The next Bus User Safety at Southridge meeting for advocating on behalf of the transit users going to Southridge Mall is planned for Tuesday evening at 6:30 p.m. at St. Alphonsus Church in the Village of Greendale.
The event will feature a town hall meeting format with information and background on this issue along with an action plan developed by the B.U.S.S. Coalition to keep this issue before the public.
Milwaukee County Supervisor Patricia Jursik said, “The Simon policy regarding transit users at Southridge is not consistent with the values of Milwaukee County. We do not treat our elderly, disabled and impaired citizens in this manner. The larger community will support these transit users.”
Jursik is inviting the village trustees and village president of Greendale to participate in the meeting. The Village of Greendale provided Southridge management financial support in the form of a $15.8 million dollar Tax incremental Financing provided with other governmental entities including Milwaukee County participating to improve the mall. Such public improvements should benefit all members of the community, not only the young or affluent, Jursik said. The coalition will have petitions available for signing or circulation and will make announcements for future actions.
St. Alphonsus is located at 6000 W. Loomis Road. The meeting will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
The call for returning the bus stop to the front doors of Southridge is being supported by a coalition of organizations, including Independence First, Disability Rights Wisconsin, Hunger Task Force, Milwaukee Transit Riders Union, Amalgamated Transit Union Local 998, Milwaukee County Commission on Aging, Milwaukee County Commission for Disabled Persons, Milwaukee County Aging & Disability Resource Center Governing Board, County Executive Chris Abele, Jursik and several county board supervisors.
To view a video of how a person with disabilities now has to navigate from the remote bus stop to the mall, click here.
