EZ Rider service has deteriorated significantly under the current Town Council. Excuses given range from “attempting to make it more efficient” to blaming it on the people who depend on it. There is a great deal of lip service given in Chapel Hill to serving our neediest citizens--many of our elderly are amongst them.

My mother is extraordinarily alert and mobile at 87 years old, but she is uncomfortable driving now. For her to get to the new Senior Center-–which is on the perimeter of town--requires taking two buses and takes at least 45 minutes. She used to be able to walk to the former senior center but now that it is relocated, she can't go as often.

EZ Rider is her only viable option and many other senior citizens have the same issue. The town leadership surely could have had the foresight to predict that EZ Rider utilization would increase once the new Senior Center opened on the outskirts of Chapel Hill.

Rather than cutting back on EZ Rider to save money, we need to expand it significantly to help citizens.

I was the only candidate at the League of Women Voter’s forum on October 1, 2007, who answered directly to the question of whether I would be willing to raise the transportation tax if necessary to improve EZ Rider service. All the rest said they would need to study it. No one wants to say that they are in favor of raising taxes – but in this case, as far as I’m concerned we have a compelling moral obligation.