Comments on: Today’s Headlines

By: Larry Littlefield

Larry Littlefield — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 14:29:18 +0000

I guess no one wants to pay for infrastructure in Georgia either. After all, that benefits the future, and I WANT FOR ME NOW!

http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2009/04/13/story2.html?b=1239595200^1809074

“The legislature adjourned April 3 without acting on a fix for MARTA or the business community’s other critical issue, a measure to create a special transportation sales tax for needed road and transit projects.”

MARTA has proposed a shutdown for one day per week, or the weekend. Now THAT is a real doomsday scenario.

“Business leaders have said repeatedly that traffic has cost Atlanta jobs.”

There has been a big pro-transit push there.

“Cousins Properties Inc. moved to 191 Peachtree St. specifically for MARTA rail, and CEO Tom Bell has said more than a quarter of its employees use public transit. AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T), Atlanta’s third-largest employer, has been the most active developer of office space along MARTA rail lines this decade. Since 1999, AT&T has continued a BellSouth pilot program, developing six new office buildings at three complexes adjacent to MARTA stations.”

They may regret it.

By: drosejr

drosejr — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 14:28:03 +0000

Should add the profile of Sean Sweeney in the New York Observer to the headlines.

http://www.observer.com/2009/real-estate/crank-or-champion

By: oscarfrye

oscarfrye — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 14:24:56 +0000

great news re: Prospect Park
CB7 is being extremely short-sighted about this topic

By: Glenn

Glenn — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 13:51:36 +0000

While this seems a bit late, directed at the wrong folks (MTA instead of State Senators) and very oriented toward exclusively protecting union jobs over larger issues of sustainable transportation systems & funding, it will be a big crowd protesting the planned service cuts and lay-offs.

http://www.twulocal100.org/

ALL TITLES, ALL DIVISIONS, ALL TOURS STOP SERVICE CUTS & DEFEND OUR FAMILIES

HANDS OFF OUR JOBS! EMERGENCY DEMONSTRATION
THURSDAY APRIL 23 4:30PM TO 6:30PM

ALL ROADS LEAD TO MTA HQ MADISON AVE. AT E. 44TH STREET

In a matter of weeks, the MTA threatens to lay off hundreds of Bus Operators, Station Agents, and Cleaners. It’s them now.

Who will be next?

Join thousands of NYC Transit workers and their families as we stand shoulder to shoulder.

Unfortunately the TWU is treating this like a classic labor management dispute in the private sector instead of like smart public unions like the UFT that understand the difference between fighting for funding mechanisms & formulas through elected officials vs. fighting for worker conditions with the Board of Ed or Department of Education.

Perhaps this is a good teaching moment for all of us to direct the TWU member anger at the State Legislature for chronic underfunding.