Re: [Mpls] Bus strike and transit

[Brandon Lacy]

Frankly, the letter from the Taxpayer's League made me very angry. It 
completely discounts the ingenuity  of folks that are committed to 
supporting the strike and making it to work. It also discounts the 
sacrifices those of us that make little money have made...even this early 
into the strike. Since last Thursday, I've spent more than $40 on taxi fares 
to and from work. I generally spend perhaps $60 on mass transit in an entire 
month. I personally can not sustain taxi's as a viable transportation 
option, which means on those days when I can not carpool with a co-worker, I 
will be forced to take a vacation day or work from home. I support the 
strike. I don't support the Taxpayer's League using my sacrifices to push 
their anti-working class agenda.

-Brandon Lacy
-Powderhorn Park


Chair
National Lavender Green Caucus
Green Party of the United States
Lavender Greens: www.lavendergreens.org
BrownTones: http://galileo.spaceports.com/~brandonl/
YouthAction: www.youthaction.net




From: "Fredric Markus" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: [Mpls] Bus strike and transit
Date: Sun, 7 Mar 2004 18:58:19 -0600
There are many thousands of elderly folks who depend on the bus system for
all sorts of reasons. The handicap-accessible buses are particularly useful
because metro mobility service is limited and expensive. Taxis are
prohibitively expensive for all but the most essential trips.
It is no accident that people who are disabled ride for 50 cents 24/7 or 
who
are on medicare ride for 50 cents except during weekday rush hours. There
are many seniors who use those 50-cent rides to give structure to their
days. It is not just that trips are necessary. Trips are also therapeutic,
enable socialization opportunities, make de facto statements about
independent living, and just create a myriad of free choices. Great for
cabin fever and often making a virtue of necessity. Take that away for a
long time - six weeks, three months, whatever - and real harm will result.

Fred Markus, West Phillips

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