Finally, after various mass transit delays. I got to room 302 of UIC's student center, where Monday's CTA Public hearing was being held.I don't know if Ron Huberman or any of the other officials made opening statements. If so I was too late to hear that.I did arrive in time for the Ron Huberman Roast, a/k/a the Public comment period.People were allowed to step up to the microphone, and in a two minute(?) period, allowed to voice their concerns.The list of questions & comments included:
1. How did the CTA arrive at it's cuts, and will the phase in of cuts be gradual?
2. A National Federation of the blind spokesperson who reminded us of the many blind people on fixed incomes who would be hurt by fare raises.
3. CTA board salaries: why so high?
4. Lost revenue due to broken fare boxes. Get a clue, huh?
5. 30 day pass increase to $122.00 could force people to ride METRA.
---CAVEAT: This assumes that METRA doesn't cry poor and raise fares.
---Well, duh! CAVEAT not everyone who uses bus routes, such as the #1 bus lives near a Metra line. That routes, the Indiana/Hyde Park is targeted for a cut. See the rest here.
6.Why pay more for an unsafe ride? One 20 year old female college student tearfully talked about being harassed on CTA trains, and not getting any help from security. She was ready to take METRA.
7.One person who spoke before me didn't have enough time to get to her point. She used most of her time telling the board how many "Chapter 1" -elementary & high school students parents she represented. Which makes me wonder if those Chapter 1 parents could organize a...
8.Boycott??? Someone in the back kept yelling that.
But can you imagine the logistics of organizing van and carpools to get people to their destinations?
And yet....oh what the heck....suppose a half of the CTA's ridership boycotted, and had car & van pools for a month.Make it two months for a symbolic walkout. Nah, it would have to be three, plus informational picketing.You think CTA would clean up its financial act then?Shades of Montgomery, back in the 50's.
"Do you think they're going to listen to us?" someone asked me afterwords, as we waited
(and waited) at the UIC Halsted blue line. I facetiously suggested that we should steal the board member's cars and force all of them to take public transit.I don't know. I think we attendees were allowed to blow off steam. This was our piss in a wetsuit. It made us feel good to get our frustrations with the CTA out of us.But like a piss in a wet suit, it gave us a warm feeling, but will anyone at CTA notice?
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