[NFBMO] FW: Fw: Amtrak

Wed Dec 22 15:34:21 UTC 2021

Good morning, Fred. I believe that everything you mention needs attention. So we have to prioritize, develop action plans, and then try to implement them. I think the truth is that we need a lot more blind people observing what you observed, and that is the tremendous need that there is to still fight problems that affect all of us. Dr. Jernigan wrote a speech entitled "That's How It Is at the Top of the Stairs." He said that when we were at the bottom of the stairs, we had lots of incentive to climb, and people had lots of incentive to help us. His concern was that our upward movement would mean that people would feel less compulsion to help. More importantly, the concern was that we would become complacent, satisfied with what we had, and end up finding it quite comfortable to live somewhere on that staircase but nowhere near the top. In his speech he expressed the belief that of course we would not stop, and I think we have to make him right. I don't say this for his legacy; I say this for those of us who are still alive and wish to fully participate as integrated members of our society.

We need people who will come to see us not simply as helpers and service providers but as a group who needs their input, their energy, and their active participation. Good ideas are important. Getting people who are willing to help us is absolutely essential. We have to make our ask in such a way that it is persuasive. Somehow we have to convince people that this is not our organization that we want them to join but their organization that must be joined if it is to continue to be a strong advocate for the rights of blind people.

Warmly,

Gary

From: NFBMO <nfbmo-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Fred Olver via NFBMO
Sent: Wednesday, December 22, 2021 7:42 AM
To: NFB of Missouri Mailing List <nfbmo at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Fred Olver <fredolver at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [NFBMO] FW: Fw: Amtrak

You know, I apologize, you must be right. But if we are going to get upset about the lack of Amtrak service between Kansas City and St. Louis, then let’s also get upset about the fact that each evening after the PBS NewsHour the local station in my area puts up a slide which details what items are going to be shown that evening on their three different networks however they fail to provide audio information which would make it possible for me and you and everyone else in this affiliate to know what’s going to be on their station. Let’s also get upset about the banks who although they are willing to give Lipservice about accessibility and provide me with a statement each month refused to provide me with any other information which they feel it necessary to send out. I am also including in this note the fact that in a lot of cases their emails are not accessible either and although they provide pictures they provide no textual information about the pictures which are in their emails. Let’s also get upset about the utilities whose websites are not accessible. And let’s also get upset about the fact that they provide us with a bill that we can read however they failed to provide us with any other information that might be pertinent to our account because they don’t feel it necessary to do so. Yes Amtrak certainly is doing a bad job of meeting the needs of those of us who are blind but if we’re going to get upset then let’s do it about things that really do make A difference in our lives. The fact that banks don’t wish to meet our needs besides providing us with a bank statement that we can read is inexcusable it is laziness on their part the utilities that don’t want to make their websites accessible I have complained about this for years and years more than 10. That’s not a good thing either and to be perfectly honest, the bus company here in St. Louis does an awful job of making accessible there bus schedules for the various routes but do you think they will change their attitude and caused those schedules to all of a sudden become accessible no, so if you’re going to get upset about Amtrak then let’s get upset about a bunch of other things as well and see if we really can make a difference

Fred Olver

Sent from my iPhone

On Dec 22, 2021, at 7:20 AM, Roger Crome via NFBMO <nfbmo at nfbnet.org <mailto:nfbmo at nfbnet.org> > wrote:

 It is an issue because those that live on the eastern side of the state should also have the option to make a run from St. Louis to Kansas City and back to St. Louis in the same day.

Sent from my iPhone

On Dec 22, 2021, at 3:56 AM, Fred Olver via NFBMO <nfbmo at nfbnet.org <mailto:nfbmo at nfbnet.org> > wrote:

 I’m sorry, I don’t understand why this is a problem? I read an article about this very item a couple of weeks ago I believe in the St. Louis Post dispatch. One will still be able to get from Kansas City to St. Louis and St. Louis back to Kansas City in the same day Fred Olver

Sent from my iPhone

On Dec 21, 2021, at 11:21 PM, Shelia Wright via NFBMO <nfbmo at nfbnet.org <mailto:nfbmo at nfbnet.org> > wrote:

Dear Federation Members and Friends,

I have learned today that as of January 1, 2022, Amtrak is going to be cut to one train again unless the Governor will designate $2.5 million from Missouri’s Rescue Fund to keep the second train running. It seems that the St. Louis morning train heading west and its return trip in the afternoon from Kansas City to St. Louis is the train that is scheduled to be discontinued. This means that one day trips via train will not be feasible if you live on the east side of the state. I believe it is in our best interest for us as an organization to contact the Governor advocating for this important transportation service that we depend on so often. To be maintained.

I will be sending a letter from the NFB of Missouri tomorrow but ask each of you to contact the Governor’s office to express your opinion. You will recall that the money appropriated by the legislature was not enough to keep the train running all year because the State had allowed a lot of debt to accumulate that had to be paid.       

I am forwarding a message I received from Liz Gibbons, a City Council Member in Kirkwood. Her email also includes an attachment which is very informative letter cent to the Governor on behalf of officials from the various cities along the Amtrak River Runner corridor.

Please do what you can to help secure funding for Amtrak for the remainder of the current fiscal year. Thanks for giving this a little of your attention during the next few days.

Peace and Comfort,

Shelia

From: Liz Gibbons [mailto:lizg651 at gmail.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, December 21, 2021 6:13 PM
To: SBWright95 at gmail.com <mailto:SBWright95 at gmail.com> 
Subject: Fwd: Fw: Amtrak

Hello again Sheila - This is the email I sent to my consituents.  Thanks for your help.

Liz 

From: Elizabeth W. Gibbons
Sent: Monday, December 13, 2021 8:28 PM
To: lizg651 at gmail.com <mailto:lizg651 at gmail.com> 
Subject: re: Amtrak 

Dear Friends;

       Trains are an important part of Kirkwood! We have a lot of visitors arriving and departing via the Missouri River Runner Amtrak from our historic train station every day; students going to Lincoln University or Central MO State, legislators and constituents visiting Jefferson City or revelers to Herman for Maifest or Oktoberfest.  However,  we are in jeopardy of losing one of the two daily trains making it impossible to get to these places and back on the same day.  

       Starting Jan 1, 2022, because the Missouri legislature did not fully fund the Missouri River Runner, Amtrak will be removing the morning train.  Travelers will only have the evening train to travel west to KC and the other stations along the line.  The attached letter, from all the Chamber of Commerce organizations with train stops along the River Runner line,  asks Governor Parson to use $2.5 million of the American Rescue Plan funds to fill the funding gap that is causing the train cancelation.  The attached letter explains this situation in more detail.  

      It is a strong request but will be made more powerful if the Governor hears from citizens asking him to save the second train.  Please help by sending an email to the Gov. at https://governor.mo.gov/contact-us <https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgovernor.mo.gov%2Fcontact-us&data=04%7C01%7C%7Ca96ae579826e4d40e1e108d9c5314986%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637757637953056737%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&sdata=7%2FKBmw2wJCLkyxH6I6M0g14VE0TiPOyQe1oT7TAIVfY%3D&reserved=0>    asking him to support the additional funding. 

      Kirkwood is a railroad town and has been since the beginning.  We have dozens of volunteers manning the station and helping thousands of people each year who get on and off the train in our town.   

      Thank you for your interest in Kirkwood and making our community the best it can be!  Saving this second train brings more opportunity and growth to our town, I thank you!  

Sincerely,

Liz 

314-560-3303

-- 

Liz Gibbons 

314-560-3303

<MO ARPA Request final 2.pdf>

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