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