From marthacroberts at netscape.net Mon May 3 21:49:32 2004 From: marthacroberts at netscape.net (Martha and Aiyanas) Date: Mon, 03 May 2004 21:49:32 -0700 Subject: [Busriders-van] Bus Riders Union Calls for Billions for Buses Message-ID: <409720DC.2040501@netscape.net> *** May 03, 2004 *** Bus Riders Union Calls for Billions for Buses In the lead up to a meeting in which the TransLink board is to decide whether or not to move on to the so-called "best and final offer" stage of the RAV line bidding process, the Bus Riders Union (BRU) calls on the transit authority to scrap the multi-billion dollar mega project. "The RAV line has never been the priority for transit users in this region", says BRU organizer Beth Grayer. "Eighty percent of transit users in this region rely exclusively on the bus. Our bus system is stretched to the limit. Buses break down with alarming regularity and TransLink is set to raise fares. The billions of dollars being funneled into RAV should be spent putting more buses on the road and bringing down the fares." The Bus Riders Union is opposed to the TransLink plan for the RAV line to be designed, built and operated by a private contractor. BRU organizers are quick to point out that the entire RAV agenda is one of privatization. "This privatization agenda goes way beyond the Private-Public-Partnership nonsense pushed by the provincial government," says BRU organizer Martha Roberts. "TransLink and the big business interests bidding on the RAV contract are actively pushing RAV as it will pour public money into private hands rather than wages for public sector workers. Any bus rider will tell you what we need are more buses and that means more bus drivers too. TransLink and the provincial and federal governments prioritize capital-intensive, highly-automated technology like Skytrain because it benefits big business such as Bombardier, regional contractors, and real estate developers. Funneling public money towards these private interests boosts electoral campaigns and political careers, unlike money for buses and bus drivers which just mean better service." In a fall 2003 position paper on TransLink's three-year financial plan the Bus Riders Union called on the transit authority to redirect $900 million in public money earmarked for RAV towards massive system-wide improvements in the bus system: more buses, reduced fares, and long term strategies such as dedicated bus lanes. This BRU report calls for a moratorium on rail development until after a massive reinvestment in the bus system that a majority of the transit-dependant rely on to access their region. "The Millennium Line channeled money previously spent on heavily-used bus service into Skytrain," explains BRU organizer Diane Leclair, referring to the 5% cut in bus service in 2001. "The massive debt incurred by the Millennium Line is being transferred to bus riders in the form of 33% increase in fares over the last three years. This means that bus riders, a majority of whom are low-income people, pay for rich contracts to big business and the windfall to real estate speculators. Yet, a majority of bus riders realize no benefit from Skytrain, since most of us still rely exclusively on our local bus service. That's what privatization is all about." For more information contact the BRU at 604 215 2775 l -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bru at resist.ca Tue May 4 15:14:35 2004 From: bru at resist.ca (Bus Riders Union) Date: Tue, 4 May 2004 15:14:35 -0700 Subject: [Busriders-van] Annoucing the School for Grassroots Organizing! Message-ID: <000f01c43225$2f68e9c0$6500a8c0@bc.hsia.telus.net> Announcing the School for Grassroots Organizing! June 21 - July 31, 2004 This summer, the Bus Riders Union is hosting the School for Grassroots Organizing. Combining theory and on-the-ground practice, this participatory school aims to train participants for a lifetime of grassroots organizing in our communities. All new and experienced organizers are encouraged to participate! Through weekly classes and community-based 'on the bus' organizing sessions participants will strengthen our anti-racist class-consciousness; strategize grassroots campaigns; connect class, women's liberation, and national liberation struggles; and train for long-term movement building. The 6-week school includes two 4-hour sessions per week, with additional optional activities. Each week balances theoretical study and direct-contact organizing experience through 'on the bus' organizing and popular theatre. The weekly theory session includes a short reading and in-depth discussion of important theoretical concepts. Each organizing session moves from observation to active participation at our own pace, learning concrete organizing skills as we go. Discussion topics include: a.. The working class in Vancouver b.. Race, class, and gender in our communities c.. Popular education d.. Direct-contact organizing e.. Planning grassroots campaigns to win f.. Developing demands that challenge capitalism g.. Connecting capitalism, patriarchy, and national oppression h.. Building our vision of social justice i.. Building an international movement If you are interested in participating in the School for Grassroots Organizing, call, e-mail, or mail the following information to the Bus Riders Union Name: Organization (if any): Phone: E-mail: Address: Why would you like to participate in the School for Grassroots Organizing: Some honoraria available for those in need Bus Riders Union 407-119 West Pender St Vancouver, BC V6B 1S5 (604) 215 2775 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bru at resist.ca Fri May 7 15:19:26 2004 From: bru at resist.ca (Bus Riders Union) Date: Fri, 7 May 2004 15:19:26 -0700 Subject: [Busriders-van] David Maidman on RAV Message-ID: <001a01c43481$5bdf4180$6500a8c0@bc.hsia.telus.net> Here is a presentation to the Translink Board meeting on May 7, 2004 on the RAV Line, by Bus Riders Union member Dave Maidman. Hi, my name is David Maidman. I am a steel fabricator by trade and a member of the Ironworker's Local 712. During the building of the Millennium Skytrain Line my company had the contract to build two stations and all the guard rail along the line so it is not unreasonable to expect that we would see some work coming our way from the construction of the RAV Line. Unless of course it is done by a nonunion firm. So I guess I should be getting down and kissing your feet or some other part of your anatomy at the prospect of a pay cheque for a period of time. But I can't. I have to put aside my short term interests and look at the bigger picture. You see I also use public transit and I see the RAV Line as the end of the public transit system in this region. It is not hard to see that the decision to use a P3 model to build this project is a purely ideological one being being pushed by the provincial government of Gordon Campbell with the assistance of Ken Dobell. By insisting on a P3 model it becomes a method to transfer tax dollars to large corporations. >From the poor to the rich. As the Vancouver Olympic Committee is finding out construction costs are spiralling out of control . You cite a figure of total cost of construction cost of $1.5- $1.7 billion dollars. Is this the guaranteed figure? I know about those figures from the time I spent working on the fast ferry project. This figure was before the rise in steel, cement and labour costs? It is totally bogus. My company is having trouble bidding on jobs because they don't know the cost of the steel they will be using when they go to build the project. This price increase is being driven by a high demand for steel in China and a world wide shortage of iron ore and scrap steel used in the production of steel. The high prices look like they are here to stay. The only way you can even hope to get to those figures is by praying for a recession. Ridership is projected to reach 100,000 on this line (I think someone was into BC's most famous export crop when this one was arrived at) . In a story published in the Vancouver Sun on Saturday, July 19, 2003 Peter O'Neil reports on a federal government report expressing doubts about the feasability of the RAV Line. They were concerned that ridership would have to increase from 40,000 to 100,000 . He went on and these passages are in quotation marks "However, all rapid transit and commuter rail projects constructed in the Vancouver region during the past 20 years over-estimated ridership projections," it states and "Based on previous experiences, the estimates of riders on RAVP could be over-optimistic, thereby impacting on the rationale for the project." If this figure is not reached the tax payer will subsidize the P3 operator for lost revenue. You can not build the densities needed to reach this number on Lulu or Sea Islands. They are silt islands they barely existed when New Westminster was founded. Also people in Delta now have a downtown express bus service. I've ridden on it and can recommend it for comfort . Put a dedicated bus lane on Granville and the Oak St. Bridge and you can increase its speed. This would also work with the 98 B-Line which you put into Richmond at a cost of $88 miliion dollars just a few years ago. I can not see air passengers struggling with their luggage onto the RAV Line. I believe they will continue to go downtown via limousine, air port express buses or taxis. After all it is not that expensive and I am sure you all do the same when you travel on civic business. So where does this 100,000 figure come from. I live in New Westminster which is served by two Skytrain Lines yet still the majority of travel I do on transit is still by bus. Buses are the back bone of the public transit system and they are inadequate to say the least. I imagine most of you and your staff have taxpayer supported car allowances and don't regularily ride the bus like I do. The RAV Line project was created in a back room far from the light of public scrutiny by using the smokescreen of P3. The last time I spoke to the Translink Board was the day before the bus strike began. Helen Sparkes was then Mayor of New Westminster and Translink Board member. During the strike every time I struggled up the hill from the Skytrain station passing poor seniors doing the same I cursed her. I vowed to see her defeated come next election. The fact that Mayor Wright is now in office shows I was not alone in that. Mr. Macallum should also remember the fate of his predecessor who failed to win even one of ten slots for City Council in Vancouver. As I said before I am a construction worker and one thing I learned from working and living in the GVRD is that you have to put aside your short term interests aside for the benefit of the entire community. Did I mention I worked on the fast ferry project? The RAV Line is just an assault on the public treasury by the corporate elite. Do the right thing for the citizens of this region and defeat it. -- Cheers Dave Maidman New Westminster, BC -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bru at resist.ca Mon May 17 16:15:28 2004 From: bru at resist.ca (Bus Riders Union) Date: Mon, 17 May 2004 16:15:28 -0700 Subject: [Busriders-van] Reminder: It's a Women's Struggle, an Anti-Racist Struggle.... Message-ID: <007801c43c64$d807c300$6500a8c0@bc.hsia.telus.net> It's a Women's Struggle, an Anti-Racist Struggle, a Class Struggle: Organizing bus riders, winning campaigns, building a movement Thursday May 20, 7:00 pm Palestine Community Centre - 1874 Kingsway (near Victoria) For over 3 years, organizers with the Bus Riders Union have been developing a model of organizing which explicitly connects concrete campaigns for change in working class communities, predominantly communities of colour, to a growing international anti-imperialist movement. Connecting the concrete conditions we face in our working class communities and the international systems that oppress and exploit us is one step in building successful organizations of working class power. The next step is planning strategic campaigns to involve people in their communities in the fight for social justice in the immediate. Moving communities into action, winning campaign victories, and building democratic organizations unleashes the power of anti-racist working class communities. Join organizers of the Bus Riders Union to learn more about our strategy for grassroots movement building, our concrete campaigns, and how you can get involved. For more information contact: Bus Riders Union 407-119 West Pender St. Vancouver, BC (604) 215 2775 bru at resist.ca http://bru.resist.ca -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From mhey at telus.net Sat May 29 09:40:39 2004 From: mhey at telus.net (Michael Hey) Date: Sat, 29 May 2004 09:40:39 -0700 Subject: [Busriders-van] statement of reality petition Message-ID: There's an election afoot, but global reality is not on the agenda. Therefore I started a petition to raise the profile of the issue that concerns me most. My aim is to ask Paul Martin personally, to sign it. http://www.PetitionOnline.com/st8ment/petition.html Please check it out, and sign if you like. Feel free to forward the link to as many people as you wish, or to post it on any website. In Peace, Michael Hey -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: