COTA worker passes enlightened, not unfair

I respond to criticism of the Downtown employee transit-pass program, “COTA proposal unfair for poor” by Amy Klaben (Letters, Tuesday, Dispatch). Property owners have taken the initiative to purchase unlimited access to transit services for 45,000 people who work in the core area of Downtown.

The passes are not free. Owners will pay $4,556,000 to provide these services for 31 months. Rather than building a parking garage for a select few, they are taking an enlightened and innovative approach to improving access to jobs for anyone who chooses to take transit.

There is nothing unfair about this program. For low-income workers, the expense of commuting to work downtown can be an insurmountable barrier; 19 percent of people who work Downtown earn less than $25,000 per year.

Moreover, Downtown is the largest employment center in the region and the most accessible center for people who do not own a reliable car.

Rather than criticize Downtown property owners for doing the right thing, Klaben should focus her attention on employers who leave the city for inaccessible locations on the urban fringe.

Cleve Ricksecker

Executive Director Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District which would result in billions of dollars in cost increases. This would be paid for by — guess who — you and me and everyone who uses electricity.

I realize that the people who live and work in coal country have roots that run very deep and most are reluctant to leave the area in which they were reared. However, continuing to use coal is not helpful to them or their families. It would have been more helpful if some type of energy-product company was brought into their area. Plants that build solar panels or wind turbines are a couple of suggestions. Building such plants would employ those in the construction trades for a short time.

But, the long-term plan would be the training and employing of those who would build the solar panels or wind turbines. Skills learned in building these devices might be transferable to other industries should they decide to relocate. It would be a long-term solution for a problem that has been around for many years.

If the Trump administration insists on living in the early 20th century, perhaps those working for the administration might think of traveling by train — powered by steam engines. That way, coal would be king and it would also employ a fireman to shovel coal to power the engine.

All I have to say about this is thank God for the PUCO and the Environment Law & Policy Center in Chicago.

Elizabeth A. Johnston Washington Court House