%k The Michigan Daily Vol. LXXXIX, No. 62-S Thursday, August 9, 1979 Twelve Paes I Ann Arbor, Michigan Ten Cents AATA cuts bus services, increases fares yRy Onily Phete by JIM KRUZ AT A RALLY near City Hall before last night's Ann Arbor Transportation Authority board meeting, many Ann Arbor residents, including Debbie Johnson (center), protested transportation service cotbacks. Johnson is trying to start the Organizing Committee Against Cotbacks to voice opposi- tion against transportation cots. Milliken vetoes $1 limit on state abortion funding By SARA ANSPACH The Ann Arbor Transportation Authority (AATA) approved proposals last night that will eliminate Dial-a- Ride service for the general public during the day, increase fixed bus routes during peak periods, and raise regular cash fare from 35 cents to 50 cents. Under the new proposal, effective Oct. 1, handicapped, elderly, and low- incoine passengers will ride at half price on regular bus lines. Regular evening bus service will be eliminated, with fixed routes running from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Dial-a-Ride services will be available to the general public if individuals give a one-hour notice from 7 p.m. til 10 p.m. The proposals, which included eliminating Sunday fixed route service and cut regular evening service, sparked much debate among com- munity members. Participants at a rally before the meeting emphasized the concerns of those who would be especially hurt by the proposals: han- dicapped, elderly, low-income, and women passengers. A woman at the meeting said AATA traditionally has "a reputation for caring for all the people who live in the city" and said she hoped the board would continue that reputation. Another speakertat the meeting, Gigi Bausch, said, "I think women in this town ought to go out at night and be safe.' Over the past few years, AATA has been confronted with a series of budget deficits. The fare hike and the cut in the overall service budget are expected to help alleviate financial problems. AATA Director Richard Simonetta announced at last night's meeting he had investigated receiving more finan- cial help at state and federal levels. At the state level "(they) look very favorably upon our request," Simonet- ta said. The proposals approved by AATA last night include: " increased Dial-a-Ride service during the day for handicapped, elderly, and low-income passengers; " the elimination of monthly passes, which gave regular riders a discount. Discounts will be offered through 35- cent tokens, which businesses and other establishments will be able to buy to sell to patrons; * handicapped, elderly, and low- income passengers will have to show identification to be eligible for special fares and service. The AATA board and an advisory committee will determine criteria for the handicapped' the state Department of Social Services will provide identification for low-income passengers; and elderly passsengers must prove they are 60 or older. Strike talks to resume Striking skilled trades workers and University officials are scheduled to resume negotiations this morning in the presence of a state negotiator, a University administrator said last night. Arlie Braman,schief negotiator for the University, said bargaining will start again this morning after a week of no sessions. The 318 members of the campus skilled trades workers union walked off their jobs when their University contract expired Aug. 1. In related action, union President Jim Murphy said last night pickets have been removed from three campus library construction projects under the threat of a court injunction from a par- ty involved in the privately contracted projects. Workers on the library sites had been honoring the University workers' picket lines. See related story, Page 3 LANSING (UPI)-Gov. William Milliken, as expected, yesterday vetoed a budgetary provision designed to eliminate welfare abortions but signed the rest of a $1.37 billion welfare budget. Milliken said the 1979-80 budget measure is predicated on a somewhat optimistic projection of welfare rolls and might be strained if the current recession deepens. THE MEASURE contains a 6.2 per cent increase for families receiving Aid to Dependent Children funds and a 6 per cent increase in general assistance payments. It was the fifth time in about a year Milliken has used his veto power to con- tinue the opportunity of Medicaid recipients to state-paid abortions. The legality of his actions is being challenged in a lawsuit now before the Michigan Court of Appeals. "CONSISTENT WITH my past ac- tions-I am vetoing the restrictions on funding for abortions," Milliken said in his veto message. "I continue to support state policy. which provides an eligible recipient of medical assistance the right to seek a legal abortion; if that is the choice of the individual woman, thus extending to the poor the same choices available to others," he said. THE PROVISION vetoed by Milliken would have limited to a token $1 funding for abortions not necessary to save a See MILLIKEN, Page 2 School officials present black English plan By ADRIENNE LYONS Officials of the Ann Arbor school system, last night presented an educational plan to the Board of Education designed to help teachers identify children who speak black English and teach them standard English. The plan was mandated by a federal judge last month following the "black English" trial. At a meeting at the Ann Arbor Public Library, Board President Kathleen Dannemiller asked her colleagues and members of the community to examine and critique the plan so further work can be done before the board takes a final vote on the proposal next week. The plan, devised jointly by Associate Superinten- dent Lee Hansen, Assistant Superintendent Robert Potts, and Superintendent Harry Howard, is com- posed of two phases, according to Hansen. Part one of the plan, Hansen explained, is an in- structional program for King School staff. The second phase consists of a classroom reinforcement component, Hansen added. THE PLANS resulted from a court case in which the families of 11 students at King Elementary School charged that the school district both failed to recognize that the children spoke a black dialect and labeled them as-emotionally or learning disabled. In a landmark decision against the school district, U.S. District Court Judge Charles Joiner ruled in July 12 that the school system, within 30 days, would be required to devise a plan aiding such children. Although the school board originally voted to appeal the decision, Dannemiller called for another vote when it appeared the school board may have violated portions 'f the state Open Meetings Act. The board then decided not to appeal the case. Dannemiller said yesterday, however, that pn.,: Tuesday the school system requested a one-week ex- tension on its deadline, whicb-was Monday. According to the project, the staff of King Elemen- tary School and the Ann Arbor Education Association will receive at least "20 hours of formal instruction," which will begin in October, 1979, and be completed by February 15, 1980. A special instructional team that will be hired by the school system will include linguistics and language arts consultants. THE REINFORCEMENT phase will be implemen- ted through "a series of three or four one-hour follow- up seminars" beginning in February and extending until the end of the school year. Also, a language arts consultant will be hired for King Elementary School to help teachers and "high-need students." The plan will cost an estimated $41,915 for the school system, with $32,415 for purchasing new materials and hiring additional personnel.