Senator O'Mara's weekly column 'From the Capitol' ~ for the week of December 25, 2017 ~ 'How to waste millions of taxpayer dollars'

The change has been touted as a cost-cutting move by DOH; however, many local public transportation leaders from the Southern Tier, Finger Lakes, and throughout upstate have continually raised concerns about its implementation and long-term impact on rural communities and populations including the rural poor, disabled veterans, the elderly, and the rural workforce. I know because I have held numerous meetings and forums over the past several years to hear directly from local officials, mobility managers, transportation providers, and community organizations.