Community Hearing on Transit Equity
A National Conversation
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Moderators, Panelists and Facilitators | The Testifiers |
AFT President Randi Weingarten
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Music of Transit Equity Days 2021
Official Musician: Jazz Artist Lowden Harrell
Day 1 Feature: The U-Liners: “Age of Trains”
Credits: Full Circle: “Pirates”
“Transit Equity Fun List” on Spotify
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DAY 1
Wednesday, February 3, 2021
3 p.m. – 7 p.m. Eastern
Miércoles 3 de febrero, 2021
3 p.m. – 7 p.m. Hora del Este
2:30 p.m.
Pre-Hearing / Opening Montage
3:00 p.m.
Transit Equity Opening Panel
Ken Kirk, International Secretary-Treasurer, Amalgamated Transit Union; Jacqueline Patterson, Senior Director, NAACP Environmental and Climate Justice Program; Julie Reiskin, Executive Director, Colorado Cross Disability Coalition; Mahdi Hossaini, Lead Youth Organizer, Together4Brothers
4:10 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Closing Day Remarks
DAY 2
Thursday, February 4, 2021
11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Eastern
Jueves 4 de febrero, 2021
11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Hora del Este
11 a.m. – 11:20 a.m.
Pre-Hearing / Opening Montage
11:20 a.m. 2:10 p.m.
Welcome
2:15 p.m.
Joint Testimonies,
American Federation of Teachers
2:30 p.m.
Closing Remarks
Randi Weingarten
President, American Federation of Teachers
2:50 p.m.
Last Words
Jane English and Michael Leon Guerrero
Recorded Testimonies
Ryan McGraw
Sefu Chikelu
Laurel Mendes
Jeffrey Omura
Delrisa Sewell-Henry
Tosin Olayinka
Jolie Hackney
Jon Robinson
Ellyn Leahy
Rita Smith
Steven McCauley
Simon Husted
Simon Husted Q&A
Elizabeth Gilbert
Elizabeth Gilbert Q&A
Lucy Del Gaudio
Lisa Gonzalez
Rita, Laurel, Tosin and Loh Q&A About Biden
Jayden Brower
Sally G
Ruth Cordner
Celia Keenan-Bolger
Ramon Palencia-Calvo
Samantha Garcia
Crystal Greenberg
Iliana Stampur
Sierra Club North Star Chapter
WRITTEN TESTIMONIES
Bruce Krawisz, Wisconsin
Transit Equity Day Letter
There are many different diseases that cause dementia, but two are much more common than others. Often patients have both disease processes simultaneously. These are called Alzheimer disease and vascular dementia. Vascular dementia is caused by reduced blood flow to the brain. Cerebrovascular disease is a name for diseases involving blood vessels of the brain and vascular dementia is one result of cerebrovascular disease. The cause of Alzheimer disease is not known; neurons die and their death is related to precipitations of particular proteins called tau and amyloid beta.
The Lancet Commission on Dementia Prevention, Intervention, and Care is a group of physicians and public health experts who provide expert medical information about dementia. In their most recent report from August of 2020 (reference 2) they indicate air pollution is a cause of dementia in elderly persons. This is an important discovery because approximately 40% of Americans breathe air that is polluted according to the standards set by the World Health Organization.
Automobiles and trucks are a major source of pollution. A study from Ontario, Canada (reference 1) demonstrated that people who live close to busy highways have a higher risk of dementia than those who do not live near heavy traffic. Trucks and automobiles emit nitrogen oxides, toxic metals, carbon monoxide, and fine particles that measure 2.5 micrometers or less (called PM2.5) when they burn gasoline or diesel. PM2.5 are so fine that they are inhaled through the mouth or nose and into the lungs. From the lung particles may enter the blood stream. It is also possible that these particles may be inhaled into the nose and enter the brain through olfactory nerves at the top of the nasal cavity. These particles may contain poisonous chemicals such as dioxin or lead that are carried into the body when PM2.5 are inhaled. Ultrafine particles may be like Trojan horses carrying toxins into the brain. It is not known whether air pollution increases the risk of Alzheimer Disease or vascular disease only or both.
Approximately 4.2 million persons die worldwide each year from the pulmonary and cardiac effects of air pollution. Air pollution is now recognized as a cause of dementia in elderly persons. Public transportation can reduce the number of motor vehicles in cities and so reduce air pollution. Each person benefits from less air pollution because their risk of dementia and pulmonary and heart disease will be reduced. In particular younger people and children benefit from a lifetime of less air pollution. Public transportation helps to clean the air we breathe.
References:
- The Lancet 389: 718-726 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(16)32399-6 2. Lancet Commission on Dementia 396: 413-446, DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140- 6736(20)30367-6
Sincerely,
Bruce R. Krawisz, M.D.
Marshfield, Wisconsin
715-972-0058
Kaitlin
I am a healthcare student and public transit commuter currently completing clinical rotations at a trauma center hospital in Paoli. I routinely work with extremely vulnerable patients in an ICU step down unit, including recovering COVID patients. I live in Germantown, and take the crowded early morning 65 and 106 bus lines, which takes between 1.5 – 2 hrs (or longer, traffic depending) each way. I am deeply concerned about my inability to socially distance on crowded buses despite my efforts to keep both my patients and fellow bus riders safe.