A-Infos (en) US, Freedom/Libertad* #6 - TRANSIT FUNDING NEEDS A FIX: Pittsburgh says “TAX THE RICH” + OCCUPY EVERYTHING

On September 24, 2011, 200 Pittsburghers marched through the neighborhood of East Liberty 
demanding “more transit, not less” and “no more cuts” to the bus routes in Allegheny 
County. The march and rally, organized by Pittsburghers for Public Transit (PPT) was 
endorsed by the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 85, amongst others. The people in 
attendance were diverse but the message was focused: we all need transit. ---- The march 
ended at East Liberty Presbyterian Church, where the marchers and onlookers gathered to 
show their energy and listen to speakers. Andrew Wagner of PPT kicked off the rally by 
saying “If they can cut the guts out of the postal service nationally, just imagine what 
they can do to transit in Allegheny County. This is a class war against working class 
people in this country. We need not to rely on Republican and Democrat votes, but on our 
own strength.”

William Anderson of The Black Political Empowerment
Project followed Mr. Wagner’s theme, stating
“This is a class issue. This has nothing
to do with race, gender, creed... it is a
war on poor people. We will not stand
for this class attack where the rich are
getting richer and the poor are getting
poorer.”

“On Thanksgiving in 2010, we woke
up to see in the newspaper that the
Allegheny County Port Authority cut
transit 40 percent,” said Pat McMahon,
President of the ATU Local 85. “Dan
Onorato and the Board of Directors
cannot deny any longer that this is a
war against working people. That is
the politics of Allegheny County and
the democrats we voted for. It is class
warfare brothers and sisters, and we
need to do something about it...are you
with us?” Mr. McMahon represents
22,000 Allegheny County transit
workers.
“We need to go down to the garage
and not let any of those buses roll out
until they all can roll out,” said Jim
Bonner, a laid-off bus driver who has
taken to organizing since his layoff in
March.
On March 27, cuts eliminated
29 routes, trimmed service on most
others and threw 180 union workers
out of their jobs. “This is not unique
to Pittsburgh,” said Antonio Lodico
of Western Pennsylvania’s We Are
One Coalition. “Right now all over the
country they [the rich] are attempting
to destroy public gain for private good.”
“Pittsburgh is currently trying to
establish itself as a ‘green city,’ leading
the way in innovative environmentally-
friendly jobs, technologies, and
policies,” posts PPT on their website.
“Cuts to public transit would be a
major step back in these efforts... we
should fund the Port Authority in order
to lead the way in green initiatives that
benefit our environment and health by
improving our air quality and reducing
run-off pollution to our water supply.
Increased funding would allow Port
Authority to expand their hybrid fleet
and further experiment with biodiesel
fueling options. Public transportation
infrastructure and innovation are keys
to the sustainable development and
general well-being of our region.”
Other speakers included Carol of
Pittsburgh Interfaith Impact Network,
Tony Spadaro of the Pittsburgh chapter
of Students for a Democratic Society,
and a musical performance by Mike
Stout, one of Pittsburgh’s working class
rock stars. Stout’s localized version of
Florence Reece’s “Which Side Are You
On?” was a crowd pleaser.
www.pittsburghersforpublictransit.org

--------------------------------

OCCUPY EVERYTHING

In the U.S. the richest 1% of the
population controls 50% of the wealth.
Now the people are rising to bring
down the 1%. They are occupying
public squares, and forming directly
democratic assemblies to build a
movement. What began in Tahrir
Square, Egypt, on January 25, 2011,
took root on Wall Street on September
17. Now it’s spreading across the
country. Occupations have begun
in Boston, Chicago, San Francisco,
and dozens of other U.S. cities. In
New York, unions, including Transit
Workers Union Local 100 and the Air
Line Pilots Association, have joined
the cause, creating a powerful working
class alliance. Unions elsewhere are
following suit. Freedom hopes to see
these occupations and assemblies
spread to job sites, neighborhoods,
and schools. Learn more at -
www.occupytogether.org

======================
* Anarchist Common Struggle journal
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