“These cuts, in the realms of transportation, directly affect the lower class demographics in a negative way, and to proceed with them would only enhance the critical issues of crime, unemployment, etc.”
- Sen. Lena Taylor

Wisconsin Sen. Lena Taylor played a key role in championing the issue of Milwaukee transit in the recent Milwaukee county budget battle between the county board and County Executive Scott Walker. She now looks ahead to her campaign for the county executive seat in 2008.

County Supervisor Richard Nyklewicz Jr. of the 14th District, who chairs the board's Finance and Audit Committee, said Senator Taylor played a crucial role in the battle over transit fund restoration.

"One thing I'd like to clearly indicate is that (the transit reversal) was the result of the state aid that was sponsored by Sen. Lena Taylor, which amounted to $3.2 million that allowed us to maintain bus routes that County Executive Walker had targeted for cuts," Nyklewicz said.

In a heated battle of vetoes and veto overrides, the county board and executive finally came to a budget consensus three weeks ago. The board overrode 19 of Walker’s 22 vetoes, which he submitted in order to keep taxes low. One of the most observed sectors of the County Budget was that of transportation.

Although Walker made claims of all bus routes being maintained, several routes were actually shortened in his proposal as well as an increase of 50 cents for daily adult fares and $1.50 for disabled users using special services.

“These cuts, in the realms of transportation, directly affect the lower class demographics in a negative way, and to proceed with them would only enhance the critical issues of crime, unemployment, etc.” Taylor said.

Taylor stated that vital county services such as transportation play a significant role in uplifting Milwaukee as a whole.

“Transit is a catalyst to economic development,” said Taylor. “We had a very innovative system of transit that was being heavily used by the citizens of Milwaukee. We had that but we quit having the vision to see how it would continue to grow. You have to grow with changing time.”

Critical of the new direction Walker is taking by putting more emphasis on the individual and that person’s car, Taylor points to the repercussions of individual expenses, pollution and the massive parking problems the city already has. Instead of emphasizing individual automobiles, Sen. Taylor looked to the benefits of public rail transportation, a connection between Milwaukee and Chicago, and an efficient system as a whole.

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