Casa Maria, Author at Casa Maria Soup Kitchen

HOW STUPID DO THEY THINK WE ARE?

Casa Maria April 28, 2014

2 min readThe Sun Tran bureaucrats plan to issue a report to the Mayor and Council on May 6th that says that proposed service cuts to 12 of the Sun Tran fixed routes will not have a “disparate impact” on low income and minority riders. To make matters worse, the majority of the services being cut are on the South and West sides. Their own numbers tell the story. For all the fixed routes (not the express routes) the ridership is 62% minority and 68% low income. How much higher would these numbers be for ridership in Wards 1 and 5, the Westside

Daily Star says “Bus riders can rest easy now,” Tucson Bus Riders Union says “no, not yet!”

Casa Maria April 23, 2014

2 min readby Cesar Aguirre Thanks to the Tucson Bus Riders Union there will be no fare increase, but the City is looking at other ways to balance their budget on the backs of poor bus riders. In order to keep our city’s transit system strong the City must increase ridership. That means that they can’t cut routes or reduce service because doing so would decrease ridership. Right now the City is considering cutting, or reducing service to about a dozen or so routes, so we, the BRU, are on those routes informing riders of the changes and signing them up for the union. In

SEMANA SANTA – HOLY WEEK 2014

Casa Maria April 17, 2014

2 min readby Brian Flagg, I feel bad because really and truly I ‘m not holy enough. We accomplish much here at the Casa Maria Catholic Worker House. Up to 600 single bag lunches and 200 family food bags go out the door here every single day except for Thanksgiving and Christmas. And the organizing that we have been doing thru the Bus Riders Union just might keep fares as they are and routes intact – the organizing is bearing some fruit. I guess I’m feeling that all this service/activism can lead me to be a crass workaholic, just like some corporate

A CONCRETE EXAMPLE OF RELIGIOUS LEADERS STANDING UP FOR POOR PEOPLE

Casa Maria April 9, 2014

2 min readThanks to all the clergy who spoke at the City Council meeting last night (Fr. Harry Ledwith, Rev. Beth Rambikur, Msgr. Tom Cahalane and Rev. Delle McCormick) in behalf of the City not raising bus fares. Their exhortation to the Council to not balance their budget on the backs of poor people was loud and clear. Thanks also to the 45 other religious leaders who signed a letter to the Council. Special thanks to Pima County Interfaith Council for all their hard work in bringing together the religious leaders of Tucson to stand in solidarity with bus riders. Here are some pictures

DOGS AND CATS AT CASA MARIA!

Casa Maria April 9, 2014

< 1 min readThe dog and cat shot clinic that happens twice a year here by AWASA (Animal Welfare Alliance of Southern Arizona) is a big deal for those who eat here. Even people who live in the barrio and don’t eat here bring their dogs and cats. A big thank you to Bonnie Kay who gets veterinarians and students from Pima Medical Institute to staff the clinic.

TONIGHT’S THE NIGHT!

Casa Maria April 8, 2014

2 min readRELIGIOUS LEADERS OF TUCSON WILL SPEAK TO THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL ON BEHALF OF BUS RIDERS AT TONIGHTS CITY COUNCIL MEETING! A letter signed by 50 religious leaders will be delivered at Call to the Audience. Msgr. Tom Cahalane, pastor of Our Mother of Sorrows Catholic Church and Rev. Delle McCormick, pastor of Rincon Congregational Church will speak for the clergy. Originally the Bus Riders Union wanted to write Pope Francis, another bus rider, to ask him to join the Union. After consulting with Bishop Kicanas, he offered the idea of asking clergy to sign a letter such as the

GIVING MORE TO THE RICH (COPS & FIRE) IS STEALING FROM THE POOR!

Casa Maria April 7, 2014

< 1 min readby Brian Flagg, Thanks to Councilman Kozachik, Darren DaRonco and The Daily Star for telling the truth and giving some perspective on what have been budget priorities for the City of Tucson. (Top police, fire officials cash in on sick leave, Sunday April 6, 2014) This story was about how the City spent nearly $5 million buying back unused sick days from some of the highest paid police officers and firefighters the past two years – and spent another $2 million in what the city attorney now says were illegal pension contributions for those un-worked days. If you missed the

Casa Maria April 3, 2014

< 1 min read

If you didn’t see it check out Gretchen Nielsen’s editorial piece on today’s Arizona Daily Star

Casa Maria March 31, 2014

< 1 min readGretchen and her boyfriend Dr. Dalton McClelland, the retired Doctor of the People, have been donors and supporters of Casa Maria for many years. They are both veterans of the struggle for Justice and Peace in Tucson, and members of the Tucson Bus Riders Union. To get to her article go to: http://azstarnet.com/news/opinion/column/guest/gretchen-nielsen-on-giving-up-my-car-and-riding-the/article_2a0db144-84c6-5258-9ae1-c6233c831bc7.html

Remembering Archbishop Oscar A. Romero

Casa Maria March 28, 2014

2 min readby Anita Timpani Bubany “Let my blood be a seed of freedom.” -Romero Monday, March 24th marks the 34th Anniversary of the death of Archbishop Oscar A. Romero. As Catholics and workers for justice – we should be mindful of those that have walked before us who worked to bring the kingdom of God here on earth. What we can accomplish in our lifetime is only a piece of building the kingdom of God. But when our pieces are combined with others visions and we work together to fight against the injustices – we are that much stronger. And when

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