***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***PLEASE FORWARD WIDELY***
August/23/2007
CONTACT:
Samuel Jensen (414) 405-6753, transitridersunion@gmail.com
Matt Nelson (414) 273-9777, mattnelson64@hotmail.com
Milwaukee Transit Riders Union (MTRU) position statement:
Democracy Missing from Walker’s RTA Plan
Milwaukee County executive Scott Walker has proposed a regional transportation authority to run all of the region’s bus systems, but forgot to include transit riders in his plans.
The Milwaukee Transit Riders Union supports the idea of regional co-operation in public transportation, however, we do not support transferring power in decision making from one body to another if that body is not democratically run and publicly accountable.
We believe that both the SEWISRTA and SEWRPC must undergo significant reform before either is in a position to control any of the Milwaukee area’s public bus systems. This reform must include proportional representation on the boards of both agencies based on the population of each individual county, representation from the larger cities in the region, also based on population, and the moving of both agencies’ offices from Pewaukee, where they are far removed from the center of the area’s population and inaccessible via public transportation, to the city of Milwaukee, where they can be accessed by bus riders. Both agencies must also develop plans for citizen oversight, such as citizen committee members or a people’s oversight commission, as well as public involvement in the planning process.
Access to good quality public transportation is a Civil Right and has a distinct impact on addressing racial, economic, and social inequality in our community. All Milwaukeeans deserve access to good quality public transportation and the ability to be active members in the planning of that system of public transportation. Only after that is achieved will we see serious improvements in the economic stability of our community.
For more information or to donate to the Milwaukee Transit Riders Union, visit our website: www.transitridersunion.org , call (414) 921-5513, or write to MTRU: 2008 N. Farwell Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53202.
The Milwaukee Transit Riders Union
2008 N. Farwell Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53202
(414) 921-5513
transitridersunion@gmail.com
www.transitridersunion.org
The Milwaukee Transit Riders Union meets every Saturday at 11:15 a.m. We meet at Brewing Grounds For Change Coffeeshop, 2008 N. Farwell Ave. on the East Side. We are transit riders committed to organizing other public transit riders to build a unified voice and movement for better public transportation in Greater Milwaukee.
Brewing Grounds is accessible from MCTS Routes 15, 30, and 21. Rt. 30 stops southbound directly in front of the coffeeshop and northbound one block east at Prospect and Lafayette. Rt. 15 stops one block west at Oakland and Lafayette, and Rt. 21 stops along North Ave., 3 blocks to the north.
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