We need your help for this next stage of our campaign to make DART free for students K-12. Read to the end to see you can help run the ball to the endzone.
HERE IS WHAT'S HAPPENED SO FAR
We've received over 1,000 signatures on our petition, had five news articles cover our campaign or report on this issue, hosted a panel discussion at Wild Detectives, held dozens of planning meetings and multiple canvassing events, gave over a dozen speeches at several DART board meetings (for January, see Item 5 - Public Comments, jump to 10:26) and sent countless emails, calls, and text messages.
This all comes after the success of Austin's free student transit program; similar successful programs in Boston, Seattle, Minneapolis, and Des Moines; research on the benefits to students, youth, and low-income families of using transit; and the City of Dallas passed a near-unanimous resolution in support of a free-fare student transit program.
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HERE ARE THE DECISION MAKERS WHO'VE PLEDGED SUPPORT THUS FAR
Sunrise Movement Dallas has spent the last two months privately asking the DART Board, Dallas ISD, and the City of Dallas to sign a pledge saying they are committed to making the pilot program a reality. Last Thursday, they went public with responses received.
Among DART Board members, Jon-Bertrell Killen and Hosanna Yemiru have publicly pledged to, when opportunity arises, vote in favor of DART instituting a program offering free fares for kindergarten through twelfth grade students on DART’s bus and rail transit system.
Among Dallas ISD trustees, Joe Carreon, Dustin Marshall, and Ben Mackey have publicly pledged to, when opportunity arises, vote in favor of DISD funding a program by DART offering free fares for kindergarten through twelfth grade students on DART’s bus and rail transit system.
Among Dallas City Councilmembers, Jaynie Schultze, Cara Mendelsohn, Casey Thomas, and Chad West have publicly pledged to, when opportunity arises, vote in favor of the City of Dallas funding a program by DART offering free fares for kindergarten through twelfth grade students on DART’s bus and rail transit system.
The finish line is in sight! Now to run the ball into the endzone.
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WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT, HERE IS HOW TO HELP.
Step 1: Copy emails below into a new message. These are addresses of DART Board members, Dallas ISD trustees, and Dallas City Councilmembers, who have yet to pledge support.
cgarcia3@dart.org, fmhernandez@dart.org, PJKennedy@dart.org, mwkrause@dart.org, rschlosser@dart.org, gcallison@dart.org, eruiz@dart.org, jrkelly@dart.org, rhstopfer@dart.org, pnwageman@dart.org, gaslagel@dart.org, dhrbacek@dart.org, mcenoch@dart.org, mnbarbera@dart.org, nlee@dart.org, adam.bazaldua@dallascityhall.com, jesse.moreno@dallascityhall.com, jaime.resendez@dallascityhall.com, tennell.atkins@dallascityhall.com, paula.blackmon@dallascityhall.com, adam.mcgough@dallascityhall.com, paul.ridley@dallascityhall.com, gay.willis@dallascityhall.com, sunrise.movement.dallas@gmail.com, justinhenry@dallasisd.org, danmicciche@dallasisd.org, maxiejohnson@dallasisd.org, edwinflores@dallasisd.org, camilewhite@dallasisd.org, joyceforeman@dallasisd.org
Step 2: Copy this template into your email. Make sure to add your name in the first paragraph and at the bottom.
Step 3: Send the email!
Step 4: Share on social media that you sent your email and ask your friends to do the same! On social media, tag Sunrise Movement Dallas:
Instagram: @sunrisemovementdallas
Twitter: @sunrisemvmtdtx
Facebook: @SunriseMovementDallas
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THANK YOU!
Thank you for supporting our campaign and for reading this update! We look forward to building a more walkable, sustainable, and equitable future in DFW with you.