The BRU is protesting the proposed MTA fare hikes. We're in the middle of a war for oil, and they want to cut back, discourage, and raise fares. The working class economy sucks, and they want to suck the money from our purses. How about they do the right thing, and get rid of the SUV subsidy? Protest!
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April 16, 2007 Dear members, allies, and friends, We come to you in a moment of great urgency, at a time when the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Agency (MTA) plans to dramatically increase bus fares, if we do not come together and stop them. At the March MTA Board meeting Roger Snoble, the CEO of the MTA, announced a proposal for major increases in the price of public transportation in Los Angeles. If not reversed, the fare hikes would increase as follows:
We strongly oppose this fare hike, because we believe that any raises from the already high $52 monthly passs will be devastating to working families-- the strides that the movement has made towards a "living wage" would in effect be stripped away by the increased cost of public transportation. Imagine Black, Latino, API, and white working class bus riders with 3, 4, and 5 family members using public transportation, paying $375 a month in July and $600 a month by 2009 just for bus service--which by the way MTA is also working to significantly cut in service hours. These
fare increases will: The solution to this problem will require the MTA to dramatically cut and reverse its rail spending projects. This is because the "budget shortfall", that MTA insists as the reason behind these fare hikes, is artificially created and based on the bad and wasteful choices MTA is making to subsidize rail projects and rail riders at the expense of low-income bus riders. Mayor Villaraigosa--who has advocated a "Red Line Subway to the Sea" and has 4 votes on the MTA board, needs to realize that these rail dreams are destructive to working people. He himself only 10 years ago warned the MTA not to build rail projects with funds that had to be allocated towards and protected for bus purchase and service. We believe that Mayor Villaraigosa is crucial in stopping this fare hike proposal. The Mayor's MTA appointees include Councilperson Bernard Parks, Richard Katz and David Fleming. If Mayor Villaraigosa changes his mind and strongly opposes any MTA fare increases, even if it means ending plans to build rail, and reaches out to Supervisors Molina, Burke, and Yaroslavasky, we feel there is a good chance we can get the 5 votes needed to stop these fare increases. We need you to join us in this fight to stop the Fare Hike. We have already won a major procedural victory by forcing the MTA Board to postpone their first proposed fare increase hearing, we have been working with L.A. Supervisor Gloria Molina to assure that the public hearing will be held on a Saturday with full attendance by MTA Board Members. So, what can you do?
We believe we can win this fight. Bus Riders Union Planning Committee |
ACTION ALERT
Join us April
18, 2007 3:00 PM SUPPORT OUR FIGHT
Contact MTA Board
SPREAD THE WORD
STEP 3 JOIN THE FIGHT! April 21, 10 AM
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Campaign
endorsers: Coalition
for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA), Koreatown
Immigrant Workers Alliance (KIWA), Community Coalition, United Teachers
of Los Angeles (UTLA), Service Employee International Union (SEIU)
1877, Community Coalition, Westchester High School
Administration and Students, Students
for Educational Reform at Los Angeles City College, Action for
Grassroots Empowerment and Neighborhood Development Alternatives
(AGENDA), Angelican Lutheran Church of Pico Union
Contact us [213 387 2800] if your church, union, school, work, wants to endorse. |
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