CTA: Thanks, Now Give Us More

Like crack whores, the management at the Chicago Transit Authority just could not resist a quick fix. Oh, they protested publicly this past week about the money that socialist governor Rod Blagojevich "gave" to them (it's actually borrowing from tax revenue expected to be gotten next year), but they grabbed it up with eager hands. Remember the criticism that Chrysler got when the US Government bailed it out trouble? How is this different? Chrysler learned from that experience and became more fiscally responsible. You can bet that the CTA will not learn a thing from this, except that continued extortion and threats works better for them than trimming a bloated and overpayed bureaucracy, re-prioritizing the sprucing up of stations that don't need it, opening up hundreds of potentially profitable spaces on CTA property to merchants, and so on and on. With that said, here is an email from Ron Huberman, CTA president and big time Mayor Daley lackey: Dear Chicago Card and Chicago Card Plus Users: I am writing to inform you that the fare and service changes scheduled for September 16th have been postponed. This means that the cost of your passes and fares will not increase on Sunday, and any routes scheduled for elimination will continue to operate. However, the temporary loan of $24 million provided by the State postpones these changes for less than two months. On November 4th, if the Illinois General Assembly has not acted, we will be forced to increase fares and reduce service. The bottom-line is we need a comprehensive plan to fund mass transit. I know that you are frustrated about the potential service cuts and fare changes. So are we. That is why we are again asking you to join with us and tell our State leaders: "No More Doomsdays. Fix Mass Transit." Please visit transitchicago.com, or call 1-888-YOUR-CTA, for information on how to contact your state legislators. Please make your voices heard as we fight to preserve and improve the mass transit system Chicago needs and deserves. Thank you again for your support. We are committed to improving your experience on the CTA. Sincerely, Ron Huberman