SEPTA ON STRIKE? RIDERS MUST STRIKE BACK - MOBILIZE VANS TO WORK AND TO THE POLLS - PHILLY WILL NOT LOSE!!!

By Gloria Dulan-Wilson

Hello All:

Phildelphians are being hamstrung by their own transit system - SEPTA, which is the acronym for South Eastern Pennyslvania Transportation Authority.  Now, interestingly enough, not all of SEPTA is striking - just the bus and subway operators that "service" the local communities.  

It appears that the Regional Rail portion of SEPTA that primarily services Non-Black communities, are not on strike.  Now isn't that special???

This means that the prime target is Philadelphia and Philadelphians, which, by some strange coincidence, is 68% Black, primarily comprised of working poor who are dependent on SEPTA to get them to and from work, and their children to and from school.

And of course, being the largest in population, Philadelphia is prime for putting Hillary over the top in much the same way they did twice for President Obama.

Does anyone smell a rat here?

In most metropolitan areas, these kinds of strikes are not allowed because of the impact they have on the populous - so why is this being allowed to happen in Philadelphia.  Police, Fire department, Hospital Care and mass transit are essential services - where is the State in dealing with this problem?

Why is it that the union can selectively designate who they are and are not going to strike against?  If it had shut down the entire SEPTA (or is it  SEPTIC?) system, I guarantee you that the federal government would have stepped in and slapped an injunction and a 90 day cooling off period on them so fast it would have made your head swim.  There would have been mandatory arbitration imposed on both sides!!1

And, I don't buy the "working conditions" and "benefits"argument from the SEPTA workers either.  Having won the APTA award in 2012 and 13 - American Public Transit Award - given to the best run, most efficient (a laugh) transportation system in an urban area, I don't think they really have a leg to stand on.

Riders are being gouged by fares that are actually higher than those in New York City. The SEPTA subway system - The Market Street EL and The Broad Street Line - don't even run 24 hours, except on weekends, with shuttle buses taking over from approximately 1:00 AM til 5:00 AM; and there are some buses in the system that are so slow that they should provide a couch, tea and a TV to make the 30 to 40 minute wait worth your while.  Yes, you could actually watch an entire show by the time the buses that do run on time show up; and God help you on those lines (like the 16 and the 43) that take forever to show up and are almost always crowded when they do.

Phildadelphians cannot afford to take a wait and see attitude in the light of this situation, and have to be pro active - not only for getting back and forth to work, but also for making sure that those who need transportation to and from the polls on Tuesday, November 8 are not stranded.  

So I'm recommending that the wonderful churches that populate the Philadelphia communities, press their Church Vans into action to help people get to and from the polls.  Additionally, those school buses that are not being utilized during school hours after 9:00 AM, night also be called into service.

Philly should put SEPTA on notice that when they go low and try to deprive the people, the people go high and work around them.  You cannot, must not and will not allow them to steal your power, your right to vote, your capacity to get to and form your job or place of business.

You cannot and will not allow them to single you out as the victim while the rest of Pennsylvania continues to enjoy the convenience of their Regional Rail System.

Contact your local churches, as well as citizen volunteers - and put together an ANTI-SEPTA Transit system - If you work together you can accomplish anything.  If you allow yourself to be manipulated by them, you will continue to lose.  Other organizations are consolidating their efforts, there's no reason why those in the northern reaches of Philadelphia's predominantly African American neighborhoods cannot do the same (check out this link:  http://6abc.com/traffic/penn-drexel-chop-partner-for-septa-strike-plan/1581833/ ).  This affects us all - and we should make it our business to pull together.  

And for those Senior Citizens and folks with limited mobility, it was announced at a Town Hall Meeting headed by State Representative Stephen Kinsey and City Councilwoman Cindy Bass, that you may vote using the ABSENTEE BALLOT - so that you do not lose your opportunity or right to have your voice heard and your vote  count.

And make no mistake about it - YOUR VOTE COUNTS - and of course, since this is my blog, I'm standing for HILLARY CLINTON, DWIGHT EVANS, KATIE McGINTY, etc.  You cannot afford to blow this opportunity.



At this time - a week before the election, we have sufficient opportunity to rally these resources so that Philly does not come up short in the polls.  It's up to us all to make their efforts to gouge and undermine the election and the people of Philadelphia fail.   There are shuttle buses being made available in Center City - it's time those in the Olney Transportation Center, Fern Rock, 69th Street, and other areas  that access to transportation.  If you need absentee ballots, contact your local state representative, or SETH BLUSTEIN  - Deputy Commissioner, to have them delivered to your Church, Senior Citizens Center, senior residences and other areas - they will deliver them, and personally pick them up from you to make sure they are counted.  

The bottom line to this message is this:  YOU ARE IN CHARGE, THIS IS YOUR CITY, YOU HAVE RIGHTS THAT NEED TO BE RESPECTED - DON'T LET ANY ONE RIP YOU OFF.

STAY BLESSED & 
ECLECTICALLY BLACK

Gloria