A: Decent Transit.
So tomorrow night, I suspect the Barrymore will be packed for the
screening of "Wal-mart: The High Cost of Low Price."
At about the same time tomorrow night, the best antidote to sprawl &
sprawlmarts is on the chopping block at the Common Council. That
would be urban density-supporting transit. This coincidence is
fairly reminiscent of all the passive tut-tutting I heard during the
last Presidential campaign as the mass of good people flocked to see
Fahrenheit 9/11 while actually doing little or nothing to build a
progressive movement to get us decent political leadership (and no,
Clinton/Gore/Kerry DLC types don't cut it) at all levels of
government.
Forgive the scolding, but I couldn't help it. The situation is only
getting worse. The dire numbers on Madison Metro's "shortfall" keep
coming in for revisions, um, upward. Nobody in any position--elected,
appointed, bureaucratic, in or out of the system--seems to be able to
get a handle on where the numbers are coming from or going to. I've
given up.
Fuel prices are the simplistic answer as to Metro's predicament. But
I've stopped believing it, and here's why: Asphalt prices have risen
some six-fold over the past decade, yet roadwidening is continuing
apace. Metro, facing fuel prices only half that rate in the same
period of time, is facing massive service cuts. So what does this
imbalance have to do with Sprawlmart? As one major commercial
developer at a recent Urban Design Commission informed us, as long as
Madison continues to build roads big, wide and for speed, he has no
choice but to build in the manner of the ugly Sprawlmart big box, set
behind a sea of asphalt. Big roads and sprawlmarts exist
symbiotically. Meanwhile, the distances created by such development
patterns stretch Madison Metro's ability to deliver service beyond
the breaking point.
If the current imbalanced budget is passed as presented by the mayor,
Madison Metro will face unprecedented cuts. The list of cut services
I sent last week won't even begin to cover it.
If you ride the bus, or value clean air or safe streets, or access to
jobs for all or all of the above, you need to communicate to the
Madison Common Council and the mayor. NOW.
If the council only sees the faces they saw last week testifying
against slashing Metro, you can expect massive service cuts. So
please consider showing up late for the movie and actively defending
your community.
Here's the low-down:
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: Tuesday, 15 November: 6:30 PM
Where: Common Council Chambers, Rm 201, City County Building, 210 ML
King Jr. Blvd.
Why: See talking points below.
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
P.s. Many thanks to those of you who did show up, or emailed or
called your alders!
****************************************************************
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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