Funding Crisis
Thank You for Your Support
On March 7, Laketran began our 2011 grassroots effort with a petition and post card campaign to encourage our stakeholders to ask our federal and state representative to increase funding levels so we could restore weeknight, holiday and Saturday service.
From March 7-March 10, Laketran collected over 1,000 signatures and distributed over 2,000 postcards addressed to 7 public officials including, State Representatives Ron Young and Lorraine Fende, Senator Tim Grendell, and Governor Kasich; and federal officials U.S. Representative Steven LaTourette and Senators Rob Portman and Sherrod Brown.
On March 15, Laketran’s General Manager presented our federal representatives’ key staff members with petitions signed by 1,134 stakeholders and discussed a number of ways to generate additional funding to restore service. Two of the principal ways were to: (1) close a tax loophole and pass legislation that extends sales tax collections to online retailers involved with internet sales and (2) give local transit systems, like Laketran, the “flexibility” to use their “existing” federal funding to restore service.
By April 1, Laketran collected over 2,329 signatures from riders, Lake County agencies, friends, and family who share our vision of more public transportation for Lake County. A special thank you is extended to our community stakeholders: Neighboring, Mentor Senior Center, Lake County Housing Coalition, Breckenridge Village, and Crossroads for circulating the petition among their staff, board members and clients.
These updated petitions were sent to our state legislators in Columbus with a request to meet with them this month to discuss ways to secure more state funding for transit.
Now, the appeal for more financial resources has begun. The budget process promises to be a lengthy and difficult one at both the federal and state levels. Now more than ever we need your help to continue to write and call your state and federal legislators and share your personal stories why public transportation is important to you.
Your stories can make a difference. For our federal and state representatives to be successful in Congress and the Ohio General Assembly, you need to arm them with personal stories why public transit is important in getting you to work, healthcare, higher education, and shopping for essential goods and services.
Thank you for your continued support. With your continuing help we have a chance to succeed - without it, Laketran cannot prevail on its own. Below you will find resources to contact your state and federal representatives. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us at 440-350-1012.
How Can I Help Take Action!
Request an Advocacy Packet from Laketran
Call Laketran at 440-350-1012 and we will mail you a packet with pre-written postcards
and a sample letter to mail to your legislators.
Write or Call Your Legislators
Here is a sample letter to write to your local official. We encourage you to add a
personal story in your letter about why Laketran is important to you. Right click
on this sample letter link to download:
Sample Letter.doc
Here are the addresses and phone numbers to all of the public officials who can
help support Laketran. If you prefer to email, click on the legislator’s website.
Elected Official Contact Information
U.S. Senators and Representatives
U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown
713 Hart Senate Office Bldg.
Washington, D.C. 20510
202-224-3215
1-800-896-6446
216-522-7272
www.brown.senate.gov
U.S. Senator Rob Portman
B40D Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-3353
1-800-205-6446
216-522-7095
www.portman.senate.gov
U.S. Representative Steve LaTourette
(14th Congressional District)
2371 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
202-225-5731
440-352-3939
1-800-447-0529
www.latourette.house.gov
Ohio Senate and House of Representatives
www.senate.state.oh.us
www.house.state.oh.us
Senator Timothy Grendell (18th Senate District)
Senate Building, 1 Capitol Square
Columbus, OH 43215
614-644-7718
SD18@senate.state.oh.us
Representative Lorraine Fende (House District 62)
77 South High Street, 13th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
614-466-7251
440-943-0202
district62@ohr.state.oh.us
Representative Ron Young (House District 63)
77 South High Street, 13th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
1-800-282-0253
614-644-6074
district63@ohr.state.oh.us
Ohio Governor
http://governor.ohio.gov
Governor John Kasich
Riffe Center, 30th Floor
77 South High Street
Columbus, Oh 43215-6117
614-466-3555
Share Your Story
We need stories from our riders to share with public officials. If you are willing
to share your Laketran story and tell us why Laketran is important to you, please
contact Julia Schick at jschick@laketran.com
or 440-350-1012.
Here is an example:
Brian & Chris W., Painesville
Brian and Chris have been riding the bus longer than they have been married, which
is over 20 years. Brian relies on Laketran to get to work to support their family
and Chris uses it for shopping and doctor's appointments.
"Laketran is my opportunity for income. Without Laketran
I wouldn't be able to work. It's the only transportation we have." - Brian
"It supports our health too, because I can't get to
my appointments without it. It gets us everywhere we need to go." - Chris
Thank you for your help by
joining our effort to create better access to public transit. Only by working together
can we continue to offer Laketran’s essential services to our community.