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Indybay Feature
All Out Against MUNI Cuts and Hikes!
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Date:
Wednesday, May 05, 2010
Time:
12:00 PM
-
2:00 PM
Event Type:
Press Conference
Organizer/Author:
Location Details:
City Hall Steps (Polk St.)
Media contacts:
Beatriz Herrera, POWER, (646) 400-3537
Forrest Schmidt, ANSWER, (415) 596-7009
MORE (Muni Operators & Riders Expanding) Public Transit
Press Conference
Wed., May 5, 12 Noon, City Hall Steps (Polk St.)
Drivers and Riders Unite to Say: No Service Cuts!
MORE (Muni Riders and Drivers Expanding) Public Transit Coalition made up of low income families, youth and elderly organizations in San Francisco have united with Supervisors David Campos and Jon Avalos to organize a press conference and rally demanding an end to MUNI service cuts, demanding MUNI seek more progressive sources of revenue, and an end to MUNI and SFPD “saturation” checkpoints on buses. In spite of spirited opposition from low income communities of color at the last MTA Budget Hearing on April 20, the MTA decided to approve the budget with a 4-3 vote calling for 10% service cuts, impacting bus lines and routes beginning May 8th.
The MORE Public Transit coalition demands that MUNI seek more progressive sources of revenue than the ones currently being proposed by MTA, which include fair increases to all Fastpasses over the next two years, increasing parking meters to Sundays and laying off drivers. The MORE Coalition suggests that such progressive revenue sources include ending the $60 million work orders to other city departments, including their contract with the SFPD that is currently costing them over $12 million per year.
“If there are going to be cuts to Muni, they need to come from the $60 million work orders and bloated management salaries. The bus drivers didn’t cause this problem. The campaign against them is a racist anti-worker distraction.”, said Frank Lara, an organizer with the ANSWER coalition.
Particularly offensive to MUNI riders and inefficient for MUNI drivers are the MTA’s extreme version of Proof of Payment, known as “saturations” where the MTA invites local SFPD to harass and intimidate passengers through their Proof of Payment operations. One rider, Jose Antonio Marenco, felt the aggression first hand at the last SFPD “saturation” raid on 16th and Mission on Tuesday April 28th, where 16 MUNI agents and 12 SFPD swarmed bus stops and buses seeking fair evaders, treating everyday people like criminals in the process. Mr. Marenco, despite carrying a Senior Pass and presenting it as his Proof of Payment, had MUNI agents screaming at him, demanding he show ID. “Do you not believe I am a senior?” Mr. Marenco replied softly, “I’ve never been treated like this in the 25 years I have riding MUNI.”
Luckily for Mr. Marenco, he was able to show ID. Passengers who do not show ID within a “saturation” raid are referred to SFPD and can face arrest. MUNI’s Proof of Payment Program has yet to prove it is an effective source of revenue, but MUNI “saturation” raids have proven to be an effective way of slowing down bus service, harassing riders in low income neighborhoods, and increasing frustration and hostility on the bus system. The MORE Coalition, made up of over 15 organizations representing passengers and drivers, including TWU local 250A unite to say no to MUNI service cuts, demand more progressive sources of revenue and an end to MUNI and SFPD “saturation” raids!
Present: Supervisor David Campos and Jon Avalos, community organizations and speakers from POWER, Chinese Progressive Association, Senior Action Network, Chinatown Community Development Corporation, the ANSWER Coalition, Barrio Unido, the Transit Riders Union local 250A. Expect to see people with signs, banners, and pictures of Police Saturations in full force.
Beatriz Herrera, POWER, (646) 400-3537
Forrest Schmidt, ANSWER, (415) 596-7009
MORE (Muni Operators & Riders Expanding) Public Transit
Press Conference
Wed., May 5, 12 Noon, City Hall Steps (Polk St.)
Drivers and Riders Unite to Say: No Service Cuts!
MORE (Muni Riders and Drivers Expanding) Public Transit Coalition made up of low income families, youth and elderly organizations in San Francisco have united with Supervisors David Campos and Jon Avalos to organize a press conference and rally demanding an end to MUNI service cuts, demanding MUNI seek more progressive sources of revenue, and an end to MUNI and SFPD “saturation” checkpoints on buses. In spite of spirited opposition from low income communities of color at the last MTA Budget Hearing on April 20, the MTA decided to approve the budget with a 4-3 vote calling for 10% service cuts, impacting bus lines and routes beginning May 8th.
The MORE Public Transit coalition demands that MUNI seek more progressive sources of revenue than the ones currently being proposed by MTA, which include fair increases to all Fastpasses over the next two years, increasing parking meters to Sundays and laying off drivers. The MORE Coalition suggests that such progressive revenue sources include ending the $60 million work orders to other city departments, including their contract with the SFPD that is currently costing them over $12 million per year.
“If there are going to be cuts to Muni, they need to come from the $60 million work orders and bloated management salaries. The bus drivers didn’t cause this problem. The campaign against them is a racist anti-worker distraction.”, said Frank Lara, an organizer with the ANSWER coalition.
Particularly offensive to MUNI riders and inefficient for MUNI drivers are the MTA’s extreme version of Proof of Payment, known as “saturations” where the MTA invites local SFPD to harass and intimidate passengers through their Proof of Payment operations. One rider, Jose Antonio Marenco, felt the aggression first hand at the last SFPD “saturation” raid on 16th and Mission on Tuesday April 28th, where 16 MUNI agents and 12 SFPD swarmed bus stops and buses seeking fair evaders, treating everyday people like criminals in the process. Mr. Marenco, despite carrying a Senior Pass and presenting it as his Proof of Payment, had MUNI agents screaming at him, demanding he show ID. “Do you not believe I am a senior?” Mr. Marenco replied softly, “I’ve never been treated like this in the 25 years I have riding MUNI.”
Luckily for Mr. Marenco, he was able to show ID. Passengers who do not show ID within a “saturation” raid are referred to SFPD and can face arrest. MUNI’s Proof of Payment Program has yet to prove it is an effective source of revenue, but MUNI “saturation” raids have proven to be an effective way of slowing down bus service, harassing riders in low income neighborhoods, and increasing frustration and hostility on the bus system. The MORE Coalition, made up of over 15 organizations representing passengers and drivers, including TWU local 250A unite to say no to MUNI service cuts, demand more progressive sources of revenue and an end to MUNI and SFPD “saturation” raids!
Present: Supervisor David Campos and Jon Avalos, community organizations and speakers from POWER, Chinese Progressive Association, Senior Action Network, Chinatown Community Development Corporation, the ANSWER Coalition, Barrio Unido, the Transit Riders Union local 250A. Expect to see people with signs, banners, and pictures of Police Saturations in full force.
For more information:
http://morepublictransit.net
Added to the calendar on Mon, May 3, 2010 10:25PM
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The Anti-Labor Petition attacking the wages of Muni drivers is now circulating on Market Street, last seen on Market near Sansome, outside the See's Candy store Muni Metro entrance, at noon on a weekday.
A functioning transit system benefits everyone in the city. I don't appreciate the divisive identity politics of this article. The first sentence:
MORE (Muni Riders and Drivers Expanding) Public Transit Coalition made up of low income families, youth and elderly organizations in San Francisco
WTF? Do you want support from middle-aged people with no kids, or not - because you certainly don't say so. Why is this about low income families, youth, and the elderly? WTF does any of that crap have to do with the bus? Then the paragraph goes on to say
In spite of spirited opposition from low income communities of color
Again WTF does any of this have to do with skin color or community income? Can we please keep the topic on the stupid bus system and not whatever demographic groups you want to glorify?
Then we have an outright accusation that cutting bus service is racist.
"The bus drivers didn’t cause this problem. The campaign against them is a racist anti-worker distraction.”, said Frank Lara
WHAT??? What exactly is racist here??? Is it because black bus drivers are losing their jobs? Is it because half-Chinese half-Latino riders can't get to work??? There is no journalistic integrity in bandying around accusations of racism without even clarifying what they refer to, let alone substantiating the accusations with any arguments or evidence.
The inability of Indybay to cover a simple public interest story like city bus cuts without devolving into racial politics and class warfare illustrates how the so-called progressive activists make themselves irrelevant to everybody but Critical Mass "anarchists" with black handkerchiefs over their faces. GOOD ON YOU for organizing resistance to Muni cuts, but try to talk like you are part of this city, not a prisoner in occupied Poland.
MORE (Muni Riders and Drivers Expanding) Public Transit Coalition made up of low income families, youth and elderly organizations in San Francisco
WTF? Do you want support from middle-aged people with no kids, or not - because you certainly don't say so. Why is this about low income families, youth, and the elderly? WTF does any of that crap have to do with the bus? Then the paragraph goes on to say
In spite of spirited opposition from low income communities of color
Again WTF does any of this have to do with skin color or community income? Can we please keep the topic on the stupid bus system and not whatever demographic groups you want to glorify?
Then we have an outright accusation that cutting bus service is racist.
"The bus drivers didn’t cause this problem. The campaign against them is a racist anti-worker distraction.”, said Frank Lara
WHAT??? What exactly is racist here??? Is it because black bus drivers are losing their jobs? Is it because half-Chinese half-Latino riders can't get to work??? There is no journalistic integrity in bandying around accusations of racism without even clarifying what they refer to, let alone substantiating the accusations with any arguments or evidence.
The inability of Indybay to cover a simple public interest story like city bus cuts without devolving into racial politics and class warfare illustrates how the so-called progressive activists make themselves irrelevant to everybody but Critical Mass "anarchists" with black handkerchiefs over their faces. GOOD ON YOU for organizing resistance to Muni cuts, but try to talk like you are part of this city, not a prisoner in occupied Poland.
I'm a white male with no kids. The muni service cuts "saturation" raids and scape-goating of drivers is bad city policy. It's also unjust and racist.
Almost all bus lines are being cut on May 8th. But bus lines serving low-income communities of color are being disproportionatly cut.
I missed the 22 today by less than a minute. The shedule claims their frequency to be every 12 minutes for that time of day. The next-bus-read-out at the bus stop read 26 minutes to next bus. The MTA website says frequency will be reduced to 15 minutes. A bus driver told be it would be 45 minutes. Would that fly in Pac Hights?
I've witnessed 2 "saturation" raids. Certain individuals were told to go pay their fare. Others were dragged off the bus and given $75 tickets. Others were arrested. I heard several were deported. Do you think it was Irish or Canadians that got the worst treatment?
I've listened to way too many white professionals rant that bus drivers are lazy, rude, overpaid thugs that let their friends and relatives on the bus for free. Once people have the annonimity of online forums, the racism is less subtle. Sup. Elsbernd is trading on that sentiment to push a petition that won't stop cuts but will cut black workers jobs, hours, and pay, without addressing bloated mis-management.
People need to stand up to stop the cuts. Is it really such a problem if the person standing next to you is against racism?
Almost all bus lines are being cut on May 8th. But bus lines serving low-income communities of color are being disproportionatly cut.
I missed the 22 today by less than a minute. The shedule claims their frequency to be every 12 minutes for that time of day. The next-bus-read-out at the bus stop read 26 minutes to next bus. The MTA website says frequency will be reduced to 15 minutes. A bus driver told be it would be 45 minutes. Would that fly in Pac Hights?
I've witnessed 2 "saturation" raids. Certain individuals were told to go pay their fare. Others were dragged off the bus and given $75 tickets. Others were arrested. I heard several were deported. Do you think it was Irish or Canadians that got the worst treatment?
I've listened to way too many white professionals rant that bus drivers are lazy, rude, overpaid thugs that let their friends and relatives on the bus for free. Once people have the annonimity of online forums, the racism is less subtle. Sup. Elsbernd is trading on that sentiment to push a petition that won't stop cuts but will cut black workers jobs, hours, and pay, without addressing bloated mis-management.
People need to stand up to stop the cuts. Is it really such a problem if the person standing next to you is against racism?
> But bus lines serving low-income communities of color are being disproportionatly cut.
That's a bold claim. I'm willing to bet you're just making it up. The same bus lines generally service many different communities. I take the 19 which runs from shee-shee Russian Hill, through hipster Tendernob, then the heart of the Loin, the warehouses of SoMa, the art schools and cafes of Potrero, and the projects in Hunter's Point. So explain to me how targeting this bus line is disproportionately harming any one community.
> I missed the 22 today by less than a minute... A bus driver told be it would be 45 minutes. Would that fly in Pac Hights?
Are you joking with me, you moron? The 22 RUNS THROUGH PAC HEIGHTS. The service you are complaining about IS THE SERVICE IN PAC HEIGHTS. If there is a 45 minutes delay on the 22, IT'S A 45 MINUTE DELAY IN PAC HEIGHTS. Put down the crack pipe before you post.
> Do you think it was Irish or Canadians that got the worst treatment?
This is your evidence of racism, that no Irish or Canadians are getting arrested for fare evasion? Gee, maybe they bought tickets that day, or maybe they were at home listening to Bono and Celine Dion. Are you claiming there was mistreatment? Did you report it to the police? Or are you just being inflammatory in a meaningless way?
> I've listened to way too many white professionals rant that bus drivers are lazy, rude, overpaid thugs
I've NEVER heard any such complaints about bus drivers from people of any color or any occupation. I certainly don't accept this anecdote as evidence that Muni's problems have anything to do with racism, although it sure sounds like you dislike white professionals.
> Is it really such a problem if the person standing next to you is against racism?
Is it a problem if they're against cannibalism too? No. Should we turn the Muni protest into an anti-cannibalism rally? No, because it's irrelevant and a distraction from real issues.
Here is the problem with your "let's call everything racism" rhetoric: Accusations of racism are supposed to be SERIOUS. To throw around casual assertions like, "Oh, a Hispanic guy got fined, obviously Muni is racist" BOTH trivializes the problem of racism AND doesn't solve any of Muni's problems. Stop throwing sand in the air and approach the issue like an adult.
That's a bold claim. I'm willing to bet you're just making it up. The same bus lines generally service many different communities. I take the 19 which runs from shee-shee Russian Hill, through hipster Tendernob, then the heart of the Loin, the warehouses of SoMa, the art schools and cafes of Potrero, and the projects in Hunter's Point. So explain to me how targeting this bus line is disproportionately harming any one community.
> I missed the 22 today by less than a minute... A bus driver told be it would be 45 minutes. Would that fly in Pac Hights?
Are you joking with me, you moron? The 22 RUNS THROUGH PAC HEIGHTS. The service you are complaining about IS THE SERVICE IN PAC HEIGHTS. If there is a 45 minutes delay on the 22, IT'S A 45 MINUTE DELAY IN PAC HEIGHTS. Put down the crack pipe before you post.
> Do you think it was Irish or Canadians that got the worst treatment?
This is your evidence of racism, that no Irish or Canadians are getting arrested for fare evasion? Gee, maybe they bought tickets that day, or maybe they were at home listening to Bono and Celine Dion. Are you claiming there was mistreatment? Did you report it to the police? Or are you just being inflammatory in a meaningless way?
> I've listened to way too many white professionals rant that bus drivers are lazy, rude, overpaid thugs
I've NEVER heard any such complaints about bus drivers from people of any color or any occupation. I certainly don't accept this anecdote as evidence that Muni's problems have anything to do with racism, although it sure sounds like you dislike white professionals.
> Is it really such a problem if the person standing next to you is against racism?
Is it a problem if they're against cannibalism too? No. Should we turn the Muni protest into an anti-cannibalism rally? No, because it's irrelevant and a distraction from real issues.
Here is the problem with your "let's call everything racism" rhetoric: Accusations of racism are supposed to be SERIOUS. To throw around casual assertions like, "Oh, a Hispanic guy got fined, obviously Muni is racist" BOTH trivializes the problem of racism AND doesn't solve any of Muni's problems. Stop throwing sand in the air and approach the issue like an adult.
WOW! I didn't realize how much damage to society I was doing by not freaking out when someone opposes racism. It's hard to take seriously the advice of someone calling for more rational political discourse when they start off with "crack pipe" insults. If there is a more "serious" group of people organizing to stop service cuts while avoiding any silly talk of racism, I'd love to hear it. In the mean time I'm going to the rally Wednesday to stop the cuts.
“Can we please keep the topic on the stupid bus system and not whatever demographic groups you want to glorify?”
As a member of the MORE Coalition (“Latino”-for whatever that is worth; you can be Latino and not understand the poverty and oppression being experienced by the majority of your “demographic”) I have to say that I WOULD like to see the voice of the poor and working class communities of color in this issue “glorified.” Unfortunately, every time that voice wants to express the reality of its community, the ugliness of San Francisco is exposed to the larger public. Then the public (which largely avoids addressing poverty and racism in popular outlets) want to avoid addressing because it is “divisive” or “irrelevant” to the so called “topic.”
But you already know that, because you understand poverty, racism, and ignorance. Since you are more enlightened than most and you choose to dismiss the "let's call everything racism" rhetoric, lets denounce these attacks for what they really are: in the US, there is a disrespectful marginalization of poor and working class people who, in the US, tend to disproportionately (relative to their population size) come from communities of color. This is the case in San Francisco. Consequently, whenever there is a economic or social crisis those most affected are those who can least afford to sustain themselves, which (trying to stay on topic) as in the case of MUNI, cuts and hikes are disproportionately affecting the poor and working class neighborhoods.
This is why the MORE Public Transit Coalition was formed, to give an empowered voice to poor and working class communities who are so often neglected when discussing public transportation subjects. The Coalition has demanded “unapologetically” what should be considered “fair”: public transit is a right, which should be accessible to all and funded by the rich and their corporations who benefit from having workers shipped to them on a daily basis.
I believe the Coalition’s demands are inclusive and encourage unity. If the rhetoric is too heavy on the “identity politics,” that is a fair criticism, which I hope your participation in any of the Coalition’s actions will orient it in a more constructive manner. However, I cannot apologize for expressing “one” of the realities being experienced by poor and working class communities.
The lives of the poor and oppressed communities of color are ugly and so racially charged that our struggles always sound like that of a “prisoner in occupied Poland.” I, like you, would also like “support from middle-aged people with no kids” but if that support has to come from hiding or diluting the daily reality and hypocrisy of this City and its so-called “progressives,” I prefer to “glorify” the silenced communities of color whose voices are ignored so often in the name of “relevance” and “integrity.”
As a member of the MORE Coalition (“Latino”-for whatever that is worth; you can be Latino and not understand the poverty and oppression being experienced by the majority of your “demographic”) I have to say that I WOULD like to see the voice of the poor and working class communities of color in this issue “glorified.” Unfortunately, every time that voice wants to express the reality of its community, the ugliness of San Francisco is exposed to the larger public. Then the public (which largely avoids addressing poverty and racism in popular outlets) want to avoid addressing because it is “divisive” or “irrelevant” to the so called “topic.”
But you already know that, because you understand poverty, racism, and ignorance. Since you are more enlightened than most and you choose to dismiss the "let's call everything racism" rhetoric, lets denounce these attacks for what they really are: in the US, there is a disrespectful marginalization of poor and working class people who, in the US, tend to disproportionately (relative to their population size) come from communities of color. This is the case in San Francisco. Consequently, whenever there is a economic or social crisis those most affected are those who can least afford to sustain themselves, which (trying to stay on topic) as in the case of MUNI, cuts and hikes are disproportionately affecting the poor and working class neighborhoods.
This is why the MORE Public Transit Coalition was formed, to give an empowered voice to poor and working class communities who are so often neglected when discussing public transportation subjects. The Coalition has demanded “unapologetically” what should be considered “fair”: public transit is a right, which should be accessible to all and funded by the rich and their corporations who benefit from having workers shipped to them on a daily basis.
I believe the Coalition’s demands are inclusive and encourage unity. If the rhetoric is too heavy on the “identity politics,” that is a fair criticism, which I hope your participation in any of the Coalition’s actions will orient it in a more constructive manner. However, I cannot apologize for expressing “one” of the realities being experienced by poor and working class communities.
The lives of the poor and oppressed communities of color are ugly and so racially charged that our struggles always sound like that of a “prisoner in occupied Poland.” I, like you, would also like “support from middle-aged people with no kids” but if that support has to come from hiding or diluting the daily reality and hypocrisy of this City and its so-called “progressives,” I prefer to “glorify” the silenced communities of color whose voices are ignored so often in the name of “relevance” and “integrity.”
For more information:
http://morepublictransit.net
> cuts and hikes are disproportionately affecting the poor and working class
Yes, that's one way you can parse it: divide us all into artificial groups along "class" or "racial" lines, figure out who is affected most and least, and complain that one group is exploiting the other. Do we really HAVE to do it that way, though? Can't we just say this affects us all, instead of engaging in YET MORE "us vs. them" rhetoric? That would be so... pleasant.
> The lives of the poor and oppressed communities of color are ugly and
> so racially charged that our struggles always sound like that of a
> “prisoner in occupied Poland.”
This is exactly the kind of negativity that makes people avoid progressive causes. I'm sorry if some people go through life feeling like they're in a prison. I don't care to be one of them.
> I, like you, would also like “support from middle-aged people with no
> kids” but if that support has to come from hiding or diluting the
> daily reality and hypocrisy of this City and its so-called
> “progressives,” I prefer to “glorify” the silenced communities of
> color whose voices are ignored so often in the name of “relevance”
> and “integrity.”
You just said you are more concerned with attracting attention to your narrative of exploitation than in getting broad-based support to keep the damn bus running (correct me if I misread that). I'm saying the opposite, which is: draw support from the world around you. It's a BUS we're talking about, not a vehicle for advancing your pet agenda.
People of all ideological background ride the bus, including: racists, Republicans, mentally disabled people, and incredibly jaded pendejos like myself. All of them count. Help people take action to promote their interests; don't lecture them about victims of hypothetical color in an imaginary superstructure of oppression. You might find people more receptive when you talk real.
Yes, that's one way you can parse it: divide us all into artificial groups along "class" or "racial" lines, figure out who is affected most and least, and complain that one group is exploiting the other. Do we really HAVE to do it that way, though? Can't we just say this affects us all, instead of engaging in YET MORE "us vs. them" rhetoric? That would be so... pleasant.
> The lives of the poor and oppressed communities of color are ugly and
> so racially charged that our struggles always sound like that of a
> “prisoner in occupied Poland.”
This is exactly the kind of negativity that makes people avoid progressive causes. I'm sorry if some people go through life feeling like they're in a prison. I don't care to be one of them.
> I, like you, would also like “support from middle-aged people with no
> kids” but if that support has to come from hiding or diluting the
> daily reality and hypocrisy of this City and its so-called
> “progressives,” I prefer to “glorify” the silenced communities of
> color whose voices are ignored so often in the name of “relevance”
> and “integrity.”
You just said you are more concerned with attracting attention to your narrative of exploitation than in getting broad-based support to keep the damn bus running (correct me if I misread that). I'm saying the opposite, which is: draw support from the world around you. It's a BUS we're talking about, not a vehicle for advancing your pet agenda.
People of all ideological background ride the bus, including: racists, Republicans, mentally disabled people, and incredibly jaded pendejos like myself. All of them count. Help people take action to promote their interests; don't lecture them about victims of hypothetical color in an imaginary superstructure of oppression. You might find people more receptive when you talk real.
Cuts to public transportation, public education, health and human services effect poor, working class folks most dramatically, actually tragically. A disporportionate percentage of poor, working class folks are people of color. Therefore, it is poor, working class people of color hit the hardest by cut backs. In the fight against racism and budget cuts, it is crucial to keep this front and center.
As a poor, white middle aged person, I don't feel "left out" or alienated by this strong anti-racist statement. Since the majority of poor, working class people of color are getting hit the hardest and are suffering the most, it seems like the least we can do is take the truth about it. In my opinion that is how we can unite and fight back the most effectively.
As a poor, white middle aged person, I don't feel "left out" or alienated by this strong anti-racist statement. Since the majority of poor, working class people of color are getting hit the hardest and are suffering the most, it seems like the least we can do is take the truth about it. In my opinion that is how we can unite and fight back the most effectively.
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