From Vice President Sepolen
The Steward's Corner
I was present for the introduction of public parking in the AO/CO garage. I am going to keep this short. It worked and worked well.
Concerns:
Mixing of public and employee vehicles. Public were restricted to 4& 5.
Trash: None to speak of.
How many slots are allocated: a max of 491 of the 1100 slots will be taken up by the public. For the foreseeable future (Dec.) 274 have been set aside for the public. 163 paid the $20 to park.
Traffic control: Public through NW entrance. Held up if employee is entering. Exiting: SPD on duty to control traffic. Those turning into employee entrance dhave priority.
Traffic control at the top of each ramp directing traffic to top. Those who park improperly are told to move along.
Tailgating: No.
Drinking: No
Parking: Public has dash card for easy ID. Must leave no later than two hours after game’s end.
The number of stalls will fluctuate with the size of the event, but as I said it is set to be limited to 174.
I want it to be clear that employees were given priority at all times.
From my point of view, it went expremely well. The test will be this Tuesday when the Sounders game happens. It is an afternoon game. Even so, I feel that IMP, the company in charged learned a lot today and will put in effect corrections that should make the next game run smoothly.
Much thanks to all of you for your continued excellence when it comes to actively and accurately representing our members
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WASHINGTON, DC – Lawrence J. Hanley, International President of the Amalgamated Transit Union, AFL-CIO (ATU), made the following statement regarding House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan’s budget proposal for 2012:
“Path to Prosperity, Chairman Paul Ryan’s FY 2012 Budget Resolution, actually puts millions of America’s transit riders on a path to nowhere, if they can actually get there safely,” said Larry Hanley, International President of the Amalgamated Transit Union.
Ryan’s budget proposes cutting transportation funding by 31 percent in 2012, and stays in that range for the next ten years. “Coming on the heels of this week’s last-minute deal to cut transit spending by 18% through the remainder of FY 2011, the Ryan proposal could mean the death blow for many struggling transit agencies that have already cut service to the bone,” Hanley said. “In addition, with rail accidents on the rise due to antiquated equipment, the safety of millions of transit passengers will be in jeopardy due to these senseless cuts.”
America is in the midst of a mobility crisis. Since the beginning of 2009, approximately 85% of public transit systems have raised fares or cut service, and thousands of workers in the transit industry – a significant percentage of a “green” workforce – have been laid off. Fifty-six percent of transit systems have cut rush hour service, 62% have slashed off-peak service, and 40% report reductions in geographic coverage.
“The person who cleans offices downtown in the wee hours of the morning should not have to sleep on the cold hard floor in the lobby of the building after finishing her work until the buses start running the next day. But that is exactly what is happening out there. Our members nationwide have seen it firsthand,” said Hanley. “This proposal will ensure that over the next several years, millions of transit-dependent people will lose their ride, their job, and their dignity.”
“Is that the ‘path’ that voters chose in November?”
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