[NFBF-Tampa] Fox 13 News story and article on proposed bill to dissolve HART, August 26, 2025

Thu Sep 25 23:44:18 UTC 2025

Oh, that’s nice. But I was thinking about those who still go in person to
get their medication’s.

On Thu, Sep 25, 2025 at 7:37 PM Cheryl and Ed via NFBF-Tampa <
nfbf-tampa at nfbnet.org> wrote:

> We  ge our meds delivered to our home so no more picking them up in
> person. No one is stuck.
>
>
>
> *From:* NFBF-Tampa <nfbf-tampa-bounces at nfbnet.org> *On Behalf Of *Ineko
> Gary via NFBF-Tampa
> *Sent:* Thursday, September 25, 2025 7:07 PM
> *To:* NFB of Florida Tampa Chapter List <nfbf-tampa at nfbnet.org>
> *Cc:* Ineko Gary <rubiigary at gmail.com>
> *Subject:* Re: [NFBF-Tampa] Fox 13 News story and article on proposed
> bill to dissolve HART, August 26, 2025
>
>
>
> Oh my that’s a lot of money.
>
>
>
> If they get rid of a lot of these Hart transportation, it will put a lot
> of of us stuck
>
>
>
>
>
> Going to doctors, stores, and those of y’all who meet for meetings every
> third or fourth Saturday stuck
>
>
>
> You won’t be able to go get your medicine in person won’t be able to go to
> grocery shopping and so much more
>
>
>
> They say they’re doing this to help the public. But I say they are harming
> the public.
>
>
>
> I know a lot of people they can’t drive because they have seizures really
> bad and so the doctor tells them they can’t drive for safety reasons
>
>
>
> I know a bunch of kids that ride Hart plus that’s on a spectrum of ADHD
> data depend on the door-to-door service
>
>
>
> And there’s a lot of of us who uses the city bus and Hart plus. There’s
> probably a few that use the express bus buses.
>
>
>
> So they’re not making it better they’re making it worse
>
>
>
> I told my family my family said those who don’t want to improve the Hart
> services. They need to have their cars taken away and let them write
> transportation everywhere so they will understand how transportation is
> important to everyone across the board.
>
>
>
> This really stinks that they are not making it better. They’re making it
> worse.
>
>
>
>
>
> And there’s a lot of of us who probably don’t have loved ones who can help
> out on their days off of their own work. So using transportation is very
> very, very important.
>
>
>
> For example, me my hearing aid doctor is on almost the outside of Lutes on
> Crystal Grove Boulevard. So there’s no city bus that goes there. Since
> there’s no city bus that goes there plus don’t go there.
>
>
>
> So I told my family if I did Uber, they’re in back. It will probably cost
> me $500 for round-trip.
>
>
>
> So for me to get to my hearing aid doctors, I have to do my schedule
> around their schedule. So one can drop me off any other one can come back
> and pick me up
>
>
>
> That’s how we had to do it a few months ago to get my hearing retested and
> to get my molds made.
>
>
>
> And it burns me up.
>
>
>
> On Thu, Sep 25, 2025 at 5:49 PM Cheryl and Ed via NFBF-Tampa <
> nfbf-tampa at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>
> Oh, my so how did you get to work with dbs?
>
>
>
> *From:* NFBF-Tampa <nfbf-tampa-bounces at nfbnet.org> *On Behalf Of *Louise
> Peyton via NFBF-Tampa
> *Sent:* Wednesday, September 24, 2025 2:42 PM
> *To:* NFB of Florida Tampa Chapter List <nfbf-tampa at nfbnet.org>
> *Cc:* Louise Peyton <lp2473 at hotmail.com>
> *Subject:* Re: [NFBF-Tampa] Fox 13 News story and article on proposed
> bill to dissolve HART, August 26, 2025
>
>
>
> This absolutely disgusts me!  Tampa used to be called the next great city
> and what have we come to regarding poor transportation and our politicians
> who don’t utilize the bus system.  Even I can’t utilize Hart as I currently
> live three miles from the nearest bus stop.  Imagine all the 1 million
> county residents who will be stranded!
>
> I’ve read there will be a legislative delegation meeting on Oct. 21, but
> would have to send the address between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.  However,
> to sign up to speak, this must be done by Oct. 11.  Will look up the
> details and send along.
>
> Louise
>
>
>
> *From:* NFBF-Tampa <nfbf-tampa-bounces at nfbnet.org> *On Behalf Of *marion.gwizdala---
> via NFBF-Tampa
> *Sent:* Wednesday, September 24, 2025 1:56 PM
> *To:* 'NFB of Florida Tampa Chapter List' <nfbf-tampa at nfbnet.org>
> *Cc:* marion.gwizdala at gmail.com
> *Subject:* Re: [NFBF-Tampa] Fox 13 News story and article on proposed
> bill to dissolve HART, August 26, 2025
>
>
>
> Dear All,
>
>
>
>                 Unfortunately, many have the mistaken attitude like
> Commissioner Wostal that public transportation only helps a few, so why
> should the public fund it? This belief is very short-sighted and ignorant
> at its base! Those of us who either cannot drive or cannot afford a vehicle
> use public transportation to fulfill every social and economic opportunity
> as others. We enhance the health of the community by utilizing public
> transportation to go to medical appointments and stay healthy, thus costing
> society less in healthcare expenses. We support the economy of the region
> by utilizing public transportation to go to work and spend that money we
> earn, thus enhancing the economy. As an example, six of us gathered at
> Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen in Carrolwood in July, all of us arriving and
> departing using public transportation. Merry and I alone spent nearly $200
> that night, along with the other four of us.
>
>
>
> The idea that public transportation only benefits a few is so ignorant it
> is pathetic! These elitist politicians feed their constituents lies and the
> lemmings believe them without challenge or data. Everyone nods in agreement
> as these master manipulators share their irrational, ablist  attitudes and
> unethical immoral conduct telling them it is “common sense” when it makes
> absolutely none. They promise what we want to hear then act with impunity
> by asserting, ”That’s why you elected us!” If you have not yet done so,
> everyone needs to read George Orwell’s “1984”. It should have been entitled
> “2025”!
>
>
>
> Marion Gwizdala
>
>
>
>
>
> *From:* NFBF-Tampa <nfbf-tampa-bounces at nfbnet.org> *On Behalf Of *Sherrill
> O'Brien via NFBF-Tampa
> *Sent:* Monday, September 22, 2025 5:29 PM
> *To:* nfbf-tampa at nfbnets
>
> .org
> *Cc:* Sherrill O'Brien <sherrill.obrien at verizon.net>
> *Subject:* [NFBF-Tampa] Fox 13 News story and article on proposed bill to
> dissolve HART, August 26, 2025
>
>
>
> Greetings Tampa chapter members and friends,
>
>
>
> As promised, here’s the link to the August 26 Fox News story about the
> proposed bill by state Rep. Michael Owens to dissolve HART and replace it
> with a city only transit system
>
> This is on YouTube, so just skip the annoying ad!
>
> Below the link I’ve also pasted the text of a companion article.
>
>
>
> State Rep. Michael Owen, who plans to introduce this bill, represents
> District 70 which includes parts of Hillsborough and Manatee Counties.
>
>
>
> The YouTube link and story are below my signature.
>
> Please do spread the word by sending out this important email. We can make
> a huge impact with one strong and united voice!
>
>
>
> Sherrill O’Brien, Secretary
>
> Tampa Bay Chapter
>
> National Federation of the Blind of Florida
>
>
>
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-U1ld6nNLo
>
>
>
> *Hillsborough lawmaker pushes to dissolve HART, launch city-only transit*
>
> *By *Evyn Moon <https://fox13news.com/person/m/evyn-moon>
>
> *Published*  August 26, 2025 9:24pm EDT
>
> Hillsborough County <https://www.fox13news.com/tag/us/fl/hillsborough>
>
> FOX 13 News <https://www.fox13news.com/>
>
> [image: Bill to dissolve HART, move to city-run transit]
>
> Rep. Michael Owen is drafting a bill to dissolve Hillsborough Area
> Regional Transit (HART).
>
>    1. The plan would create the Tampa Transit Authority, serving only
>       Tampa city limits.
>
>
>    2. Some officials said the move could cut off service for thousands
>       outside the city.
>
> *TAMPA, Fla. - Hillsborough County's
> <https://www.fox13news.com/tag/us/fl/hillsborough> main bus system could be
> facing major changes. State Rep. Michael Owen says he is working on
> legislation to dismantle HART and replace it with a Tampa-only transit
> agency.*
>
> *The proposed Tampa Transit Authority would operate within city limits and
> could potentially be funded by a city sales tax, instead of higher property
> taxes for the entire county.*
>
>
>
> *The other side:*
>
> *Not everyone supports the idea. HART board chairman and Tampa City
> Councilman Luis Viera said the plan could leave more than a million
> residents outside Tampa without reliable transit options
> <https://www.fox13news.com/tag/transportation>, including seniors and
> people with disabilities who rely on paratransit services to get to work
> and the grocery store. *
>
> *"You don't take away mass transit funding for the rest of the county,"
> Viera said.*
>
> *What they're saying:*
>
> *Owen argues the majority of HART's riders live in Tampa, so city
> taxpayers should shoulder the cost. He also criticized HART's recent move
> to explore raising property taxes. *
>
> *Hillsborough Commissioner Josh Wostal agrees, saying county residents
> shouldn’t pay for services they don’t use. *
>
> *"We can't keep saving the few to hurt the many," he said.*
>
> *By the numbers:*
>
>    - *12.6 million riders used HART services last year.*
>    - *Hillsborough County population: about 1.6 million.*
>    - *Tampa population: roughly 400,000.*
>
> *What's next:*
>
> *Owen expects to have the bill ready by October. If passed, the transition
> could take two to four years and give Tampa voters a chance to approve
> funding for new transit projects like light rail. *
>
> *For now, HART said it has not seen any formal proposal and is focused on
> serving the entire county. The City of Tampa also has no comment until a
> bill is officially proposed. *
>
> *The Source:* This story is based on information from Rep. Michael Owen,
> HART board members including Luis Viera, and Hillsborough County
> Commissioner Josh Wostal.
>
>
>
>
>
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