Cathy Brechtelsbauer and Melanie Bliss once again prove there are amazing people in Sioux Falls. They bring separate but equally great messages to the Sioux Falls City Council. Will the Council even listen much less act?

Cathy and five of her young friends are asking the city to provide free bus transportation for children during the summer. The buses are running anyway, why not let the kids go out and explore our town? This will teach the kids responsibility, schedules plus giving them the feeling of adventure while they see what can be seen. As Kathy points out, giving Sioux City found out it helps their federal funding by increasing the ridership numbers. What a concept! Instead of restricting service, Sioux City can grow their system. Wow… Why stop at high school age, let the college students ride also so they can go to summer jobs by using their school ID?

Come to think of it, why not make it year round? Guess we have to start somewhere…

Our next public speaker is another conscience of Sioux Falls, Melanie Bliss. Melanie speaks of the need to find solutions to the homelessness and affordable housing availability problems in the city of Sioux Falls. How can we keep encouraging people to come to Sioux Falls to work when we have no way to help the people who slip between the cracks?

We continually build palaces for the special people of Sioux Falls to enjoy while they drive past those who have no way to get to work. If we are to be so Christian like where is the lesson we were taught to help those who can’t help themselves? Really help and not pretend? Remember Paratransit?

3 Thoughts on “Let’s Eat n Get on the Bus SF City Council Public Input 2015 05 12

  1. hornguy on May 17, 2015 at 3:48 pm said:

    The city’s budget is about $410 million. SAM only generates about $600k a year in fares from non-paratransit users. So here’s an idea – what if the city just underwrote the cost for all its regular routes and made the bus free for everyone?

  2. Joan on May 17, 2015 at 6:00 pm said:

    Unless things have changed, during the summer kids can ride the bus for $25.00 for the whole summer. I wouldn’t be surprised if there wasn’t scholarships for the real low income kids. I guess I don’t see why they should ride free when the city can’t afford to transport seniors and disabled people on Paratransit.

    Sioux Falls definitely needs more affordable housing, where the rent is figured on 30% of a person’s income, and they need more than just two bedroom housing in that price range. When you apply for assistance at Sioux Falls Housing & Rehabilitation there is roughly a five year waiting list, and what are people supposed to do in the meantime?

  3. The Daily Spin on May 18, 2015 at 9:13 am said:

    Huether will never go for it. He’s about himself, not social services. He wants every penny of revenue for another outside sport that he can put a roof over.

    My opinion, get the kids around town. They’ll spend and increase sales tax revenue while learning their town. Hpefully, they’ll love here enough not to leave. Joan has a point. The city loses money on handicap transit but we pay taxes so there’s assistance and equality (federal civil rights). Same for the handicapped, they’ll get around and spend (sales tax revenue). Showing we assist local transportation attracts retirees. They’ll vote for you (even Huether) if you’ve shown them the attention they deserve.

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