The Milwaukee Transit Riders Union, in conjunction with Amalgamated Transit Union Local 998, Wisconsin Jobs Now and Occupy Milwaukee will be holding a rally and march on April 19, 2012 at 4:00pm at the ATU Local 998 Hall.
We are proud to be working with such a diverse coalition on this event. This event is part of the Week of Action kicking off on Monday April 16.
This event also comes on the heels of the April 4 National Day of Action for Transit. The movement for transit justice in this community is moving forward in a big way.
What do we want?
We want a fully funded transit system. We demand the restoration of funds cut in Governor Walker’s 2011-2013 budget and the establishment of a dedicated funding source at the county or regional level. Milwaukee County still funds transit from the property tax, an outdated funding source that has resulted in 20% in service cuts over the past decade, cuts that have put the transit system in a death spiral.
When Governor Walker slashed the Milwaukee County Transit System’s state funding by 10% in his 2011-2013 budget, he left Milwaukee County with few options to maintain service levels. Milwaukee County narrowly averted disastrous cuts to the transit system last year that would have made 13,500 jobs inaccessible by transit. This was possible by the use of temporary two-year grants. If we do not solve the funding problems facing transit in this time frame we will be back at square one – with the potential of facing even more severe cuts. This comes at a time when at least 40,000 jobs have become inaccessible by transit since 2001 and 29.5% of Milwaukeeans are living at or below the poverty line.
The time to act is now.
It is important that Milwaukee bus riders take action now to protect the service we have left and fight for better bus service. We will be taking to the streets on April 19 to do just that. (Facebook event link)
When and where:
Thursday April 19, 2012 at 4:00pm
Meet up at the ATU Local 998 Hall at
734 North 26th Street
(26th/Wisconsin)
View Walking directions from 27th/Wisconsin to ATU 998 Hall in a larger map