about civic responsibility? I always thought part of being an American was to lift up those less fortunate than ourselves. We all know that Lawrence has more than its share of cars on the road, yet there are many individuals, disabled, seniors, youths and the working poor who do not have access to transportation other than through the public system.

The beauty of Lawrence, the quality of its schools and the obvious local support of the community confirms that the citizens of Lawrence take great pride in their city. I agree that there is much room for improvement, but I’m willing to forgo a couple of sodas a week so my fellow citizens who need access to public transportation have what they need to continue living productively in the Lawrence community. Join me?

Karen Lowder,
Lawrence