Ahead of votes in both Highland Park and University Park regarding continued membership in Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), a group of Park Cities interfaith clergy are calling on residents to support the transit agency. <\/p>\n
In a joint statement, the group, which includes representatives of First Unitarian Church of Dallas, University Park United Methodist Church, St. Christopher\u2019s Episcopal Church, and Christ Lutheran Church, argued that DART service cuts would imperil access to transportation for workers commuting to the Park Cities, people with disabilities, and others.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery weekend, we delight in seeing our members who arrive in their wheelchairs with the help of the on-demand service of\u00a0DART. Others arrive by bus for worship because they don\u2019t have cars or any other means of arriving. Throughout our days we see employees at stores, country clubs, health facilities, and more, arriving at stops by their places of employment near our congregations to help sustain this community in countless ways,\u201d the statement read. \u201cWe stand in utter disbelief at the prospect that the very foundation of one of the most important human rights movements in the last century \u2014 bus service \u2014 will not simply need to be fixed or made\u00a0more fair. It could vanish. The great teachers of\u00a0all\u00a0faiths urge us to look to the vulnerable among communities and how they are treated to determine the measure of that community\u2019s blessedness and love. We pray, as always, that these great virtues will prevail as they do so often.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rev. T. J. Fitzgerald, minister of community care and engagement at First Unitarian Church of Dallas, said he became inspired to write the statement after the Town of Highland Park and the City of University Park opted to continue with plans to hold elections on DART membership in May. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I was watching many cities call off their elections, and I saw the news very quickly that the Park Cities and Addison did not call off their elections \u2026 I had hope that there wouldn\u2019t be any need to worry about this, that the elections would be called off \u2026 When I saw they (weren\u2019t), I reached out to folks who I know would also be impacted,\u201d Fitzgerald said. \u201cOther colleagues around here, other clergy, have folks that use DART, and I just asked the group if anyone would like to join in a statement.\u201d<\/p>\n