October 2, 2007
Contact: Samuel Jensen (414) 273 9778, transitridersunion@gmail.com
Matt Nelson (414) 273 9778, mattnelson64@hotmail.com
Lying has no place in Government
Transit Riders Union not fooled by County Exec. Walker’s Budget
It may be okay in Scott Walker’s world to lie to the public about cuts to transit. But it’s not okay in ours. Please join us in calling on the members of the Milwaukee County Board to withdraw their support of Scott Walkers budget and restore funding for public transportation. Mr. Walker wants the public to believe that there will be no cuts and this is a lie.
We must stop Mr. Walker’s destructive fare increases and service cuts from entering the final 2008 Milwaukee County transit budget and it is critical that you call your County Board member and demand full funding for transit. You will be joined by the Milwaukee Transit Riders Union – over 500 and growing – bus riders from all across Milwaukee County in this fight.
To find your County Supervisor, visit: http://www.milwaukeecounty.org/CountyBoardofSupervi7708.htm or call (414) 278-4222 and ask to talk to your Supervisor.
“If every member of the County Board receives 100 letters and 500 phone calls from bus riders saying we have to stop the cuts, the crisis in public transit could be addressed, the final budget would be different, and our bus service restored.” Said Matt Nelson, organizer with the Milwaukee Transit Riders Union.
We’re hoping to get at least 100 people from each County Board district to send a letter to their representative along with at least 500 phone calls urging them to vote against Mr. Walker’s transit budget and instead improve service in next year’s final Milwaukee County Budget. We call for a significant increase in service, a freeze on fares, and a new organizational structure for the Milwaukee County Transit System that includes riders in the decision making process.
County Executive Walker’s 2008 proposed budget for transit still includes significant cuts in routes: 31,11, 12, 20, 19, 15, 80, 67, 27, 23, 35, 40, 49, and 55, as well as an increase in fares for adults, the elderly, young children, and the disabled. Half-price bus tickets would rise $1.50, and half-price cash fares would rise 15¢ to $1.00, causing significant financial strain to many elderly Milwaukee County residents on limited incomes. Transit Plus fares for disabled Milwaukee County residents would also be raised from $3.25 to $4.00. Regular cash adult fares would rise to $2.00 under Mr. Walker’s proposal, and Freeway Flyer fares would also rise to $2.50, an increase of 25¢.
These cuts and fare increases are an attack on our public well-being and will not be tolerated. They will increase the already appalling levels of racial, economic, and social injustice in our community, limiting lack of access to employment, and further destabilizing neighborhoods.
The Milwaukee Transit Riders Union is collecting signatures for a petition to show the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors that improved transit service is vital to our communities. The Transit Riders Union is also preparing a report to present the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors that will detail the stories of how individual county residents are affected by cuts in transit service as well as outline a series of recommendations for immediate action to improve the Milwaukee County Transit System.
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The Milwaukee Transit Riders Union meets every Saturday at 11:15 a.m. We meet at Brewing Grounds For Change Coffeeshop, 2008 N. Farwell Ave. on the East Side. We are transit riders committed to organizing other public transit riders to build a unified voice and movement for better public transportation in Greater Milwaukee. We are always looking for volunteers to help in the fight for dignified public transit that serves the needs of all Milwaukeeans. For more information, visit our website: www.transitridersunion.org , call (414) 273-9778, or write to MTRU: 2008 N. Farwell Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53202.
Brewing Grounds is accessible from MCTS Routes 15, 30, and 21. Route 30 stops southbound directly in front of the coffeeshop and northbound one block east at Prospect and Lafayette. Route 15 stops one block west at Oakland and Lafayette, and Route 21 stops along North Ave., 3 blocks to the north.
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Milwaukee Transit Riders Union
2008 N Farwell Ave. Milwaukee WI 53202
(414) 273-9778
transitridersunion@gmail.com
www.transitridersunion.org