[NFBF-Tampa] Blind to Demonstrate in Opposition of Bus Cuts

[Tampa Bay President]

Please circulate the following information as widely as possible.



                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.
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



Miranda Kilby, President

Tampa Bay Chapter

National Federation of the Blind of Florida

NFB.Tampa at gmail.com

(352) 942-0417



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.



NEWS RELEASE

For immediate use

FROM: Tampa Bay Chapter, National
Federation of the Blind

RELEASE DATE: July 24, 2017

TO: All Media

CONTACT: Miranda Kilby

     NFB.Tampa at gmail.com

     (352) 942-0417



BLIND TO DEMONSTRATE IN PROTEST OF BUS CUTS



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
4:00 – 5:00 p.m. in front of HART’s Streetcar Barn, located at 1201 E.
7th Avenue in Ybor City.



“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!”



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.



“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.



“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.



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.



“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.”



For more information about HART’s Transit Development Plan, go to
<ww.gohart.org/tdp>.

# # #



If You Come….



WHAT: Informational Demonstration by the National Federation of the Blind

WHERE: HART Streetcar Barn

                1201 E. 7th Avenue in Ybor City

When: Wednesday, July 26, 2017

TIME: 4:00 – 5:30 p.m.



For More Information

Miranda Kilby

(352) 942-0417

NFB.Tampa at gmail.com

About the NFB



        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.
Every day we raise the expectations of blind people because low
expectations are the obstacles between blind people and our dreams.
You can live the life you want! Blindness is not what holds you back.



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



National Federation of the Blind

200 East Wells Street

At Jernigan Place

Baltimore, MD 21230



National Federation of the Blind of Florida

Denise Valkema, President

14919 SW 90 Terrace
Miami, FL 33196

(888) 282-5972

President at nfbflorida.org


-- 
Miranda B. Kilby
President, Tampa Bay Chapter
National federation of the Blind of Florida
Ph.: 352-942-0417
E-mail: nfbf.tampa at 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.
Every day we work together to help blind people live the lives they
want.