The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency heard public comment on Feb. 26 regarding a proposed 50 percent fare hike on the Fast Pass for seniors, youth and disabled. Also on the table was a proposal for another 10 percent service cut to MUNI.
 Frank Lara of the ANSWER Coalition demands no transit cuts |
The cost of a Fast Pass has already shot up to $70 (for a pass that includes BART trains) from $45 less than two months ago, and on Dec. 5, 2009, San Francisco MUNI cut or reduced service on over 40 bus lines.
In the weeks prior to the hearing, the ANSWER Coalition (Act Now Stop War and End Racism) in alliance with People Organized to Win Employment Rights had been mobilizing the community to attend the hearing and demand, “No Cuts, No Hikes!” and “MUNI Drivers and Riders United.” Nearly 400 community members filled the hearing and overflow rooms and waited for their chance to speak their two minutes.
Before the board heard any comments, MUNI Board Chairman Tom Nolan took several minutes out of everyone’s day to pit rider against driver in a campaign to blame the union, TWU Local 250-A, explaining that the board would not have to make the “difficult decision” on the cuts if the drivers would just take another round of layoffs, pay cuts, and benefit reductions. What Mr. Nolan neglected to mention was the irresponsible management of MTA funds (including his $308,000 annual salary).
It is safe to say that the board was surprised that in spite of the chairman’s attempt to turn the hearing into an outright brawl over the scraps that had been left at the table, speaker after speaker walked up to the microphone and denounced the board for mismanaging MUNI funds and scapegoating the workers. Audience members also held up signs stating “No Cuts, No Hikes” and “Tax the Rich.”
Because of the public outrage, the SF MTA voted to not adopt the proposal and not raise the senior, youth and disabled Fast Pass from $15 to $30 (although the vote will have no effect on the already planned $5 increase in May). They did adopt the proposal for a 10 percent service cut.
MTA’s executive director, Nathanial Ford said, “It’s going to be a smaller system, but it needs to be a much more reliable system.” It is obvious from that statement that Mr. Ford has not been on MUNI at any point in the recent past. He apparently hasn’t seen the already-stuffed buses on the previously reduced lines from the rearview mirror of his car.
The ANSWER Coalition will continue to mobilize and fight against these cuts and attacks on the unions, workers and the poor.
