PGHIMC - Pittsburgh Independent Media Center

Small band of public transit riders to picket
by stephen donahue Monday, Jan. 03, 2005 at 8:52 AM

Fight for funding to continue dispite the corporate media attacks on Port Authority workers' wages and benefits

Fifteen or so determined Port Authority riders will venture to the State Capitol in Harrisburg on Tuesday, January 4, 2005 to picket the official swearing in of the state General Assembly for the 2005-2006 regular session. They will depart from Freedom Corner, Centre Ave. at Crawford Street around 6AM; pick up some more folks at Fort Pitt Blvd at Wood Street and then head off for Harrisburg.

They will be taking the following message to state law makers and their party guests:

"Today the atmosphere is festive as our state law makers are sworn in and a new legislative session begins. But for thousands and thousands of Pennsylvania public transit riders things are anything but happy because we don’t know if our buses and trolleys will be running this spring or not. Some have put off taking spring semester community college classes and others are worried about how they will make it to work and back beginning in March when the public transit cuts begin.

For years the Pennsylvania General Assembly has sat by and done nothing even as our public transit systems have been bleeding to death. In 2004 this body reached a new low in irresponsibility by refusing to even consider several bills that would have dealt with the public transit funding crisis.

How dare this body of legislators celebrate when so many Pennsylvania citizens are worried sick about how they will get to work, school, the doctor, the grocery store and yes even to some recreation every once and a while.

WE ARE SICK OF BEING JERKED AROUND AND USED AS POLITICAL PAWNS!
SHAME ON THE PENNSYLVANIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY! SHAME ON OUR LAW MAKERS!

Before January ends we demand:
• Legislation that will provide dedicated & reliable funding for public transit statewide.

• Funding that is adequate enough to maintain 2004 service levels and fare schedules for both the Port Authority of Allegheny County, the Southeast PA Transit Authority (SEPTA) and every other public transit system in this so-called COMMONWEALTH."

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