trainman8119 Posted September 27, 2007 Report Share Posted September 27, 2007 As predicted, only sooner, the hands are out already at the CTA. In todays Tribune , our buddy Ron and his sidekick Carole are already crying that the proposed money the CTA will get will not be enough and are stating that the current doomsday will be nothing compared to what will come in January if they can't have their ice cream after dinner. Again...I say let them do it. They will never be happy. Soon, we will have paid ads on tv again begging you to write your congressmen to let Ron have his ice cream. I bet Ron will take 2 alderman tickets to a Cub playoff game and bill his nachos to the CTA as an expense. I am so damn sick of this constant wining on Lake Street !!!!! Give em nothing and let them sink. They are determined to do it anyway, the state could save a few mil and give it to the schools or something. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buslover88 Posted September 28, 2007 Report Share Posted September 28, 2007 Give em nothing and let them sink. They are determined to do it anyway, the state could save a few mil and give it to the schools or something. If CTA gets nothing, then there will be NO service and I depend on CTA for my daliy travels. I don't want to walk all the way to my destinations (which are often far from where I live) and get stranded. Think of everyone who depends on CTA service, they need the service. If CTA gets nothing, you'll see alot more people who walk with more health problems then ever. Besides, when was school so important? I could care less if schools get money. The transit agencies need more money than a school will ever need and if they don't get money, I will personally make a trip down to Springfield and protest. P.S. I think it was funny about the Ron Huberman jokes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RailBus63 Posted September 29, 2007 Report Share Posted September 29, 2007 You may not like their whining, but it doesn't change the fact that the CTA and its sister agencies do not have a stable source of funding that is sufficient enough to provide the level of service needed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trainman8119 Posted October 1, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 1, 2007 Although I agree with the above 2 statements, I will continue to rant that that what is needed as much as money is management that has a clue what they are doing. The fact of the matter is that if you give them a dollar, they will continue to want 4. They will never be happy to get what they are being given and budget from that. What was initially asked for was $100 million. They were given and advance of $20+ million and it is being proposed that the CTA will get $200 million in casino revenues. The CTA's reply upon hearing that they were being given twice what was initially to be given...it is not enough and we are going to cut twice as much as we proposed. I say horsefeathers...if they can't take the money they ara being offered, then pull the offer off the table and let them make the cuts. They claim they are going to do so anyway, so why give them extra money. They are not going to live up to their end of the bargain. You are going to lose some service, regardless...if you think otherwise, then you are foolish. My point, is that they have to clean house, live within their means and any extra money given should be gravy. Quite frankly, if I were a legislater, I would be fighting against any money here until some sensible changes are made. If you are going to constantly have your hand out, go stand on a street corner and ask someone else. Heck, you are already doing that anyway (by asking the public to do their dirty work). There is no responsibility on the CTA's end...just constant begging and lack of quality service (I say CTA...Pace and Metra are just as guilty)....and quite often mega waste of money !!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busjack Posted October 1, 2007 Report Share Posted October 1, 2007 For my 4 cents:It seems like every tax jurisdiction wants double in taxes what it needs. The RTA wanted $450 million in tax authority to fill a $200 million deficit. According to the Tribune, Stroger wants a $750 million sales tax increase to fill a projected $307 million deficit, or the hospital named for his daddy might close. One of the things I mentioned in my letter to the state legislators was the piling on of taxes (the village also got another .25%) and the inevitability of a county tax increase, and boy was I prophetic about that. The commissioner from Crestwood wants the county to grab its before the RTA does, but neither cares if the aggregate sales tax is 11.25%.We don't really know what the legislature has in mind for transit, but the last time I saw SB572, the reforms were so diluted that they were meaningless. For instance, it would take 9 votes for the RTA to intervene in a service dispute, and 12 to take over an alternatives analysis study. While it appears that this Governor does not want a transit meltdown on his watch, it doesn't appear that the legislature and the Governor can get together on anything, no matter how ineffective it would be in cleaning up the mess.Nothing in the legislation directly addresses CTA mismanagement. Also, it would be futile to do so. For instance, the Section 27 of the current Metropolitan Transit Act says: The Board may appoint an Executive Director who shall be a person of recognized ability and experience in the operation of transportation systems to hold office during the pleasure of the Board.However, by practical construction, as lawyers would say, this has become:The Board may appoint a President, who shall be one of the Mayor of Chicago's trusted advisers, recommended by the Mayor, regardless of experience in the operation of transportation systems, to hold office during the pleasure of the Mayor.The casino revenue was supposed to be a loan, too, so I can see arguments that it is too contingent, and just another excuse for the legislature to delay doing its job.I had previously mentioned to buslover about the 1981 meltdown, which was before his time. It looks like the Governor wants to prevent that. Pace delayed some of its cuts that it had otherwise indicated that would happen in any event, but one never knows. The transit authorities and the county have proven, however, that trainman is right that they will spend through any tax increase without cleaning up the management problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buslover88 Posted October 1, 2007 Report Share Posted October 1, 2007 I agree that the CTA is never happy now, just look at Ron Huberman. He acts all negivate about this whole thing. He is the worst choice for the CTA ever. Thank you, Mayor Daley. It also appears that the CTA begs alot. Why can't take just the money and accept it? At least Rod and company are trying to help, CTA should give them that credit. I also think that CTA should suspend ALL new bus orders and buying the other little stuff they're buying until they have money again It's just a matter of time before all hell breaks loose... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jajuan Posted October 29, 2007 Report Share Posted October 29, 2007 I agree that the CTA is never happy now, just look at Ron Huberman. He acts all negivate about this whole thing. He is the worst choice for the CTA ever. Thank you, Mayor Daley. It also appears that the CTA begs alot. Why can't take just the money and accept it? At least Rod and company are trying to help, CTA should give them that credit. I also think that CTA should suspend ALL new bus orders and buying the other little stuff they're buying until they have money again It's just a matter of time before all hell breaks loose... Rod and company are trying to help? Baloney. If they were truly trying to help, they would all be taking this issue seriously and come up with a real solution earlier this year rather than squabbling with each other in an effort to show who has the most political influence in this state. They would have come up with a concrete solution back last year and the years before that to keep the CTA and its sister agencies from coming back asking for more money. If they were truly serious about solving the problem they would stop looking at the issue as just a Chicago problem, more specifically a CTA problem, and realize it will truly become a state problem for sure if people can't get to work. They definitely would not be waiting until the last minute to work on a problem they promised us three times this year at least they would solve and still haven't. They would have been seriously working on solving the problem than coming up with a bogus state budget that gives them all pay raises that they honestly don't deserve. Where do they think the money comes from to fund their raises anyway? The governor would get of the baloney that a .25 percent sales tax increase would be so detrimental. We're only talking about an extra quarter for every hundred dollars spent. You'd have to spend a heck of a lot of money to even notice it. I'd rather pay a ridiculously small tax increase that will barely be felt than pay more money for less service to get to work and other places I need to get to. It's a much smaller sacrifice to keep service intact long term. And one more thing we need to be clear about, the purchase of new busses taking place now and in recent years have come from the CAPITAL budget not the operating budget. Those are two totally separate sources of money meant for different purposes. And please no suggestions that they could be using that money to stay afloat. It's been done a few times in the past and has helped create the current financial mess of today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 30, 2007 Report Share Posted October 30, 2007 If CTA gets nothing, then there will be NO service and I depend on CTA for my daliy travels. I don't want to walk all the way to my destinations (which are often far from where I live) and get stranded. Think of everyone who depends on CTA service, they need the service. If CTA gets nothing, you'll see alot more people who walk with more health problems then ever. Besides, when was school so important? I could care less if schools get money. The transit agencies need more money than a school will ever need and if they don't get money, I will personally make a trip down to Springfield and protest. P.S. I think it was funny about the Ron Huberman jokes Hey buslover, Education is important! Thats not a nice thing to say about the schools. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 30, 2007 Report Share Posted October 30, 2007 Rod and company are trying to help? Baloney. If they were truly trying to help, they would all be taking this issue seriously and come up with a real solution earlier this year rather than squabbling with each other in an effort to show who has the most political influence in this state. They would have come up with a concrete solution back last year and the years before that to keep the CTA and its sister agencies from coming back asking for more money. If they were truly serious about solving the problem they would stop looking at the issue as just a Chicago problem, more specifically a CTA problem, and realize it will truly become a state problem for sure if people can't get to work. They definitely would not be waiting until the last minute to work on a problem they promised us three times this year at least they would solve and still haven't. They would have been seriously working on solving the problem than coming up with a bogus state budget that gives them all pay raises that they honestly don't deserve. Where do they think the money comes from to fund their raises anyway? The governor would get of the baloney that a .25 percent sales tax increase would be so detrimental. We're only talking about an extra quarter for every hundred dollars spent. You'd have to spend a heck of a lot of money to even notice it. I'd rather pay a ridiculously small tax increase that will barely be felt than pay more money for less service to get to work and other places I need to get to. It's a much smaller sacrifice to keep service intact long term. And one more thing we need to be clear about, the purchase of new busses taking place now and in recent years have come from the CAPITAL budget not the operating budget. Those are two totally separate sources of money meant for different purposes. And please no suggestions that they could be using that money to stay afloat. It's been done a few times in the past and has helped create the current financial mess of today. Its basically a combination of years of political games, sloppy management, and a pass the buck style attitude is what brought CTA to this moment. George Krambles is turning over in his grave. The transit system he spent his whole life building and improving is falling apart and with the exception of Mr. Madigan, no one who can stick their foot in the door and turn it around seems to care. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buslover88 Posted October 30, 2007 Report Share Posted October 30, 2007 Rod and company are trying to help? Baloney. If they were truly trying to help, they would all be taking this issue seriously and come up with a real solution earlier this year rather than squabbling with each other in an effort to show who has the most political influence in this state. Actually, they are trying to help, except there's one bad apple in there and his name happens to be the guy who's having a rivalry with the governer right now (don't know how to spell his name). Hey buslover, Education is important! Thats not a nice thing to say about the schools. I know Education is important, but obiously Mass Transit is more important right now and the educators can wait. Besides, you wouldn't be saying that if you ever gave my school a visit... Its basically a combination of years of political games, sloppy management, and a pass the buck style attitude is what brought CTA to this moment. George Krambles is turning over in his grave. The transit system he spent his whole life building and improving is falling apart and with the exception of Mr. Madigan, no one who can stick their foot in the door and turn it around seems to care. I'll agree 100% here. I feel sorry for Mr. Krambles... ~ Timmy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BusExpert32 Posted October 30, 2007 Report Share Posted October 30, 2007 Actually, they are trying to help, except there's one bad apple in there and his name happens to be the guy who's having a rivalry with the governer right now (don't know how to spell his name). I know Education is important, but obiously Mass Transit is more important right now and the educators can wait. Besides, you wouldn't be saying that if you ever gave my school a visit... I'll agree 100% here. I feel sorry for Mrs. Krambles... ~ Timmy That man would be Michael Madigan if you would like to know. And he's not really the bad apple if you think about it. Both him and the governor oppose each others plans and if at least one of them would approve the other's, the CTA would be saved. What did you mean when you mentioned your school? Is it overly educated or terrible in the education department? Who's Mrs. Krambles? Isn't he a man. Or are you talking about his wife for some apparent reason? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buslover88 Posted October 31, 2007 Report Share Posted October 31, 2007 That man would be Michael Madigan if you would like to know. And he's not really the bad apple if you think about it. Both him and the governor oppose each others plans and if at least one of them would approve the other's, the CTA would be saved. What did you mean when you mentioned your school? Is it overly educated or terrible in the education department? Who's Mrs. Krambles? Isn't he a man. Or are you talking about his wife for some apparent reason? I personally think Madigan is bad. What I meant about my school was that none of the teachers are nice. I am so sorry about the "Mrs." thing, it was a typo. Sorry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 31, 2007 Report Share Posted October 31, 2007 That man would be Michael Madigan if you would like to know. And he's not really the bad apple if you think about it. Both him and the governor oppose each others plans and if at least one of them would approve the other's, the CTA would be saved. What did you mean when you mentioned your school? Is it overly educated or terrible in the education department? Who's Mrs. Krambles? Isn't he a man. Or are you talking about his wife for some apparent reason? This is one of the reasons I dont vote for Blago or Daley or any other Illinois politician because this is what Ive come to expect. Politicians who cant seem to work together and find a solution to the problem. At least Madigan is making an effort to find some way to save the CTA. Daley dosent care, he only lives one mile from his office, he jumps in his nice shiny limo or rides his bike to work. He dosent care about transit, he dosent care how bad the traffic gets in Chicago. He just comes out in front of the cameras, makes a few comments. He dosent seem to take a more serious role in solving the CTA crisis. Blago is exactly the same. He dosent care about transit either, he dosent ride it. He lives in Springfield, you think he cares about what goes on in Chicago?. By the way I dont think Buslover knows who Krambles is! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busjack Posted October 31, 2007 Report Share Posted October 31, 2007 He lives in Springfield, you think he cares about what goes on in Chicago?.That is certainly untrue. It is well documented that Blago lives in Chicago, and uses a state-owned jet to commute to Springfield. He has held news conferences in front of a house in his Ravenswood Manor neighborhood promising cooperation on transit, then threatening Madigan with special sessions, because the legislature passed a property tax cap bill that didn't include his amendatory veto language. Certainly this is a good way to foster cooperation. Read the Tribune editorial for another perspective, although the Tribune errs in saying that the bill contains governance reforms (since the RTA's powers are contingent on a vote by 9 or 12 directors) and that the governor is irrelevant (since, as demonstrated by the veto on the rural speed limit and the failure to get 71 votes the last time, the Governor has his stooges in the legislature who will uphold his position on purely political grounds). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buslover88 Posted October 31, 2007 Report Share Posted October 31, 2007 This is one of the reasons I dont vote for Blago or Daley or any other Illinois politician because this is what Ive come to expect. I personally think none of them care at all. If they would, they would be helping instead of bickering with one another. By the way I dont think Buslover knows who Krambles is! I do know who Krambles was. Even though I was born in '93, I still know who the man was, it's called reading history. Krambles was the president of CTA in the 70s. Anyway, something have better be voted on before November 4 or all hell breaks loose... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busjack Posted October 31, 2007 Report Share Posted October 31, 2007 I do know who Krambles was. Even though I was born in '93, I still know who the man was, it's called reading history. Krambles was the president of CTA in the 70s.Correct (although having the less pretentious title of Executive Director). More importantly, it is documented that he rose through the ranks, starting as an electrical engineer with the Chicago Rapid Transit Co. in the 1940s. Also, his book, CTA at 45, shows that he knew about how the system ran and the problems it faced, something that the current mayor's appointees to the presidency and board do not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BusExpert32 Posted October 31, 2007 Report Share Posted October 31, 2007 I personally think none of them care at all. If they would, they would be helping instead of bickering with one another. I do know who Krambles was. Even though I was born in '93, I still know who the man was, it's called reading history. Krambles was the president of CTA in the 70s. Anyway, something have better be voted on before November 4 or all hell breaks loose... Well it seems that you understand now, you've changed your previous post from Mrs. to Mr. Krambles, which seemed pretty awkward at first, since I don't even know what Mrs. Krambles would have to do with this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 31, 2007 Report Share Posted October 31, 2007 That is certainly untrue. It is well documented that Blago lives in Chicago, and uses a state-owned jet to commute to Springfield. He has held news conferences in front of a house in his Ravenswood Manor neighborhood promising cooperation on transit, then threatening Madigan with special sessions, because the legislature passed a property tax cap bill that didn't include his amendatory veto language. Certainly this is a good way to foster cooperation. Read the Tribune editorial for another perspective, although the Tribune errs in saying that the bill contains governance reforms (since the RTA's powers are contingent on a vote by 9 or 12 directors) and that the governor is irrelevant (since, as demonstrated by the veto on the rural speed limit and the failure to get 71 votes the last time, the Governor has his stooges in the legislature who will uphold his position on purely political grounds). Regardless of where Blago lives, he is certainly not a transit supporter. He is doing the one thing Daley is very good at, playing politics! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trainman8119 Posted November 1, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 1, 2007 Regardless of where Blago lives, he is certainly not a transit supporter. He is doing the one thing Daley is very good at, playing politics! He doesn't need to be a transit supporter. I would think, when this all comes to shove over the next day or two, Blago will be the one in full retreat. It is a shame too. I am not really a Blago supporter, but I like it that he doesn't like the taxing plan outlined. I think if this goes as planned, the people downstate will get screwed again. That is the real reason this has stalled (Republican stallwarts...lack of Republican votes). And that is why I say this is not a state problem, but a local one. I think the Daley move on the property taxes is kind of a back door attempt to get this thing done. However, I think with Daley backing off the property tax (which was a brilliant political move), Blago can't use the city piling on taxes as a reason not to support the Hamos bill. And say what you want...the CTA WILL come begging for money again by this time next year, bailout or not !!!!!!! That is why giving them the money without a crash is a bad idea (in my book) !!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 1, 2007 Report Share Posted November 1, 2007 I personally think none of them care at all. If they would, they would be helping instead of bickering with one another. I do know who Krambles was. Even though I was born in '93, I still know who the man was, it's called reading history. Krambles was the president of CTA in the 70s. Anyway, something have better be voted on before November 4 or all hell breaks loose... He was not president of CTA, its called "Executive Director" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busjack Posted November 1, 2007 Report Share Posted November 1, 2007 He was not president of CTA, its called "Executive Director"As I previously mentioned, it is the same job, but the recent appointees took on a more pretentious title (which is not in the MTA Act, which says in Section 27 that the title of the post is Executive Director, not President). So this is certainly a distinction with no difference (except, as previously noted, the CTA Board violated that section of the MTA Act when it appointed Mr. Huberman). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busjack Posted November 1, 2007 Report Share Posted November 1, 2007 In today's Tribune web edition there is a video with several Naperville buses, along with the kind of conversations I have with others lately--one side doesn't listen to the other while feigning to care. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trainman8119 Posted November 1, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 1, 2007 It continues to amaze me that in all of the bellyaching about not having money for service, that the CTA continues to find enough money to buy radio ads on numerous stations whining that the pols aren't giving them money and routes will be cut. We all know that. This just shows either, (1) the money situation is not that critical as claimed, (2) that management sucks and just doesn't give a damn to prove a point, (3) they are just fiscally irresponsible or (4) any or all of the above. P.S. The letter in todays Sun-Times about bike racks on buses was not from me....but I liked the content. :P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busjack Posted November 1, 2007 Report Share Posted November 1, 2007 As I might have previously mentioned, what bothers me about the ads is not the warning to find an alternate route (which Huberman got out via the news media for free), but to use the website (only linked to the CTA site) to contact your legislators, like they don't know about the problem, already. That is a waste of money, especially since the recalcitrant legislators are those outside of Chicago (and maybe Cook County) who won't receive the messages from CTA riders, and either have an agenda to get theirs through the capital bill (or, according to a post on another blog, earmarks in SB572) or not to raise taxes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busjack Posted November 1, 2007 Report Share Posted November 1, 2007 I would think, when this all comes to shove over the next day or two, Blago will be the one in full retreat. A report on WLS Radio (a similar report is here) was that the Gov. held a press conference where he said there was [mysterious] contingency money that would avoid the cuts if the legislation doesn't pass, and that the CTA and RTA better take it to avoid making the riders pawns in the dispute. Since he had the rabbit up his sleeve in September, I wonder what he has now. However, the view could also be taken that this just gives the legislature more room to procrastinate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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