To the editor:
Six degrees of separation refer to the idea that, if a person is one step away from each person they know and two steps away from each person who is known by one of the people they know, then everyone is an average of six "steps" away from each person on Earth.
As you think about the public transit sales tax questions, please consider all of the people you know or know of in Lawrence. While you may have a perfectly maintained car that gets you around reliably, many do not. Do you know or know of a senior citizen or a person with a disability who struggles to maintain their independence, their health, their job, their social connectedness? Transportation is a key factor in overcoming those barriers. Surely you know students, unemployed, or underemployed individuals who simply don't make enough money to keep up on car repairs, gas, insurance and tags.
The fixed route and T-Lift paratransit service are coupled to protect the federal funding portion of the system. A "yes" vote on both questions secures and improves these essential services for all of the populations above, all folks with individually compelling stories. All folks who want what you want and contribute to our community in essential and important ways. You may not need it, but someone you know or care about does or will.
Jill Baker,
Lawrence
Comments
denak 9 years, 7 months ago
I am voting yes. The "T" may not be perfect but it still better than nothing. My son is blind. He doesn't have the luxery of a driving a car. Next summer, he will need the "T" in order to get to a summer job. In two more years, he will need the "T" to get to KU to go to school and to work.For all of those people who oppose the "T," fine but if it goes under, I expect you to be at our house bright and early to take him to where he needs in order to be independent. Don't worry. We might even be generous enough to pay you $1.25 each way.Dena
Confrontation 9 years, 7 months ago
Jill, why would I care about other people and their inability to afford a car? I have a car. I have insurance. I am special. I'll never ever have anything bad happen to my car or my paycheck. I'll never have a single transportation worry. I am invincible!
q_ball2kand1 9 years, 7 months ago
Vote positiveVote after a whileVote rarely.
notajayhawk 9 years, 7 months ago
autie (Anonymous) says: "Notajayhawk, I would make the assumption that if the two providers were combined, Part of the deal would have to include the fee the students pay..isn't that how they "pay" for the KU transit"Well, yeah. I assumed that, too. That money is already going to pay the costs incurred by the KU buses. Combining the system may lead to more KU students taking the bus to Wal-mart, but how many farebox-paying non-students will ride the KU buses?***madameX (Anonymous) says: "Besides, increased ridership would mean increased revenue. More people riding the bus at $1.25 a head means more cash coming in."Not if they're students. They already pay a flat fee per semester, and if they use the current mT buses, they won't be paying anything more. There'd only be an increase in farebox revenue if more non-students ride the current KU buses.
KsTwister 9 years, 7 months ago
Well uncouple them again. We are thinking, the vote is no.
Richard Heckler 9 years, 7 months ago
Vote YES for Transit November 4 2008 - TuesdaySupport fixed routes,para transit and the T/KU mergerWithout yes votes on 2&3 there is nothing.Excellent letter!
gl0ck0wn3r 9 years, 7 months ago
Yes, think of other people who cannot afford yet another tax to pay for a failed "progressive" social program in Lawrence. Think of people who will lose their jobs because yet another tax increase will reduce business opportunities in Lawrence.
kansas778 9 years, 7 months ago
madameX (Anonymous) says: How does adding to the ridership increase costs?*******More routes and more frequent service.
madameX 9 years, 7 months ago
"""""Adding to the ridership (and therefore costs) without increasing revenue from those riders is not "more efficient."""How does adding to the ridership increase costs? The buses run when and where they run regardless of how many people are on them. Does it really cost that much more for a full bus to run than an empty one? Besides, increased ridership would mean increased revenue. More people riding the bus at $1.25 a head means more cash coming in.
craigers 9 years, 7 months ago
I am all for having a good working public transportation system because there are people who depend on it daily for social and work lives. However, why should I vote to toss some more money to a system that doesn't work?
geekin_topekan 9 years, 7 months ago
Pick any Hollywood movie from any year or genre and you are never more than six steps from Kiefer SUtherland.Try it!OK,mm..Star Wars;>>Directed by George Lucas.Lucas was filmagrapher on Gimme SHelter.Gimme shelter was about the Rolling Stones who released RS;VooDoo Lounge DVD with WHoopi Goldberg.Goldberg was in "Jimmy Glick in Lalawood" with Kiefer Sutherland.Yes,I have much time on my hands today.
SettingTheRecordStraight 9 years, 7 months ago
Another voter for sanity.Another voter for responsibility.Another NO vote.
geekin_topekan 9 years, 7 months ago
Kevin Bacon was in Flatliners w/Kiefer Sutherland,
grimpeur 9 years, 7 months ago
The T is available to every citizen in the city. That's almost 90,000 people. Vote yes and force a redesign after merger with KU that ensures the average citizen can get from 27th and Kensington to 15th and Waka, or from 3rd and Elm to Supertarget as easily as a KU customer gets from 24th and Ridge Ct. to campus.For a grown-up city of Lawrence's size, transportation includes buses, roads, paratransit, bike facilities, and complete sidewalks (we're really dropping the ball on this last one). Vote yes for growth and for common sense.
notajayhawk 9 years, 7 months ago
autie (Anonymous) says: "If the T is merged with the KU transit, ridership skyrockets and it becomes much more efficient dollar wise."'Ridership' may skyrocket (along with costs), but revenues won't. The increase in ridership will be from students, who are already forced to pay a flat amount per semester with their fees, so they can ride the bus for 'free.' Adding to the ridership (and therefore costs) without increasing revenue from those riders is not "more efficient."
sunflour 9 years, 7 months ago
KsTwister, the paratransit funding is contingent upon the existence of the fixed route system -- without fixed routes, there simply is NO federal funding for paratransit service.
Trobs 9 years, 7 months ago
Craigers hits the nail on the head!
gl0ck0wn3r 9 years, 7 months ago
Dena - How would your son be independent if he is dependent on the taxpayers to transport him via a failed bus project? Sure, it might appear as if he is independent, but that's simply redefining the term. Perhaps instead of relying upon taxpayers to fund your son's pseudo-independence (at $7.50 a ride, not $1.00), it would be wiser to explore ways to make him financially independent so he can fund his own travel?
mom_of_three 9 years, 7 months ago
Because if you vote no, there is no guarantee the system will be kept or reworked. .25 for every $100 you spend is a small price to pay to help others.
denak 9 years, 7 months ago
Lol, Moocher did you even read my post? I sincerely doubt it because if you did, you need to read it again because you have a comprehension problem.
notajayhawk 9 years, 7 months ago
gl0ck0wn3r;The morning after the last debate, I heard a panel of listeners on a radio show discussing the various issues. When it came to healthcare, one ranted that during a period of time when he was unemployed (for 4 years), he was unable to obtain his diabetic medications. He admitted he had not sought help from any of the charitable agencies, and that he could have obtained the meds from Truman if he felt like going there and waiting around, but that he had "too much self-respect for that." Now, I'm not sure anyone so stupid as to forego getting his meds because of embarassment is entitled to too much self-respect. It appears that this, and many other issues, hinges on this same factor. One way or the other, they're taking the money out of my pocket, they just want to be able to do it in a way that makes them feel good.
Commenting has been disabled for this item.