#Winning! Kania’s Out! Now Let’s Get Heather McClain Appointed to the Seat

Riders succeed in removing controversial member of Port Authority Board, continue calling for Heather McClain to be appointed in his place, and for rider involvement in board selection process

Riders were able to claim a victory today with Gov. Wolf’s removal of a controversial member of the Port Authority Board! This decision came just mere hours after Pittsburghers for Public Transit released an open letter co-signed by more than a dozen regional and statewide organizations and elected officials, and after launching a public letter writing campaign for riders to support the position. But the fight isn’t over!

Around midday, Governor Wolf’s office issued a press statement removing Robert Kania from the Board seat and naming an interim member. The press statement says that his office will work with “stakeholders and legislators” to identify someone to fill the seat permanently.

Pittsburghers for Public Transit continues to call for the appointment of rider advocate Heather McClain to the position, and encourages others to voice their support by sending letters to Governor Wolf. More than 100 riders have taken action to contact Governor Wolf since the campaign launched this morning.

Laura Wiens, Executive Director of Pittsburghers for Public Transit, says: “While we appreciate that Governor Wolf has heeded transit riders’ call in removing Kania from the board, we have yet to hear from his office. Transit riders and transit workers are key stakeholders in this vital public asset and must have a say in the appointment process.”

Senior Communications Associate Hayley Richardson of TransitCenter added, “Decision-making at the Port Authority should be informed by the lived experience of those who use it. Governor Wolf should seize the opportunity to appoint Heather McClain, a bonafide transit expert and rider advocate, to the Port Authority’s Board.”

Coverage of Rider Kania’s Removal

WESA: Activists Call For Ouster Of Port Authority Board Member Involved In Mysterious Political Committee

WESA: Wolf Announces Replacement of Port Authority Board Member Involved In Mysterious Political Committee

Pittsburgh Post Gazette: Transit group urges Gov. Wolf to replace Port Authority board member

Trib: Gov. Wolf removes, replaces Port Authority board member

City Paper: Gov. Tom Wolf removes Port Authority board member Robert Kania

Letter of Support for Appointment of Heather McClain to PAAC Board of Directors sent 4/11/19 from Pittsburghers for Public Transit and 13 other leaders of regional and statewide organizations

Campaign Finance Complaint filed 4/8/19 by Campaign for Accountability

###

Gov. Wolf: Appoint Heather McClain to Port Authority Board of Directors

Pittsburghers for Public Transit Calls on Governor Wolf to Remove Port Authority Board Member Embroiled in Controversy, and Appoint Rider Advocate Heather McClain

In an open letter co-signed by 13 regional and statewide organizations and elected officials, Pittsburghers for Public Transit (PPT) is calling on Governor Tom Wolf to appoint rider advocate Heather McClain to the expired Port Authority Board seat currently occupied by Robert Kania.

PPT believes that the demographics of the Port Authority board should reflect the demographics of the riders, and that board members should have a deep understanding of the importance of transit in advancing equity and economic development. Moreover, effective board members must be regular users of the transit system which they oversee, in order to understand and uplift the grassroots expertise of fellow riders and operators.

“In her role as the Community Initiatives Manager for Healthy Ride, Heather McClain has been a tireless advocate for increasing mobility and access, particularly for marginalized communities.” says Laura Wiens, Executive Director of Pittsburghers for Public Transit. “She is a long-time, regular transit rider, and is a leader in advancing equitable, inclusive growth in the Beechview community. We believe that Ms. McClain is an ideal steward of this vital community asset.”

Current Port Authority Board member Mr. Kania is the subject of a campaign finance complaint recently filed by the DC-based nonprofit transparency organization Campaign for Accountability, for failing to register with the state around his political activity and report campaign finances. Moreover, the term of his appointment by Republican former Governor Corbett expired in 2017. WESA broke this story back in November and covered it again in December. This week the Post Gazette and WESA took an even deeper dive into Kania’s grossly inappropriate behavior.

Alice Huling, Council for the Campaign for Accountability – the DC-based non-profit that filed the Complaint against Kania, commented; “Pittsburghers are right to question whether Robert Kania is fit to serve on the board of the Port Authority of Allegheny County. Mr. Kania attempted to unfairly influence an election outcome by operating a secret campaign; he tried to dupe voters and appears to have run afoul of Pennsylvania’s campaign finance laws. Mr. Kania should be held accountable for any campaign finance violations, and Governor Wolf should seriously consider whether someone who behaved in this way is fit to serve as a public official in Allegheny County.”

PPT is calling on Port Authority transit riders to write to Governor Wolf and encourage him to appoint Heather McClain to the Port Authority Board of Directors. Riders can send their letter here.

Letter of Support for Appointment of Heather McClain to PAAC Board of Directors sent 4/11/19 from Pittsburghers for Public Transit and 13 other leaders of regional and statewide organizations

Campaign Finance Complaint against Kania filed 4/8/19 by Campaign for Accountability

PPT Welcomes Rep. Austin Davis to PAAC Board of Directors

Pittsburghers for Public Transit welcomes Representative Austin Davis as the newest appointee to the Board of Directors of the Port Authority of Allegheny County.

As a sophomore Representative of the Monongahela Valley, a region where transit’s usage is high and its value is essential, Austin Davis has been vocal about the vital role that transit plays in his constituents’ lives. PPT expects that this perspective will support increasing access and equity for all riders of Allegheny County, by advancing policies outlined in the Riders Vision for Public Transit, pushing for projects like an extension of the East Busway to McKeesport and Monroeville.

Additionally, we believe that Representative Davis will play a critical role in the PA legislature in advocating for long-term, sustainable transit funding in Pennsylvania and Allegheny County.

Pittsburghers for Public Transit will call on Rep. Davis and the rest of the Port Authority Board to advance high-equity projects, secure funding, and improve our system for our riders. Congratulations to Representative Davis – let’s get to work.

[Read Representative Davis’ press release here]

Transit Workers Appreciation Day is right around the corner

Ever year, March 18th marks the day for transit riders to show their appreciation for all the hard work that PAAC transit workers put into making our system run. This year PPT is going to show our appreciation by collecting personal thank-you notes from over 250 riders, and delivering them in person to the workers at the system’s 4 garages. PPT members will also be at bus stops spreading the word about Transit Worker Appreciation Day and giving out treats that riders can share with their operators.

Take action in any of the ways below to join PPT in showing PAAC workers that you appreciate all that they do.

➡️ Add your name to PPT’s thank-you card “Transit Riders 💖 Transit Operators”: https://goo.gl/forms/ZrEG7GwmTWD5ZOMI2

➡️ Join the PPT delegation on March 18th as we travel to PAAC’s garages give our thank you’s: goo.gl/A9ZLuW

➡️ Sign up to canvas and hand out treats at bus stops for riders to give to our Operators: https://goo.gl/forms/ZrEG7GwmTWD5ZOMI2

➡️ Spread the word about Transit Workers Appreciation Day! Share social posts, invite friends to the Transit Workers Appreciation Day events, and like PPT’s page for updates!

Raise Need for Transit+Housing in Allegheny County Annual Action Plan

Strong policies are needed at the county level to tie great transit to quality affordable housing. Take three minutes to fill out Allegheny County’s Annual Action Plan survey to elevate transit/housing as a priority. More from the survey:

Allegheny County is undertaking the development of its FY 2019 Annual Action Plan (AAP), as required by the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, to determine the types of projects that will benefit County residents. Part of the AAP planning process involves outreach to community stakeholders and units of local government for input on housing, economic development, and community development needs across the County. Your responses are important and will help to determine the County’s investment of federal grant funds to address housing, economic development, and community development needs during the period from July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020. Should you need assistance or have questions regarding the survey, contact Karen Brean at 412.977.0271 or karen@breanassociates.com.
Please respond no later than March 15th.

#MakeOurFaresFair Rally & Media Coverage

🗣️”1 trip! 2 trip ! 3 trip! 4! Why are poor folks paying more”

Through the last 6-weeks, Riders led a campaign to collect over 2,500 signatures in support of three easy #FareEquity policies:

1. Fare Capping (to allow daily/weekly/monthly/yearly bus passes to be paid for one ride at a time)
2. Free Transfers
3. Remove the penalty for cash payment

On December 7th, 2018 we rallied to present these signatures and our testimony to the Port Authority of Allegheny County board of directors ,calling on them to #MakeOurFaresFair. Huge thanks to all the riders and volunteers who rallied, gave testimony, collected signatures, made phone calls, created signs and made up chants! Thx to Just Harvest and Mon Valley Initiative for your partnership on the campaign. #StrongerTogether

We will continue to fight for equity in our system until all have the access they deserve.

Media was there is full force to cover the action. Links to stories below:

Channel 2 KDKA – tv news: People Protest in Downtown Pittsburgh Over Fare Structure
Channel 2 KDKA – tv news: Port Authority Riders Protest Cash Fare Costs Compared To ConnectCard Costs
Channel 11 WPXI – tv news: PAT bus riders hold rally, demand lower bus fares
Post-Gazette – print news: Bus riders rally to oppose Port Authority’s high fares for cash-paying customers
TribLive – print news: PAT bus riders rally Downtown, demand lower bus fares
WESA radio: Activists Ask Port Authority To Implement ‘Logical’ Changes To Help Low Income Riders
KDKA radio: Port Authority Fares

Amazon Passes on Pittsburgh: A Bullet Dodged

Finally, after months of private negotiations over billions of public dollars, Amazon has announced it will pass on Pittsburgh as the location for its second headquarters. It is reported that Pittsburgh’s bid would have given enormous tax incentives and decision-making power over where their tax-dollars would be spent. All without any public input or transparency. That’s not how taxes work. That’s not how we create equity.

Pittsburghers for Public Transit led the call with a number of other community organizations and news outlets for more transparency and public process around the bid. We continue to assert that the Amazon bid does not measure up to goals outlined in the Mayor’s own p4 guidelines for equitable development.

At this point, we are relieved that some of our region’s most pressing issues (like our shortage of affordable housing, and access to quality transit) will not be exacerbated by Amazon’s arrival and the billions in public subsidies that would have been given to them. However, Pittsburgh’s Amazon HQ2 bid continues to be most egregious example of our City & County administrations actively choosing to stifle a public process in favor of backroom deals.

What we need now is for PGH HQ2 bid to be made public in order to rebuild community trust in this administration, and begin creating truly democratic processes that allow residents to identify collective priorities and spend shared resources.

Check these stories below with PPT quotes about Amazon’s November 2018 announcement:

WPXI: What did Pittsburgh offer Amazon? City’s HQ2 proposal revealed
WESA: Pennsylvania Was Prepared To Offer Amazon More Than $4B
Incline: Pittsburgh is not Amazon’s HQ2 site
Next Pittsburgh: After months of refusal, Pittsburgh’s Amazon HQ2 bid is released. Read it here.

Check our ‘Amazon ≠ p4’ campaign webpage for background on PPT’s organizing.

Follow us on twitter for PPT updates!

labor day 2018

Labor day is an important holiday in Pittsburgh. It is a reminder to those in power that it is people like us who keep the city and county running. Thousands of union members from all over the area marched together in celebration of fights won and in preparation for fights to come. When riders’ unions like ours join hands with labor and service unions there isn’t a boss or company we can’t take on and beat. ATU local 85 members have been absolutely instrumental in many of our fights. They have testified in support of riders at Port Authority board meetings, they connect us with riders who are in need of expanded transit, and they show up at many of our rallies. PPT will continue to ensure that riders and transit workers are unified in the fight for a growing, equitable, sustainable transit system that pays living wages and benefits to its workers.

High service marks for Port Authority

Good news that riders give the Port Authority high marks! But this is important too:

“Price seems to be such a sensitive issue for riders that TransPro recommended that the agency do everything it can to avoid raising fares over the next few years. Last year, the agency switched to a flat $2.50 fare for ConnectCard users and $2.75 for cash instead of fare zones based on distance traveled, which reduced fares for about 26 percent of riders.”

Fares are too high. Join the fight for Fare Equity in the Riders’ Vision for Public Transit! Sign up here:https://www.pittsburghforpublictransit.org/riders-vision-c…/

http://www.post-gazette.com/…/Port-Aut…/stories/201807220091

PPT and Put People First joint meeting

On October 23rd Pittsburghers for Public Transit came together with Put People First!- PA for a great event to learn the history of Dr. Martin Luther Kings Poor Peoples Campaign, the last campaign he worked on before his assassination. Put People First! PA is an organization committed to fighting for universal healthcare in PA.

The Poor Peoples Campaign brought together people of every race to fight against poverty. Dr. King realized that it wasn’t enough to just be able to vote or integrate schools or lunch counters or public transit. As long as we saw the poor of each race as different than one another we would never succeed in ending poverty. He is quoted as saying “We have moved from the era of civil rights to an era of human rights.”

Organizations like PPT and Put People First all over the country are working in collaboration with the New Poor Peoples Campaign to achieve the equitable future that Dr. Martin Luther King envisioned. Thank you to Put People First and all the PPT members that joined the discussion: we look forward to future collaboration!