Charlie and the MTA

Charlie and the MTA

Let me tell you the story Of a man named Charlie On a tragic and fateful day He put his card in his pocket, Kissed his wife and family Went to ride on the MTA Charlie swiped his card At the Kendall Square Station And he changed for Jamaica Plain When he got there the conductor told him, "There's been a fare hike." Charlie could not get off that train. Chorus: Did he ever return, No he never returned And his fate is still unlearn'd He may ride forever 'neath the streets of Boston He's the man who never returned. Now all night long Charlie rides through the tunnels Saying, "What will become of me? Crying How can I afford to see My sister in Chelsea Or my cousin in Roxbury?"

G Now I'll tell you a story C about the Big Dig Tunnel G D And the tragic and fateful way G How a crooked highway project C Came to rob every family G D G Who rides on the MBTA chorus 1: G The people got burned C While the bankers they learned G D 'bout an easy way to get rich G Just restructure the debt C Charge big fees for your bets G D G And make the people pay Bechtel did the job While the poor working slob Paid for all their mistakes The highway its leaking The people be freakin Since they billed the MBTA chorus 1: Enough is enough The people are saying Dont be wreckin the MBTA Your games aint working And we aint takin No more cuts to the MBTA chorus 2: We will never be burned We will never be turned To a world without the T We will ride forever 'neath the streets of Boston Public trains they oughta be free. Now you citizens of Boston Don't you think its a scandal That people have to pay and pay While the banks get bailed out The riders get sold out No more cuts to the MBTA chorus 2:

Occupy Tommy (Menino)

Jack, Chaser, Ellen

We started the meeting with lots of concerns about Menino, such as the contacts and meetings w between Mayor Menino and Mayor Bloomberg, the police tactics and efforts at Dewey were mild but instigated after this meeting…. Researching Tommy’s positions, connections

Good Cop/ bad cop

Alternative candidates were discussed, running Occupy people, who else is running

Inviting City Councilors like Arroyo and Ayana Pressley (Brian has a connection w her)

Making Menino aware of Occupy, Occupy will be at his events like a shadow, wearing Occupy 99% tee shirts to let him know we are there, mike checking meetings w specific things we want him to do 1. pas legislation 2. meet w us 3. help people who are being foreclosed on

Possible Actions: Dumping Dirt at an event or speech to push the issue on Community farms, need for clean soil, stop using pesticides, etc. Public embarrassment when important leaders are in town, eg Barack Obama “Let Them Eat Cake” Marie Antoinette- Barack Obama at Chef’s event on the 29th? Op-Ed Open letter to Tommy Menino Mike Check his meetings or city council Teaching the MA legislature how to participate in Horizontal Democracy

Research Big Dig List of grievances Building a Better Boston- Positive Initiatives to pressure him on

How Do we ENVISION a Better City ?

• Permaculture gardens in public green spaces
• Affordable housing that is open to those living without homes and underwater from mortgages or been evicted-green designed
• public space for public discourse
• put money back into education, local schools
• pesticides and herbicides off public land like the Boston Common, Boston Garden , Esplanade
• Closed loop municipal recycling
• mandatory roof gardens w food and flowers
• pollution ordinances to reduce car exhaust and car use, increased and improved bike lanes and bike rental program, closing down certain streets on certain days to car traffic- like Newbury street on or Atlantic Ave on Sundays….

TIMELINE on A BETTER BOSTON

Working group sponsors a Day of Visioning on some of the following possible areas for Discussion

EDUCATION, PUBLIC SPACES, PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, LOCAL FOOD and CRAFTS, COURT and POLICE Reform, ARTS and MUSIC, STUDENT and College Life, Spiritual and Faith, Community and Neighborhoods, Tourism, HOUSING, Fair, Green and Affordable,

Day long event of visioning a Better Boston the above areas or something like that open for discussion and vision

Adopt some principles and or possibilities for a better Boston

Write a letter to Tommy and Councilors, School Board about the vision, invite them for meetings…

Depending on the response, write op ed to Boston papers

Create a community wide event w City of Boston and other social change groups to create a Better Boston, hook in w lots of youth groups…

MAKE IT HAPPEN!!!!!!