The Margaret Gomez Re-Election Campaign opened the doors of its office at 1803 E. Cesar Chavez in Austin earlier Tuesday. The office will host campaign staff and volunteers working to re-elect Commissioner Gomez.
We can always use volunteers. To volunteer, click the link above or e-mail campaign manager Estella French at estella@reelectmargaretgomez.com.
Commissioner Margaret Gomez’s reelection campaign kickoff is just one week away. We hope you can join us on Monday, December 7 at Nuevo Leon on E. 6th St for the kickoff fundraiser. It will last from 5:30pm to 8pm.
For the fifth consecutive year, Commissioner Margaret Gomez celebrated Thanksgiving by serving a turkey dinner at the Dove Springs Recreation Center on Monday night.
On behalf of Commissioner Gomez and everyone working on her campaign, Happy Thanksgiving to all.
Commissioner Margaret Gómez was at the State Capitol on Wednesday to honor veterans for the service, where she read a county proclamation marking Veterans’ Day. Commissioner Góme has consistently participated in Veterans’ Day ceremonies for the last fifteen years.
Karen Langley, Executive Director of Family Eldercare in Austin, wrote the following letter to the editor of the Austin American-Statesman. The letter appeared in this morning’s newspaper.
Bravo to Cap Metro’s Gómez
Re: Oct. 31 editorial “Fare hike requires leadership.”
Bravo to Travis County Commissioner Margaret Gómez, who is also Capital Metro board chairwoman.
Thank goodness she is leading the way on good public policy regarding taxes, fees and charges and looking after those who can least afford to pay — those living on fixed incomes. The elderly and people with disabilities pay a disproportionate amount of their income on basic living costs compared with the rest of us.
It is very important to those of us who work with low-income elderly and people with disabilities that they are assisted with no-cost transportation services. To attempt to balance the Cap Metro budget on those least able to pay makes for poor public policy and will result in paying more in other transportation services contracts.
Karen Langley
Executive director, Family Eldercare
klangley@familyeldercare.org
Austin
Read Commissioner Gómez’s editorial in today’s Austin American Statesman: Seniors, disabled should not be burdened with fare increase. Yesterday the fare increase exemption for elderly and disabled people passed. It would not have been possible without the leadership of Margaret Gómez.
Here is an excerpt from the editorial:
The community reaction to the fare proposal has been loud and clear. People do not believe fares should be raised for seniors or disabled riders. As a public, taxpayer-funded agency, we cannot ignore public input when making changes to the agency’s fare structure.
My parents taught me at a young age that leadership means standing up for those who cannot always stand up for themselves. This is what first attracted me to public service.
Leadership also means listening to your constituents. At this time, it is just not wise to raise fares on the most vulnerable.
Travis County Commissioner Margaret Gómez is joined by fellow Capital Metro board members and community leaders, including D’Ann Johnson of Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, in support of the exemption.
“The community reaction to the proposed fare increases on seniors and disabled riders has been loud and clear,” Gómez said. “Capital Metro is a public, taxpayer funded agency and cannot afford to ignore pubic input when making changes to the fare structure. I will do what I believe is right by voting no on a fare increase for the elderly and the disabled. At this time, it just does not make sense to increase the burden on these groups.”
Johnson, Austin branch manager of Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, issued the following statement in support of the exemption.
“When people do not drive and family members are not available to drive them, public transportation is the only option for those who live in poverty. Mobility and independence are of high importance to seniors and people with disabilities. Many people worry that they will be stranded and unable to go to the grocery store or to the doctor,” Johnson said. “Those most impacted by rising costs of public transportation are older women, African-Americans, Latinos and people with disabilities. In Central Texas, people with disabilities are 1.5 times more likely to live in poverty. While 16 percent of older whites own a car, 42 percent of African-Americans over the age of 65 and 39 percent of older Latinos do not own a car. Older minority populations are more than twice as likely to use public transportation as their white counterparts.”
“Those who are financially secure have more convenient alternatives that riding the bus. They can call a cab or hire a personal assistant to drive them doorstep to doorstep,” Johnson said. “It is those most vulnerable and on fixed incomes that are dependent on the public transportation system. The Cap Metro board should exercise leadership and cut expenses and leave seniors alone.”
I have submitted the following to the Austin American-Statesman in response to their editorial last Saturday criticizing the stand several of my fellow Capital Metro board members and I have taken on a fare increase exemption for senior and disabled citizens.
The Austin American-Statesman editorial board wrote on Saturday that my work to exempt senior and disabled citizens from Capital Metro’s fare increase did not show leadership. Earlier this month, the same editorial board praised me for deciding federal stimulus dollars intended for rail projects should not be used to delay fare increases that would eventually go up. The editorial board now says that working to exempt seniors and disabled citizens from the fare increase is “hedging.”
Deciding to raise fares is never easy, but this time we knew it was a necessity if we wanted to maintain current levels of service. I am hopeful that raising fares will help Capital Metro better fulfill its mission to provide an efficient and affordable system of public transportation that the people of Travis County can depend on and be proud of.
While a base fare increase is unavoidable, raising fares on seniors and disabled citizens is a separate issue. Currently, they ride Capital Metro buses for free. I believe it should stay that way, and that we can avoid increasing the burden on an already vulnerable population while still putting Capital Metro on a path towards financial stability. I’ve been involved with government for a long time, but rarely have I been criticized for working on behalf of seniors and disabled people. There is nothing political about this. It is simply the right thing to do.
The community reaction to the fare proposal has been loud and clear. People do not believe fares should be raised for seniors or disabled riders at this time. As a public, taxpayer funded agency, we cannot ignore public input when making changes to the agency’s fare structure.
My parents taught me at a young age that leadership means standing up for those who cannot always stand up for themselves. This is what first attracted me to public service. Leadership also means listening to your constituents. At this time, it is just not wise to raise fares on the most vulnerable. I commend my fellow board members for joining me in support exempting seniors and disabled citizens from the fare increase. I am confident that my proposed exemption will pass and that the senior and disabled riders who rely on Capital Metro every day will have one less burden to worry about.
We are excited to get out spreading the word about Margaret Gomez’s 15 year record of standing up for Precinct 4 at the Commissioners’ Court. If you are interested in joining us as we block walk Precinct 4, please sign up to volunteer.
A weekly round up of Margaret Gómez in the news during the past week.
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