<div dir="ltr"><div><div style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:small" class="gmail_default"><font size="2">Greetings Florida Federationists,</font></div><div class="gmail_default"><font style="font-family:arial,sans-serif" size="2">As many of you are aware, at our state convention, we passed several resolutions. One was
</font><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;line-height:115%"><font style="font-family:arial,sans-serif" size="2"><span style="line-height:115%">REGARDING
PROPOSED DISSOLUTION OF HILLSBOROUGH AREA REGIONAL TRANSIT (HART). </span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;line-height:115%"><font style="font-family:arial,sans-serif" size="2"><span style="line-height:115%"><span></span></span></font></p>
</div><div style="font-family:arial,sans-serif" class="gmail_default"><font size="2">
<span style="line-height:115%">FL
Rep. Michael Owens wants to dismantle the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit (HART)
Authority and create a replacement agency to serve only the City of Tampa, a
Tampa Transit Authority</span><span style="line-height:115%">.</span> This would be detrimental to many residents, including those of us who are blind and have low vision. As mentioned at the convention, if this attempt is successful, it will most likely be brought to other counties in Florida. In an effort to head off this proposal, we're looking for your help.</font></div><div style="font-family:arial,sans-serif" class="gmail_default"><font size="2">We need each person to call or email every state representative, regardless of whether they represent you. </font></div><div style="font-family:arial,sans-serif" class="gmail_default"><font size="2">I've included a sample personal letter in this email and as an attachment. Replace the instructional parentheses with your appropriate words. Short of creating a spreadsheet for 120 representatives, the simplest way to accomplish this would be to visit the State Representatives' web page and click on the "Contact Us" link for each Representative. There you will find phone numbers for the offices and a form to submit an email.</font></div><div style="font-family:arial,sans-serif" class="gmail_default"><font size="2">We realize this requires a tremendous amount of work, but we at the National Federation of the Blind of Florida are not afraid of the work it takes. Thank you in advance for your efforts. </font></div><div style="font-family:arial,sans-serif" class="gmail_default"><font size="2">With sincere appreciation, </font></div><div style="font-family:arial,sans-serif" class="gmail_default"><font size="2"><br></font></div><div style="font-family:arial,sans-serif" class="gmail_default"><font size="2">Following is the sample letter. Please feel free to reach out to me with questions. </font></div><div style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:small" class="gmail_default">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:115%;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">Dear (insert name of elected official),<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in 8pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">I am writing about my concern over a proposal by FL Rep.
Michael Owens to dismantle the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit (HART)
Authority and create a replacement agency to serve only the City of Tampa, a
Tampa Transit Authority. The rationale according to Owens and Hillsborough
County Commissioner Josh Wostal is that residents of unincorporated
Hillsborough County should not have to pay property taxes for a service
primarily used by Tampa residents. <span style="color:black">This proposal could cut transit service for more
than 1 million residents in unincorporated Hillsborough County
including communities such as:<span></span></span></p>
<ul type="disc" style="margin-bottom:0in"><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in 8pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><b><span>Northwest:</span></b><span> Carrollwood,
Keystone, Lutz, Cheval<span></span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in 8pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><b><span>Southshore:</span></b><span> Riverview,
Apollo Beach, Ruskin, Gibsonton<span></span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in 8pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><b><span>East:</span></b><span> Brandon,
Valrico, Seffner, Mango, Thonotosassa<span></span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in 8pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><b><span>West:</span></b><span> Westchase,
Town 'n' Country, Citrus Park, Egypt Lake-Leto<span></span></span></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in 8pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><b><span style="color:black">Who Will Be Impacted?<span></span></span></b></p>
<ul type="disc" style="margin-bottom:0in"><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in 8pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><b><span>Essential
Workers</span></b><span>: healthcare, hospitality, service industry, and more<span></span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in 8pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><b><span>Students</span></b><span>: commuting to
colleges, high schools, training programs and extracurricular activities<span></span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in 8pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><b><span>Seniors &
Riders with Disabilities</span></b><span>: who depend on paratransit and bus service for
vital services <span></span></span></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in 8pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><span style="color:black">The </span>City of Tampa population is over 400,000 (2024
Census) while Hillsborough County boasts over 1.5 million residents.<span style="color:black"><span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:115%;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">While the proposal allows for agreements, it could lead to
reduced or eliminated services in less densely populated areas if the county
chooses not to fund them. According to HART data, nearly half of ridership and
most paratransit trips occur outside Tampa city limits. <span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:115%;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">(Give an example if you can as to how this would affect you). <span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:115%;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">All citizens of Hillsborough County deserve access to public
transit services throughout the County. Please do not support a proposal to
dismantle HART.<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:115%;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">Respectfully, <span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:115%;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">(Your name and maybe the district you live in)<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:115%;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><span> </span></p>
</div><br clear="all"></div><br><span class="gmail_signature_prefix">-- </span><br><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div><i><font face="garamond, serif" size="4">Debbie Malone</font></i></div><div><i><font face="garamond, serif" size="4"><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:small">774-786-0177</span></font></i></div><div><i><font face="garamond, serif" size="4"><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:small"><a href="mailto:dmalone510@gmail.com">dmalone510@gmail.com</a></span></font></i></div><div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial"><i style="font-family:"comic sans ms",sans-serif;color:rgb(32,33,36)"><a href="http://DebbieMalone.org" target="_blank">DebbieMalone.org</a></i></p></div></div><div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/~/e/B07RVCRR5R" target="_blank">Amazon Author Page</a></div><div><br></div></div></div></div></div></div>