Occupy MBTA

For the third time in ten years, the MBTA is offering its riders a choice between draconian service cuts and draconian fare increases in an effort to close a budget gap caused by legacy debt...We will not let our government balance its books on the backs of working people any longer... Debt relief for the MBTA can close the budget gaps without asking the poorest among us to carry a heavier burden and is good for T riders, T workers, T management--good for the entire 99%! - from a draft statement we are working on

Fight fare hikes and service cuts

Planning Meetings

Occupy the MBTA meets at 6pm Fridays at SEIU 615, 26 West St. Boston, and at 5 on Sundays at the Occupy Boston 'Strategic Action Assembly', 5 pm at community Church on Sundays

• OccupyMBTA Planning, Jan 29th 2012
• Planning Meeting, Feb 17th, 2012

Actions

Past

February 13 - Convergence and Rally @ Boston Public Library

Occupy the T: Free Charlie pdf, but including some info specific to the Feb. 13 action.

Ongoing

Canvassing - (printable flyers below)

Here are some dates for handing out fliers. If you would like to organize a flyering action, put the info below and email the list: occupymbta@lists.occupyboston.org

-Every Wednesday (5pm-7pm): Meet at Davis Square [near the Somerville Theater / Davis MBTA station. contact: Joe Ramsey (jgramsey@gmail.com)

Sunday, January 29th (11am-1pm): Meet at Davis Square [near the Somerville Theater / Davis MBTA station] contact: Jamie Rinaldi (jamie.rinaldi@gmail.com)

MBTA Public Hearings

January 31, Tuesday	Boston (Mattapan)	6:00-8:00 PM	Mildred Avenue Community Center 5 Mildred Avenue
February 1, Wednesday	Jamaica Plain	6:00-8:00 PM	Hennigan Community Center, Cafeteria 200 Heath Street
February 2, Thursday	Boston (Dorchester)	1:00-3:00 PM and 6:00-8:00 PM	Dorchester House Multi-Service Center, Multi-Purpose Room 1353 Dorchester Avenue
February 6, Monday	Lowell	5:00-7:00 PM	City Hall Council Chambers 375 Merrimack Street
February 7, Tuesday	Lynn	6:00-8:00 PM	City Hall Auditorium, Main Floor 3 City Hall Square
February 8, Wednesday	Boston (West End)	4:30-6:30 PM	Shriners Hospital Auditorium 51 Blossom Street
February 8, Wednesday	Hingham	6:00-8:00 PM	Town Hall Sanborn Auditorium 210 Central Street
February 13, Monday	Boston (South Station area)	6:00-8:00 PM	Boston Public Library Boston Rabb Lecture Hall 700 Boylston Street
February 14, Tuesday	Framingham	6:00-8:00 PM	Town Hall 150 Concord Street
February 15, Wednesday	Quincy	6:00-8:00 PM	Thomas Crane Public Library Community Room 40 Washington Street
February 16, Thursday	Malden	6:00-8:00 PM	City Council Chambers 200 Pleasant Street
February 27, Monday	Winthrop	6:00-8:00 PM	Winthrop DeLeo Senior Center 35 Harvard Street
February 28, Tuesday	Somerville	6:00-8:00 PM	High School Auditorium 81 Highland Avenue
February 29, Wednesday	Cambridge	6:00-8:00 PM	Citywide Senior Center 806 Massachusetts Avenue
March 1, Thursday	Waltham	6:00-8:00 PM	Government Center Auditorium 119 School Street
March 5, Monday	Haverhill	6:00-8:00 PM	90 Washington Street
March 6, Tuesday	Brockton	6:00-8:00 PM	Massasoit Community College, Liberal Arts Building, Lecture Hall LA 560 1 Massasoit Boulevard
March 6, Tuesday	Revere	6:00-8:00 PM	Paul Revere School 395 Revere Street
March 7, Wednesday	Fitchburg	6:00-8:00 PM	Public Library Auditorium 610 Main Street
March 7, Wednesday	Hull	7:00-9:00 PM	Memorial Middle School 81 Central Avenue
March 12, Monday	Brighton	5:30-7:30 PM	Veronica B. Smith Senior Center 20 Chestnut Hill Avenue

Activities

remix

A couple of people are playing with a remix of Charlie and the MTA.

Bechtel and the MBTA

intro: "These are the times that try men's souls. In the course of our nation's history, the people of Boston have rallied bravely whenever the rights of men have been threatened. Today, a new crisis has arisen. The Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority, better known as the M.B.T.A., is attempting to levy a burdensome tax on the 99% in the form of a subway fare increase. Through service cuts, they threaten to keep our families from going to work and our children from going to school. Citizens, hear us out! This could happen to you!"

G Let me tell you the story C Of a man named Charlie G D On a tragic and fateful day G He put his card in his pocket, C Kissed his wife and family G D G 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 they said, "There's been a fare hike." and he could not get off that train. Chorus 1: G Did he ever return, C No he never returned G D And his fate is still unlearn'd G He may ride forever C 'neath the streets of Boston G D G 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?" Chorus 1: [Instrumental]

Now I'll tell you a story about the Big Dig Tunnel And the tragic and fateful way How a crooked highway project Came to rob every family Who rides on the MBTA It was money motivation No one watched the corporations The costs grew day by day In the state house they had meetings With the banksters they were scheming How to get rich 'n have their way Chorus 2: The people got burned The banks stole what we earned But we won't let 'em steal the T! We will ride forever 'neath the streets of Boston Public trains, they oughta be free. 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 2: Enough is enough The people are saying Don't you take the busses away Your games aint a-working And we aint a-takin No more cuts to the MBTA Chorus: 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

Back to OccupyMBTA

Graphics

Affordability BUTTON.jpg

No hikes BUTTON.jpg

See something BUTTON.jpg

WTF red fare BUTTON.JPG

FreeCharlie.jpg

Petition

Link to document in process: draft

Pamphlets and More

Occupy_the_T_and_Free_Charlie_one_page_Feb_13.pdf

Occupy_the_T_and_Free_Charlie_one_page.pdf

OccupyT_Portuguese.pdf

OccupyTFlyer_Quarter_Sheet.pdf

OccupyTFlyer1.pdf

MBTA_rally_double-sided_quarters.pdf - rally flyer with list of hearings on back

MBTA_Passenger_Advisory.pdf - MBTA-style poster with hearings listed

Charlie_mask.pdf - print out your own mask of MBTA's iconic humanoid!

For Designers

MBTA ad templates are
Banner: 18" high by 28" wide
Poster: 22" high by 15" wide
Here are some examples.

Maillist

A lot of stuff gets emailed to this list. You can join here, or view the archives here.

Links and Bibliography

• http://studentsagainsttcuts.org/
• MBTA Page on Fare Changes
• MBTA Fare Change Information Booklet
• MBTA Financials
• Transit on the Line
• T Riders Union

State Auditor on MBTA Losses via Credit Default Swaps (2008)

'State Auditor Joe DeNucci reported [in 2008] that an investment practice intended to help save money actually resulted in a $55 million increase in borrowing interest costs to the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA)...During the five-year period reviewed by DeNucci’s office, the MBTA entered into 12 interest rate swap agreements with various investment banks totaling $1.632 billion. As a result of these swaps, the MBTA received nearly $31.5 million in interest and premiums. However, the MBTA made payments totaling more than $86.8 million for interest costs and termination fees during the same period, resulting in a net loss to the T of $55.3 million. “These rate swaps were highly speculative, risky and complex, and have proved costly to the riders who are paying increased fares and the taxpayers who subsidize the MBTA,” said DeNucci.' - from State Auditor press release January 29, 2008