31 January 2020: Getting involved - Regional Transit

If we are unhappy with our government, the solution is for us to individually do more. One small grain of sand dropped on a sand pile can cause movement, but doing nothing will not. So I have resolved, for 2020, to do more: more involvement in political campaigns of candidates I like, more meetings or emails with elected officials, more involvement in important issues such as climate change, more care in determining what businesses I choose to support with my purchases.

Recently, I went to a political fundraiser, which I found is a good way to talk directly to many of my elected officials and candidates in a short period of time. I spoke to Hilarie Chambers, Chief Deputy County Executive (Oakland County) about regional transit, and wrote her a follow up email, which I am including so you can see it is not that difficult to do:

Dear Hilarie,
Thanks for chatting with me recently.
I wanted to reiterate my support for regional transit, which must include Oakland County. I have owned my current small business, now with 14 employees, since 2001, near 12 Mile and Telegraph. It is important to my employees and to myself to have a solid alternative to a personal automobile, and as a business owner, I expect that I will contribute towards this infrastructure with taxes. I personally went without a car for 2 years recently, and often took the Smart bus. It was fairly reliable, but could be expanded.
We will not build a better county, state and country by lowering taxes. It will be built by investing in people, infrastructure and research.
I have owned various businesses since the mid-1970's, and would be happy to work with you, however possible, to promote this vision of County Executive David Coulter on regional transit. Just let me know.
- Nat