No Free Fare Zone?

Our Utah Transit Authority (UTA) wants our Salt Lake City Mayor to sign an order (releasing them from their agreed contract obligations, by the way) eliminating the Free Fare Zone for buses in downtown.  There was strong public opposition to this proposal at last night's Salt Lake City Council Meeting. Several diverse members of our community gave their view, along with a few transit officers and bus drivers. Comment continued for about 90 minutes. Here is a transcript of my personal comments at the meeting:

First, let me say that everyone from UTA is talking money here on an issue that is about people, and we know which people will suffer most without the Free Fare Zone (FFZ). I'm amazed at the complaints from transit police and drivers. Rider safety, fare collection, and control of  what happens on public transit is UTA's responsibility. These problems are hardly exclusive to downtown. Furthermore I find it ineffective for authorities to cite people who may be homeless and unemployed, will never pay the fine or attend the amnesty class, will then have a warrant issued and perhaps end up in jail over a bus or train fare. Eliminating the FFZ is a bad idea. It will severely limit the mobility of elderly people, people with disabilities, homeless individuals and families, and people living with a low/fixed income. The FFZ is a crucial resource for these people to access charitable, medical, employment and social services, municipal and state offices, courts, and their jobs. Many others rely on downtown buses to get to their places of business, places of worship, downtown parks, and art and entertainment venues. I ride the bus  and train frequently, and have engaged out-of-towners about their experience in our city. They frequently express their gratitude for the FFZ. Eliminating the FFZ does not align with the city's visions of sustainability, traffic mobility, or clean air, It is not in keeping with our vision of a vibrant, active downtown. Steps toward a distance based fare may be a good idea for those who are utilizing intercity and express modes of public transit. It will prove exclusionary for the aforementioned groups. It may well lead to an immediate drop in ridership because those who live further away from city center won't pay the increased fare, and some won't be able to afford it.  People who rely on public transit have already recently endured frequent rate hikes, reductions in hours of service, and elimination of routes. UTA is definitely NOT going our way. A bus fare may not seem like a lot of money, but every cent counts, especially these days, and more especially to those who could not get around without the FFZ. Please keep fares in downtown free.

The council decided to hear further public comment before making any recommendations or reaching a final decision. To find out more about Salt Lake City Council Meetings and how you can comment on this and other issues, click on the following links:


http://council.slcgov.com/resources/PPT_Updates/Inst_Policy/082011_RulesofProcedure.pdf

http://council.slcgov.com/pages/meetings.htm

You can have a voice and make a difference.


-Your editor


*Photo of Salt Lake City and County Building by John Wilkes.

Remember D-Day

On Tuesday, June 6, 1944 The Allied Forces stormed the beaches at Normandy, beginning the largest invasion ever undertaken in any war. A lot of brave men died on Gold, Juno, Omaha, Sword, and Utah beaches in order to turn the tide in WWII. Their sacrifice led to the defeat of Hitler, the Nazi Party, and Germany, and helped to end the Holocaust, in which millions of Jews, gays and lesbians, and other assorted "undesirable" ethnic and minority groups were slaughtered.

How well do we honor their sacrifice? Around the world ethnic cleansing, discrimination, massacre, slaughter, rampant war and discrimination continue. It is estimated that there are over 300,000 veterans sleep on the streets of our united States every night.

These men did not die so that dictators and imperial governments could continue the atrocity they experienced. They died for peace and freedom in "The War to End All Wars." To continue the idea that "might makes right," that larger countries with larger militaries can destroy the homes of their fellow men, kill women and children, and take what resources are coveted, leaving smaller, weaker countries as empty shells, dishonors the casualties and survivors of D-Day.

They died for peace. And freedom. Everyone's freedom, not just ours.

And the state of our modern world is how we repay them.

Please, today, remember what they truly died for, and do whatever you can to move our world toward a day when we can say they did not die in vain.

~your editor

http://www.army.mil/d-day/

Memorial Day & Homeless Veterans

Just a few links to stories, videos etc that call attention to the plight of our homeless veteran friends, lest we forget:

-your editor


Google: https://www.google.com/search? rlz=1C1AFAB_enUS474US475&sugexp=chrome,mod=6&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=homeless+veterans


NAEH: http://blog.endhomelessness.org/memorial-day-reflections/

Nat'l. Veterans homeless Support: https://www.facebook.com/VeteranSupport


Nat'l. Coalition for Homeless Veterans:http://www.nchv.org/get_involved.cfm

New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2012/05/24/how-should-the-us-support-returning-veterans/to-cut-veteran-homelessness-cut-the-red-tape

 http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2012/05/24/how-should-the-us-support-returning-veterans/?smid=FB-nytimes&WT.mc_id=OP-E-FB-SM-LIN-RFD-052512-NYT-NA&WT.mc_ev=click

WTOP. Wash. D.C. : http://www.wtop.com/109/2875773/Vets-eyed-as-homelessness-skyrockets

The Road Home and Palmer Court

One by One 2011 by TheRoadHomeUT

My former home, and my current one mentioned. The Road Home and Palmer court are important resources here in Salt Lake City, and have helped people like myself transition out of chronic homelessness.

You can view this and other videos on YouTube.

your editor

Holiday meals plentiful

It’s been a long time since my last post. School has gone generally well. Took the fall term off, but getting back on the horse in the spring.

The reason for my post today is that with the holidays approaching, several generous organizations are beginning to announce their dates for free holiday meals and the like. The first comes from the Rescue Mission of Salt Lake.

Note that in addition to a meal, several other services will be provided.

I’ll try to post as many events as I can throughout the holidays.

Your Editor

The End (for now)

Due to other priorities, I will not have time to write and post The Rio Grande Report. that’s bad news. This blog has been very important to me. I hope there have been those of you to whom it has been important as well (hard to know w/o feedback or comments).

In a little less than three weeks, I will be going back to college. It’s time. I’ve been off the streets for over two years, and opportunity knocked.

The good news is that in about a year, I will have my first college degree. That’s exciting. That’s important.

So carry on, and remember that homelessness is everywhere, even right in your back yard, and we can all do something to help homeless people-if we care enough.

Thanks-

John

NO RGR

THIS WEEK

SORRY