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Last night, January 6, 2003, the Transportation Committee of the Metropolitan Council awarded a company in Chapter Eleven a contract to transport developmentally disabled people! The service has been provided by a Minnesota company, Transit Team, Inc., and the new contract will now go to a Kansas company, Laidlaw, Inc. The riders of Transit Team are vulnerable and generally without a voice. Therefore, I address you as a parent and express what I know to be the feelings of many other advocates for the riders. We strongly reject the proposed switch from Transit Team to Laidlaw! Transit Team provides reliable service, has excellent equipment, low employee turnover, and has a company culture, which is compassionate and understanding. If part of the mission of the Transportation Committee is to help handicapped persons become gainfully employed, taxpaying members of the community, why are these same persons (and/or their advocates) not surveyed as to their opinions about changes crucial to their lives? Why are the opinions of Opportunity Partners and Lifeworks not given validity? Is there a coincidence in the timing of the proposed change and the prospect of new Pawlenty appointments? The bureaucratic micro-management of handicapped transportation a few years ago resulted in a fiasco, which still leaves a bad taste in our mouths and a mistrust of the wisdom of the proposed change. Conversations with a number of other advocates resulted in some universal reactions: “ Here we go again—remember the last changes?” “The service has been great. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!” “ There must be some skullduggery in the bidding process.” “ With Laidlaw located in Kansas, they can’t possible provide the same management control and flexibility as Transit Team” (Over) (2) “ Why would a Minnesota governmental agency destroy a taxpaying Minnesota Company in favor of one in Kansas that is in Chapter Eleven?” “Before the fiasco of several years ago, the network of advocates and riders was passive and silent. This will not be the case this time!! In today’s economic environment, the jobs of the Transit Team riders can be jeopardized by any transportation problems. We implore you to reconsider the change. Don’t penalize a Minnesota company for providing an effective, reliable service to our handicapped citizens. Sincerely, Eugene M. Booker |
Title: Eugene M
