[tabi] Re: nova2010 plan
- From: "Mister Blackjack" <misterblackjack2@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: <tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 20 Sep 2009 11:10:55 -0400
You just about said it all in a nut shell. You Robert are hitting the bull
eyes. I have been involved in and around politics for over 30 years. I will
say it is hard for a group of people to get anything done that does not work
together. What needs to happen is you all need couple of good well paid
lobbyist. Sadly this cost lots of money and something that most of us don't
have a lot of. You know don't let a few people on this list discourage you
from your goal. Most of the ones that is complaining about not showing up at
the meetings are not going their self. Now the last thing you want any how
is a bunch of people with disabilities down at the city hall or county board
meeting or any other meeting jumping up and down and causing problems. They
don't want or will they take what you say inconsideration. You are much
better off with 2 or maybe 3 good intelligent people with level heads and
good lobby skills down their representing the group. You get much farther.
As far you all that don't believe that, then why is it that large
corporations get lobbyist to go do their work for them? I can tell you why
that is what these people do for a living and they do it well with out a
mob. So again you keep the good work up Robert. You keep thinking about the
majority and not few minority that more than likely don't know what they are
talking about. I for one do not use this system as of today. But who knows I
might need it one day. So what Robert is doing is helping make this happen
or make it better or atlest get some kind of middle ground. You all need to
pick a leader and a couple of people and let them represent you all. This is
your only hope unless you all come up with a whole lot of money to hire some
powerfully lobbyist! Just my thoughts on this.
Thanks,
Blackjack
misterblackjack2@xxxxxxxxx
-----Original Message-----
From: tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
Of Easy Talk
Sent: Sunday, September 20, 2009 9:58 AM
To: tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [tabi] nova2010 plan
After reading all the post on this list about the nova2010 plan, I want to
say the following and then I am going to keep my mouth shut since some
people think I am attacking Star Metro and not acting with a level head and
I run my mouth and don't go to meetings.
I have been involved in advocacy for over 20 years and have served on the
Governors accessible voting task force and followed the AEIT task force
around the state. I was also at all the legislative hearings on the AEIT
bill which looked good up until the last two days of the session when it was
stripped down so bad to the point it had no enforcement clauses. I was on
the first committee that dealt with the guide lines for Para transit service
in Leon county. At the time Carol Keo-green was the chair of the TD board
and she was never at the committee meetings but at board meetings she would
just say no we aren't going to do that and that is that. In politics
actions like this are referred to as the political sausage meal and you
might not believe it but I have seen it first hand. One thing I have
learned over the years is that politicians are going to do what is best to
protect there careers. Nice guys finish last.
For those of you who went to the two TDC board meetings that dealt with
prioritization of rides will remember when I ask the board to establish a
committee to look at the impact this would have on the rider ship at the
first meeting, I was told they had a committee that did that. Calvert
Durden ask who was on the committee and was told the committee consisted of
Donna Peacock and Colleen Roland who ironically aren't voting members of the
board. It was apparent none of the other members seemed to know about the
committee. When this question was brought up at the second meeting the
members were different but neither William or Carl who are the only disabled
people on the board were on the committee. Also the cost per trip prices
were different from the first meeting to the second, it went from around 76
dollars to 38. My point here is to show you that government will say what
ever is necessary to support there actions. These are just a few things I
have seen over the years and is why I am so skeptical of politicians.
It should be apparent to all of you that the disabled community was not
considered during the Nova2010 plan. If they had been considered then Star
Metro would have stated that service to the disabled would not be affected
in regards to Para Transit. Under the current information we have, if a
particular bus has to pick up say just 2 wheel chairs that particular route
will definitely not be able to keep its schedule. If there is a third wheel
chair then that person will have to wait for the next bus because the other
bus wouldn't have room for the third wheel chair. There will also be delays
when one wheel chair has to be transferred to a connecting bus. I can assure
you there will be some ADA complaints filed by wheel chair users. Also
remember wheel chairs when I post below some direct information from a
message posted by William a few days ago.
We all need to remember that each person has there own needs and as citizens
of Tallahassee have the right to advocate for themselves. They may choose
to speak through TCB or NFB or as an individual. The only way we are going
to have any affect is if people get involved and in this case I think there
will be a lot of concerns from the community and not just people with
disabilities.
If we really want to be affective on this issue, we need to get other people
involved who aren't disabled because we are considered a small group and the
attitude the city has about the disabled community isn't good. Some of you
will remember when the lieutenant of operations for TPD came to one of the
TCB meetings to talk about the enforcement of the White Cane law. He stated
that he didn't know about the White Cane law until just before our meeting
when he was preparing his presentation. He admitted to using his Black
Berry While driving and said the city had more important things to deal with
such as face slapping instead of enforcing the White Cane law. As Mr..
Scheib stated the Nova2010 plan is about mobility not accessibility is the
most stupid thing I have ever heard. If the system is not accessible who
cares about mobility. Am I skeptical, you better believe I am.
Now, here is what should be of major concern to all of you. It is key
points of the plan and unless a miracle happens most likely isn't going to
be changed.
q Routes would no longer circulate within neighborhoods. This will,
however,
allow StarMetro to serve a larger population by providing higher frequency
and better service to the most popular destinations.
This is just totally ridiculous logic. How do you serve a larger population
to get to there destinations if you don't go where they live. A trip
consist of a starting point and destination not just a destination.
q Related to the above, walking distances to StarStops are anticipated
to increase.
On the other hand, this will lead to fewer stops, increased mobility, a more
pleasurable riding experience and a healthier community.
The benefits, however, would far outweigh the few discrete disadvantages,
which are better communicated in a longer visual presentation.
Star Metro would have a more dependable system going where our patrons want
to go doing so in a timely, efficient fashion.
This will basically mean the system will not be accessible to a large
majority of visually impaired, wheel chair users and elderly. in fact I see
some reference to changing the type/class of people the system is trying to
target and it isn't us.
Personally the new system won't affect me that much since it goes up and
down capital circle and I am with in 3 quarters of a mile from it. The only
affect it will have on me is that I might not be able to visit a friend that
lives in a neighbor hood which most of us do. I haven't heard anything
about a bunch of tents along capital circle or the parkway. I have posted
on this list because I care about transportation and think it is vital to
have a good system especially for the disabled and the linkage between the
fixed route system and Dial A Ride. Personally I am in favor of a
decentralized system as long as it has feeder buses or vans that can get you
to the main routes. As stated on the web site, the current plan shouldn't
cost more but will give more frequent service. There is no way you can make
a system better and decentralize it with out spending more money.
Personally based on the current information, I think the city is doing this
to save money not provide a better service. If people can not get to the
bus, they will be empty then the city can say no one uses the busses so we
are going to stop that service and believe me people this is starting to
happen all over the u.s. Reduce and then eliminate.
Robert
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