Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the MTA Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Supervisors continue MTA budget debate pending union ratification after public outcry over cuts
Summary
Public speakers urged supervisors to reject the Municipal Transportation Agency (MTA) budget over deep service cuts and fare impacts; the committee continued a rejection motion to the call of the chair pending ratification of a tentative agreement with the transport workers union.
Public comment on the MTA budget drew multiple speakers who warned that proposed service cuts and fare increases would harm riders, particularly seniors and people with disabilities, and urged supervisors to reject the MTA budget.
Doreen Maxwell, a transit operator and member of Local 258, urged the board to reject the MTA budget and alleged political interference and misuse of agency funds, saying the audit "is not the full truth" and accusing officials of taking funds from the MTA. "I can fix this system in 15 minutes," Maxwell said, arguing for appointing transit experts and keeping politicians out of operational decisions.
Vera Hale, who has followed the Muni budget, said seniors faced a dollar fare increase for the FastPass and that service cuts already in place were severely affecting riders. She urged supervisors to explore alternate funding and noted two audit recommendations she supported: greater use of part-time drivers and creation of a committee to consult riders.
Robert Buckman of Seniors Organizing Seniors told the board many riders face being "priced off the bus" and urged greater community involvement in negotiations. Donna Wilmot, speaking for Planning for Elders, asked supervisors to use ‘‘whatever funding sources you can possibly tap to reinstate the service cuts" and called for a human-impact analysis of transit decisions.
President Hsu, who had introduced a motion to reject the MTA budget citing deep service cuts, said a tentative agreement between the city and the Transport Workers Union (TWU) had been reached and recommended continuing the rejection motion until ratification. Supervisor McRaney moved to continue the motion to the call of the chair pending union ratification and the prospect of Transportation Authority (TA) funds to reduce cuts; Supervisor Campos seconded. The motion was taken without objection and the committee agreed to renew discussion as needed once ratification is final.
No formal rejection vote was taken; the item was continued to allow time for union ratification and to assess whether additional funds or changes to the tentative agreement would alter the committee—s decision.
