Trimess

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Wednesday

PART 1
PART 2

I guess they didn’t read “Empower, Trust, Stand Behind”

The mud slinging from the top continued last Friday in full force at the City Club of Portland. General Manager Neil McFarlane spoke along with David Knowles of CH2M Hill (a construction/engineering firm) on “Moving Forward While Cutting Back”. It’s interesting that TriMet is partnering with CH2M Hill on this, as it highlights how the focus at TriMet these days seems to be geared more toward development and less toward transit. Not to downplay the importance of development (yes I realize there wouldn’t be any rail at all without it), but I don’t like development at the expense of existing service. The backgrounds of the board members (Bruce Warner – Director of Portland Development Commission; Tiffany Sweitzer – President of Hoyt Street Properties, recent appointee Craig Prosser is a longtime advocate of MAX to Tigard, etc) gives support to the idea that TriMet is currently more interested in development than maintenance of existing service and operations, and I don’t think I can agree with that stance if that is the direction we’re heading.

FULL ARTICLE AT MAX FAQS HERE!

The evil one at Beaverton transit center!

Oregon’s Supreme Court says light-rail politics

The $2.5 Billion Bribe: Oregon’s Supreme Court says light-rail politics drove plans for a new I-5 bridge.

OPAL

Right now, if you can’t afford a monthly or annual bus pass, you are using cash or single tickets, and you try to get as much use out of that single ticket as possible. This means $2.10 for a two-zone round-trip to the nearest grocery store. Under TriMet’s recent proposal, this simple errand will cost you $5.00.
TriMet is justifying these fare increases and service cuts with poor data, faulty analysis and a lack of transparency and accountability that leaves transit riders confused and in the dark.
First, TriMet is blaming its bus drivers for wanting the best health care. TriMet claims that the current contract will cost the agency $5 million to $10 million more than projected. We all should stand with the union in these negotiations, and they have every incentive to ensure service and ridership are maintained, as this protects their jobs. What’s important here is that this cost was foreseeable, and TriMet should not be driving a wedge between drivers and its riders due to its poor management.
Second, TriMet is blaming partisanship in Washington DC, projecting $4 million less in federal grant revenue in the next fiscal year. Regardless of what Congress eventually does with the federal transportation bill, the vast majority of federal dollars that come to TriMet are for capital construction projects, so should have little to no bearing on its service.
Third, TriMet is using too conservative of a forecast in projecting $3.2 million less in payroll tax revenue.

 OPAL: TriMet fare plan unfair to poorer bus riders | For those who can’t afford free speech

Text MSG

winshield wipers only go halfway on drivers side ehen they r on delay...these people need to be shot..They don't work in these conditions!assholes!

Text message

friggin bus leaking water gotta stuff towels all in vents...i hate this place today!

A TALE OF TWO TRANSIT DISTRICTS

As Macfarlane said, Trimet is actually two distinct organizations. One focuses on building boondoggle projects that primarily serve business interests, the other focuses on serving the citizens of Portland and getting them where they need to go.

SEPTA-or TRIMET?

Date of article in question

TRANSIT TRACKER ON THE FRITZ

TriMet ‏ @trimet

TransitTracker is currently displaying scheduled times for bus arrivals rather than real-time arrivals. The issue will be resolved tomorrow.

SEATTLE WINS THE "GREEN" BATTLE

Seattle vs. Portland: Let’s settle this right here, right now | Seattle's Big Blog - seattlepi.com

SO YOU STILL WANNA BE A BUS DRIVER?

SYRACUSE— A bus driver was acquitted Tuesday of homicide in the deaths of four passengers killed when his double-decker crashed into an overpass.
A judge announced the verdict after a non-jury trial for 60-year-old John Tomaszewski of Yardville, N.J. Tomaszewski would have faced up to four years in state prison on each of four counts of criminally negligent homicide.
He sat with his head bowed and showed no reaction as Onondaga County Court Judge Anthony Aloi read the verdict.

NLRB NOTICE

CLICK HERE!

PHILIDELPHIA'S SEPTA REACHES ACCORD WITH UNION!

Averting a citywide transit strike, SEPTA made an expensive peace with its largest union Tuesday, but it riled riders in predicting a fare increase by July 1.
Expect a hike of about 15 cents, to $1.75 for a single token, SEPTA spokesman Richard Maloney said. The exact figure will be released this week. That price is equal to bus fare in San Diego, the highest in the nation.
SEPTA's current $1.60 charge, however, masks major discounts for multiple purchases of tokens for subway, bus and trolley rides. For example, a two-pack of tokens now sells for $2.30.

 SEPTA settles, but fare rise nettles A fare increase of about 15 cents can be expected as part of the agreement. Riders quickly announced their displeasure. - Philly.com

YOU WANT THIS JOB? LOOK WHAT YOU ARE GETTING INTO

RTD Contract Bus Driver Charged In Passenger's Death - Denver News Story - KMGH Denver

A Denver transit bus driver has been charged with careless driving resulting in death after an exiting passenger leaning on the bus fell under the wheels when the driver pulled away, authorities said on Tuesday.
The victim, 60-year-old Mario Castro, died from his injuries several hours after the Feb. 7 incident, said Lynn Kimbrough, spokeswoman for the Denver District Attorney's Office.The bus driver, Tadese Asefaw, 35, was served a criminal summons and complaint and is scheduled to appear in Denver County Court on March 19 to be formally advised of the charge, Kimbrough said.

RICHARD RIZK will sue for you!

On February 16, 2012 a Tri-Met bus hit a female pedestrian attempting to cross Pacific highway at Walnut Street in Tigard Oregon. Tigard Police responded to the accident scene to help the wounded pedestrian and investigate. The pedestrian was rushed to Oregon Health Science University (OHSU) with apparently severe injuries.  Her condition has been described as critical.
Tigard police believe poor visibility, rain and the pedestrian’s dark clothing contributed to the crash. Neither the Tri-Met driver nor the pedestrian was cited.
Tri- Met has recently adopted a mandatory “recertification” process for its drivers. Many older drivers see the recertification process as an attempt by Tri-Met management to clear its ranks of “old timers”. Others believe Tri-Met is attempting to respond to a series of tragic Tri- Met Crashes in recent years. Once of the worst Tri-Met crashes occurred in April 2010. Several pedestrians were killed in that event involving a younger Tri-Met driver who was eventually fired by Tri-Met in the wake of intense public pressure.
Richard Rizk is an Oregon attorney who helps persons seriously injured in Tri-Met crashes due to the fault of another. He can be reached at (503) 245-5677. 

TOP STORIES



Tuesday, February 28, 2012

NUMBER 3


portland bus drivers part 2

YouTube

MISC TRIMET VIDEO


Jesse's Sermon: God Hates Buses

Boy is this weird!

"PINKMAN" (OR WHY I CANT STAND THE MAX)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4eHM6B3ApA

TRIMET EXECUTIVE IN CHARGE OF REAL ESTATE

Making Joint Development Work: the Federal, Transit Agency and Business Perspective - YouTube

TRIMET EXECUTIVE OF HISPANIC AFFAIRS

Entendiendo el Presupuesto de TriMet - YouTube

Activists Fight for Transit Equity

THE LUND REPORT

The Road to Hell is Paved with People Who Don't Believe in Road Paving

In this week's issue of THE WEEKLY STANDARD I have a long feature on how America's hipster theme park Portland, Oregon, destroyed its infrastructure and jobs base in order to indulge a bizarre obsession with public transportation and other cultural fetishes. Among other things, I noted that the city isn't budgeting for "major road paving" for the next five years.

Why buy new buses, when you can paint the old ones like new?


OH MY GOD!! LEAP DAY SNOWSTORM TO PARALYZE CITY AND AND I'M STUCK IN SUNNY FLORIDA!!


ANOTHER BUS DRIVER GETS BEATEN BEHIND THE WHEEL


SOME CRAZY FACTS BEING POSTED TO PORTLAND A-FOOT

http://portlandafoot.org/2012/02/help-us-visualize-trimets-budget/


1 hour of bus service (adjusted for inflation, 1995-2010) $135

BOJACK STORM CENTER IN ACTIVATION MODE!

Pdx Bus Driver

Male threatening a female on a line 33 at Milwaukee transit with a knife police responding

LEGAL ORGANIZATIONAL CHART


OPERATIONS FLOW CHART


Transit police organizational chart


Community affairs organizational chart


Maintenance organizational chart


ATU Communication sent to the TriMet Board of Directors regarding the Lift Audit

February 28, 2012
 Bruce Warner, Chair
TriMet Board of Directors
4012 SE 17th Avenue
Portland, Oregon 97202
 Re: TriMet Lift Audit
Dear Chair Warner,
At the February 22, 2012 TriMet Board of Directors’ Meeting, you indicated that yourself and other Board members were interested in learning more about the 2008 Lift Audit report prepared by Lauka and Associates, Certified Public Accountants.  That was welcome news.  TriMet General Manager Neil McFarlane, at the same Board meeting, made comments suggesting that TriMet managers were going to come up with their own numbers.  That was not so welcome news.

Corporate Jerks

INFORMATIONAL PICKETS BEING MOVED TO TRIMET ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING

ATU 757 will be conducting informational pickets in front of TriMet main headquarters 4012 SE 17th Avenue in starting in APRIL.

The pickets will be held weekends.

TriMet employees are finally reaching the breaking point thanks to Neil Macfarlanes constant bullying in front of public audiences.

Also being discussed  are informational pickets in Salem at the Governors office!

Union busting Macfarlane talks about the wonderfulness of the solar panels

YouTube

NozzlPDX - machete girl ...

YouTube

GOLD PLATED HEALTH INSURANCE-RIGHT!

I had a dental emergency yesterday.
I ended up losing a day of work and out of pocket $1300 (a paycheck and a half for me) AFTER my crummy Trimet dental insurance.

That was for a root canal and a crown on top of the tooth.

These dentists and doctors are greedy MTHAFKRS....

YOU GOTTA PAY UPFRONT TO GET FIXED.

Dental problems are the unheard of crisis in the sick country of ours.

Nobody can afford it!

WHO'S GETTING PAID $91 AN HOUR

This really is an outrage. A tax funded agency wants a tax payer to pay them for PUBLIC RECORDS?


We are passing the hat to fund this operation. So far we have (1)Steve Fung, (2)Jeff Ackerson, (3)Dan Schenk,(4) Ross Wrede, (5)Rob Halman,(6) Gordon Duncan (7)myself for $70- we need 2 more people willing to put up $10 and then we will move forward on getting the list of all management pensions of $4000/mo or more.
To make a pledge leave a comment with your email address or visit Union Brothers and Sisters1 on Facebook and make your pledge there!

Detroit bus riders threaten to seek federal help if cuts to service aren't reversed

CLICK HERE!

ANOTHER AWARD WINNING COMMENT ON OREGONIAN "FAIRY TALE"



Flatpicker John 
February 28, 2012 at 11:20AM
Transit workers have a much higher rate of heart disease, and blood pressure related illness. (Strokes), skeletal degeneration. and many other illness. This is due to the fact that driving a bus is ranked as one of the highest stress jobs in the world. many studies point this out. The sad truth is that while it may sound outrageous that bus drivers get health care for life after retirement, a large number of them don't live long enough to really tax the system. There is a reason why they fought so hard to get good health care, it is because the job is very unhealthy.

$3 MILLION DOLLAR LAW SUIT FACES TRIMET

CLICK HERE!

WOULD MACFARLANE LIE?


 
  • 1 hour of bus service (adjusted for inflation, 1995-2010) $135
    • fuel $10
    • wage for driver $35
    • fringe benefits for driver $33
    • fuel & tires $11
    • maintenance $22
    • nonvehicle maintenance $9
    • general admin $22
    • other $2
  • 1 hour of MAX service (adjusted for inflation, 1995-2010) $188
    • power $7
    • wage for driver $27
    • benefits for driver $24
    • maintenance $33
    • nonvehicle maintenance $40
    • general admin
  • MEDIA BIAS

    The most commonly discussed forms of bias occur when the media support or attack a particular political party, candidate, or ideology, but other common forms of bias include
    • Advertising bias, when stories are selected or slanted to please advertisers.
    • Corporate bias, when stories are selected or slanted to please corporate owners of media.
    • Mainstream bias, a tendency to report what everyone else is reporting, and to avoid stories that will offend anyone.
    • Sensationalism, bias in favor of the exceptional over the ordinary, giving the impression that rare events, such as airplane crashes, are more common than common events, such as automobile crashes.

    SCREWING BUS PASSENGERS

    Proposed TriMet cuts reduce Parkrose bus service | Mid-county Memo

    WHY DON'T THEY USE THOSE JUNK BUSES AS SHELTERS

    I made that recommendation to Fred Hansen years ago, of course I was ignored:

    AM 1360 KUIK

    TRIMET 'CRIME TRAIN' NEWS

    Violent robbery suspects caught on MAX train cameras | kgw.com Portland

    JON HUNT HAS MY RESPECT

    FOR HAVING THE WISDOM TO STAY AWAY FROM ALL THE PORTLAND MEDIA.

    NO GOOD WILL COME TO PROVIDING AN INTERVIEW WITH ANY OF THEM!

    Monday, February 27, 2012

    MACFARLANES CRONY DAVID KNOWLES SPEAKS TO THE PORTLAND BUSINESS ELITE

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ndsgk5Z61Cw

    BEST COMMENT FROM EDITORIAL BOARD HACK JOB

    Great, just what we need is another "board" to tell us what is wrong with TriMet, oh sorry, what's wrong with the horrible Union Employees who want decent pay for a hard days work. The people that actually make "TriMet Roll" every day. The ones that are up at 3am to get the buses and trains ready for first pull out of the day. The people who are up all night working on the buses, trains, overhead wires, track maintenance, while management eat dinner, having a night cap and off to dream land. The employees that saved TriMet millions of dollars working on "PIP" (Productivity Improvement Process), to streamline processes and make TriMet more efficient. Oh, what happened to the money that was saved by PIP? We were all praised by management for all of our hard work and input towards making TriMet a better place for everyone. Had Neil McFarlane come to the table with something that was at least "not laughable" I'm sure the union would have been open to dialogue. Across this great country working people are being told to take one for the team, while corporate earnings are the highest they have ever been. Neil's opinion on who he considers "critical" people to hire are different than mine. Without the people that get their hands dirty, have limited bathroom breaks, shear fingers off while truing a train wheel, inhale chemicals, work with 750 volts of electricity that can kill you in an instant, get spit on, cussed at, these are the "critical" workers in my opinion. It is back breaking and emotionally draining work and the workers deserve every penny they earn.
     End stranglehold on TriMet | OregonLive.com

    IT TAKES 20 BUS DRIVERS TO EQUAL 1 FRED HANSEN

    The pension that Fred is raking in could fund the pensions for 20 FULL TIME BUS OPERATORS for 10 YEARS OF SERVICE

    NUMBER 4

    Car fire, traffic backed up, and seven lost TriMet buses ...

    http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=3514213940896&set=vb.1438368186&type=2&theater

    Not sure what this is but it sounds good

    Transit Employee Support Team - Portland, Oregon - Tri-Met employees and ATU Local 757 Transit Union members who want to make a difference for our disabled Transit Employees and retirees.

    DISTRICT WANTS STRIKE -RIDERS WANT ARBITRATION

    Online petition urges arbitration in transit strike | The Chronicle Herald

    7 BUSES STUCK

    Erik Halstead ‏ @sp_redelectric

    Come on #trimet you have SEVEN BUSES stuck on 99W and no alert for it?? That is UNACCEPTABLE!! Start doing ur job, that's seven buses!!!

    DISPATCH ASLEEP


    BUS ATTACKED

    Pdx Bus Driver ‏ @PdxBusDriver

    Line 87 bus had an object thrown through windshield at 181 and glisan big hole in window

    CAN'T FIRE TRANSIT EXECUTIVES WITHOUT PAYING THEM BIG TIME

    They sure as hell don't need a union, unreal.
    Firing TTC's Gary Webster could cost Toronto $500,000 in severance | Posted Toronto | National Post

    Looks like Federal boondoggle light rail money will be saved

    Boehner Concedes on Transportation Bill - WSJ.com

    HERE THEY GO AGAIN-THE BOREGONIAN EDITORIAL BOARD

    Last week, TriMet's mild-mannered  (looks are very deceiving) general manager, Neil McFarlane, attempted to grab this region by its collar.

    In a speech of extraordinary power (malice is more the word) and candor, McFarlane warned that TriMet is "slowly strangling from a union contract that desperately needs a reset."

     End stranglehold on TriMet | OregonLive.com

    Trimet bus driver RONALD GREEN WANTS TO BEAT BLUMENAUR

    TriMet bus driver files to run for Earl Blumenauer's congressional seat | OregonLive.com

    Oral surgeons light!

    Blocher explains why Trimet doesn't know what its doing

    YouTube

    TriMet takes its Union Blaming activities to Facebook

    See the Facebook post, comment if you like.

    They also took it to Twitter.

    DR JEFF SOLVES THE BUDGET CRISIS!

    In Which I Solve The Budget Crisis, Repeatedly

    Last week, I wrote about the fact that TriMet was trying to divide us into separate rider groups. There are choice riders, says TriMet, and there are transit-dependent riders. I went into some detail about how these are arbitrary categories. I thought that maybe we should all just bond over the fact that we are riders. Then it hit me… instead of nit-picking at this little crap why not just do what really needs to be done? Why not SOLVE THE BUDGET CRISIS?
    Ambitious? Sure. Impossible? Hell yes. But this is just a stupid little blog post, so bear with me, skeptics. Throw aside your jaded hipster transit geekery and come with me on a magical ride into the imagination. Come with me to the land of balanced TriMet budgets, where lemonade flows in the streets and your transfer is made of solid gold.
    There have been a number of proposals on the table, as you’ve seen. TriMet has even invented a little budget balancing game. It has become clear that TriMet brass would like to simply have the union pay for all of their own benefits, and Neil McFarlane has proposed that union members perform minor surgeries on each other, with instruments that will be provided by the company. Bypassing expensive hospital care and going to one of your fellow transit operators for appendectomy or simply heart valve replacement seems like a no-brainer, and would save approximately 278 dollars after the increase in death benefits is factored in. So, cool story, bro, but not workable in the world of MY budget ax.

    Then there is the CHAMPION of CHAMPIONS!

    SP Red Electric

    McFarlane is flat out being dishonest with the public and is pitting people against people to suit his own personal agenda. His background is in building light rail lines and other mega-projects like the Convention Center; he has ZERO experience in actual day-to-day operations of anything, and right now he's protecting his babies (specifically WES and MAX but also the Portland Streetcar) - and willing to sacrifice anything to get his way.
    Never mind that TriMet consistently refuses to address many of my 24 specific ways TriMet could cut its budget.
    Never mind that TriMet need make only TWO CUTS to balance its budget (before the recent ruling against TriMet for negotiating in bad faith) - cut WES, and cut the Portland Streetcar subsidy.

    One of my favorite anti Neil Oregonian quotes

    Where I have concerns is in the number of managers needed:
    Seven Executive Directors: "Legal Services", "Capital Projects", "Operations Administration", "Communications & Technology Administration", "Government Affairs", and two "Finance Administration" Executive Directors. All but one of these positions could be eliminated, and even that one "Operations Administration" could be merged with the General Manager's duties if he'd spend less time on the speaking circuit, less time on an airplane, and more time dealing with the transit system he's supposed to be running. That would save a million in unnecessary labor.
    Or the 13 "Director II"s, the 17 "Director I"s, the 63 "Manager II"s or the 12 "Manager I"s. Or the 9 "Analysts", the 9 "Landscape Maintenance Mechanics", the 6 "Accountants" AND the 5 "Financial Analysts", the 3 "Database Administrators", the 3 "Business Systems Analysts", the 3 "PC Specialists", the 14 "Programmer Systems Analysts", and the 14 "Software Systems Engineers". The 3 "Graphics Designers". 7 "General Counsel" and 4 "Litigation Specialists". 3 "Executive Secretaries".

    Sunday, February 26, 2012

    LET'S SEE YOUR STUPID LIGHT RAIL OUTPERFORM THIS!!


    TESTIMOY ON THE LIFT FARE INCREASE

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAG_53076kU

    MUST SEE VIDEO

    Let Your Life Be a Friction to Stop the Machine - YouTube

    The road to hell is multi-modal

    BOJACK.ORG

    INSUFFERABLE PORTLAND

    The same year Portland began implementing its urban growth boundary, Neil Goldschmidt became mayor. Goldschmidt quickly recognized that the land-use-transportation connection could be exploited to political ends, and this insight would make him the state’s largest powerbroker for decades to come.
    In 1974, Goldschmidt canceled a major interstate freeway project before it broke ground. Aside from the usual gripes about a freeway reducing nearby property values, Congress had just passed a law allowing federal highway funds to be used on capital improvement for public transportation. More public transportation looked like a good way of helping Portland stay within its urban growth boundary.
    The problem was that the feds had allocated so much for the highway project that the city couldn’t possibly absorb it all in buses. Goldschmidt had to find an irrationally expensive new mode of public transportation, and thus began liberal America’s love affair with “light rail.” And light rail had another advantage over buses, namely that the laying of tracks and the placement of stations allowed Goldschmidt even more power to manipulate land use, making him a kingmaker among developers. Naturally, Goldschmidt’s pioneering of a public works project distinguished by its exorbitant cost earned him a job as Jimmy Carter’s secretary of transportation.
    Vaunted though it might be, Portland’s light rail system hasn’t been the success its planners hoped. It’s called “light” rail not because the trains are less heavy, but because it’s more lightly used by the public than, say, New York’s subway or Washington, D.C.’s Metro. Over the course of the 1980s, the city’s first light rail line was finally completed, and the percentage of Portlanders using public transportation declined.
    READ THIS FASCINATING ARTICLE HERE

    Ever notice?

    How there is NEVER any follow up to any questions that the board or anybody brings up at one of these board meetings.

    Neil will always agree to do some follow up, or send somebody to do followup, but then the issue is never heard from again.

    The TriMet board meetings are clearly a stage show, something that is done because they are required to go through the motions.

    Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex... It takes a touch of genius - and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction.
    Albert Einstein



    HOW LONG HAVE WE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS ANTI UNION CAMPAIGN?

    RESPONSE TO THE LIES OF KATU AND JOHN CHARLES - YouTube

    Unions, not manufacturing, key to economic revival

    If there's a single reason the median wage has dropped dramatically for non-college workers over the past 3 1/2 decades, it's the decline of unions. In the 1950s, more than a third of American workers were represented by a union. Now, fewer than 7 percent of private-sector workers have a union behind them.

    ASTORIA

    Bus system feels aftershocks from terminated director - The Daily Astorian: Free

    In context: What a bus driver's day looks like

    CLICK HERE FOR ORIGINAL


    It's frustrating that for the duration of the transit strike, now in its 24th day, we---the public---are left hearing competing versions of the scheduling and overtime issues that are at the heart of conflict, but haven't been provided with much information beyond talking points.

    Fortunately, yesterday a bus driver gave me the actual scheduling documents used to assign shifts, called the "run cut," and the proposed documents that the city wants to use. I don't know why neither the city nor the union made these documents public before, but now people can look at the documents and form their own conclusions.

    THIS WEEKS READERSHIP REPORT


    NAZI COMMENT UNFOUNDED?

    I've gotten some criticism from people about my Nazi comment when talking about Macfarlanes latest speech.

     I admit it's extremist, but Hitler did declare war on unions and on MAY 2, 1933 he did abolish all labor unions.

     I don't think its much of a reach to see that Macfarlane's end goal maybe the destruction of ATU 757.

    But Macfarlanes technique of PROPAGANDIZING the dispute with the union is not that much different from Hitler making a speech looking for scapegoats. I thought MACFARLANE'S speech was brutal and unfounded.

    Sure its extreme, Macfarlane is obviously not Hitler, but his propagandizing is very similar to historic events.

    Poor America -

    CLICK HERE FOR BBC PROGRAM

    BEST COMMENTS FROM COVERAGE OF NEIL MACFARLANES HATE SPEECH

    Despite a propaganda campaign who's viciousness is worthy of Nazi Germany, Macfarlane is not living in dumbfuck America.  Most Portlander's have an education that enables them to see above Macfarlanes gambit of using the unionized workers as scapegoats for management bungling. Of course there are the usual anti union baters, who will never be happy until all American workers are living at the Standard of the Chinese workers, but the majority of Portlander's see right through that nonsense. The following are some of the COMMENTS from the Joe Rose Oregonian article. The Oregonian by the way is rabid anti union.

    PORTLAND FALLS APART WHILE THEY BUILD STREETCARS

    It won't be quick enough to see the end of the Sam Adams tenure in this city.

    Why can't Portland repave its rutted roads? | OregonLive.com

    Jack Bogdanski commentary

     Tri-Met brass: It's all the union's fault
    The head of Portland's insolvent transit agency has taken to badmouthing his employees' unions these days. But he can't seem to make that the speech without a "planning" consultant from CH2M Hill next to him. Ah, those consultants -- who make the millions setting up money-burning rail projects like the insane WES train and the equally nutty Mystery Train to Milwaukie. Yes, the unions have overreached in recent years, but when Tri-Met ends up in bankruptcy and the workers get maneuvered out of their pensions, you won't see CH2M Hill giving back any money.
    Tri-Met brass: It's all the union's fault (Jack Bog's Blog)

    The O on Tri-Met: "All is well" 

    Rah rah, siss boom bah, here's how Portland's newspaper "covers" its dying transit system. The headline writers over there must start drinking at breakfast. "With WES leading the way" -- yes, one of the biggest transit flops in history is certainly a fitting image for Tri-Met these days. The subsidy per boarding ride on that thing is $15. But hey, they make it up in volume.

    The O on Tri-Met: "All is well" (Jack Bog's Blog)

    Saturday, February 25, 2012

    THE FOLLOWING QUESTION WAS POSED IN THE PRIVATE ATU FACEBOOK AREA

    Does anyone know if this is Trimet management or union management?

    Tony was back to work Friday

    Says he was treated well by TriMet management in the aftermath of the incident.

    Friday part 3

    http://vimeo.com/37452918

    THIS IS FOR YOU STEVE

    CLICK HERE!

    Friday-part 2

    http://youtu.be/tu7bxilRxQI

    ATU ELECTION OFFICER RULES

    CLICK HERE!

    Supervisors ONLY please


    SPOOKY MAX VIDEO-by "fill time blogger Al M"

    I like that fill time quote...its funny....

    TriMet says shuttle buses will serve downtown Portland MAX stops Sunday morning; addresses no-door train mystery (video) | OregonLive.com

    I wonder if something like this could happen here?

    Swargate terminus still lacks round-the-clock security - The Times of India

    Neil Macfarlane's BS speech at the BIG SHOTS (city club) dinner

    CLICK HERE!

    Firday-part 1

    CLICK HERE!

    HERE IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF WHY TRIMET IS SO SCREWED UP NOW

    CLICK HERE

    MACFARLANES CRONIES PILE ON THE BULL SHIT

    His connections to big business are OBVIOUS and DISTURBING , the 'power elite' 1%'s of the Portland cabal of legalized robbers who have profited from our transit system and continue to do so. Fred Hansen retired a MILLIONAIRE with a FAT PENSION OF $15,700 A MONTH.

    Who knows how much Macfarlane has taken in so far as TRIMET'S TOP criminal for over 20 years.

    His pension will probably be $20,000 a month.

    BUT HERE THEY ARE, THE PORTLAND FAT CATS, TELLING THE WORLD THAT ITS ALL THE UNIONS FAULT THAT THIS TRANSIT SYSTEM IS IN SUCH A MESS.
    WE HAVE HEARD IT AT GENERAL MOTORS, WE ARE HEARING IT IN EUROPE (see what happened to the Greeks) AND NOW WE ARE HEARING IT HERE.

    MAKE NO MISTAKE, THIS IS THE RISE OF FASCISM IN AMERICA...DO NOT TAKE IT LIGHTLY OR WE WILL END UP LIKE GREECE

    Now read the sickening speech given by one of MACFARLANES BUSINESS CRONIES
    (WITH MY VERY INSIGHTFUL COMMENTS, MAKE SURE TO CLICK ON THE LINKS INSIDE THE COMMENTARY)

    YOUR TAX DOLLARS GOING TO SPECIAL INTEREST


    Criminal class

    MoodyGroup

    With WES Leading The Way, TriMet Ridership Continues To Grow In January

    That is the type of shameless fraudulent propagandizing that TRIMET is WORLD RENOWN for.
    Making itself famous using self promoting shameless propaganda.

    HERE is a good article about that.

    WILL THE PUBLIC WAKE UP TO WHAT MICHAEL LEVINE ALREADY KNOWS?

    CLICK HERE!

    SO MANY LIES AND DISTORTIONS

    Looking at Macfarlane's pathetic speech, its so full of boastful claims and downright lies, but here is the biggest one:


    This translates to a Blue Cross bill averaging $22,000 per year for each union employee – nearly twice the industry average – and twice that of non-union TriMet employees.
    This number the media has thrown out over and over.
    It started at $1,600  a month for every employee;
    Then it went to $1,800  for every employee;

    A complete lie, my FAMILY blue cross is $1,600/mo.
    There are many SINGLE EMPLOYEES who's blue cross is $1,200.
    There are MANY employees who have KAISER, which is substantially less than Blue Cross.
    Yet Macfarlane, master of half truths and distortions, attempts to paint the picture that TriMet is paying $22,000 for EACH EMPLOYEE!
    A DOWNRIGHT LIE. 
    Michael Levine sums up the truth about Macfarlane HERE!

    Fact-Checking McFarlane

    The Portland to Milwaukie Light Rail will carry riders for:
    ·       $1.50 each
    ·       compared to nearly double what it costs on the bus system ($2.90)
    So...if what McFarlane is saying is true, let's see the proof in the pudding.

    How much does it cost for a Green Line rider between Gateway and Clackamas TC?

    Now...now much does it cost for a 72 line rider between I-84 (the 82nd Avenue MAX station) and Clackamas TC?

    McFarlane is citing the cost of one line, against the AVERAGE of all bus lines.  Which means, he's trying to compare ONE MAX line to the 84 Kelso/Boring line (because that one bus line that costs a Godawful amount of money throws the bus system average).  Clearly, that the AVERAGE is only $2.90 shows that there are many buses that aren't anywhere near as costly.

    And, TriMet's CFO even confirmed to me that many bus lines are just as cost effective - or in some cases, MORE cost effective - than MAX.  Like the 72 bus.  MORE cost effective than MAX.  MORE cost effective than the Green Line.

    Apples to apples, not apples to the whole freakin' damn orange tree orchard.

    Did Neil McFarlane really say THIS?????

    Those who know our business know that the MAX system has been the best thing that ever happened to the bus system…

    NUMBER 5

    Friday, February 24, 2012

    THE COWARDS THAT CALL THEMSELVES TRIMET MANAGEMENT

     The post you are about to read is somewhat brutal in nature. It is an extreme illustration of how I view the use of viscous propaganda

    Michael Anderson's coverage of the head SQUIDS vicious attack on his employees

    Union contract is ‘slowly strangling’ TriMet, exec tells local leaders | Portland Afoot

    MACFARLANE BULLSHITTER IN CHARGE OF TRIMET

    WARNING! THIS BULLSHIT IS HARD TO READ AND MIGHT MAKE  YOU VOMIT, READERS BE WARNED!
    --------------------------------------------------------------------
    City Club Speech
    February 24, 2012

    Thank you City Club President Melody Rose and thank you to the Program Committee Members

    I’m grateful for the invitation to speak to the City Club, and I’m honored to be here.

    I’ve attended many City Club presentations – listened to many statesmen and women – and I hope I do the podium justice.

    As noted in the introduction – I became TriMet General Manager 20 months ago after nearly 20 years at the agency.

    I inherited an agency inspired by a Dickens’ novel – I call it – A Tale of Two TriMet’s.(give us a break will ya)

    Portland police arrest 18-year-old man who allegedly threatened MAX operator with knife

    Nah, we don't need good health insurance:
      Portland police arrest 18-year-old man who allegedly threatened MAX operator with knife | OregonLive.com

    Woman arrested after allegedly spitting on TriMet bus driver in Northeast Portland

    Who needs decent health insurance?


    Click Here!

    BLAME THE UNION-ITS ALL THE RAGE

    TriMet general manager tells Portland crowd that union contract is 'slowly strangling' public transit | OregonLive.com

     TriMet, union remain at odds - Portland Business Journal

     TriMet chief sees union stance as budget stumbling block

     TriMet chief sees union stance as budget stumbling block

    Who does he look like?

    TRIMET-WORKING HARD TO GET YOU!

    Busting citizens with exorbitant fines (The base fine for not having a valid fare is $175, but fines may go as high as $250) for not having a $2.10 ticket, one of the highest fare evasion fines anywhere in the world, that's right, the WHOLE WORLD!

    AIN'T GONNA WORK!

    Probably you have heard of Mcfarlans big plan to short line Red line trains at Terminus turnaround @11th and Morrison. Good luck Neil, 3A switch is out of service again due to band aid fixes falling apart again. Better tear up the streets and fix it right first. Track substructure there is totally beyond worn out.

    Thursday Part 2

    VIDEO HERE

    Macfarlane continues his anti union ranting...


    Loud applause from some TriMet managers as (frequent TriMet contractor) Knowles calls for an end to the no-strike rule. @pdxcityclub


    Crossover joke from @ch2mhill's David Knowles at @pdxcityclub: 19-year-old PDXers seeking early retirement should become TriMet bus drivers.



    Since legislature approved no-strike law, McFarlane says, "TriMet had found itself mired in what seems like a Byzantine legal process."



    At @pdxcityclub, TriMet GM McFarlane tells city elites that agency is "slowly strangling from a union contract" that "needs a reset."
      http://PortlandAfoot.org

    Portland Transport and John Charles, its all about the union

    Would single-payer healthcare help resolve the TriMet labor impasse?

    GOODBYE TO LYN LERBACH-YOU WILL BE MISSED


    THIS IS FASCINATING!

    Bus riders support driver who was suspended - YouTube
    (notice the ADVANCED technology of audio as well as video and notice the REAL transparency of this transit company providing the video the day after the event,unlike some Districts that we know of, like Trimet)

    Albert's gut wrenching testimony

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksmyWTPUicA

    I think Keith Shultz is great

    I love his signature "raincoat" mocking TriMet's claim of transparency!

    Michael Levine says "you can't believe what Mr Macfarlane says"

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdQlP5upwDA

    Neil making the rounds...Jon nowhere to be found

    TriMet Budget Plan · Think Out Loud

    Republicans Said to Consider Dropping Transit Funding-Cut Plan - Businessweek

    Republicans Said to Consider Dropping Transit Funding-Cut Plan - Businessweek

    More bus cuts heading our way

    CLICK HERE!

    Look at our world class boondoggle!

    Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail Transit Project - Online Open House

    Wanna be a bus driver?

    Better think twice before going there:

    KENNESAW, Ga. (AP) - Authorities say a bus driver who was stabbed in the face with a pen while trying to resolve a dispute with a passenger has been suspended.
    Cobb County spokeswoman AikWah Leow tells The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (http://bit.ly/AxIjA1) the driver was suspended with pay for not following protocol. She says he should have stayed in his seat and called the Cobb County Transit dispatch.
    Authorities say he was suspended by Lombard, Ill.-based Veolia Transportation, which provides drivers for the system.
    Veolia spokeswoman Valerie Michael told The Associated Press Thursday morning the company was still investigating. She wasn't able to discuss details because it's a personnel matter.
    Police say a female passenger grabbed a pen from the driver's pocket and stabbed him several times in the face on Monday in Kennesaw.
     Bus driver suspended after pen stabbing - WRCBtv.com | Chattanooga News, Weather & Sports

    Thursday

     6!
    Friday rant
     Hanging with the "boys"
    Steve and Scott get doughnuts! 

    Thursday, February 23, 2012

    BART board of directors takes a clear stand againt violence against employees!

    BART - BART Board: Zero tolerance for attacks on front line employees

    Award winning idea

    Set up an occupy encampment across from Macfarlane's house!

    The check is NOT in the mail!

    If operators are expecting some sort of payment to be forthcoming you are in for a big disappointment!
    It could be quite some time before any money is received as this winds its way through the system
    Via Jeff Ackerson

    Fred's mail piling up

    Our $15k/mo man has sold his nw condo (at significant loss)!

    He provided the wrong forwarding zip code so all his mail is piling up at the post office!

    Tony driving "training bus"

    That's right. Operator involved with Tigard crash being "retrained". He is in this bus.

    BOARD MEETING HIGHLIGHTS

    Director of OPAL says TRIMET lacks credibility
    The board has no answers for Michael Levine
    Does the board have any idea what its like to be disabled?
    Disabled rider attempts to illustrate his plight!

    Regarding those 1,100 jobs.....

    A conservative (which I am far from being) would do the math and misleadingly say that 1,111 jobs from a $1.5 billion project means each job cost over a million dollars to create. This would be misleading because it doesn't factor in the cost of the raw materials nor does it consider the value of the finished project or product. Since Trimet, however, is a transit agency, the real questions should be more about the fact that these are largely temporary construction jobs as opposed to permanent transit jobs. The one dimensional, one trick pony aspect of more and more light rail sacrifices creativity and resources that could better be used to build a robust transit agency. A modern total transit system, conveniently serving all neighborhoods of the region, would build ridership and revenues through frequent and reliable service. Implementing bus rapid transit as well as electric trolley buses are just a couple low cost (relative to rail) ways Trimet could go about improving it's service and sustainability while creating good, permanent transit jobs. The federal matching funds for doing this are there, management needs only to go after them.

    JC VANETTA

    He was in the background of the speakers at the TriMet board meeting!
    His name is JC Vannatta.

    TRIMET VS THE CTA

    When is TRIMET going to make "choice" riders pay their fair share?
    Board members make out big time in Chicago
    CTA Open Fare System
    2012 Budget Recommendations: Labor Reforms, Work Rule Changes Key to Preventing Increased Fares and Service Cuts

    TRIMET FEBRUARY 2012 BOARD OF DIRECTORS


    The new light rail bridge


    STOP THE MONSTER!


    Crime and punishment


    STOP THE MONSTER!

    http://portlandtribune.com/news/story.php?story_id=132995285975837800

    THINK YOUR JOB IS STRESSFUL?

    Zook used to drive a bus for an urban transit district in Northern California. There was much about the job that she loved, especially the economic rewards -- decent pay, good family medical benefits, and a great pension. But after 10 years behind the wheel, Zook hit the wall. Squeezing a 20-ton machine through city streets rife with traffic jams, potholes, road construction, jaywalkers, bike messengers, double-parked trucks, and often heedless motorists had taken its toll. The job's day-to-day stresses on her body and nerves had built up over the years and emerged in clenched muscles and crying jags.

    FULL ARTICLE HERE!

    Insightful commet left at Portland A-Foot

    THIS COMMENT was left on Michael Anderson's blog in his interview with Cynthia Chilton:

    The financial problem has been a long time in the making. Ask any employee of TriMet's Training Department, and you can discover that this is a hole dug by TriMet management a long time ago. Three decades ago, full retirement was at age 62, with a 20 year vesting for Union employees. The pension was tiny. But there was the promise of improving seniority over time, and health care in retirement. Employees could retire early at age 55, but with a much-reduced pension -- out of compassion for drivers who developed health problems and could no longer drive. It was hard to survive retirement at 55 with no social security until 62, and a tiny pension. TriMet is not part of PERS.

    Who goes where?


    TriMet New Bus Driver Class


    This is a fairly large group of 16 students.

    Wednesday

    Part 1
    Part 2

    Blood suckers smell blood

    Tri-Met bus accident lawyer « Portland Accident News

    Interesting attendence chart


    Wednesday, February 22, 2012

    TriMet boosts LIFT fares; increase to be phased in


    TriMet: Bus driver who hit Tigard woman on Oregon 99W has 'good record'

    The TriMet bus driver who struck a woman crossing Oregon 99W in Tigard last week has been identified as 64-year-old Tony Dauenhauer, a six-year veteran who has a clean driving record with the transit agency.
     Dauenhauer remains on administrative leave as TriMet conducts its own investigation. “He has a good record,” said TriMet spokeswoman Mary Fetsch.

    Joe Rose Here!

    Crime down on Trimet?

    Despite recent rash of crime, TriMet says overall numbers are down - Koinlocal6.com

    TriMet bus shelters vandalized across Metro


    ATU 757 President Jonathan Hunt: Stop the propaganda campaign!


    Neil Macfarlane states clearly that he would rather have a strike then settle


    ATU 757 president Jon Hunt addresses the Trimet board


    What's wrong with this MAX train?

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9HOm0RbMPM

    Actual Trimet bus stop sign


    Nothing like senseless vandalism

    TriMet bus shelters vandalized in Southeast Portland | OregonLive.com

    Lift passengers get the hike

     votes unanimously to hike LIFT van fares 32% for people w/ disabilities 

     TriMet: News Release - TriMet board approves phased-in fare increase for ADA LIFT rides

    Portland police arrest in MAX station robbery

    Press Releases

    TOP STORIES FROM AROUND THE WORLD OF TRANSIT

    ALL ABOARD THE SARDINE CAN
     
    DART bus drivers ask tough safety questions | wfaa.com Dallas - Fort Worth

     ANOTHER LIGHT RAIL NIGHTMARE

    IS US OUT OF LOVE WITH CUTTING EDGE TRANSIT?