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Tuesday, March 27, 2012

News Occupy Charlotte returns to protest a CATS fare increase

Posted By on Tue, Mar 27, 2012 at 7:04 PM

This was Occupy Charlotte back in October, during one of the groups earliest protests
  • Grant Baldwin
  • This was Occupy Charlotte back in October, during one of the group's earliest protests
Occupy Charlotte has been relatively quiet since authorities evicted the group from its three-month-long campsite at the Old City Hall grounds on East Trade Street in late January. But while local occupiers have virtually disappeared from the public eye, they've hardly given up their fight. At 6 a.m. Wednesday, occupiers will make a comeback of sorts, gathering at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center Plaza on East 4th Street, not far from the group's old campground, to demonstrate against a proposed transit fare increase.

The Charlotte Area Transit System will hold a public hearing on the increase at 5:30 p.m. in Room 267 of the Government Center's Metropolitan Transit Commission.

"CATS has proposed a 25 cent increase in local transit fare," Carolyn Flowers, CATS chief executive, said in a statement earlier this month. "This increase is needed to keep pace with the cost of providing transit service. Without a fare increase it will be difficult to maintain our current level of service for customers." The last fare increase came in July 2010.

Occupy Charlotte wants citizens to fight the increase, which will fall particularly heavy on the poor. The group has issued the following press release:

Members of Occupy Charlotte will be bringing attention to the Public Hearing on transit fare increases by Occupying Government Center Plaza on Wednesday, March 28th beginning at 6am.

Occupy Charlotte, which is part of the Occupy Wall Street movement, is a community group fighting for political and economic justice at the local, state, national, and international levels.

Public transit should be fully funded. But raising fares for riders is not the answer. CATS expects a 3% drop in ridership if fares are increased, which will lead to more traffic congestion and carbon emissions in Charlotte, a city which already has the 10th worst air quality in the United States. As part of our Occupation of Government Center Plaza, Occupy Charlotte members will host a discussion at 4:30pm to talk about alternatives to raising fares. We will also be encouraging community members to speak at the Public Hearing at 5:30pm.

Please join us anytime Wednesday, March 28th at Government Center Plaza (600 E. 4th St.)

For more information, please see our website: www.OccupyClt.net.

Those not inclined to protest can sign up to attend the hearing by calling 704-432-0872 or e-mailing mtcinterest@charlottenc.gov before 3:00 p.m. Wednesday.

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Comments (5)

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Sad but predictable that OC would expose itself as a bunch of freebie-leeching crybabies rather than advocates for structural reform that would embarrass their favorite Banker Bitch BHO.

Every CATS passenger is already subsidized to the tune of $5-$7 a share while they only pay a buck or two themselves. What happened to Occupy's demand that folks "pay their fair share"?

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Posted by Big Dog on 03/28/2012 at 8:40 AM

Perhaps you have noticed the daily increases in the cost of diesel fuel. Did it ever occur to you that an agency whose primary function is to operate hundreds of buses might need to increase fares to cover the cost of fuel?

Anyone who would stop using the bus or light rail because of a 25 cent increase and return to their car has obviously forgotten that the cost of fuel for that car has gone up more than 25 cents per trip.

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Posted by DLP on 03/28/2012 at 9:15 AM

I refuse to pay it. We already cost MORE than California. (where cost of living is higher)
http://www.octa.net/bus-cash-fares.aspx
Regular Fare: $1.50

If they do this increase, I'm off the transit and on my bike. Physical disability or not, I can't afford it. If it rips up my knee a little more to walk, I'll do it if I have to. Not going to pay these greedy people. Besides, it seems kinda stupid to have to leave an hour or more before work if I want to get there on time by light-rail, when it's only 20 minutes away by bicycle.

Driving members of my family say that riding the buses and light-rail DOES cost them more than filling their car with gas any given week.

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Posted by Lyca Watyre on 03/28/2012 at 7:18 PM

@ Like-A-Whiner - What "greedy" people? Every fucking time you get in the bus YOU ARE BEING SUBSIDIZED BY ME AND OTHER TAXPAYERS. YOU ARE THE GREEDY ONE. you "gimme gimme gimme" shitfucks need to GET A JOB and SHUT THE FUCK UP.

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Posted by Big Dog on 03/29/2012 at 8:53 AM

Lyca Watyre:

A 7 day unlimited mileage pass on CATS costs $17.50.
Please tell us where you can fill the tank of your car for less than that.

You can't even park your car in center city for that amount.

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Posted by DLP on 04/04/2012 at 10:15 AM
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