There’s absolutely nothing wrong with voting your pocketbook when you go to the polls.
It’s your money. You worked hard to earn it. It’s only natural to want to keep it or spend it as you see fit.
But sometimes you have to look beyond that. Sometimes you have to vote your conscience.
That’s the case in Addison Township where voters are being asked to approve a five-year, 0.25-mill property tax increase to support the North Oakland Transportation Authority (NOTA).
If approved, the revenue generated by the new tax would allow Addison to rejoin NOTA and once again receive the bus services the community had access to since 2001.
Addison’s most vulnerable citizens ? the elderly, the disabled and the low-income ? have been without NOTA’s services since Jan. 1 and they have been suffering greatly.
They rely on NOTA to take them places such as medical facilities, grocery stores, jobs, community events and senior centers. Without NOTA, many of these people can’t lead independent lives. Some can’t even leave their homes.
The loss of NOTA has put people’s health in jeopardy. It’s diminished their quality of life. It’s caused them to feel isolated, afraid and forgotten. It’s made misery and despair daily companions.
To us, that’s completely unacceptable and just plain sad.
One of the things that makes living in a small community like Addison so wonderful is how much people genuinely care about each other and try to help friends, neighbors and even strangers whenever, wherever and however they can.
NOTA is simply an extension of this Samaritan attitude.
That’s why we can’t imagine Addison residents choosing to ignore the needs of the less fortunate, the lonely and the helpless right in their own backyard.
That’s not the Addison we know. The Addison we know is full of generous and compassionate people.
In terms of tax money, NOTA really isn’t asking for very much, especially when compared to all the good it does.
Whatever tax dollars NOTA does receive are always managed wisely and immediately put to good use. There’s no waste, no excessive salaries and no fancy facilities.
NOTA is a rarity in government ? no frills, just hard work and true dedication to public service.
We strongly urge Addison Township residents to vote YES on the NOTA millage request on the May 5 ballot.
The need is simply far too great to vote otherwise. ? CJC