A Christmas Wish.

Some things I hope to find this Christmas season and into the New Year:
That tidings of joy and good will towards men will find it's way into the Port Authority board room.
That the proposed 15% service cut that surely will affect the most vulnerable of routes will be put on hold till a solution can be found that connects everyone to transit.
That Steve Bland a modern day and real life Scrooge will find in his heart the time to lobby for transit in a way that will restore service instead of his legacy of destruction he's building on his resume while up in Harrisburg.
That Dan Onorato will become the goverment official the people elected him to be, and finally take a stand on what HIS appointed board and chief hangman( Mr Bland) is doing to families across the metro area. What was at the time of his 1st term the 10th largest transit agency in the country is now down to around 16 and sinking faster than the Titanic. Thanks Dan. (and he wonders why he's the Governor re-ject)
That Democrats in Allegheny County and the country offer a alternative to neo-liberal economic policies. All to often from people I hear that it makes no difference if a Republican or Democrat wins, that the end results will be the same. Hard to argue with that.
That the only business protected by the constitution (the press) starts doing some exposes on lobbyists and campaign contributors and shows the fraud that's being perpetrated on the nation by big money vested interests that wish to push THEIR agenda. Profits over service, Profits over safety, Profits over everything.
That the voting public start realizing that trade deficits are even more deadly to our futures than monetary deficits, but how often are we reminded of that by the Tea Partiers?
That Steve Bland starts walking in the shoes of some of the people he plans on stranding or already commuting ungodly hours.
That the dedicated public servants of the Port Authority of Allegheny County who are soon to be laid off, many of whom left better paying private sector jobs for what were supposed to be secure futures in the public sector, find it in their hearts to forgive the people who've made their life a living hell over the last decade with past layoffs, talk of layoffs, and continual downsizing. All this done in the name of saving the taxpayer, who has not realized one red cent in tax savings.However our beautuful new stadiums and arenas along with the tunnel,casino, and the restaurant owners seem to be the real beneficiaries in our new service (or is it servant?) economy of low wage jobs without benefits.
That Marty Griffin and all the talk shock guy's who never let fact get in the way of opinion are lucky enough to realize sometime in the near future that what goes around comes around.
That Tom Corbett remain the moderate and common sense attorney he was when he first came onto the political scene and not the Right wing fire breathing dragon his political donors paid for him to become.
That the novels by Charles Dickens portraying life in Victorian England don't become the reality for the middle class here in modern day America, although i'm afraid this is where we're headed.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
HAPPY NEW YEAR !

Shots From The Peanut Gallery

We're not saying we don't want the money, were saying we need this money to ensure we have some time to secure a dedicated funding source before there is nothing left to save...

Here are a few viewpoints in support of the SPC voting in favor of temporary funding and a dedicated solution.


The Amalgamated Transit Union's International President Larry Hanley is the first letter. http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10346/1109897-110.stm


ACLC President Jack Shea is the second letter in support of the same measure. http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/opinion/letters/s_713216.html


Finally, Jason Altmire who calls himself a friend of Mass Transportation, and often refers to Local 85 as being instrumental in getting him elected, either doesn't get it, or is once again saying the things he needs to say to keep up his "BLUE DOG" status.
http://earlyreturns.sites.post-gazette.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2023:altmire-questions-pat-bailout&catid=53:post-gazette-staff&Itemid=34

Thanks Jason way to go that extra mile.

Well tomorrow is the vote by the SPC, and if anyone is interested there is a rally in support of Governor Rendell's proposal to the SPC at 4:00 pm. Sixth Avenue and William Penn Place across from Mellon Square.

Setting the record straight

After talking to my Father today, a member of the Greatest Generation. A man who at the age of 17 enlisted in the United States Navy to fight as his 2 older brothers did, one of whom was killed in Normandy while he was in the South Pacific a real life Private Ryan. He noted to me that I was getting a 3%raise. Dad I responded back do you realize that my health care is also going up to 3%. Of course not was his response they don't tell you that in the news. And that is my point. Why would they? My Father knows i'm a Port Authority Mechanic/Bus Driver, a member of a Public Employees union the chief villian of what ails our economy. Let's set this record straight a top wage driver makes 24.74 an hour. He's due to get a contractually negotiated raise of 3%. That comes out to 74 cents an hour This brings our wage to 25.48 an hour. Also negotiated in this contract is an increase to our health care contribution of the same 3%. As negotiated in the Collective Bargaining Agreement, Health Care Necessities(and health care is a right as a human being not a privilege) are based on a 40 hour WORK WEEK. What this means to people who can't add is this! THERE IS NO RAISE UNLESS YOU WORK OVER A 40 HOUR WORK WEEK. GOT IT! So everyone out there who thinks this is a 3% outright money grab DO THE MATH! If however you're issue is that Public Employees unions are robbing the Public you are either underpaid in your professions and need to figure out a way to raise your incomes and quit pulling the rest of us under as a DROWNING MAN would. Or you are a STOOGE, of the Mass Media (can you Say Marty Griffin)http://wthrockmorton.com/2010/07/01/follow-up-on-the-fcc-complaint-in-the-case-of-brent-dugan/Sensationalism is the News of the day. Readers of this blog, I encourage you in all the information we provide. Do your own research these media hounds are not the Edward R Murrows or Walter Cronkites of yesterday. They are allowed to lie to you http://www.purefood.org/rbgh/akrepart1.cfm The News media of today is beholden to it's advertisers, they are the ones who control the news you receive thru their advertising DOLLARS.http://www.fcc.gov/telecom.html The point that's to be made here is not that Port Authority workers may be overpaid ( do the job they're not) but that the media which we license thru OUR TAXES (FCC) is not doing the job we trust it to do. Check out the facts yourself. This site has laid it out for you in a attempt to stop this new McCarthyism of the 21st century. Think for yourselves, YOUR CHILDRENS FUTURE DEPENDS ON IT and so does YOURS!

Some random thoughts and gossip at the Bus stop:
That at least half of the 47 million dollar operating deficit is attributable to the agency flexing the money towards the North Side connector to keep it on time and budget.
That Steve Bland and other top management were secretly cringing when Governor Rendell decided to flex money to delay service cuts for at least this fiscal year which ends June 30th 2011.
That Mr. Blands portfolio may have taken a hit with the Governors annoucement as a large proportion of his investments are rumored to be in the shoe business.
That supposedly the Nelson-Nygaard Transit Development plan formerly known as connect "09" or depending upon where you live disconnect "09" was originally to be phased in gradually over three years was rushed into service to hasten the demise of the transit agency.
That the only things I see left in disconnect "09" to be implemented yet are the destruction of a few more routes and the pipe dream of a Bus Rapid Transit system with money the authority clearly doesn't seem to have.
That if the proposed service cuts do come to fruition and thousands of commuters are left scurrying for other options the 50,000 watt blowtorch of KDKA radio will have a large part in stranding them. This commercial radio station that prides itself on being the voice of Pittsburgh never fails to espouse the viewpoint of their "supposed" Free market ideaology and bash any Public Employees Union as being the real root of the cause to the regions and countries problems. If only lifes answers were as simple as they make it be.
That quite possibly the selling of our Parking assets and the elimination of our bus routes could quite possibly be linked.
That you have to ask yourself this question, the ones who gain the most economically by stranding commuters and forcing them into cars would be the very people trying to buy these assets.
That their Free Market hand thru campaign contributions may also have a part in a PA house bill introduced by (R) Turzai this legislative session that was killed in committee while the Democrats had a 5 vote majority.This bill is sure to be introduced this session as the party of Turzai has a 21 vote majority. What is this bill? As described by the Representative it's a bill to introduce competition in our public transit system and fix it.
That if these large conglomerates control our parking and our transit will this be the day we sing the song coined by Willie Nelson and made famous by the recently deceased "Dandy" Don Meredith. Turn out the lights the parties over. It will be for Allegheny County citizens but it will just be begining for the Goldman Sachs and other investment concerns. You really don't think your well being are more important than a profit do you?

Thank you, Ed Rendell.
Unfortunately it's just another patch on the breaking dam.
We need dedicated funding.
We need it today.
We need to continue to put pressure on the legislature.
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10336/1107723-455.stm