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Residents, nonprofits tell council JetBlue and Angel Flight enabled critical medical travel
Summary
Multiple public commenters described how JetBlue service and Angel Flight partnerships provided donated or affordable travel to Boston for medical treatment, calling the service "lifesaving" and urging the council to consider community-health consequences in its recommendation.
Several Presque Isle-area residents and nonprofit leaders told the City Council on March 25 that recent airline service had materially improved access to specialized medical care in Boston.
Dixie Shaw of Catholic Charities said JetBlue has repeatedly donated tickets and supported local fundraisers, saying, "Every time Ive reached out to JetBlue to see if they can help, theyve helped 100% every time." Michelle Braggden said she received surgery and follow-up care in Boston because of JetBlue and Angel Flight arrangements and described the partnerships as "lifesavers." Laura Van Berkeley and a teenage commenter, Claire Derpo, gave personal accounts of repeated medical travel made possible through donated or supported flights.
Speakers emphasized two linked points: that affordable, dependable service to Boston expands access to medical specialists that are not available locally, and that airline partnerships with charities such as Angel Flight have delivered tangible ticket donations (commenters and JetBlue representatives cited roughly 1,248 donated tickets over an 18-month period).
Those testimonials were a central part of the councils deliberation: several councilors cited medical-access impacts and the presence of local charitable support in their final recommendation to the DOT.
The city will include the submitted written letters in the public record posted on the citys website.
