May 5th: Vote nears for Public Transit, Public library

On Tuesday, May 5th voters will decide upon whether to renew two mileages - one for the public transit system in Kalamazoo and the other to support the public libraries. These mileages both have extreme importance to the vitality of residents in Kalamazoo County.

The Poverty Reduction Initiative supports both Mileages as both services play large roles in reducing negative effects of poverty such as: increased mobility, access to goods and services, access to educational resources, access to digital media, and much more.

Many people inside both the city of Kalamazoo and the county use the public transit system to reach their employers, visit educational programs, receive goods and services, and stay connected within their community. Getting rid of this service not only hurts these residents, but also degrades the overall economic well-being of the region.

Many are familiar with the educational and economic advantages of having a public library with effective services. This resources increases resident literacy, technological skills and even employment skills.

Please take a moment on May 5th to vote yes for both proposals. The cost of these services is negligible juxtaposed to the benefits they provide to our community.