---------- From: Marc Norton <nortonsf@ix.netcom.com> Reply-To: Marc Norton <nortonsf@ix.netcom.com> Date: Wed, 3 Aug 2005 06:53:02 -0700 (GMT-07:00) To: sfaction@yahoogroups.com Subject: [sfaction] Examiner: Muni Activists Urge Commuters Not to Pay MUNI ACTIVISTS URGE COMMUTERS NOT TO PAY: GROUP OPPOSED TO FARE INCREASE, SERVICE CUTS San Francisco Examiner By Marisa Lagos, Staff Writer Wednesday, August 3, 2005 http://www.sfexaminer.com/articles/2005/08/03//news//20050803_ne10_muni.txt On a recent foggy morning, four men stood on the corner of 16th and Mission streets, armed with colorful fliers for commuters huddled at bus stops. Some riders wave them off, but the majority this Tuesday morning accept the handouts, emblazoned with words such as, "Starting September 1... Riders Don't Pay, Drivers Don't Collect." They are part of a small, loose-knit movement determined to fight Muni's plan to close about $20 million of its $57 million budget gap by raising fares and cutting service this fall. The activists plan to protest by simply boarding buses without paying. Muni will raise fares by 25 cents in September and has sent off layoff notices to about 200 drivers in anticipation of service cuts, though some officials say that it is unlikely any employees will be forced out. Monthly passes, as well as fares for disabled riders, seniors and students will remain at the same level. [In fact, the fare for disabled riders, seniors and youth is scheduled to increase from 35 cents to 50 cents.-MN] "We shouldn't be paying more to wait longer," said flier distributor Marc Norton. "In a $5 billion [City] budget, if they really want to find the money, they can." The 20-odd volunteers organizing the protest, many from the progressive group Social Strike -- formed to fight the fare hike -- have been on corners since June, handing fliers to riders and drivers alike. After months of meetings, rallies and protests failed to convince city and transit officials to halt the service cuts and fare increases, the protesters argue that must take the fight directly to riders. They cite successful "fare strikes," in other cities including Chicago, where a fare strike and protests led to a postponement of the fare hikes and encouraged the state legislature to step in with additional funds. The San Francisco group says it is unsure how many of Muni's approximately 700,000 daily riders it will convince to participate in the strike -- and for how long -- but hopes that a critical mass could ultimately force The City to reverse its plans. At the very least, organizer Ian McLeod said, they want to raise awareness about the decisions. Muni spokesman Alan Siegel said the agency "feel it's a minority of our ridership," that would participate in a fare strike and that most understand why the changes are necessary. The agency concedes that the industry average for fare evasion is six percent and could be even higher. Many of the people approached on 16th and Mission streets, however, said they had not even heard of the 25 cent fare hike, the second since 2003. Before then, the agency had not raised prices in almost a decade. "It wouldn't be so bad if they upped prices and increased service," said homeless shelter case worker Jerrie Crane. "Sure I would do it," said one rider, Rob Guiton, who takes the 14-Mission daily. "I'm glad they're out here, making people aware." Another man waiting for the bus, however, waved off the flier. "I don't really care -- I have a Fast Pass anyway," he explained. E-mail: mlagos@examiner.com ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> <font face=arial size=-1><a href="http://us.ard.yahoo.com/SIG=12h9n2e1b/M=362329.6886306.7839369.3040540 /D=groups/S=1705365370:TM/Y=YAHOO/EXP=1123084411/A=2894321/R=0/SIG=11dvsfulr /*http://youthnoise.com/page.php?page_id=1992 ">Fair play? Video games influencing politics. Click and talk back!</a>.</font> --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sfaction/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: sfaction-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/