The 99% Rejects the MBTA’s Austerity Measures

The following is Occupy MBTA’s response to the MBTA’s latest  proposal for service cuts and fare hikes:

Today’s proposal by MBTA does not go nearly far enough in addressing the concerns of the T-riding 99%. The MBTA claims to have listened to the thousands of riders who have flooded their meetings and demonstrated these past few months, but they seem to have missed our key message: “No Hikes! No cuts! No Layoffs!” Significant fare increases and service reductions will devastate students, seniors, low-income communities, people of color, workers, and everyone who must rely on the T. Any plan that will lead to more driving, more congestion, and more CO2 emissions is simply unacceptable. And, to make matters worse, the MBTA freely admits this is only a one-year stop-gap measure, and that we’ll be facing further austerity measures next year.

The MBTA has been presented with many solutions that would have allowed the agency to balance its books without placing the financial burden on those who can afford it the least. The MBTA’s refusal to explore those solutions – including, but not limited to, the possibility of canceling its interest rate swaps with Deutsche Bank, U.S. Bancorp (USB), and JPMorgan Chase – speaks volumes about its priorities.

We are neither placated nor discouraged by the MBTA’s latest proposal; the fight to save the T is only just beginning. On April 4, this fight will move to the State House when Occupy MBTA and our allies hold a People’s Assembly to demand a comprehensive state-wide plan for affordable and sustainable transportation that works for the 99%.  Join us!

April 4 at the State House
Hearing: 3-5pm
Rally & Speak Out: 5pm until we’re done

Join us as part of the National Day of Action on Transportation to demand:

  • No service cuts
  • No fare hikes
  • No layoffs
  • No privatization of our treasured public transit system.
  • A comprehensive state-wide plan for affordable and sustainable transportation that works for the 99%.

For more information on #A4 or to get involved in Occupy MBTA, please visit http://occupymbta.org/.