To the editor:

More than 10 years ago, a number of Lawrence citizens came together to work for a public transportation system for our community. As I remember it, it was a long, grueling struggle involving in the end the election of a new City Commission firmly committed to that goal.

It’s been a source of deep satisfaction to read and hear the many new voices speaking out loudly and clearly to “Save the T,” yet also confounding to think of the work of so many of us to assure that there would be no second-class citizens in Lawrence – that people, regardless of circumstances, would be able to participate in all facets of our community. We still have quite a ways to go to achieve that end, but it’s frightening to think that all we have worked for so far could come to an abrupt end with the failure to pass Questions 2 and 3 on our Nov. 4 ballot.

Our City Commission has made it so much more complicated than it needed to be: Question 3 was an afterthought – knowing that Question 2 simply wouldn’t sustain or improve the present inadequate transportation system or make it possible to merge with the KU transit system, which would truly make it effective.

I’m hoping that our electorate will not throw away all that we have striven for, and will vote twice “yes” for public transportation because once simply won’t do it – and negatives will destroy all that we have so far built.

Hilda Enoch,
Lawrence