CTA Tattler

I just love how Rod has been calling this "his solution" for the past few weeks, being that before January, he was trumpeting nothing but more casinos. I didn't vote for that guy either election, and I've never regretted that.

We all owe Julie Hamos a big thank you post.

And he STILL doesn't understand why everyone's mad at him. Check out this quote from the Sun-Times:

Afterward, Blagojevich roundly dismissed all of the legislative bluster directed his way.

"I know some of them are angry at me, but they really ought to take a deep breath and stop and look in the mirror and frankly realize what we've gotten done here: Transit systems are solvent. They shouldn't be so angry. They ought to be happy," he said.
"I would be a governor that I wouldn't like if I simply sat there, afraid of the criticism, [and] not . . . do what's right for people. And helping senior citizens get free public transportation, I know, is the right thing," Blagojevich said.

Idiot.

I am glad my buses will still be running, don't get me wrong, but this was a wrong-headed way of doing it. If I ever vote for him in any capacity ever again (I did as Rep & 1st term as gov only), kindly check me into Reed!

But is it actually SIGNED yet????? The show ain't over till the fat lady sings, and I still haven't heard the aria.

I'd like to think that Blago's such an idiot that he'll not get re-elected ... but unless his opponent writes some pretty good ad copy to get across the point of what Blago did with this, Blago's bluster is going to win the day.

Look at ... well, no offense to the more neocon of the 'Pubs in the house, but look at Dubya. He may be one of the least skillful Presidents in all of history, but the fact that he does it with conviction carries a lot of the day.

What about that whole thing with the union contract that expired in January 1st 08? Does that have to be renegotiated? Could that be a problem to get done? No one seemed too concerned when the deadline for that passed.

The union had extended that deadline to January 20, 2008 sometime at the end of December.

Dee, you're absolutely right that this was a wrong-headed way to keep transit going. On the other hand, this being Illinois, wrong-headed is about the only way anything is going to get done--especially with the big-haired, tiny-brained one in the middle of things. I feel your pain about voting for him in the past. Many of us share that shame. I voted for him once, in the general election in his first run for governor. I will give myself credit for voting against him in the primary and holding my nose in the general, but still, many times in the last several months I've wished God had struck me dead on the threshold of the polling place.

About the contract, I could be wrong, but I don't expect that is going to be a problem. The union agreed to the concessions in the contract, as I understand it, contingent on the state coming through with stable funding, and that's been done even though later than Jan. 1.

Back to Blagojevich and the perennial question "what can he be thinking??", I think Eric Zorn nailed it a few months ago in his "Change of Subject" blog. Pointing out that most voters don't analyze policy but respond to dramatic gestures (sorry, I don't find that column on the Trib's site any more, and I'm paraphrasing), Zorn said when Blagojevich runs for another term (and you know he's going to run), he's going to spin the tale of the great populist going up against the big bad politicos on the people's behalf, and he's counting on Illinois' Democratic voters to be dumb enough to buy it. Zorn thinks he'll be proved right. Sadly, so do I.

On a lighter note, I pulled up at a red light this morning behind a truck with a bumper sticker that read, "Buck Flagojevich." I'd have congratulated the guy on his good taste if the light hadn't changed.

you're probably right, Quondam. I, on the other hand, am an Independent voter, and thus, by your (& Zorn's) logic, too smart to buy the populist line. Ha!
And yes, he's going to run again. Barely finished with his 1st year (I think) of the 2nd term, and he's going for his 3rd term. Actually, I was told by someone that he admitted having decided that before the election. Confidence & stupidity do not make a pretty package.
I call on everyone on this blog to remember what an idiot he is, come next election.

(did that bumper sticker actually say that, or did you alter it to make it acceptable for posting? I like it, tho.)

I attended the meeting that Rep. Hamos held
this past Wednesday, 1/16 at the Thompson
Center and her committee decided that all
senior citizens would not automatically ride
free. Their eligibility will be tied-in to
to the "Circuit Breaker" program and they
will need to meet certain income and a few
other eligibility requirements.

Mario M., this is true, but unfortunately, Representative Hamos' committee does not make that decision. Further, the full House actually passed the related bill, but Senate President Jones has refused to bring it to a vote in his chamber. Imagine that.

Also, I find it slightly ironic that, due to Downstate's complete unwillingness to fund Chicago transit on their own backs (which I 50/50 agree with), this package now has NE Illinois residents paying a higher sales tax, some of which goes Downstate for their transit systems!! And yet, they STILL bitch. If you watched any of the debates yesterday, there were downstate and suburban legislators still wailing about this bill because their constituents were funding Chicago.

So, what is the "local transit system" for someone who lives in a community served by more than one system? In Chicago, Cicero, Evanston, Oak Park, and Wilmette, all three systems are local.

This is not the long term solution that is needed to solve the issue of public transportation. there is something that is amiss. The need for capital improvment of the entire CTA infrastucture.

The viaducts are crumbling up and down the Red Line. I see steel beams rusting along the Green Line and Pink Line. Most of the steel structures along those line were re-built less than 10 years ago.

The subway portions of both the Blue and Red Line are in major need of renovation.

There is so much that needs to be done to improve the CTA system. The funds are not there, and the infrastructure will fall apart and until there is a failure, politicians will not do a thing about it.

Will the "disabled and elderly" homeless get free rides? They really shouldnt! They take up a lot of the seats during the winter and make everyones (paying customers) ride very unpleasant.

Dee, the sticker really was worded as I posted it.

"Confidence & stupidity do not make a pretty package"--how true. Here's hoping the voters of Illinois somehow develop long memories and a sense of where our real interests lie. I think most of us here in Tattler Village already have those assets.

Regarding the post from "b"...

"Will the "disabled and elderly" homeless get free rides? They really shouldnt! They take up a lot of the seats during the winter and make everyones (paying customers) ride very unpleasant."

I'm no crybaby liberal, but you're certainly a goddamned asshole.

"Oh, boo-hoo, an elderly, stinky homeless person just made my day super-icky."

I guess your solution would be to set them off on an ice floe into the middle of Lake Michigan?

I can't stand idiots like Blago, but pricks like you should just go kill yourselves.

oh yeah, "b"... i forgot...

Shithead.

Crankyd, what on earth promted that response? I don't even think B said anything controversal, let alone anything worthy of being called names and sweared to. I have seen many liberals state the same thing B did. It certainly is a legitimate problem that may come up (or be enchanced) as a result of the free rides and may go a long way to making public transportation less attractive.

"I guess your solution would be to set them off on an ice floe into the middle of Lake Michigan? "

B did not say anything like that. And I'll point out that the solution to the homeless problem also isn't to let them live and sleep on the trains. That doesn't do anybody any good. Not the passenger not the homeless.

Oops. Meant to say passengers, not passenger.

crankyd, your name calling is childish and not appreciated.

a long time cta tattler

Stop pickingon B.. I know exactly what he/she means. If you have ever ridden the Red Line when someone has used it for a toilet you'd know exactly what that person means. If the homeless know they can get a free ride, they WILL USE THE CTA or BUS as a shelter. It is a fact of life that SOME HOMELESS people stink. especially in summer. From urine mosttly. In the meantime, it is a fact of life that we who are going to work have had to endure the smell of the homeless especially if they have used the train or bus as their toilet. Just ask any Red Line customer .. Its not that we are being heartless. It is reality - especially in summer.

How silly people are, thinking that raising taxes might have a positive effect to Chicago.

Bill Bucks,
Have you been to a place that keeps taxes religiously low?

Check out low-tax heaven Houston sometime. They don't even have a freeze/thaw cycle, but their roads are a pathetic mess. They have so much pavement and not nearly enough revenue to maintain it. The roads are worse there than here, and again, they dont even have the freeze/thaw cycle to contend with.

Get in a car accident in Houston? Not your fault? Good luck with a police report or getting your money. The police are so underfunded and short-staffed there (no tax revenue to pay for them) that they don't bother coming to "minor" accident scenes to write out official reports.

Seriously, you should get out more. Yeah it's bad for taxes to be squandered on bloat or graft, but it's not like taxes are inherently bad.....if anything, a lack of adequate taxes to pay for adequate services significantly reduces the quality of life.

Now that my initial reactionary temper has calmed, i'll reduce my disgust and venom of my first post by perhaps...half.
And completely (and apologetically) retract the second comment entirely, due to the undeniable childishness of it.

Blagassholevich wants to give seniors a free ride because he seems to think that they're all poor, little old people living on fixed incomes and surviving on dog food.
The reality (and reaction by said elderly) seems to indicate that this is not actually the case for the vast majority.

But the ELDERLY HOMELESS?
Who on Earth could be more destitute than they are?
Who could be more in need than them?

Does being homeless somehow rob someone of the rights afforded to a senior with housing?

If someone is elderly, homeless and has poor hygiene, do you think that your response to them should be one of utter disgust and derision? Or maybe one of compassion?
Nobody says you have you have give them any help, but do they really need your thinly-veiled contempt?
Don't they have enough problems?

As far as the "disabled and elderly taking up a lot of the seats"...do you mean that they might be carrying all their belongings around in six shopping bags?
Not to mention that goddamned wheelchair.
Unlike a Michigan Ave shopper on the way home (to their fabulous deluxe housing), loaded down with six bags from Bloomie's and Sak's?
They're fine.

Or when you say "taking up a lot of the seats"...do you object to the sheer number of homeless elderly taking up one seat each?
Why, the very nerve of them and their audacity to exist within your view.
Hey, at least with a wheelchair, they're bringing their own seat.

This attitude reminds me of the people that bitch about the severely obese CTA riders that take up two seats. Some have supported the idea of charging them twice as much.
Don't they have enough problems?

Suicides during rush hour?
How disrespectful of them to inconvenience the fine CTA riders.
Never mind the personal Hell that drove them to take their own life.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Look, i ride the the CTA everyday. I've seen it all, including steaming piles of shit.
And suicides.
I'm not blind to the problems that come along with having some of the homeless on board.
But the ELDERLY homeless seem to RARELY be a big problem, they sit quietly; as most homeless do.
If anyone (homeless or otherwise) causes trouble, they should be reported to CTA security and IMMEDIATELY REMOVED. If this isn't happening, don't blame the mentally unstable, blame the officials running the show.

And as far as the hygiene problems, maybe an ounce of compassion would be more in order. "There but for the grace of God go i."
And remember not to breathe through your nose.
It's only stink, trust me, you'll live.

NEWSFLASH: These are human beings. Being homeless doesn't negate that fact.

Why do people feel compelled to take out their anger and frustration with the people least able to help themselves?
This thing can now turns into another attempt to bash the disabled and/or homeless and somehow blame the CTA's problems on them, instead of the shit excuse for leadership we have at virtually all levels of government.