Anti-Fare Hike Campaign Moves to the Neighborhoods

Casey Mills opened the round of bullhorn speakers by saying "This fare hike is unjust. It disproportionately affects low-income people and communities of color, service cuts do the same." Bob Planthold of the Senior Action Network railed against Muni's past intransigence, asking the crowd, "Would you keep your job if you did nothing? The mayor lets the MTA keep their jobs and they do nothing." Richard Marquez of Mission Agenda said simply "No seat, no fare on Muni."

Starting in September, the Municipal Transportation Agency plans to institute a twenty-five cent base fare increase and a 5% across-the-board service cut to help close its projected $57.3M budget deficit. The MTA also plans to raise the senior/disabled fare and the price of a monthly pass.

The CTJ wants the MTA to use increased parking fees and taxes on downtown business to balance the budget. Such a move would not only shore up Muni's finances, they say, it would also make public transit more attractive and shift the financial burden from commuters to the companies that they work for. The MTA rolled back the severity of possible cuts over a series of contentious hearings this winter, but the CTJ and others maintain that the MTA did not diligently pursue other funding sources.

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