Despite claiming to add money to Madison Metro's budget, the mayor's
budget actually cuts to Metro's service, significantly.
When the ravages of the continuing assault on Metro are over, there
will no longer be any mid-day bus connection to the Dean Clinic on
the eastside, or between MATC and the East Transfer Point. But wait!
There's more! Early morning & late night service for the workers who
need it most, GONE. If that's not "balanced and responsible"* enough
for you, the mayor plans to slash Saturday bus service to once an
hour and reduce the hours of operation. There's much, much more, but
the list is long and you should be getting the idea by now.
The Balance: $39,000,000 for cars vs -0.50 for transit.
The mayor's "fair and balanced" er, "responsible" budget adds some
$28 million for road expansion and another $11 million for 75 elite
parking spaces downtown. Platinum priced parking for 75 car drivers
vs. massive service cuts for thousands of bus riders, all for want of
$0.50 million. Now *that's* "fair!"
Important note: Even some of the "good" alders are shaky on
supporting Metro, so please show up to the council meeting TUESDAY, 8
Nov as well as the 15th. In order for the white hats to garner the
support for the appropriate budget amendments supporting Metro, there
must be clear support from the community.
What: Budget Hearings and Madison Metro service cuts
Who: You & the Madison Common Council
How: Testify brothers & sisters, testify!!! (Even if you can't stay
to testify, please at least register.)
When: TONIGHT! Tuesday, 8 November and 15 November: 6:30 PM
Where: Common Council Chambers, Rm 201, City County Building, 210 ML
King Jr. Blvd.
Why: See talking points below.
Go to either or both hearings, but if you can only make one, I'd say
the earlier, the better to help set the tone.
Below are some talking points. Feel free to use these, elaborate on
them or create your own. Consider also emailing your testimony to
your alder (http://www.ci.madison.wi.us/council/index.html ) and the
mayor ([EMAIL PROTECTED]).
Mike Barrett
2137 Sommers Ave.
Madison, WI 53704
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
(608)245-1059
*Mayoral spokesman George Twigg, quoted in Wisconsin State Journal,
Tuesday November 8, 2005;
http://www.madison.com/wsj/mad/local/index.php?ntid=60744
****************************************************************
Madison Metro is an important part of Madison's health, economic
strength and cultural vibrancy:
1. Madison Metro is business-friendly. A recent Manpower Survey finds
40% of U.S. employees are reconsidering their job options due to
rising fuel costs. Employers with poor transit service are now losing
employees to jobs closer to home or near transit. Madison
Metro has benefited from this trend, as have employers located near
transit. Now that they are sold on Metro, don't cut it! Let's
keep rolling! (More on transit and business growth here:
http://www.vtpi.org/smith.htm )
2. Help the taxpayer by increasing ridership. Service cuts decrease
ridership. Lower ridership will require further fare increases,
result in even fewer riders, further taxpayer subsidy and more
service cuts. This death spiral must be stopped! (Detailed
information on transit service levels and ridership here:
http://www.vtpi.org/tranelas.pdf )
3. Keep our air clean and climate cool. Cutting bus service will add
to Madison's already
significant air quality problems. Cutting bus service conflicts with
Madison's Climate Protection Plan and the Climate Protection
Agreement the mayor signed with great fanfare along with 181 other
mayors around the country. Our mayor also campaigned to improve mass
transit in the city. On May 18, 2005 he said, "Increasingly, cities
are providing the answers to some of America's toughest problems. So
it's fitting that we're leading the way on global warming as well."
Reducing transit service is reducing a basic--and very green--urban
function.
4. Reduce congestion. Decreased bus service will mean more traffic
congestion. More bus service means more convenience and less hassle
for everyone--including car drivers.
5. Safer Streets. Decreased bus service will shift more people into
cars. Increased car traffic will lead to higher safety risks for
pedestrians, particularly children and the elderly.
6. It's only fair. When the mayor pushed for higher fares, he
promised to maintain service levels. Transit advocates on the TPC
swallowed the bitter pill of higher fares. Now it is time for the
city to live up to its promise of no more service cuts.
*It's only fair that we pay for Metro service--a basic urban
amenity--since we also pay for
street maintenance, operations, and construction.
*It is only fair to pay for transit service levels that at
least keep pace with the pace of this rapidly expanding city.
*It's only fair to give people transportation choices.
*It's only fair to provide opportunity through mobility to
the poor, elderly, disabled,
children, or people who are just plain frugal.
7. Opportunity not crisis. High fuel prices are an opportunity not a
crisis. Transit is more attractive than ever. With better transit
service more families will be able to live comfortably with only one
or perhaps no cars. Family finances will be stronger and other items
will be more affordable, including housing, food and clothing. Seize
the opportunity!
8. Less stress on social services. Transit is the mode of first
resort for first time job seekers and people struggling to pull
themselves up. Transit helps people on low incomes become
financially stable more quickly. With quality transit available, they
will likely need fewer social services.
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