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<p>Hart budget is $79 million?? Seems alot then what would the
addition funds help?? I must be missing something. Also, how many
do use the fix bus routes daily? Myself, I use it every day to go
to work and back.<br>
</p>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 5/1/2019 12:17 PM, tampa President
via NFBF-Tampa wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote type="cite"
cite="mid:D7A5535F-BACA-43D5-84D6-9BEE0A35FF7C@gmail.com">
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Please
distribute the following message as widely as appropriate.</span><br>
<blockquote type="cite">
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%">There has been
a change in the times of the hearing on the motion for
summary judgement previously disseminated. The following
message updates this information to reflect these
changes, along with additional information concerning
our schedule, including details for your transportation.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%"><br>
</span><a name="OLE_LINK101" moz-do-not-send="true"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%">The summary
judgement hearing concerning the law suit filed by
Hillsborough County Commissioner Stacy white opposing
the sales tax referendum approved by voters on
November 6 will be held on Friday, May 3 at 800 E.
Twigg Street, Courtroom 501 before the honorable Rex
Barbas at 9:30 a.m. we are urging as many blind people
with their white canes and guide dogs to show up for
this hearing to let Judge Barbas know this issue is
important to us. We will meet at Crystal Bay Café
located in the courthouse at the same address (800 E.
Twigg Street, 2<sup>nd</sup> floor) for breakfast at
7:30 and a briefing at8:30 a.m. We will leave Crystal
Bay Café at 8:45 a.m. and proceed to the courtroom for
the hearing. The courtroom doors will open at
approximately 9:00 a.m. and seating is on a first
come, first served basis. The dress code for Court is
at least business casual – no shorts, tank tops, or
t-shirts – and the bailiff’s strictly enforce this
dress code. No one inappropriately dressed will be
admitted to the courtroom. <o:p></o:p></span></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%">The hearing is
scheduled on the docket all day with recess at
approximately 12:000 noon until approximately 1:30 p.m.
If you cannot attend all day, it is best to attend the
morning session; however, if you can only attend the
afternoon session, your presence is vital and we ask you
plan on being at Crystal Bay Café by 12:30 p.m. We will
have lunch at Crystal Bay Café during recess and gather
again outside the courtroom 45 minutes prior to Court
reconvening. If you will be traveling using HART Plus,
you should plan a departure for approximately 5:00 p.m.
if you plan on staying all day or attending only the
afternoon session. If you need assistance once arriving
at the courthouse, please contact Vice President Merry
Schoch at (813) 625-1850 or Marion Gwizdala at (813)
626-2789. If you plan to attend, please call or text
(813) 626-2789 or send an email message to <<a
href="mailto:tampabay@nfbflorida.org"
moz-do-not-send="true">tampabay@nfbflorida.org</a>>
with your name and whether you will attend all day, the
morning session only, or the afternoon session only.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%">This issue is
of paramount importance to the blind community, since
reliable, effective public transportation is the key to
removing the artificial barriers faced by the blind as
we live the lives we want. Of all groups of citizens in
Hillsborough County, the blind are most affected by the
quality of public transportation, since blindness limits
the ability to choose other options. The blind use
public transportation for independent mobility for every
aspect of life, including social outings, employment,
shopping, and medical appointments. The 1% sales tax and
the revenue it would generate for HART will dramatically
enhance the transportation options in Hillsborough
County and exponentially enhance the quality of life for
the blind of the region!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%">A motion for
summary judgment (sometimes called an “MSJ”) is a
request for the court to rule that the other party has
no case, because there are no facts at issue. The party
making the motion is claiming that either the case
should not go before a jury at all, or a jury could only
rule in favor of the moving party. In order to win an
MSJ, the moving party must show that:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph"
style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span
style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">1.<span
style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span
style="font-size:12.0pt">there are no facts which can
reasonably be disputed; or<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph"
style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span
style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">2.<span
style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span
style="font-size:12.0pt">Anyone looking at the facts and
applying law would rule in favor of the moving party. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%">In effect,
should Judge Barbas grant a summary judgement, the case
is decided in favor of the prevailing party. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%">On November 6,
2018 57% of voters approved a 1% sales tax to fund
certain transportation enhancements in Hillsborough
County. Of this 1% tax,the Hillsborough Area Regional
Transit (HART) would receive 45%. The current annual
budget of HART is $79 million; the additional sales tax
revenue would add approximately $125 million annually to
HART’s revenue which must be used for specific direct
service enhancements. The referendum created a citizens’
oversight committee (COC) charged with ensuring the
funds are used for their stated purpose. At issue in
this case is whether or not voters have the right to
impose a tax upon themselves and the authority to create
a citizens’ oversight committee. Commissioner White
contends voters do not have the legal right to impose a
tax; that power is reserved to elected officials. In
Addition, Comissioner White asserts voters do not have
the authority to create a COC; the authority to oversee
the spending of tax revenue is reserved to elected
officials. Should the judge rule in favor of
Commissioner White, the tax would effectively be
repealed and HART would remain at the current funding
level. Should the judge rule in favor of the
respondents, HART could potentially begin receiving the
additional revenue in a matter of days and we would soon
realize the transportation enhancements the tax revenue
was meant to create. (Approximately $40 million dollars
is currently held in escrow available to HART at this
time!) The third option, as we understand it, is that
Judge Barbas could deny all MSJs and schedule the matter
for trial. If this were to happen, the sales tax would
continue to be collected until the issue is resolved –
which could possibly take another year - and no funds
would be released for the intended purpose and will of
the voters until the case is resolved.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%">
Please join the Tampa Bay Chapter of the National
Federation of the Blind of Florida as we advocate for
improved transportation for the blind and all citizens
of Hillsborough County. For more information, please
call chapter president Miranda Kilby at (352) 942-0417
or email her at </span><a
href="mailto:nfbf.tampa@gmail.com"
moz-do-not-send="true"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%">nfbf.tampa@gmail.com</span></a><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%">. For more
information about the National Federation of the Blind
of Florida, please visit our website at </span><a
href="http://www.nfbflorida.org" moz-do-not-send="true"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%">www.nfbflorida.org</span></a><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%">.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%">
The National Federation of the Blind 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 create obstacles
between blind people and our dreams. You can live the
life you want! Blindness is not what holds you back.</span><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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P.S. remember we will be going through a metal detector, and
certain items are prohibited in a quart room please plan
accordingly.<br>
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<pre class="moz-quote-pre" wrap="">_______________________________________________
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