Wichita City Council members did the right thing Tuesday in moving to resolve a funding conflict with six local groups that provide paratransit bus services for people with disabilities.
The nonprofit providers, including Starkey, KETCH and Cerebral Palsy Research Foundation of Kansas, have long complained that city reimbursements don’t cover the costs of providing transportation services. Under federal law, it’s the city’s responsibility to ensure adequate disabled transportation access.
Paratransit bus service is a crucial lifeline that makes it possible for Wichitans with disabilities to participate in our community.
So it’s encouraging that council members gave initial support to increasing payments by more than 35 percent. And kudos to Mayor Carl Brewer for pushing for immediate relief for the groups instead of waiting for consultant studies.
Let’s hope this agreement keeps the buses rolling.
11 Comments
Whatever took them so long? This is sad nobody has commented. How is it that some believe that the disabled should be forced to live, but then don’t provide nearly the funding required to give them anything even the basics! Out of sight out of mind?
We should do way better for our disabled and elderly.
We can build a new arena, but the bus system for disabled citizens has to beg for money to continue operating…how typical.
“…it’s the city’s responsibility to ensure…”
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There’s the problem! They don’t seem “into” responsibility.
Are they out looking for a blue roof to REPLACE because painting it would void the warranty?? Something equally important and wasteful, I’m sure. Maybe they are conducting ONE interview, or hiring a consultant, building a theater for a band, or looking at ways they missed where they might waste more of our money, or raise taxes…
Why the complaints? On most issues progressives want the government to step in and take charge. This is just an example of what happens next.
More government, you wanted it and you got it. And everything that goes with it.
Here’s a crazy thought if its a federal law that cities provide services to the handicapped shouldn’t the federal government pay the bill? If not they shouldn’t be passing unfunded mandates which last i checked were illegal.
We did not used to have ‘unfunded mandates’. But with the 17th ammendment to the constitution states lost their voice at the federal level. Today the feds can pass pretty much anything they want and demand the states to pay for it.
Good for the council for funding this.
Hey churches? Where are you?
Your buses run 1 maybe 2 days of the week. Why aren’t you church folk stepping in to help?
“But with the 17th ammendment to the constitution states lost their voice at the federal level.”
How did the 17th amendment - declaring direct popular vote election of Senators - cause the states to lose their voice at the Federal level.
Seems to me that the amendment provided a much more equitable election of Senators, rather than taking anything away from the Sates.
And kudos to Mayor Carl Brewer for pushing for immediate relief for the groups instead of waiting for consultant studies.
Nice Jab, Randy! I couldn’t agree more. These consultants are getting way out of hand.
The individual state governments lost power when they lost there representative in the Senate. Now they have to hire lobbyists. They don’t even play in the same league.
When I rode the buses (about 10yrs ago), it seemed the shock absorbers were filled with concrete and the tires overinflated to the extreme. The result was a very stiff uncomfortable, even painful ride where even the smallest flaw in the road surface went right to the patient’s seat or chair. We had to quit riding the service when it became too painful.
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