Tucson Bus Riders Union Archives - Page 4 of 6

The City’s Transit Task Force has actually stood up to staff in defense of bus riders!

Casa Maria May 6, 2014

3 min read Hallelujah! The City’s Transit Task Force has actually stood up to staff in defense of bus riders! Historically the Task Force has operated as rubber-stamp for the staff against bus riders. The good thing has been that they haven’t had much influence with members of the Mayor and Council. Councilwoman Uhlichs’ recent appointment of Suzanne Shaffer to the task force seems to have been a positive influence. Thanks to Gene Caywood, chair of the Task Force, for getting the following letter to the Mayor and Council before today’s May 6th Council meeting: Transit Task Force City of Tucson May

NEWS CONFERENCE

Casa Maria May 2, 2014

< 1 min read The Tucson Bus Riders Union is having a News Conference on Day: May 5th, Monday Time: 11:30 A.M. Place: In front of City Hall To decry service cuts to 11 Sun Tran routes and to point out how these cuts will seriously impact minority and low-income residents of Tucson. The Council will consider this issue at their May 6th meeting. For more information contact:Cesar Aguirre (520) 878-3044 Mark Blake (480) 482-9067 HELP DEFEND BUS RIDERS Please join the Bus Riders Union for the PUBLIC HEARING on the CITY BUDGET Tuesday May 6th, 5p.m. at City Hall (255 W. Alameda).

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

Casa Maria April 23, 2014

2 min read by 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

A CONCRETE EXAMPLE OF RELIGIOUS LEADERS STANDING UP FOR POOR PEOPLE

Casa Maria April 9, 2014

2 min read Thanks 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

TONIGHT’S THE NIGHT!

Casa Maria April 8, 2014

2 min read RELIGIOUS 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 read by 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

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 read Gretchen 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

JOIN THE BUS RIDERS UNION AT THE RTA BOARD MEETING AND THE CESAR CHAVEZ MARCH

Casa Maria March 24, 2014

< 1 min read

Grijalva Kicks off Re-election Campaign

Casa Maria March 17, 2014

2 min read by Brian Flagg, Last night I walked next door to the El Casino Ballroom and had the pleasure of hanging out with the Congressman for a few minutes outside while he had a smoke. We joked with each other and then Ruben Reyes came and attached a microphone to him and sent him inside to address a packed house. Looking back, I wished I would have used those minutes to tell him how appreciative I am of him for never selling out poor people the whole time he was a local politician, even at times when it was uncomfortable for

IAN MERRILL ON TRANSIT JUSTICE AND SOCIAL TEACHINGS OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

Casa Maria March 13, 2014

2 min read by Ian Merrill, Ian Merrill is a University of Arizona student from Phoenix, majoring in Economics and Chinese! He attends the Catholic Newman Center and is a member of the Tucson Bus Riders Union. I was asked recently how working with the Tucson Bus Riders Union relates to my Catholic faith. At first, I was not entirely sure. Of course, if you asked almost anyone on any street corner, they would likely immediately tell you that Jesus supported broad, feel-good concepts such as justice and equality. When it comes to the concrete application of those concepts, however, the answer is

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