Editorial
Chris Abele
One of the most critical issues facing our community is the availability and affordability of public transit and the direct tie to increased access to economic opportunity and good paying jobs.
Under former County Executive (and current Governor) Scott Walker, Milwaukee’s transit system budget was cut year after year.
The results were predictable; higher fares, fewer routes, and increased difficulty in accessing jobs during the height of the Great Recession.
It must be noted, that the tide has turned at the County.
Current County Executive Chris Abele, running for re-election on April 5, has made transit a key priority. Abele’s success in reducing the county’s debt has freed up taxpayer dollars to go where they are needed – towards critical services and economic investments that benefit Milwaukee County residents.
For the last five consecutive years, there have been no transit fare increases or cuts to routes.
In fact, routes have been added and the aging County fleet has been upgraded with safer buses that are better for the environment.
As Milwaukee continues to recover from the recent financial crisis, Abele has demonstrated that he understands the critical role that transit plays in future economic development.
He is working to ensure that access, to family supporting jobs, is just a bus ride away.
Recently, County Executive Abele proposed adding an additional 20,000 route miles to the Milwaukee County Transit System. Solidifying his commitment to public transit, he has also instructed the County’s Department of Transportation to examine options in connecting residents to the region’s largest job centers, via Bus Rapid Transit service.
His opponent in the April 5th election, State Senator Chris Larson, has also stated his support for public transit. However, his record and proposals should be troubling to all.
Senator Larson was a member of the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors, when transit saw higher fares and fewer routes.
While he was in a position to prioritize transportation and access to economic opportunity, Larson couldn’t get the job done.
Now, Larson is promising to raise taxes to fund transportation and parks. He claims his plan will lower property taxes.
For sure, we know it will increase our sales tax. Larson’s tax hike would have to pass the state legislature and be signed into law by the Governor. Good luck getting that done!
Either way our community will be left paying the bill, even if it doesn’t happen when we board a bus. Higher taxes shouldn’t be required to keep the County’s commitment to public transit. County Executive Abele’s record over the last five years has proven that.
Senator Larson has had 5 years in Madison to get something accomplished for Milwaukee. He hasn’t delivered.
Some of those years he was Senate Minority Leader, shouldn’t he have promoted things that would have benefited the largest city in our state?
Instead, Larson was voted out of that position, by his Senate Democratic colleagues, because he couldn’t get the job done.
If Larson couldn’t deliver then, why should we believe he can now? The short answer is, we can’t.
If access to economic opportunity and an improved transit system is a priority for you, the choice on April 5th is clear.