The County Commission got a redo on
rural buses Tuesday – and did what seems the right thing.
Last meeting, dozens who wanted to
speak didn't get the chance.
Tuesday turned into a rather wonderful
moment. More than three dozen people spoke, including bus-riders
speaking Spanish, several elected officials, and dedicated non-profit
leaders. None opposed transit. We marveled at the variety of
speakers, the power of their words, and the moving human stories.
A 27-year Anthony resident recalled
being pregant and unable to reach doctors in Las Cruces or buy
medicine: “This service is very important to me. Please don't take
it away!”
A lifelong county resident, Dr. Leti
Mora, recalled that as a child in the 1960's she suffered severe eye
problems requiring numerous surgeries. She used an old county bus
service to reach doctors. Unfortunately, the bus ran just once a
day. She and her mother had to spend a whole day in Las Cruces
waiting for the return bus. During their long absence, her father
suffered a stroke in their home. Had they returned earlier, he might
have been saved from such complete paralysis.
A 97-year-old man thanked the drivers,
said “God Bless” everyone, and sweetly called for unity.
State Senator Jeff Steinborn noted
that 39% of our county's children live in poverty, compared to 22%
nationwide.
City Councilor Gill Sorg said we
needed the buses “for the poor, so they can rise out of poverty.”
State Representative Nathan Small said that funding transit “would
leave a better legacy,” adding, “If it's not working the way it
should, make it better.”
The previous meeting was highly
unpleasant. This was less so. Credit the passion of people who were
angry they couldn't speak at the last meeting; but credit also the
new county commissioners: they listened courteously to a parade of
people hoping to preserve the buses. Chair Isobella Solis, disagreed
with the speakers, but heard them out. For an hour and forty
minutes.
After lunch Billy Garrett moved to
reinsert the transit $350,00 into the preliminary budget. John
Vasquez seconded it, but noted he's still not persuaded that the
buses are efficient and effective. (He'll give folks a chance to
convince him, from 10-11 a.m. daily at
the Ledesma Center, at 5745 Ledesma Drive.) Ramon Gonzalez
joined them for a 3-2 vote.
Folks for or against transit should
visit Vasquez. All of us should thank Vasquez and Gonzalez for their
willingness to be persuaded by their constituents.
The naysayers – Ben Rawson and Solis
– advance two basic arguments: that the voters' rejection in 2016
of a tax increase to fund a $10 million bus system tied
commissioners' hands, at least ethically; and unspecified
mismanagement or inefficiency. If management problems got you
defunded, several county departments would be gone already. The
Commission should discuss its questions / complaints / suggestions
with the transit board, and seek improvement – not blow up the
whole thing.
And it's dishonest to claim the 2016
vote controls. If the voters had rejected a special tax to buy DASO
$5 million worth of training cars and protective vests, would the
commissioners have rejected Tuesday DASO's request for $350,000 for
that? No. Nor should they. Many who voted against the tax because
of cost might recognize the need to support a more modest system and
see how it grows. Even Solis says she's not against public transit.
I'm glad our commission voted to spend
$1.75 per person next year – less than the price of a cup of coffee
these days – on a really worthy effort. I hope they stick to that.
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[The above column appeared in the Las Cruces Sun-News this morning, as well as on the newspaper's website the newspaper's website and KRWG's website.]
[This is the announcement on the county's website regarding Mr. Vasquez's daily "Coffee with the Commissioner" sessions. I'll go one morning this week.]
[Folks concerned about the buses should probably mark 25July on their calendars. I've no reason to think commissioners will change their minds on this; but it happens.]
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