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By Autumn Misko, Resource Specialist

Currently, the state budget is being worked on and there are many parts of the budget that will impact people with disabilities’ abilities to be independent.

Below, please find an action alert to inform people of the important actions they can take to ensure that there are reliable and affordable transportation options for people with disabilities in Wisconsin.

This week Thursday, April 4, is the Joint Committee on Finance Hearing at Greendale High School (details below). This meeting is an important time for the public to weigh in on the proposed budget. Please attend! If you have questions, please contact me, Autumn Misko, at amisko@independencefirst.org or at (414) 291-7520 (Voice/TTY). 

Wisconsin Transit Crisis

Call to Action

The Governor’s proposed state budget will lead to significant cuts in public transit statewide. It is crucial to let your state legislators know the significance of transit to you, others who rely on public transit and to Wisconsin as a whole.

How can you help?

Share Your Story

Please print out and complete the story form – http://midwestadvocates.org/assets/resources/TELL_YOUR_TRANSIT_STORY_jan_13.pdf – and share why public transit is important to you. Then return the form to Community Response to the Transit Crisis c/o Midwest Environmental Advocates: advocate@midwestadvocates.org (preferable) or 612 W. Main St., #312 Madison, WI 53703.

Attend and Provide Testimony at the Joint Committee on Finance Hearings

Thursday, April 4^th 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Greendale High School Auditorium

6801 Southway

Greendale, WI 53129

Monday, April 8^th 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Lambeau Field

Legends Club Room – 4^th Level

Lambeau Field Atrium

1285 Lombardi Avenue

Green Bay, WI 54304

Wednesday, April 10^th 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Crystal Grand Music Theatre

430 West Munroe Avenue (HWY 23)

Lake Delton, WI 53940

Thursday, April 18^th 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Baldwin-Woodville High School Auditorium

1000 13^th Avenue

Baldwin, WI 54002

Contact the Governor and Your State Representatives

Contact Governor Walker at govgeneral@wisconsin.gov or (608) 266-1212 V/Relay.

Go to http://legis.wisconsin.gov/Pages/waml.aspx to locate your representatives.

Talking Points

Keep public transit in the segregated transportation fund

Public transit has been facing funding challenges and moving public transit out of the Transportation Fund would drastically complicate and worsen this situation. The segregated transportation fund provides a more stable funding stream for this vital service. Many people with disabilities, older adults and individuals with low incomes depend on public transit to get to work, medical appointments, school, etc. Moving public transit to the General Fund would make funding public transit even more difficult and unpredictable. 

Restore the cut made to public transit state operating assistance

Public transit in Wisconsin will face further cuts to service if funding is not restored. Both fixed route and paratransit services will be impacted, which could result in people being unable to access transportation. Restoring this cut from the 2011-2013 State Budget would help to maintain current transit.  

Stay in Touch

Like “Community Response to the Transit Crisis” on Facebook to post and receive important information.

Share/Bookmark

Wisconsin Transit Crisis

Call to Action

The Governor’s proposed state budget will lead to significant cuts in public transit statewide.  It is crucial to let your state legislators know the significance of transit to you, others who rely on public transit, and to Wisconsin as a whole.

How can you help?

Share Your Story

Please print out and complete the story form – http://midwestadvocates.org/assets/resources/TELL_YOUR_TRANSIT_STORY_jan_13.pdf - to share why public transit is important to you.  Then return the form to Community Response to the Transit Crisis c/o Midwest Environmental Advocates: advocate@midwestadvocates.org (preferable) or 612 W. Main St., #312 Madison, WI 53703.

Speakers at transit listening session in Dec.

Attend and Provide Testimony at the Joint Committee on Finance Hearings

Thursday, April 4 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Greendale High School Auditorium

6801 Southway

Greendale, WI 53129

Monday, April 8  10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Lambeau Field

Legends Club Room – 4^th Level

Lambeau Field Atrium

1285 Lombardi Avenue

Green Bay, WI 54304

Wednesday, April 10 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Crystal Grand Music Theatre

430 West Munroe Avenue (HWY 23)

Lake Delton, WI 53940

Thursday, April 18 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Baldwin-Woodville High School Auditorium

1000 13^th Avenue

Baldwin, WI 54002

Contact the Governor and Your State Representatives

Contact Governor Walker at govgeneral@wisconsin.gov or (608) 266-1212 V/Relay.

Go to http://legis.wisconsin.gov/Pages/waml.aspx to locate your representatives.

Talking Points

Keep public transit in the segregated transportation fund

Public transit has been facing funding challenges and moving public transit out of the Transportation Fund would drastically complicate and worsen this situation.  The segregated transportation fund provides a more stable funding stream for this vital service. Many people with disabilities, older adults, and individuals with low incomes depend on public transit to get to work, medical appointments, school, etc.  Moving public transit to the General Fund would make funding public transit even more difficult and unpredictable. 

Restore the cut made to public transit state operating assistance

Public transit in Wisconsin will face further cuts to service if funding is not restored.  Both fixed route and paratransit services will be impacted which could result in people being unable to access transportation.  Restoring this cut from the 2011-2013 State Budget would help to maintain current transit.  

Stay in Touch

Like “Community Response to the Transit Crisis” on Facebook to post and receive important information!

Share/Bookmark

The Oct. 19 appeal hearing regarding Transit Plus provider contracts has been CANCELLED.

The hearing was scheduled when it was announced that Transit Plus had contracted solely with First Transit for Transit Plus services.  The Milwaukee County Transit System has reconsidered the idea of having only one provider, and is entering into an agreement that calls for a three-year contract with each of the two current contractors maintaining their existing zones.

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By Diana Sullivan, ADA/Access Specialist

Sustainability, as in “environmental sustainability,” is a buzzword these days. It entails responsible use of resources to ensure that we can continue to meet our needs in the future.

When a government entity builds something—a building, sidewalk, road, trail, bridge—they do so with the intention to serve all residents. When things are built that do not meet accessibility requirements, the disability community calls them on it—and then they have to take whatever they’ve built out, discard it, plan again and rebuild—the right way this time. That is not sustainable. It wastes time, taxes, resources and people’s patience.

The City of Milwaukee is looking for input related to sustainability from people who live or work in Milwaukee so the city can learn from us what is important. This is an opportunity to remind them that accessibility for people with disabilities is an important element of a sustainable project. There are opportunities to include your ideas about accessibility in the write-in boxes. This is another way (besides voting) to let our city know what’s important—at least to those who respond.

There are also several upcoming “Green Team” Meetings that people can attend to voice their opinions:

Sustainability Planning Event

Thursday, August 9

5:30-7 pm

Urban Ecology Center

Riverside Park

1500 E. Park Place

Milwaukee, WI 53211

Sustainability Planning Event

Wednesday, August 29

5:30-7 pm

Urban Ecology Center

Washington Park

4145 W. Lisbon Ave

Milwaukee, WI 53208

Sustainability Planning Event

Thursday, September 20

5:30-7 pm

Urban Ecology Center

Menomonee Valley Branch

3700 W. Pierce St

Milwaukee, WI 53215

You are a part of the City of Milwaukee if you live, work or do stuff here.  Your voice matters—you can make a difference. You DO make a difference.

For more information about IndependenceFirst‘s ADA advocacy work, contact me at dsullivan@independencefirst.org or (414) 226-8383 V/Relay.

For more information on the City of Milwaukee’s Sustainability Plan and Green Team, visit: http://city.milwaukee.gov/sustainability/SustainabilityPlanGreenTeam.htm.