Save Our Ride Coalition Rally at the Old Federal Building

TRANSIT ADVOCATES ARE CALLING FOR A SHIFT IN FEDERAL FUNDING FROM PURCHASING EQUIPMENT TO DEFRAYING OPERATING COSTS FOR FINANCIALLY TROUBLED TRANSIT SYSTEMS SUCH AS SAN FRANCISCO'S MUNI AND THE EAST BAY'S AC TRANSIT. THE TRANSIT SYSTEMS HAVE BEEN FORCED TO INSTITUTE FARE INCREASES AND SERVICE CUTBACKS TO MEET MULTI-MILLION BUDGET SHORTFALLS.

THE "SAVE OUR RIDE" CAMPAIGN IS A COALITION FORMED BY THE AMALGAMATED TRANSIT UNION, THE TRANSPORT WORKERS UNION LOCAL 250 AND THE REVEREND JESSE JACKSON. THERE HAVE BEEN PUBLIC EVENTS IN ATLANTA, BIRMINGHAM (AL), DETROIT, CLEVELAND AND PORTLAND, WHERE SERVICE CUTS HAVE REDUCED BUS AND TRAIN ROUTES. THIS HAS LEAD TO REPEATED CALLS FOR WAGE AND BENEFIT CONCESSIONS FROM CITY TRANSIT WORKERS. SEVEN OUT OF TEN TRANSIT AGENCIES IN THE NATION ARE FACING DEEP DEFICITS. MUNI AND AC TRANSIT ARE TWO OF THE TEN MOST FINANCIALLY STRAPPED TRANSIT AUTHORITIES IN THE NATION. THE NEWLY ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE AMALGAMATED TRANSIT UNION (ATU) RONALD HEINTZMAN ON THE UNION CONCESSIONS THAT POLITICIANS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE TRYING TO EXTRACT INCLUDING SAN FRANCISCO MAYOR GAVIN NEWSOM.
MANY UNIONS WERE REPRESENTED AT THE RALLY FROM THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS LIKE LOCAL 2 HOTEL WORKERS, SEIU, THE MACHINISTS UNION, THE NEWSPAPER GUILD AND OTHERS. SAN FRANCSICO MUNI DRIVERS AS WELL AS ALAMEDA COUNTY BUS DRIVERS WERE IN ATTENDANCE.
SAN FRANCISCO SUPERVISOR DISTRICT 9 DAVID CAMPOS SAID THAT, "THE REALITY IS THAT PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IS A SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUE..."
THE "SAVE OUR RIDE" COALITION WILL RALLY NEXT IN SACRAMENTO AND THEN MOVES ON TO HOUSTON, TX AND MIAMI, FL.