Oh, no no no no no. The original estimate of the “economic benefits” (whatever the Hell that amorphous amorphism means) of the 34th America’s Cup was $9.9 B-as-in-boy billion.
“America’s Cup organizers are falling short in their efforts to raise private donations to help pay for the cost of bringing the America’s Cup sailing competition to San Francisco — and that could leave the city on the hook for about $20 million. The Board of Supervisors holds hearings Wednesday to discuss the shortfall. Supporters say even without all of the promised private funds, the city still benefits financially from hosting the America’s Cup.
Host: Michael Krasny
Guests:
Jane Sullivan, city spokesperson for the America’s Cup
John Avalos, San Francisco supervisor representing District 11″
I understand that Mayor Ed Lee has a cheerleading function as a part of his job. Fine.
But what’s this? What the Hell?
“We expect to have some 500,000 people on a daily basis…”
Just take a look on the YouTube, at around 9:30 and, mind you, this is AFTER everything blew up and people started realizing that the 2013 America’s Cup won’t be anywhere near as popular as advertised:
So, does Ed Lee actually believe that there’s a chance that the America’s Cup will attract anything close to a half million people “on a daily basis?”
No he does not.
So why does he say it?
Mmmm…
Now, speaking of cheerleading, @olivaglobal is the dude who was hired by the San Francisco Chronicle to promote the America’s Cup over the next 1.5 years. Here he goes:
“The America’s Cup is the world’s third-largest sporting competition, after the Olympics and soccer’s World Cup.”
Here it is in the flesh:
So, let’s think about this here. I guess the bullshit Bay Area Council Economic Institute (BACEI) organization is allowing that the Summer Olympics and the World Cup just might possibly be bigger than an America’s Cup. But what about the Winter Olympics? Oh, and what about the Super Bowl?
Who actually believes that the America’s Cup, that thing where half the staff just got laid off and NBC needs to be paid in order to broadcast, is actually going to be bigger than a Super Bowl?
Nobody.
Not even the cheerleaders.
So why do they say these kinds of things?
All right here’s one more from the messed-up study what’s going to cost the taxpayers of San Francisco tens of millions of dollars. It discusses, and I’m srlsy, the “fleet of super yachts” what are going to be attracted to the bay area due to the America’s Cup, and then it talks about how much money we’re going to make by gassing them up and Windexing the shiny parts and stuff like that.
I’m srsly.
These cheerleaders are members of a modern day Cargo Cult and we’re all along for the ride.
And oh, we’re going to get the Golden State Warriors without funding the stadium at Piers 30-32? All right, so why then are we funding Larry Ellison’s ego trip of a boat race? Why are we allowing Him to get away with this?
I know not.
Screw the America’s Cup.
“The world’s most popular sport may be soccer, but in cold, hard dollars, nobody throws a party like the National Football League.
But first, a little background. It seems the world will end on December 21, 2012:
“The 2012 phenomenon comprises a range of eschatological beliefs according to which cataclysmic or transformative events will occur on 21 December 2012.This date is regarded as the end-date of a 5,125-year-long cycle in the Mesoamerican Long Count calendar. Various astronomical alignments and numerological formulae have been proposed as pertaining to this date, though none have been accepted by mainstream scholarship. A New Age interpretation of this transition is that this date marks the start of time in which Earth and its inhabitants may undergo a positive physical or spiritual transformation, and that 2012 may mark the beginning of a new era. Others suggest that the 2012 date marks the end of the world or a similar catastrophe. Scenarios suggested for the end of the world include the arrival of the next solar maximum, or Earth’s collision with an object such as a black hole, a passing asteroid, or a planet called “Nibiru“.
OK fine.
Area whacko Elisabeth Thieriot is working on, in her words, “saving humanity” so you gots to listen to her.
(Especially when UHF Channel 36 cuts into a Friends rerun on a Sunday afternoon.)
Deets below.
And please remember, you only have 144 days left before you’re going to have to KYAG:
“It’s A Red Carpet Life…” Features Exclusive Interviews on “Decoding B’aqtun” - Host interviews Head Elder of the Mayan Council and film executive producer & financier Elisabeth Thieriot
SAN FRANCISCO, July 27, 2012 — MBL Media Productions, an Emmy Award-winning, full-service film and video production company, is proud to announce the premiere of “It’s A Red Carpet Life…The Mayan Prophecy,” where host Marybeth La Motte will discuss the concept and production process behind the filming of “Decoding B’aqtun.” The documentary, filmed in Guatemala in April 2012, uncovers rarely seen Mayan artifacts from the sites of Tikal and Quirigua, Guatemala.
In the episode airing this Sunday, July 29, at 5:25pm PDT on KICU TV36 (directly after “FRIENDS”), La Motte interviews the Head Elder of the Mayan Council, Apolinario Chile Pixtun, and Elisabeth Thieriot, President, Elicosma Productions and also the film’s financier and executive producer. “We encourage viewers to tune in and find out about ‘Decoding B’aqtun,’” La Motte shares. “The unique opportunity to learn more about the Mayan calendar and culture has been a rewarding experience for our team and we can’t wait to share the insight with our audience.”
In his interview with La Motte, Pixtun explains why the Mayan culture designed its calendar thousands of years ago and how it holds true today. He also recaps the development of a substantial friendship with Thieriot and his respect for her concentrated effort in the face of adversity throughout production.
In the second half of the interview, Thieriot explains the Mayan prophecies of 2012, clarifies what society has achieved in the last 5000 years, and gives a sneak peek into what the movie discloses about the Mayan calendar. She also candidly discusses production hurdles and surviving false accusations and blackmail from a previous film’s production in Mexico.
For more information on “It’s A Red Carpet Life…,” please visit: www.redcarpetsf.com, or call MBL Media
“It’s A Red Carpet Life…” is the most recent addition to the KICU network’s primetime entertainment and news lineup. Pioneered by Marybeth La Motte, host of “Red Carpet Bay Area” and founder of MBL Media Productions, the five-minute spotlight is shined on select individuals during brief interviews where a wide variety of topics are discussed. Whether it’s the mysteries of the Mayans, luxurious getaways, business tips, or even advice for marketing oneself in front of the camera, “It’s A Red Carpet Life…” covers all of the San Francisco Bay Area’s latest entertainment news.
About MBL Media Productions
MBL Media Productions is an Emmy Award winning, full-service film and video production company specializing in the unique needs of events, the fashion and luxury sectors. Host Marybeth La Motte capturing interviews of runway shows and special events, and integrates clients’ editorial material into enticing online and television formats.
I understand that Mayor Ed Lee has a cheerleading function as a part of his job. Fine.
But what’s this? What the Hell?
“We expect to have some 500,000 people on a daily basis…”
Take a look on the YouTube, at around 9:30 and, mind you, this is AFTER everything blew up and people started realizing that the 2013 America’s Cup won’t be anywhere near as popular as advertised:
So, does Ed Lee actually believe that there’s a chance that the America’s Cup will attract anything close to a half million people “on a daily basis?”
No he does not.
So why does he say it?
Mmmm…
Now, speaking of cheerleading, @olivaglobal is the dude who was hired by the San Francisco Chronicle to promote the America’s Cup over the next 1.5 years. Here he goes:
“The America’s Cup is the world’s third-largest sporting competition, after the Olympics and soccer’s World Cup.”
Here it is in the flesh:
So, let’s think about this here. I guess the bullshit Bay Area Council Economic Institute (BACEI) organization is allowing that the Summer Olympics and the World Cup just might possibly be bigger than an America’s Cup. But what about the Winter Olympics? Oh, and what about the Super Bowl?
Who actually believes that the America’s Cup, that thing where half the staff just got laid off and NBC needs to be paid in order to broadcast, is actually going to be bigger than a Super Bowl?
Nobody.
Not even the cheerleaders.
So why do they say these kinds of things?
All right here’s one more from the messed-up study what’s going to cost the taxpayers of San Francisco tens of millions of dollars. It discusses, and I’m srlsy, the “fleet of super yachts” what are going to be attracted to the bay area due to the America’s Cup, and then it talks about how much money we’re going to make by gassing them up and Windexing the shiny parts and stuff like that.
I’m srsly.
These cheerleaders are members of a modern day Cargo Cult and we’re all along for the ride.
And oh, we’re going to get the Golden State Warriors without funding the stadium at Piers 30-32? All right, so why then are we funding Larry Ellison’s ego trip of a boat race? Why are we allowing Him to get away with this?
I know not.
Screw the America’s Cup.
“The world’s most popular sport may be soccer, but in cold, hard dollars, nobody throws a party like the National Football League.
All that fuss about the America’s Cup started with a grossly-distorted report from the Bay Area Council Economic Institute. Here’s the start of it:
“Executive Summary: The America’s Cup is the world’s third-largest sporting competition, after the Olympics and soccer’s World Cup.”
UH, WHO MADE THIS UP? WHO BELIEVES THIS? FIRST OF ALL, “THE OLYMPICS” IS ACTUALLY THE SUMMER OLYMPICS AND THE WINTER OLYMPICS, SO THE AMERICA’S CUP WOULD HAVE TO BE NUMBER FOUR AT BEST. SECOND OF ALL, NOBODY REALLY CARES ABOUT THE AMERICA’S CUP.* SO, THE “INDEPENDENT STUDY” FROM THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF WHATEVER THE HELL CHEERLEADING ORGANIZATION STARTS OFF WITH A LIE. PAR FOR THE COURSE.
Securing hosting rights to the Cup is therefore a prestigious and economically significant prize for any community.
NO, SEE, NO, YOU CAN’T DO THAT, YOU CAN’T START BUILDING YOUR CASE WITHOUT A FOUNDATION, CAN YOU? I SUPPOSE THAT IF ENOUGH PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT THE AMERICA’S CUP IS “PRESTIGIOUS” THEN IT WILL SOMEDAY BECOME SO, BUT WE’RE NOT AT THAT POINT YET. AC IS NO “PRIZE.”
The economic benefits of bringing the America’s Cup to San Francisco would come primarily through expenditures by racing syndicates, and through spending on hotels, restaurants, and retail and other services by both domestic and overseas visitors and Bay Area residents.
ALL RIGHT, THOSE TWO THINGS. BUT WHERE WILL THE DEFICITS COME FROM? WOULD YOU CARE TO DETAIL THOSE?
If the competition were to run for three months, this could lead to an additional 2.6 million spectators.
AND IF YOU START FLAPPING YOUR ARMS HARD ENOUGH, THIS COULD LEAD TO SUSTAINED FLIGHT.
While these impacts would be primarily concentrated in San Francisco, nearby counties such as Alameda, Marin, Napa, Sonoma, and San Mateo would also benefit from increased visitor and maritime activity. This report endeavours to provide estimates of the economic impact of an America’s Cup match on the San Francisco Bay. Other economists have paved the way by providing estimates of the economic impacts of previous America’s Cups, including an analysis of the economic impacts of the 32nd America’s Cup of 2007 in Valencia, Spain. Starting with that study as a rough guide, this analysis makes a number of assumptions: that infrastructure cost and spending will be several billion dollars less; that spectator attendance will be considerably larger; that the media’s presence will be larger; and that the presence of super yachts will likely be smaller.
UH, BUT NOBODY REALLY CARES ABOUT THE AMERICA’S CUP THOUGH, RIGHT? THIS THING IS A CRUSHING DISAPPOINTMENT ALREADY, RIGHT? WEREN’T THERE SUPPOSED TO BE 18 TEAMS? AND THEN THE ORGANIZERS LOWERED THE ENTRY FEE TO A TOKEN AMOUNT BUT THERE’S STILL VERY LITTLE INTEREST?
From this, we estimate that the increase in overall economic activity in San Francisco due to hosting an America’s Cup could be on the order of $1.37 billion.
AND IF YOU START FLAPPING YOUR ARMS HARD ENOUGH, THIS COULD LEAD TO SUSTAINED FLIGHT.
This is three times the estimated impact of hosting the Super Bowl ($300-$500 million).
NOW HOLD ON, PEOPLE ACTUALLY _LIKE_ THE SUPER BOWL, ARE WE CONFLATING THE TWO EVENTS HERE? AND ACTUALLY, NBC _PAYS_ THE NFL FOR THE RIGHTS TO AIR THE SUPERBOWL (SOME YEARS, ANYWAY) BUT THE AMERICA’S CUP PEOPLE ARE _PAYING NBC_ TO AIR THE AMERICA’S CUP, RIGHT? SO ISN’T THE AMERICA’S CUP KIND OF THE OPPOSITE OF THE SUPER BOWL?
The potential increase in employment surrounding the event could be on the order of 8,840 jobs.
AND NEXT MONTH, I’LL INCREASE THE NET WORTH OF ALL MY READERS, ALL 14 OF THEM, BY $8,840, YOU KNOW, I’LL JUST GIVE THEM ALL MONEY, POTENTIALLY.
This increase in output and employment would likely yield a benefit to state and local government coffers of nearly $85 million.
NOOOPE!
Additional taxes alone to the City’s General Fund are expected to net more than $13 million, based on more than $24 million in revenue, and an estimated $11 million in tourism related costs.
NICE USE OF PASSIVE VOICE THERE. EXPECTED BY WHOM?
Looking beyond the Bay Area, California’s economy would see increased economic activity of $1.43 billion. The U.S. economy as a whole would see increased economic activity of $1.85 billion.
AND WHAT ABOUT THE WORLD AS A WHOLE? IT’S A WIN-WIN, RIGHT? EVERYBODY WINS! HURRAY?
This increase would support the creation of 11,978 jobs.
UH, I THINK YOU MEAN GIGS, YOU KNOW, TEMPORARY EMPLOYMENT?
The figures produced here are likely to be compared to previous estimates indicating that hosting the Cup on the Bay would result in economic benefits to the region on the order of $9.9 billion.
UH, DO YOU HAVE A CITE FOR THIS PIE IN THE SKY? DOES SOMEBODY OUT THERE THINK THAT HOSTING LARRY’S LITTLE BOAT RACE IS AS GOOD AS BILL GATES GIVING US $10 BILLION? REALLY?
We have consciously made an effort to be conservative in our analysis and to evaluate economic impacts for which there is a factual basis and which would be unique to the venue of the San Francisco Bay, and by focusing on readily quantifiable benefits as opposed to those that are more speculative.
WOW, CONSCIOUSLY? LET’S HOPE YOU DIDN’T STRAIN YOURSELVES.
WHOEVER WROTE THIS REPORT IS DELUSIONAL.
SIMPLY.
*NOW, WHAT ABOUT EVENTS BIGGER THAN THE POORLY-NAMED AMERICA’S CUP? HEY HOW ABOUT SOMETHING CALLED UEFA? I THINK THAT’S GOING ON RIGHT NOW IN EUROPE. PUT THAT ON YOUR LIST OF SPORTS BIGGER THAN LIL LARRY’S BACKYARD BOAT RACE.
“The world’s most popular sport may be soccer, but in cold, hard dollars, nobody throws a party like the National Football League.
“U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today announced the recipients of the 2011 Sustainable Communities Grants, totaling nearly $96 million. Twenty-seven communities and organizations will receive Community Challenge grants and 29 regional areas will receive Regional Planning grants. The goal of HUD’s Sustainable Communities grants is to help communities and regions improve their economic competitiveness by connecting housing with good jobs, quality schools and transportation.”
San Francisco Mayor with House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi greeting people at the brand new Drs. Julian and Raye Richardson Apartments for the formerly homeless on Fulton near Gough:
Click to expand
Oh, here they are up at the Richardson’s awesome-looking rooftop garden:
Per Dr. Gregory Farrington, Executive Director of the Academy:
“Our LEED Platinum building is a marvelous example of sustainable architecture that has wowed millions of visitors since we opened three years ago. However, it is more than just a building. It is also a stage—one that has allowed us to host a wide variety of programs and exhibits about the history and future of life on Earth. Delivering these programs as sustainably as possible helps us inspire our visitors to make sustainable choices in their own lives.”
Click to expand
That’s right, baby – double platinum:
All the deets:
THE CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES RECEIVES SECOND LEED PLATINUM RATING FROM U.S. GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL
Awarded for its sustainable operations and maintenance, the Academy is now the world’s largest “Double Platinum” building
SAN FRANCISCO – On September 27, 2008, the California Academy of Sciences unveiled the world’s greenest museum—an eco-friendly new home featuring a hilly living roof, recycled denim insulation, and many other green innovations. Three years and more than five million visitors later, the museum celebrates another symbolic color: platinum. Today, the U.S. Green Building Council presented the Academy with its second LEED Platinum award, making the California Academy of Sciences the world’s first “Double Platinum” museum and the world’s largest Double Platinum building. Designed by Italian architect Renzo Piano, the Academy building houses an aquarium, planetarium, natural history museum, and world-class research and education programs under one living roof, standing as an embodiment of its 158-year-old mission to explore, explain, and protect the natural world.
“We couldn’t be more proud of the Academy for its commitment to high levels of environmental performance, and for setting the example as a leader in the San Francisco green building community and around the world,” said San Francisco Mayor Edwin Lee. “Their Double Platinum rating is truly a remarkable achievement for our City.”
The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system is a voluntary, consensus-based standard for evaluating high-performance, sustainable buildings. By earning points across a variety of sustainability categories, buildings can earn a basic certification, Silver, Gold, or Platinum rating. In October 2008, the Academy received its first LEED Platinum rating under the “New Construction” category, which focused on the building’s design and construction process. In August 2011, the Academy received its second LEED Platinum rating under the “Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance” category, which certifies that its day-to-day operations and business practices also meet the highest standards of sustainability.
The Academy’s operations and maintenance practices were evaluated and earned points across six different categories: sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, and innovation and design process. Based on a wide range of green practices and performance metrics, including transportation, purchasing decisions, and waste disposal, it was awarded a total of 82 points, exceeding the threshold for a Platinum certification (80 points).
Founded in 1853, the California Academy of Sciences is one of the world’s preeminent natural history museums and is an international leader in scientific research about the natural world. The 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake damaged the Academy’s original home in Golden Gate Park, but also provided a silver lining: the opportunity to reinvent the facility from the ground up. After nearly a decade of planning and the largest cultural fundraising effort in San Francisco history, the new Academy opened to the public in 2008. This major new initiative built on the Academy’s distinguished history and deepened its commitment to advancing scientific literacy, engaging the public, and documenting and conserving Earth’s natural resources.
“Our LEED Platinum building is a marvelous example of sustainable architecture that has wowed millions of visitors since we opened three years ago,” said Dr. Gregory Farrington, Executive Director of the Academy. “However, it is more than just a building. It is also a stage—one that has allowed us to host a wide variety of programs and exhibits about the history and future of life on Earth. Delivering these programs as sustainably as possible helps us inspire our visitors to make sustainable choices in their own lives.”
Writer/Director Jennifer Siebel Newsom brings together some of America’s most influential women in politics, news, and entertainment to give us an inside look at the media’s message. Miss Representation explores women’s under-representation in positions of power by challenging the limited and often disparaging portrayal of women in the media. As one of the most persuasive and pervasive forces in our culture, media is educating yet another generation that women’s primary value lies in their youth, beauty and sexuality—not in their capacity as leaders. Through the riveting perspectives of youth and the critical analysis of top scholars, Miss Representation will change the way you see media.
Featured in the Film
•Caroline Heldman, PhD, Associate Professor Occidental College
•Condoleezza Rice, PhD, Former United States Secretary of State
•Dianne Feinstein, United States Senator
•Dolores Huerta, Co-Founder of United Farm Workers Union
•Geena Davis, Actor & Founder of Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media
•Gloria Steinem, Feminist Organizer & Writer
•Jackson Katz, PhD, Author & Lecturer
•Jane Fonda, Actor & Activist
•Jean Kilbourne, EdD, Media Critic, Author & Lecturer
•Jennifer Pozner, Executive Director of Women in Media and New
•Katie Couric, Broadcast Journalist
•Lisa Ling, Broadcast Journalist
•M. Gigi Durham, Professor of Media Studies
•Margaret Cho, Comedienne, Actor & Activist
•Martha Lauzen, Executive Director of Center for the Study of Women in TV and Film
•Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House, United States Congress
•Pat Mitchell, President & CEO of The Paley Center for Media
•Rachel Maddow, Broadcast Journalist & Host of MSNBC’s The Rachel Maddow Show
•Rosario Dawson, Actor & Activist
•…among many other incredible women and men of all ages!
Runtime
85 minutes
Order DVD
Coming soon.
Social Change Campaign
The distribution of the film will coincide with a social change campaign to re-envision women as leaders in society. Film proceeds will be donated to women’s leadership programs led by our partner organizations, which include Girls for A Change, Girls Inc., The International Museum of Women, Step Up Women’s Network, The Women’s Media Center, and The White House Project. The nation-wide, multi-generational effort will create an educational curriculum for middle and high school students and directed action to demand media responsibility. Donate to the campaign to help us achieve social change for women and girls.
Anyway, this is all news to me. Order the DVD or go to a screening if you want.
Enjoy:
“About the Film
Writer/Director Jennifer Siebel Newsom brings together some of America’s most influential women in politics, news, and entertainment to give us an inside look at the media’s message. Miss Representation explores women’s under-representation in positions of power by challenging the limited and often disparaging portrayal of women in the media. As one of the most persuasive and pervasive forces in our culture, media is educating yet another generation that women’s primary value lies in their youth, beauty and sexuality—not in their capacity as leaders. Through the riveting perspectives of youth and the critical analysis of top scholars, Miss Representation will change the way you see media.
Featured in the Film
•Caroline Heldman, PhD, Associate Professor Occidental College
•Condoleezza Rice, PhD, Former United States Secretary of State
•Dianne Feinstein, United States Senator
•Dolores Huerta, Co-Founder of United Farm Workers Union
•Geena Davis, Actor & Founder of Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media
•Gloria Steinem, Feminist Organizer & Writer
•Jackson Katz, PhD, Author & Lecturer
•Jane Fonda, Actor & Activist
•Jean Kilbourne, EdD, Media Critic, Author & Lecturer
•Jennifer Pozner, Executive Director of Women in Media and New
•Katie Couric, Broadcast Journalist
•Lisa Ling, Broadcast Journalist
•M. Gigi Durham, Professor of Media Studies
•Margaret Cho, Comedienne, Actor & Activist
•Martha Lauzen, Executive Director of Center for the Study of Women in TV and Film
•Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House, United States Congress
•Pat Mitchell, President & CEO of The Paley Center for Media
•Rachel Maddow, Broadcast Journalist & Host of MSNBC’s The Rachel Maddow Show
•Rosario Dawson, Actor & Activist
•…among many other incredible women and men of all ages!
Runtime
85 minutes
Order DVD
Coming soon.
Social Change Campaign
The distribution of the film will coincide with a social change campaign to re-envision women as leaders in society. Film proceeds will be donated to women’s leadership programs led by our partner organizations, which include Girls for A Change, Girls Inc., The International Museum of Women, Step Up Women’s Network, The Women’s Media Center, and The White House Project. The nation-wide, multi-generational effort will create an educational curriculum for middle and high school students and directed action to demand media responsibility. Donate to the campaign to help us achieve social change for women and girls.
But a couple-hundred or so transit workers and allies were on hand at the plaza in front of Big Blue:
And here’s how they got there. How apropropriate!
Here’s who was there. I see District 9 San Francisco Supervisor David Campos, San Francisco Labor Council Executive Director Tim Paulson, and TWU 250-a Union President Irwin Lum, for starters:
Are riders and drivers really united? Not that I can see, not in San Francisco. I’m mean, I’m sure that all involved would like Uncle Sucker to rain cash down upon the City, but beyond that, there’s not much uniting these groups. It would be nice to cancel the already-useless Central Subway and use the extra billion (or two or three) that that would free up to pay for transit people are using today, but the system doesn’t work that way, obviously. Oh well.
“Transit service cuts, fare hikes and layoffs affect millions of Americans every day. You can help save transit and counteract the nation-wide transit crisis by rallying with theSave Our Ridealliance.
Save Our Ride was formed by the Transport Workers Union, Amalgamated Transit Union and Reverend Jesse Jackson to raise awareness of the transit crisis and to rally for the passage of transit bills that will allow flexibility of federal aid for transit. The alliance is an advocate for more affordable and efficient transit systems, better air quality and a greener future for America.
Speakers to include: James C. Little, President International TWU; Harry Lombardo, TWU Executive Vice President; Warren George, President of International ATU; Reverend Jesse Jackson, Rainbow PUSH Coalition. Other speakers will include TWU and ATU local leadership, legislators, community and civil rights groups, riders who are suffering from service cuts and increased fares. (speakers subject to change)
Stay tuned to twu.org and ourride.org for speaker announcements and more information as the rallies approach.
The reason your fares have increased and your service has been cut is because the federal government has neglected transit for decades and the country’s on-going economic struggle that has slashed transit revenues has pushed transportation systems into their own crises.
“We can not allow our transit systems to crumble from financial neglect,” said President James C. Little. “We must work together to tell the federal government the neglect must stop.”
Federal subsidies to our country’s largest transportation systems do not allow enough flexibility for operating costs. So transit systems can use federal funds to buy news trains and buses (capital expenses), but not to pay the operators. If your bus doesn’t have an operator, you are not going to get to work on time.
Rep. Russ Carnahan (D-MO), and Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH), have proposed bills, H.R.2746and S3189, that would allow transit agencies to flex funding to suit local needs. Also, eight senators from the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee introduced a bill, S. 3412, to authorize emergency funding for transit agencies to help reverse fare increases and service cuts.
This legislation will help to save our transit systems, provide thousands of green transit jobs, and keep transportation affordable. If you take the bus, train, subway or streetcar to work and use public transportation to send your children to school and if you want to work towards a cleaner environment, less congested streets and green jobs, then come share your story and your voice and Save Our Ride!
