CTA Tattler

What next election? Gov. Snap-on-Hair can kiss his political career goodbye, especially if Doomsday happens. This is a cheap version of Ryan's death penalty moratorium, except much less noble. Blago's not working on his next election; he's planning on making a good impression on the grand jury after Rezko starts chirping. What a jackass.

This Santa Claus move is one of Blago's most inane. Sure, it seems like it will cost CTA $20 million but how much more will demand by seniors increase once rides are free? The old codgers could overwhelm the system.

The problem with the senior give-away is not that it is help for the "deserving seniors on a fixed income" but on one segment of society regardless of income. Some riders over 65 have investment income that far exceeds the income of working people. Why not give free rides to people under 15 who don't have any personal income?

Buses and trains overcrowded with "free riders" is going to drive away paying customers.

Nothing against seniors but if they get to ride free, Everyone should.

"So maybe I'm wrong about my first sentence."

Of course you are wrong with your first sentence. I think the overwhelming majority of people think it is absolutely nuts to give seniors free rides on public transportation. I outlined these reasons in the last thread. This is an unbelievably bad policy decision that was made without the input of the legislature. I think it is probably best if they don't approve the change and just send the original bill back to the governor. He would have to be even studier than he is to veto it and let the doomsday scenerio play out. Of course, the risk is that this may encourage people to support the alternative plan that essentually gets the money as a result of raising the cigeratte tax. That is probably worse than giving free rides to seniors.

I voted no on that click poll. I don't oppose reduced or even free rides for income-strapped seniors. However, I do have an issue with all seniors across the board being eligible for all sorts of discounts and free stuff just because they're old. As one person commented on one of the LiveJournal groups, The Donald would be eligble in a couple years.

Oops. Obviously I meant stupider, not studier.

Would someone please run up to Governor Hairpiece and kick him in the nuts really hard? Seriously, is this guy trying to set a record for worst governor ever? And for mental retardation level higher than George W?

The worst governor in Illinois history.

I voted "no" in that online poll, but I'm not really that opposed to free rides for seniors - and for everybody else. The poll doesn't really give you an option for saying that, uh, now's not the time for this proposal. In context I figured that "no" would be understood as opposition to the Governor's proposal.

In another context - say one in which 81 bus routes and 2400 people's jobs aren't put at risk as a futile PR gesture - I have no doubt that more people would vote "yes" on such a poll.

That said, I do think there are more equitable ways to distribute $20M in fare reductions than by age. Income comes to mind. Or simply reducing fares a bit for everyone.

The governor probably realizes that senior citizens report for jury duty in greater numbers than other age groups. And lord knows he'll need a sympathetic jury in the not-too-distant future.

Don't forget the farebox recovery ratio - The RTA Act requires the CTA to recover half their operating costs through fares. The CTA does a decent job of doing this, but putting them in the hole with this addition to the bill adds insult to injury. Blago has no clue what he is doing.

"The governor probably realizes that senior citizens report for jury duty in greater numbers than other age groups. And lord knows he'll need a sympathetic jury in the not-too-distant future."

Well, he'll have to hope those seniors are transit riders. As I said in the last thread, I would bet that most seniors who do not use public transportation are probably furious about this. Their costs are going up. They have to pay more for gas and they certainly don't get a discount, let alone anything for free, on their cars, their gas, parking spaces, insurance, or anything like that. I think most of them will be rightfully outraged that those who are lucky enough to live and work (if they are not retired yet, which numerous people over 65 are not) in areas that have easy access to public transportation will be able to get around for free. I don't even think that the majority of seniors who use public transportation will support this. I have faith that most people are fair-minded and would not particularly like the fact that are being given something because they are considered "less-fortunate" when they are not (at least most of them are not). In fact, I would bet they feel like it is condescending. Every day on the CTA and Metra you will see thousands of people 65 or older going to very high paying jobs as lawyers, doctors, stock analysts, and things like that. My only hope is that they find a way to implement this in which at least some effort will be required to get free rides. Probably the best option is to require them to fill out a form and mail it to the CTA (or the RTA or whatever) in order to receive a special pass. Hopefully they will not just let everyone who flashes their ID receive free rides or just let them get a pass from an easilly accessable place when they show their ID. Obviously, this is going to eventually require everyone else to pay a higher fare (or at least mean that service increases will be less extensive or nonexistant). The management at the transit agencies had better understand that they should make at as difficult as possible to get these free rides. Then, at least, many of these people who know they don't deserve it will not go out of their way to avoiding paying for the service they use.

" voted "no" in that online poll, but I'm not really that opposed to free rides for seniors - and for everybody else. The poll doesn't really give you an option for saying that, uh, now's not the time for this proposal. In context I figured that "no" would be understood as opposition to the Governor's proposal.

In another context - say one in which 81 bus routes and 2400 people's jobs aren't put at risk as a futile PR gesture - I have no doubt that more people would vote "yes" on such a poll."

The poll doesn't ask if you support the governor's proposal, it asks if you agree with his propasal. Specifically it states "Do you agree with the governor's proposal that senior citizens should ride for free?" Therefore, the people voting "no" do not agree with giving seniors free rides. People who agree with this idea but don't like Blagojevich's timing or manner would vote yes. At least, that's the way it would work for people who read the question carefully.

Based on the statements I have seen from several politicians and even transit officials, I think that these people actually think the public would be in favor of Blagojevich's nutty idea. Nobody seems to want to critisize or even express any annoyence about it. Not Madigan, Hamos, or anyone else. Huberman and the RTA chairman actually PRAISED it. I was absolutely stunned when I saw that. This is going to create an enormously unneccessary gaping hole in their budget and they are PRAISING it? I think these people are actually stupid enough to believe that this is a no-lose situation which will score political points with seniors. And they somehow think that those people who are not seniors will think it doesn't effect them and not care. I think they are going to be in for a rude shock tomorrow when there is an enormous outcry of people calling their offices. This 75% number does not surprise me at all, but I bet many of the stupid politicians will be surprised when they find out the level of opposition. They tend to think that the public are a bunch of simpletons.

Clearly lots of seniors don't need free fares, and lots of others could benefit from them. If there were any kind of means test to determine need, then there would have to be a whole new layer of bureaucracy, to process applications, at a time when the State can't take care of existing business very well.

Very likely we're poised, Friday morning, between the lightning of the Governor's seniors proposal, and the thunder of the disabled, often on extremely limited incomes such as SSI, who could use free fares even more. This includes those who can ride the buses and trains, and those who can't and need door-to-door paratransit service - the latter especially having to cancel too many clinic appoinments because they can't afford the fares.

Regardless, the Governor had the better part of a year to propose his present idea, and to come up with it at the eleventh hour jeopardizes the possibility of saving the system by the 20th.
With the Feds all over his case, we get this quasi-populistic spinmeistering which is poorly thought-out even if not demagogic.

Where is the Governor getting this stuff? All of a sudden he just pulls something out of his ass and we're all supposed to say, "Oh my gosh, yes! That is exactly what the seniors, and this state, need! Free rides!" He's holding Chicago transit hostage for reasons that I can only identify as extreme stubborness.

Get a fucking clue, Gov.

I'm voting Republican for governor next election, and I've never done that in my life.