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Letters, 7/23: LES hike is reasonable

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Wednesday, Jul 23, 2008 - 12:13:20 am CDT

If there were some way in good faith I could be a hero to my friends by opposing the Lincoln Electric System’s rate increase proposal, I’d grab it. But like the other LES board members, I look at the numbers from the Budget and Rates Committee — made up of two business owners and an accountant — and conclude the reasonable thing to do is to allow LES to collect enough revenue to pay its bills.

It’s good to keep perspective that LES rates are in the lowest 10 percent of comparable cities. Still, the 10.1 percent rate increase will be especially hard on customers with low incomes.

The minimum wage goes up this month to $6.55 an hour and to $7.25 in a year. If that’s not enough to pay for rising food and energy prices, then it should be increased. That’s the relevant policy tool, not obstruction of a needed rate increase.

LES’s exceptionally low rates have meant that we have been slow compared to New England and California, for example, to adopt measures that increase the efficiency of electricity use in our homes and businesses.

I was glad to see the mayor combined his revised budget for higher electrical costs with a directive to city department heads to adopt electricity-saving practices. With the city leading by example, that is the direction we need to go.

Marilyn McNabb, Lincoln

Eliminate travel altogether

The writer of the NASCAR letter (LJS, July 16) may be on to something.

Let’s do away with all events that require any travel. Sporting events, concerts, weddings, funerals, reunions, etc. Just think of the money we’d save. We could pay off the national debt and repay Social Security.

Who knows, OPEC might even pay us to drive.

Allan B. Hennecke, Lincoln

StarTran right thing to do

I would like to make a few comments about the budget impacts and StarTran. I have been an active rider for the last few years, not because of economics, but because it is the right thing to do.

The buses are traveling all across the community, making it convenient. It’s redundant to drive a car and create twice the pollution and incur the extra cost of $4 gas.  This is effective transportation; I wish more people would realize this.

We have based our community around the car, from low density housing to free parking for shopping.  The roads are subsidized. Our taxes pay for the initial costs of the new roads and their maintenance.

In the scientific telephone survey, 43 percent of respondents indicated that funding and services for effective transportation should be increased.

We seem to think that effective transportation is driving down the road unencumbered. We need to change our way of thinking at the problems we have before us.

Second point, let them be free. Let StarTran become a quasi-government body, like the Airport Authority or Natural Resources District. Lincoln is one of the few communities that the public transportation system is under the city government. Look at Omaha, with Metro Area Transit, or any other like-size community. Then this would not be a city problem.

As far as I can remember, StarTran has been the whipping boy for budget cuts. Lincoln is too big to let the public transportation system die of a thousand cuts.

Steve Duvall, Lincoln


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Star Tran at night wrote on July 23, 2008 8:01 am:
" To be really useful in cutting down car usage and increase riders on the bus system, then the buses need to run later at night. There are people who work 2nd and 3rd shifts that can't begin to consider bus ridership because they either can't get home or get to work on the bus.

Maybe Star Tran could offer a free hour class on how to ride the bus and that would encourage ridership, too. There are many people who have moved to Lincoln that did not grow up riding a bus and may not know exactly what to do. "

 mitchy_v wrote on July 23, 2008 8:02 am:
" I agree Allen, why single out one event. I say why stop with your suggestions? Lets ban cars all together. Public transportation only. I guess bikes would be ok too. "

 Middle of nowhere wrote on July 23, 2008 8:03 am:
" Right ON! Ride the bus... "

 C wrote on July 23, 2008 8:14 am:
" So what are the low and middle income family's who are stretched already supposed to do when they can't pay their bills. We can't push an increase in salary on our bosses. I only received my standard 2-3% raise this year while gas and other items have gone up alomst 10%. We have to make cuts and make do with what we get. Why shouldn't LES have to do some of the same. I understand there are limits to what can be cut but I want to hear of some cuts being made before I will look favorably on a rate increase. Also, raising the minimum wage just increases inflation as it increases the cost of everything across the board. Increased labor costs equals increased prices, so that is not feasible either. "

 peb wrote on July 23, 2008 8:39 am:
" I agree people need to do some changing in their thinking when it comes to riding the bus. Park & Ride locations need to be designated anywhere there is a large parking lot. I have yet to see full parking lots near any shopping centers. Driving your car to a parking lot will save a lot on ga, parking and congestion. There is no where downtown where there is free parking. I am fortunate enough to be able to walk to my bus stop so my car stays in my garage all day. In the six years of riding the bus, I have never had an emergency when I needed my car. "

 kmc wrote on July 23, 2008 8:40 am:
" I plan on riding the bus to my Tuesday and Thursday classes at UNL-at least I hope I can once I can figure out the confusing schedules!! Saves me gas and parking meter money since buying a parking permit is not feasible for me. Let's hope no cuts to the trip down Holdrege to campus happen! "

 John q wrote on July 23, 2008 9:18 am:
" By the way,Marilyn , whay have you been slow to adopt measures that increase the efficiency of electricity use in your home. What was LES's last employee raise, i'll bet it was greater than my 2.5%. "

 To steve.... wrote on July 23, 2008 9:21 am:
" Im sorry but Lincoln is much too spread out to ride the bus. I don't have all day to sit at a bus stop and because I don't doesn't make me any less of a person than you. "

 Grundle wrote on July 23, 2008 9:29 am:
" Yes, Ms. McNabb, we just keep raising the minimum wage. Of course, doing so means employers now have to charge more for their goods, and any increase in minimum wage is soon consumed by the increased price of goods. Indeed, LES may need to raise its rates due to increased energy costs, but they just raised their rates less than 6 months ago, and now they come back seeking a rate increase that is TWICE as large as the last one. Any bets that LES will be back in 6 months asking for a 20% increase in rates? "

 My question wrote on July 23, 2008 9:48 am:
" about the LES increase is this - where were they when they just needed a 1% increase? Or a 2% increase? What happened to where they have to increase a full 10%? How did they allow it to get so bad? This is poor planning yet we are the ones who are being punished! "

 Chris wrote on July 23, 2008 9:51 am:
" LES already enjoys a market without competition in Lincoln and it seems to me that LES should consider rate increases with this factor in mind. I'm not convinced the board at LES considers this and I have also heard concerns that their over head could possibly be excessive too. "

 RE Marilyn wrote on July 23, 2008 11:38 am:
" Comparing to california and new england is rediculous. Wages in california are over forty dollars an hour. New england is about that much. How about comparing to topeka ks, springfield mo, ft collins co. Ft collins wages will be higher than lincoln , but, maybe springfield or topeka will kind of be in line. Besides lincoln is a landlocked, boring town where a lot of calif. and new england has something besides corn. Sometimes you pay a little more to have some variety. I get tired of the people in higher positions comparing lincoln to a really nice place. "

 Kim wrote on July 23, 2008 12:03 pm:
" The buses are traveling all across the community, making it convenient - that is only partly true. Yes, they travel across most of the community, but the current bus system is far from convienient for everyone. Most people would have to spend an extra hour on the bus to get to work. I would end up spending about 3 hours a day if I rode the bus. That is NOT convienient. I would be glad to ride the bus if I could go right to work or at least within walking distance of it. Until them my time is worth more. "

 Josh wrote on July 23, 2008 12:14 pm:
" StarTran is not an option for most of us because the routes and times are almost useless. To really work we need busses to run down almost every major road/street in town so nobody would have to walk more than a few blockes to get to a bus stop from work, shopping, home, etc. And on top of that, busses would need to run much more frequently- maybe every 15 minutes to each stop instead of just once an hour as they do now, along with having to run late into the night. That will never happen because Lincoln is not a big enough city, and yet until it does run like that you won't see many more people actually using it- so we're stuck in a catch 22. "

 Marilyn McNabb wrote on July 23, 2008 12:21 pm:
" John q, If you asked what I've done to increase energy efficiency in my home, here's the answer. This spring I hired a Lincoln business called Home Energy Defense to do an energy audit and then blow a lot of insulation in the walls. I needed a new roof so I got an Energy Star white one to bounce back summer heat. I'm in the process of replacing drafty, old, cheap windows. Up front costs will lead to savings, but it also helped to get a 5% loan from the Nebraska Energy Office. I confess I've started running the AC this week. "

 Marilyn McNabb wrote on July 23, 2008 12:26 pm:
" John q, Rates have been so low a lot of things haven't been cost effective in the past. If you're asking what I've done recently to increase energy efficiency in my home, here's the answer: this spring I hired a Lincoln business called Home Energy Defense to do an energy audit and then blow a lot of insulation in the walls. I needed a new roof so I got an Energy Star white one to bounce back summer heat. I'm in the process of replacing drafty, old, cheap windows. Up front costs will lead to savings, but it also helped to get a 5% loan from the Nebraska Energy Office. I confess I've started running the AC this week. "

 Mike wrote on July 23, 2008 12:47 pm:
" I wonder how quick LES will drop rates when gas prices go down later this year? Anyone wanna bet they come up with some new excuse to keep rates high then? This is the whole problem. I hope the City Council has enough wise people sitting there who will not approve this increase without some conditions of a rate decrease in the near future. "

 StarTran Yeah Right wrote on July 23, 2008 12:54 pm:
" Riding the bus is the right thing to do? lol Give me a break. Buses run on diesel, which cost more than gas currently Mr. Duvall. You may like your cozy seat on the bus, but don't come around telling all of us how to get from one part of town to the other. I will drive my suv, thank you very much. "

 LES Resonable wrote on July 23, 2008 1:52 pm:
" While I do believe that the rate hike LES is asking for is reasonable I would lke to know if the 5.00 per month "Ice" tax was ever eliminated form the monthly LES bills and if not why not?What Ms.McNabb fails to realize is that less than 1% of all U.S. employees work for minimum wage and most all of those that do are teenagers.She may also want to be reminded that while small businesses might pay the current minimum wage when it increses it eliminates numerous jobs and serves only as a wage foundation for unions to bargin from.I.E. if the minimum wage increases when contract neogations come up the union can bargin that it must increase wages because the minimum wage has increased.The New England states are heavily dependant on home heating fuel oil to heat their homes not exactly cheap and not compairable to Lincoln.What LES,OPPD and NPPD should be planning is building a nuclear plant for future growth for the eastern most populas area of the state and it future energy needs but as most of us from Lincoln know...this city fails when it comes to planning for future growth. "

 The Right Thing wrote on July 23, 2008 2:53 pm:
" The reoccuring theam of Mr.Duvall's letter seems to me to be that because Mr.Duvall believes that he's doing the right thing therefore we should all follow Mr.Duvall's lead.I beg to differ. What Mr.Duvall leaves out of his "right" thing is what it's cost Mr.Duvall to ride the bus.
Let's assume that Mr.Duvall makes the states median wage of 18.00 per hour and it takes 3 hours per day to do the "right" thing..cost 18.00 x 3 cost 54.00 per day times 5 days of work equals 270.00 per week in lost producvtivity time plus assuming 1 bus ride each way per day the cost of the fare is 12.50 per week so it cost 282.50 to do the "right" thing....that a lot of 4.00 gas Mr.Duvall.
What I somewhat agree with is to privatise the bus business...not qusai-government but private.Then maybe they could map profitable routes that service needs instead of politician manfactured "wants" like the bogus Ride for 5 program. Pol's need unions contributions to run for and be re-elected to office not to memtion small vocal 43% intrest groups to stay and refund sloppy costly service.That Mr.Duvall is not the "right" thing! "

 you dont get it wrote on July 23, 2008 3:01 pm:
" The whole concept of "Eliminate travel altogether" is sarcasime! "

 busrider wrote on July 23, 2008 3:18 pm:
" Star Tran needs to put bike racks on the buses. Then you can ride your bikes to the bus stop if you live a while away from one or if your bus stops a few blocks away from you destination. "

 busrider wrote on July 23, 2008 3:21 pm:
" This is to Star Tran Yeah Right- the buses run on SOY BIO DIESEL. Plus it is better for the enviornment to ride the bus instead of a polluting, gas guzzling SUV. "

 Clueless wrote on July 23, 2008 4:05 pm:
" Nice to meet you Steve. I always wondered who that 1 person was I see on the bus. I think it would make more sense for Star Tran to park the busses while you goto work and then start moving again when you get off as I see them driving around EMPTY all the time. Shut Star Tran down. Get a bike if you don't want to pay for gas or call a cab. "

 me wrote on July 23, 2008 4:11 pm:
" John q, you got a 2.5% raise this year? Wish I could say the same! Consider yourself lucky. "

 Yeah...Yeah.... wrote on July 23, 2008 4:14 pm:
" Same old drivel. LES always says...do THIS and save electric...do THAT and save more. So what are the thanks we get for all of this "saving"??? Rate increases. To heck with all that "saving". I'll run my air conditioner when I am not home so that it's nice and cool when I get back. In the winter I'll leave the thermostat set so it's warm. Since they are So insistent on raising rates anyway....why conserve???? THEY should be the ones setting the example in the first place!!!!! "

 Nina wrote on July 23, 2008 5:11 pm:
" I'm disappointed - the LES letter isn't as exciting as I'd hoped. By its title I thought it meant it was reasonable for LES to take a hike. "

 Randy wrote on July 23, 2008 9:58 pm:
" StarTran is never going to be viable when it takes 1 hour to take the bus for a trip that take 10 minutes in a car. I had folks at work that live in the city limits look up how long it would take them to get to work by bus assuming no missed connections and making believe that they would come in during the 6-9 window and leave between 3-6 (a far cry from reality). The median was 60 minutes. Most of us would love to do it, but we work far to long and far too hard to be spending 10 extra minutes stuck in a bus while our kids are waiting at home for us. "

 Mark wrote on July 23, 2008 10:14 pm:
" I have ridden on the busses for years now and I can say without hesitation that ridership has increased damatically, especially this year. Granted, it isn't "convenient" for everyone all the time, including me. Lincoln can't be compared with larger cities which have a much more comprehensive bus system because we're NOT a big city. I couldn't survive in this town without Star Tran: I couldn't get around. I would have to re locate to a bigger city and I've already been there, done that. That's why I live here in Lincoln, I don't want to live in large cities. Give Star Tran a chance, they will turn the corner and start making more money... just as sure as gasoline is gonna stay sky high, bus ridership will increase, too. "

 Anti-bigot wrote on July 23, 2008 10:54 pm:
" Did any of you stop to think that the Steve you attacked might not be able to drive his own car or SUV or bike due to disability or vision impairment? A responsible person knows that public transportation is a social and ethical responsibility. Why don't you bigots move away. Please. "

 RE Marilyn McNabb wrote on July 23, 2008 11:09 pm:
" Do you hear yourself talk? In your response to John q you openly brag about spending an obvious thousands of dollars on making your house more energy efficient while so, so many of us can only dream of such a thing. See we work to feed and house our families when the price of EVERY THING has gone up. "

 Steve replies wrote on July 24, 2008 7:34 am:
" Only speaking for my self , the bus route is about a block and a half from my house and I work downtown. It takes the same amount of time to go by bus and it does driving and I save two tanks of gas ($120) and parking ($40), so I save $160 a month and if I want to go to SouthPoint or Gateway its just 15 minutes more. I know the bus system is not a panacea for everyone, but it works for me and yes to ridership is up because of the new routes. It your money. "

 The Terrorists Won wrote on July 24, 2008 9:14 am:
" Seeing Allan's letter above has made me realized that the Terrorists have won the initial battle. Ironincally with emboldening help by our President and his Administration.

The goals of the terrorists have been to 1. Strike fear and terror into the infidel Americans. What does our leader do but to initiate a "Terror Alert System" designed to do that very thing.

2. To cripple or bring down the American economy. Mr Bush's invasion of a sovereign country in the Middle East started the ball rolling there by setting up a chanin of events by obviously driving up the futures for the light sweet crude we all need. Mission accomplished. Let's hope we win the remaining battles with some real leadership. We don't need to keep over reacting and knee-jerking every response by jumping out of the fying pan and into the fire. It will be good to see some intelligence and common sense in the White House. "

 dewboy wrote on July 24, 2008 9:56 am:
" Typical Lawyer talk. FINALLY we have someone that thinks the mayor made the right move which will make him look good and allow LES to get their increase. Next rate increase excuse from LES = GLOBAL WARMING. "

 Re Re Marilyn wrote on July 24, 2008 1:57 pm:
" Marilyn wasn't comparing wages in California and New England to Lincoln. Her point was that because we've enjoyed relatively cheap energy here, most folks haven't invested a lot of monies in energy efficiencies as they have in those areas, due to the high cost of energy there. "

 Chris wrote on July 24, 2008 6:39 pm:
" I don't mind the LES rate increases. Really. Our current energy profile is dominated by burning fossil fuels. Higher prices lessens demand and reduces green house gases. Sweet. I can afford another $10 a month during the summer, and another $4 a month in the spring fall and winter. Sorry to those who can't. I guess moving close to work/school/entertainment and the 1/4 amount of gas I now use more than makes up for a 10% increase.

As far as buses go...I think the biggest thing stopping people from using the bus is the notion that it makes you a second class citizen. Often bus stops consist of a sign. If you are lucky, a sign and a bench. And if you are really, really lucky you may get a sign and a covered bench. If there is another option, a car, people take it. I would like to see Lincoln experiment with street cars and Transit Oriented Developments along the line. Street car lines are permanent, unlike bus lines which are moved at the whim of the political winds. Permanence of the lines encourages high density development and business to cater to commuters. Imagine waiting for your street car at a coffee shop instead of sitting on a curb under a sign! Now that is public transportation I would use. Given the low population density of Lincoln, sprawling suburbs, and increasing transportation/infrastructure costs, I'd say this is exactly what Lincoln needs! "

 Marilyn McNabb wrote on July 24, 2008 8:53 pm:
" An alternative to feeling helpless about higher rates is to figure out a way to use less electricity. My house is a little tract house from the 1960’s built to be affordable. Until now, our electric rates have been low, especially compared to New England and California, which is why I was slow to invest in energy efficiency. As energy prices go up, it becomes more and more worthwhile to accept some up front costs to save money in the long run. My Nebraska Energy Office loan is for 30 years, so payments are manageable. I believe we’re looking at a long range trend of higher energy prices. "

 john wrote on July 24, 2008 10:10 pm:
" IF, The Airport Authority has done such a great job, then why do I fly out of Omaha? If anyone thinks that the Area and Convention center will be of help to the city, then ask your self, HOW will these folks get Here. "

 busrider wrote on August 1, 2008 2:07 pm:
" For Clueless i have this to say- You want to see a empty bus, ride the #44 "O" St./SCC route and you'll see how full it gets. I ride the bus every day and most of them are running late now because they get so full of passengers or from the traffic lights. Take the #56 Neighborhood
South for instance, it is always on time though because usually only 1-2 people ride it at a time. If you have something to say, show up at the City Council Chambers on August 11th at two thirty and say what you think. "

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