The Detroit Free Press 02/16/12 Matt Helms
“Bing aims to end early-morning bus service in city”
Mayor Dave Bing wants to end early-morning bus service citywide to help steady Detroit's finances and stabilize the city's delay-plagued public transportation system, his office will announce today.
Bing's office said it will propose ending bus service between 1 and 4 a.m. citywide and reduce service times and lengthen waits between buses on dozens of routes. The cuts would take effect March 3.
About 120,000 people ride Detroit Department of Transportation buses daily, but only about 500 riders a day use buses on the nine routes that provide service 1-4 a.m., Brown said. Yet providing buses during those hours represents about 6% of DDOT's daily costs.
Riders worry that savings will come at a great cost to people dependent on buses to get to school, work, doctor appointments, grocery stores and the like. The cuts also could be brutal to people who work late shifts across the city.
"The mayor needs to understand that it's essential for the city to keep these buses running," said Darlene Butler, 56 Detroiter. "People aren't able to go to work or school or do their business without them."
Common Sense Review
Leadership is in short supply in Detroit.
Why would a city cut transportation for people to go to work when the city gets an income tax from those workers?
Out of the 38 bus routes in Detroit, keep the nine most used routes from 1am – 4am available for those who are commuting to work. Simplify not cut. The Detroit residences are punished for the lack of leadership from previous administrations. So the question is why they wouldn’t want to leave?
Reviewing the Detroit municipality departments I see some questionable issues.
First, there are 6 departments directed to community relations. Consolidate these department to community centers that offer these programs into the individual communities which are set in the community and they must find their own funding through grants and donations.
Second, I see there is a Board of Ethics, to address complaints of unethical behavior by city employees. Does Detroit have such a problem with ethical behavior that they need a full time board and staff? Wouldn’t employee issues go through the employee’s direct supervisor and then Human Resources?
Third, a Department of Culture… Really! The people of Detroit need a department of Culture to help them educate themselves on their culture.
It seems that Detroit has been spending money like drunken sailor on department that gives off the “warm fuzzy” feeling yet is not financially sound. Now the residences pay the price.
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