COALITION FORMED TO BEG HARRISBURG FOR $$$

From a press release issued by SEPTA...

A region-wide coalition of major business, civic, labor and community organizations has been convened to inform
the public and state government of the financial plight of SEPTA, which is facing a $70-million budget crisis.

Approximately 50 leaders of region-wide businesses and organizations gathered for the first time today at the offices of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce.

"Public transportation services provided by SEPTA affect everyone in the five-county region, whether they are regular commuters or not," said Pasquale T. Deon, Sr., SEPTA Board Chairman. "Without long-term, predictable funding,
SEPTA service will be in jeopardy. This, in turn, would jeopardize the economy of the region," he said.

"We are asking all stakeholders in SEPTA to step up and speak out in favor of the financial stability for public transit," said SEPTA General Manager Faye Moore.

SEPTA will be conducting public hearings during May in Philadelphia and each of the four suburban counties. The Save Transit Coalition will be encouraging their constituents to attend the hearings and testify in favor of stable public transit funding.

SEPTA is one of 70 transit agencies throughout Pennsylvania suffering from the crisis in public transportation funding. Press release

No matter what Fearless Leader and Don Pasquale say, there have to be ways SEPTA can trim the fat before resorting to draconian service cuts and fare hikes. That said, some in Harrisburg want accountability before SEPTA gets more money:

The 69th Street Terminal is in the legislative district of state Rep. Mario Civera, R-164, of Upper Darby -- but so is the Upper Darby School District, which is so desperate for money officials are proposing drastic cuts in school personnel or programs. It is either that or raise taxes 9.8 percent.

"We’re not a money mill in Harrisburg," noted Civera, who wants a full accounting of how SEPTA officials spend the money they make from passenger fares. Delaware County Daily Times editorial, April 26

Good luck, Mario. Just getting SEPTA to tell the truth about most things is an exercise in futility...