<html><head><style type="text/css"><!-- DIV {margin:0px;} --></style></head><body><div style="font-size: 24px;color: #000000;font-family: Times New Roman;"><P>I believe we are all with the Tampa Bay chapter in spirit. We all need to be vigilant in our communities because the climate is and always has been to create obstacles, intentional or unintentional, on the part of members of society who feel at the time that legislation, programs, policies, etc. mean nothing to them in their current situation. There are those who do not realize they are one step away from poverty, disability, etc. We have no plan when the unexpected happens. Those in position of responsibility and accountability do not fully understand that program actions create consequences. Hope the information protest created an educational dialogue.</P>
<P>Best Regards,</P>
<P>Judy Hamilton<BR><BR><BR></P>
<BLOCKQUOTE style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; TEXT-DECORATION: none; FONT-FAMILY: arial,sans-serif; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; COLOR: black; FONT-STYLE: normal; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid">-----Original Message----- <BR>>From: Merry Schoch via Nfbf-l <NFBF-L@NFBNET.ORG><BR>>Sent: Jul 26, 2017 7:36 AM <BR>>To: 'NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List' <NFBF-L@NFBNET.ORG><BR>>Cc: Merry Schoch <MERRYS@VERIZON.NET><BR>>Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] [NFBF-Leaders] Blind to Demonstrate in Opposition of Bus Cuts <BR>> <BR>>Thank you Camille and Denise. As the Tampa Bay chapter of the NFBF marches on the sidewalks today, we will all know our brothers and sisters across the state are marching along side of us. We are not alone! <BR>> <BR>>Thank you all! <BR>>Merry <BR>> <BR>>-----Original Message----- <BR>>From: Nfbf-l [mailto:nfbf-l-bounces@nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Camille Tate via Nfbf-l <BR>>Sent: Tuesday, July 25, 2017 10:28 PM <BR>>To: 'NFB of Florida List for Leaders' <BR>>Cc: Camille Tate; 'NFB of Florida Internet Mailing List' <BR>>Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] [NFBF-Leaders] Blind to Demonstrate in Opposition of Bus Cuts <BR>> <BR>>The Melbourne Space Coast chapter is behind you, our Tampa family and fully support you. <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> <BR>>The local transit company and government officials must understand that we live, work, love and play in our communities. Access to transportation is vital to living the lives we want, in the social and economic fabric of our communities. Know that MSCC is behind you and beside you. <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> <BR>>Camille Tate <BR>> <BR>>Board Member, Melbourne Space Coast Chapter, National Federation of the Blind-FL <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> <BR>>Board Member, National Federation of the Blind-FL <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> <BR>>From: NFBF-Leaders [mailto:nfbf-leaders-bounces@nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Miranda Kilby via NFBF-Leaders <BR>>Sent: Tuesday, July 25, 2017 3:18 PM <BR>>To: nfbf-leaders@nfbnet.org <BR>>Cc: Miranda Kilby <MBKILBY@GMAIL.COM><BR>>Subject: [NFBF-Leaders] Blind to Demonstrate in Opposition of Bus Cuts <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> <BR>>Please circulate the following information as widely as possible. <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> The Tampa Bay Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind, the oldest and largest organization of the blind in the world, is organizing an informational demonstration outside the HART Ybor City facility located at 1201 E. 7th Avenue from 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. <BR>>prior to their public hearing which begins at 5:30 p.m. Those interested in participating in this demonstration are invited to meet at the Hampton Inn & Suites, located at 1301 E. 7th Avenue by 3:45 p.m. Please take the time to read the following news release and help us preserve reliable transportation for the blind, the disabled, the poor, and others who rely upon efficient transportation for work, medical appointments, social services, and recreation. For more information, please contact <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> <BR>>Miranda Kilby, President <BR>> <BR>>Tampa Bay Chapter <BR>> <BR>>National Federation of the Blind of Florida <BR>> <BR>>NFB.Tampa@gmail.com <?xml:namespace prefix = "mailto" /><mailto:NFB.Tampa@gmail.com><BR>> <BR>>(352) 942-0417 <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> <BR>>The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise expectations because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want! Blindness is not what holds you back. <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> <BR>>NEWS RELEASE <BR>> <BR>>For immediate use <BR>> <BR>>FROM: Tampa Bay Chapter, National <BR>>Federation of the Blind <BR>> <BR>>RELEASE DATE: July 24, 2017 <BR>> <BR>>TO: All Media <BR>> <BR>>CONTACT: Miranda Kilby <BR>> <BR>> NFB.Tampa@gmail.com <mailto:NFB.Tampa@gmail.com><BR>> <BR>> (352) 942-0417 <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> <BR>>BLIND TO DEMONSTRATE IN PROTEST OF BUS CUTS <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> <BR>>Due to deep cuts proposed by the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority (HART), members and supporters of the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) will hold an informational demonstration outside HART’s Ybor City offices where a public hearing on the cuts will take place on Wednesday evening. The demonstration will take place from <BR>>4:00 – 5:00 p.m. in front of HART’s Streetcar Barn, located at 1201 E. <BR>>7th Avenue in Ybor City. <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> <BR>>“The blind need dependable, efficient public transportation in order to live the lives we want!” says Miranda Kilby, president of the Tampa Bay Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind. “These deep cuts only serve to create more obstacles to our ability to participate in the life of our community!” <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> <BR>>Kilby points to HART’s website in which they state, “Wherever you are going, HART takes you there”! That is, Kilby asserts, unless you are going to The Social Security office, the Brandon Post Office, the immigration office, or to your job which may no longer be on a bus route. <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> <BR>>“These cuts target the disabled, the poor, and many other groups typically marginalized by society,” states Merry Schoch, a blind chapter member and licensed clinical social worker in private practice in Brandon, one of many places HART is making cuts they irrationally defend as improvements. <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> <BR>>“Though HART asserts they are making the system more efficient and improving connectivity, those who use the system and rely upon it for work, medical appointments, social services , and recreation know this is not true!” says Paul Martinez, 1st Vice President of the National Federation of the Blind of Florida. <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> <BR>>Martinez is concerned over service cuts to Tampa General Hospital - the county’s largest hospital campus and healthcare clinic for the poor, the cancellation of one of the busiest fixed routes and second busiest flex routes, and the failure to connect frequently transferred routes. <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> <BR>>“HART cannot convince the blind that they are making the system more efficient,” says Martinez. “Nearly every so-called improvement disenfranchises the disabled, the poor, and other marginalized groups.” <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> <BR>>For more information about HART’s Transit Development Plan, go to <WW.GOHART.ORG tdp ww.gohart.org <http:>>. <BR>> <BR>># # # <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> <BR>>If You Come…. <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> <BR>>WHAT: Informational Demonstration by the National Federation of the Blind <BR>> <BR>>WHERE: HART Streetcar Barn <BR>> <BR>> 1201 E. 7th Avenue in Ybor City <BR>> <BR>>When: Wednesday, July 26, 2017 <BR>> <BR>>TIME: 4:00 – 5:30 p.m. <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> <BR>>For More Information <BR>> <BR>>Miranda Kilby <BR>> <BR>>(352) 942-0417 <BR>> <BR>>NFB.Tampa@gmail.com <mailto:NFB.Tampa@gmail.com><BR>> <BR>>About the NFB <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> The National Federation of the Blind is the oldest and largest organization of the blind in the United States. The NFB knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. <BR>>Every day we raise the expectations of blind people because low expectations are the obstacles between blind people and our dreams. <BR>>You can live the life you want! Blindness is not what holds you back. <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> <BR>>The Federation provides scholarships to blind students; support for those who are blind or losing their eyesight; advocacy for the blind facing discrimination; and educational programs for the general public on topics of blindness. The NFB is not an organization that speaks on behalf of the blind; we are the blind speaking for ourselves. For more information, please contact <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> <BR>>National Federation of the Blind <BR>> <BR>>200 East Wells Street <BR>> <BR>>At Jernigan Place <BR>> <BR>>Baltimore, MD 21230 <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> <BR>>National Federation of the Blind of Florida <BR>> <BR>>Denise Valkema, President <BR>> <BR>>14919 SW 90 Terrace <BR>>Miami, FL 33196 <BR>> <BR>>(888) 282-5972 <BR>> <BR>>President@nfbflorida.org <mailto:President@nfbflorida.org><BR>> <BR>> <BR>>-- <BR>>Miranda B. Kilby <BR>>President, Tampa Bay Chapter <BR>>National federation of the Blind of Florida <BR>>Ph.: 352-942-0417 <BR>>E-mail: nfbf.tampa@gmail.com <mailto:nfbf.tampa@gmail.com>The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members and friends who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation’s blind. <BR>>Every day we work together to help blind people live the lives they want. <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> <BR>>-- <BR>>Miranda B. Kilby <BR>>President <BR>>Tampa Bay Chapter, National Federation of the Blind of Florida Vice President Florida Association of Blind Students 2nd Vice President National Federation of the Blind of Florida <BR>>Ph: (352)942-0417 <?xml:namespace prefix = "tel" /><tel:(352)942-0417><BR>> <BR>> <BR>> <BR>>-- <BR>>Miranda B. Kilby <BR>>President <BR>>Tampa Bay Chapter, National Federation of the Blind of Florida <BR>>Vice President <BR>>Florida Association of Blind Students <BR>>2nd Vice President National Federation of the Blind of Florida <BR>>Ph: (352)942-0417 <tel:(352)942-0417><BR>> <BR>>_______________________________________________ <BR>>Nfbf-l mailing list <BR>>Nfbf-l@nfbnet.org <BR>>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbf-l_nfbnet.org <BR>>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for Nfbf-l: <BR>>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbf-l_nfbnet.org/merrys@verizon.net <BR>> <BR>> <BR>>_______________________________________________ <BR>>Nfbf-l mailing list <BR>>Nfbf-l@nfbnet.org <BR>>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbf-l_nfbnet.org <BR>>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for Nfbf-l: <BR>>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbf-l_nfbnet.org/jrhamilton51@earthlink.net <BR></BLOCKQUOTE></tel:(352)942-0417></tel:(352)942-0417></mailto:nfbf.tampa@gmail.com></mailto:President@nfbflorida.org></mailto:NFB.Tampa@gmail.com></mailto:NFB.Tampa@gmail.com></mailto:NFB.Tampa@gmail.com></div></body></html>