Monday, February 4, 2013

Fare Hikes Galore on Rosa Parks' Birthday


by Charlene Obernauer

For the past month, we have been organizing bus riders to resist a proposed fare hike for Nassau County bus.  We’ve gotten thousands of petitions signed by bus riders and allies, and we’ve been mobilizing people against the fare hike, which would be a $275 annual increase for bus riders, or a $.25 cent hike for single rides.

On Tuesday afternoon, County Executive Ed Mangano released a statement opposing the fare hike and urging the Transit Advisory Committee to vote against the increase in fares. This is huge and is truly a victory for bus riders in Nassau County. The TAC will vote on the proposal on February 13th at 4:00pm at 700 Commercial Avenue in Garden City and we will deliver thousands of petitions to prevent the hike from going into effect. 

Although the fare hike in Nassau is now looking less likely, in Suffolk, a fare hike proposal for disabled riders has been introduced. Bus riders simply cannot afford a 25% increase and should not have to. Two public hearings are scheduled for March 6th and 7th from 3-7pm at the Suffolk Legislative Building. 

Today is Rosa Parks' 100th Birthday. She fought for a world where everyone can ride wherever they wanted on a bus. We are fighting for a world where everyone can afford to get on that same bus, regardless of their income. Please join us in the struggle. Happy Birthday, Rosa. For you, we all fight.

longislandbusridersunion

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