Thursday, May 10, 2012

Union busting, killing public transit. Oil troll governor will kill PA economy to boost oil profits.

Union busting won't help: Pennsylvania's problem is shortsighted politicians - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: "One would have to go back to Pennsylvania Gov. John Fisher, who ruled the state from 1927 to 1931 on behalf of the coal and steel barons, to find a state leader as anti-union as Gov. Tom Corbett. His efforts to starve and privatize public education and collapse public transportation while shielding gas interests from reasonable taxation and adequate health, safety and zoning regulation are stunningly bold. Once the teacher and transit unions are broken, can construction unions and state workers be far behind?"

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Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Mores than one in four Pittsburgh households have no car - we need #publictransit

The Economic Crisis Rolls on in Cities like Pittsburgh « The Transport Politic: "The service cuts planned would be, suffice it to say, devastating. As the maps below illustrate, the Port Authority’s austerity plans would eliminate almost half of the region’s routes. This is in a city where, according to the U.S. Census, more than 25% of households have no vehicle available and almost 20% of workers use transit to get to work — figures that are far higher than the national average or even that of the vast majority of American center cities."

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Friday, May 4, 2012

Oil-troll Governor loves oil, loves fracking, hates business

Officials speak out against transit cutbacks - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: "Bill Griffin, a vice president of DialAmerica, said the company has shelved plans to add up to 150 jobs at its Green Tree facility because of the likelihood of transit cuts. "We face the very real scenario of losing nearly half of our workforce due to lack of transportation. In simple terms, as many as 145 jobs would be lost and 150 potential jobs would not be created," he said."

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Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Want young people in your city? Get #publictransit. The race is on. Your #transit score is public info.

Study Ranks Transit Systems Of Major U.S. Cities - MarketWatch: "As gas prices rise and consumers seek shorter commutes and more sustainable transportation options, demand for convenient access to public transit is growing. This lifestyle shift is being led by the Millennial generation (those born roughly between 1980 and 2000) that is choosing to own cars and drive less than their predecessors."

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Friday, April 27, 2012

PA Governor taking anti-business stance by ignoring #publictransit

Controller Wagner Comments On Corbett Transit ‘Plan’: "“Allegheny County has weathered the economic storm better than much of the state and nation, but crippling cuts to transit would be a major blow to our region’s well-being. A majority of commuters to Downtown and a quarter of those to Oakland use the Port Authority, and those who don’t will find increased traffic congestion, travel times and gridlock on all routes. To be a vital urban region we must solve the Port Authority’s funding gap. It is imperative that this issue become one of high priority for all our region’s leaders, including the Governor.”

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Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Rally Against Port Authority Service Cuts

Rally Against Port Authority Service Cuts: "Stand with our transit workers to oppose the proposed cuts to our public transit system! On Friday morning, the Port Authority Board will be officially voting to sanction a 35% cut in our transit service, which will include the elimination of dozens of routes, another fare hike, 500 layoffs, and a drastic reduction in after-hours transit service.

Amalgamated Transit Union Local 85 is organizing this action, and as transit riders we need to stand together with the people that make our city run to fight against the cuts! Be there!"

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Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Essential transit - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Essential transit - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: "Our buses and trolleys do more than shuttle people to work. They keep tens of thousands of cars off our roads and bridges. (You think traffic, potholes and construction are bad now? Just wait.) They bring people to schools, shopping, hospitals, bars and restaurants. Quite often, they keep drunken drivers off the road.

Moreover, transit helps keep our communities and businesses humming. It is the only source of transportation for many students, senior citizens and working poor. Without it, businesses, and jobs, would suffer."

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