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--></style></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Greetings Tampa chapter members and friends,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>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<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>This is on YouTube, so just skip the annoying ad!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Below the link I’ve also pasted the text of a companion article.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>State Rep. Michael Owen, who plans to introduce this bill, represents District 70 which includes parts of Hillsborough and Manatee Counties. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The YouTube link and story are below my signature.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Please do spread the word by sending out this important email. We can make a huge impact with one strong and united voice! <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Sherrill O’Brien, Secretary<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Tampa Bay Chapter<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>National Federation of the Blind of Florida<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-U1ld6nNLo"><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-U1ld6nNLo</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Hillsborough lawmaker pushes to dissolve HART, launch city-only transit<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>By </span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><a href="https://fox13news.com/person/m/evyn-moon">Evyn Moon</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Published</span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> August 26, 2025 9:24pm EDT<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><a href="https://www.fox13news.com/tag/us/fl/hillsborough">Hillsborough County</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><a href="https://www.fox13news.com/">FOX 13 News</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:none'><img border=0 width=1280 height=720 style='width:13.3333in;height:7.5in' id="Picture_x0020_4" src="cid:image001.jpg@01DC2BDC.AC433F40" alt="Bill to dissolve HART, move to city-run transit"></span><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.75in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Rep. Michael Owen is drafting a bill to dissolve Hillsborough Area Regional Transit (HART).<o:p></o:p></span></p><ul style='margin-top:0in' type=disc><ol style='margin-top:0in' start=1 type=1><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l3 level2 lfo3'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>The plan would create the Tampa Transit Authority, serving only Tampa city limits.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ol></ul><ul style='margin-top:0in' type=disc><ol style='margin-top:0in' start=2 type=1><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l3 level2 lfo5'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Some officials said the move could cut off service for thousands outside the city.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ol></ul><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>TAMPA, Fla. - <a href="https://www.fox13news.com/tag/us/fl/hillsborough" target="_self">Hillsborough County's</a> 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.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>The other side:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>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 <a href="https://www.fox13news.com/tag/transportation" target="_self">reliable transit options</a>, including seniors and people with disabilities who rely on paratransit services to get to work and the grocery store. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>"You don't take away mass transit funding for the rest of the county," Viera said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>What they're saying:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>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. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:none'><img border=0 width=932 height=524 style='width:9.7083in;height:5.4583in' id="Picture_x0020_3" src="cid:image002.jpg@01DC2BDC.AC433F40"></span><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Hillsborough Commissioner Josh Wostal agrees, saying county residents shouldn’t pay for services they don’t use. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>"We can't keep saving the few to hurt the many," he said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>By the numbers:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><ul style='margin-top:0in' type=disc><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo8'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>12.6 million riders used HART services last year.<o:p></o:p></span></b></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo8'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Hillsborough County population: about 1.6 million.<o:p></o:p></span></b></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo8'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Tampa population: roughly 400,000.<o:p></o:p></span></b></li></ul><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>What's next:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>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. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>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. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>The Source:</span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> This story is based on information from Rep. Michael Owen, HART board members including Luis Viera, and Hillsborough County Commissioner Josh Wostal.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div></body></html>