(The following story by Joel Bewley appeared on the Philadelphia Inquirer website on February 28.)
PHILADELPHIA — A group of retail workers concerned about SEPTA’s proposed fare increases and service cutbacks marched along South Street yesterday to rally support for mass-transportation funding.
The South Street Workers Union’s 20 or so members – “workers who are poor, without cars, who come from the ghettos of this city” – would be the most affected by the changes, march organizer Andrew Rothman said.
“This would never happen in the suburbs or in a wealthy city,” he said. “We are an easy target for a conservative legislature.”
SEPTA faces a budget shortfall of $49 million. The agency is preparing to raise fares by 25 percent and slash services by 20 percent. The changes, which would include a $2.50 cash fare, would go into effect Sunday unless another solution was found in Harrisburg.
City representatives on SEPTA’s board vetoed a move to increase the cash fare to $3. The board will try to override that veto March 24, SEPTA officials have said.
If the legislature cannot agree on a funding package, Gov. Rendell has promised to transfer federal highway money to enable the state’s mass-transit agencies to operate through June.
Rothman said the inability of lawmakers to create a bipartisan solution showed they were out of touch with the workers who depend on mass transportation.
The increase in a monthly pass, which would be $27.50 if SEPTA’s board prevails, “would be devastating to people who are living at or below the poverty line,” Rothman said.
Also, a decrease in service would make it harder for some to get to work on time, he said.
Rothman and about 40 others marched with a police escort from Broad Street to Second Street, carrying signs and chanting slogans such as “Stop the SEPTA cutbacks.”
The union, affiliated with the Industrial Workers of the World, has workers at eight stores, Rothman said.
As of yesterday morning, 97 of the 104 South Street businesses approached by the union had signed its petition calling for the legislature to fully fund mass transit.
If the fare increases go through, the union plans to ask employers for higher pay to cover the difference.
Marchers used a bullhorn to heckle businesses that had not signed the petition. The result was two more signatures.
“I’m just trying to help the people,” said Mark Coskun, manager of a Domino’s Pizza, who, after signing the petition, said he did not know whether he was authorized to do so. “I have nothing to worry about, right?”
A plan to enter Whole Foods Market was thwarted when general manager Lance McAllister told the group the protest had to stay outside.
“If you want to come in and shop, that’s fine,” he said.
As the march ended, the petitions were handed to State Rep. Babette Josephs (D., Phila.), who said she was the only member of the legislature who used public transportation instead of a car.
Josephs said more grassroots demonstrations were needed to show how important mass transportation was to state residents.
“There is nothing in this country that is good that does not start in the streets,” she told the crowd.