[bru-info] PSA: Bus Riders Rally at City Hall to Demand Transit for All!

[bru-info at lists.resist.ca]

Public Service Announcement
Bus Riders Rally at City Hall to Demand Transit for All!
 

October 12, 2005
 
Vancouver - The Bus Riders Union, a grassroots organization fighting to put the needs of transit-dependent people at the centre of transit policy, will be taking action at Vancouver City Hall on Tuesday October 18th, 2005 at 1:30pm to hold TransLink board members accountable for not making lower the fares the top priority in public transit.    
 
In his 2002 campaign platform, Vancouver Mayor Larry Campbell promised bus riders that "the first dollar we spend on public transit must meet the immediate needs of bus riders." Yet both Campbell and Councillor Raymond Louie - directors who sit on the TransLink board, voted in favour of the $1.74 billion RAV line and for the 3rd fare increase in 5 years.  The Bus Riders Union's campaign Lower the Fares Now: For Community Health and Social Justice has gained the wide support of thousands of bus riders, hundreds of which have sent postcards to TransLink directors, and the endorsement of community organizations such as the Vancouver School Board and the Hospital Employees Union and many more.  
 
While bus riders won a minor victory when Vancouver City Council endorsed the BRU's Lower the Fares Now campaign, their support was undermined by their financial contribution of $29 million to pay for additional RAV line stations. The contract to build the RAV line has been given to SNC Lavalin, a company which is making bullets for the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. This means that the City of Vancouver's attempt to build Vancouver as "peace city" falls short when they deal with war profiteer SNC Lavalin.

Bus riders are outraged and tired of Vancouver Councillors who keep making us false promises.  So we are ready to take action against TransLink to expose and oppose their neoliberal, racist and sexist practices that continue to hurt working class communities, in particular women, Aboriginal communities and people of colour.  Now, is the time to hold TransLink accountable for taking money out of bus riders food, clothing and rent money and into private-public mega projects such as the RAV line! Now, is the time to stand up to TransLink for denying bus riders the right to mobility that is so fundamental to the health and well-being of our communities!  
 
Come out and join bus riders, allies and supporters for a rally at city hall for transit for all! Tuesday, October 18, 2005 @ 1:30pm at Vancouver City Hall (12th Ave & Cambie St).  


-30-

For more info contact: 
Zailda Chan
Tel: 604-215-2775 
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