[Carfreeliving] stop consolidation and higher fares

[Dave Snyder]

I'm glad there's such support for stop consolidation -- Mike 
Sallaberry, Andrew Sullivan, John-Marc Chandonia. We're going to need 
your help, Steve, in promoting these politically difficult changes 
because right now many, but not all, members of the Transit Justice 
coalition equate stop consolidation with service cuts. Their 
effective opposition to the stop consolidation on Geary cost Muni 
several hundred thousand dollars a year while preserving slower 
service. Since I think that the Transit Justice coalition has more 
credibility on the Board of Supervisors than Rescue Muni, the role of 
the Bay Guardian to educate the left and support stop consolidation 
is critical. I hope we can count on you for that, Steve.

I think that Andrew is wrong about the impossibility of balancing the 
budget without a fare increase or service cuts. MTA's scenario 2 
would have accomplished that, albeit with a near doubling in parking 
fees. Even those increases could have been lessened through the 
inclusion of stop consolidation, increasing the hours of operation of 
meters and operating meters on Sundays, "block your driveway" 
permits, etc.

Dave
President, Transportation for a Livable City

P.S. I have a title again. (Got elected president of the board last 
night). My office is still at Zeitgeist, however.