A transportation bill may be introduced in the PA House next week - PLEASE CALL AND EMAIL YOUR LEGISLATORS ASAP to urge them to vote for funding for public transit!
Public transit advocates are VERY concerned that a bill without adequate public transit funding might be introduced in the House next week. So, when you call, please specify that you DO support AT LEAST the level of funding for public transit specified in the original version of Rafferty's Senate Bill 1 (Printer Number 1162). That version of the bill passed by Senate 45-5, with broad bipartisan consensus, providing $2.5 billion for ALL transportation, including roads and bridges, by year five. That SB 1 version contains the MINIMUM amount needed to avoid major public transit cuts in next few years.
- Public transit connects people to employment centers and business districts, which is vital to keeping our state’s economic system strong
- In this way, a robust public transit system enables a healthy urban tax base, which supports the state budget, including roads and bridges for suburban and rural regions.
- Public transit and paratransit services also connect citizens of all ages and abilities to educational services, shopping, recreation, cultural activities, polling places, medical care, and other life ‐ sustaining services
- Public transit use saves significant amounts of gasoline usage and carbon dioxide emissions
- Public transit means fewer cars on the road, which means less wear and tear on existing infrastructure and less need for new capacity; this results in lower costs to taxpayers
- Please pass on this message to your networks and ask your friends, family, coworkers and neighbors to call their legislators as well - we need your help now!
OUR TRANSIT LINES ARE LIFELINES. JOIN PITTSBURGHERS FOR
PUBLIC TRANSIT TO HELP DEFEND THEM!
You’re invited to attend our general membership meeting on Saturday, September 21st at 10 AM at the Human Services Building in downtown Pittsburgh (One Smithfield St) to plan our fall actions to defend public transportation in our neighborhoods.
At the meeting, we will discuss ways that we can work together to...
- Help inform the public about the benefits of public transit to our community, economy and environment, including people who never take the bus.
- Mobilize our neighbors, fellow riders, and drivers to restore and improve service.
- Demand that corporations pay their fair share for the public infrastructure that transports their employees and customers.
- Start chapters in your own neighborhoods to focus on your specific concerns and mobilize your community.
- Build coalitions among all the diverse communities and organizations that benefit from public transit.
- Call on our elected officials to secure long-term, dedicated funding for public transit.
To find out how to get involved, please email info@pittsburghforpublictransit.org or call 412-518-7387.
Layoffs, union-busting, and slash-and-burn budgets are squeezing working people. Rank-and-file union members and community activists are rebuilding solidarity and fighting back together. Join us.
On October 5th, from 11am-5pm, the Pittsburgh troublemakers are planning a day of skill-building workshops, education and strategy discussions to put the movement back in the labor movement.
Lunch is provided.
Workshops and panels include:
The New Labor Movement—Evolving Forms of Worker Organizing
Lessons from Labor’s Past: Stories of Our Victories
Building Power—Going on Offense to Win a Better Contract
Stewards Training—Winning Grievances
Fighting Discrimination in the Workplace
Take Back Your Local and Build the Labor Movement
The Economic Crisis—Is This Recovery?
Organizing Without a Contract
Contact: Mel Packer (412) 307-6827
For more information
If you live in the Hill District, or ride the 81, 82, 0r 83 Port Authority routes, you’re invited to attend the PPT Hill District chapter meeting on Monday, September 16th at 6:30-8pm at the Hill District Carnegie Library, 2177 Centre Ave.
At the meeting, we will discuss ways that we can work together to...
- Call on our elected officials to secure long-term, dedicated funding for public transit.
- Mobilize our neighbors, fellow riders, and drivers to defend, restore and improve public transit service in the Hill District.
- Demand that corporations such as the Penguins and UPMC pay their fair share of taxes for the public infrastructure that they profit from—and demand that public investment should mean public benefit!
- Build coalitions among all the diverse communities and organizations across Allegheny County to defend public transit.
- Work with other PPT chapters to help inform the public and our elected officials about the benefits of public transit to our community, economy and environment.
To find out how to get involved, please call 412-518-7387 or email info@pittsburghforpublictransit.org.
