DDOT Public Hearings

If I had to guess, I'd say about 300 filled the Rosa Parks transit Center for the public hearing on "proposed" changes to the DDOT bus schedules. U.S. Congressman John Conyers showed up early on and was given a chance to speak. His recommendation? If Bing doesn't change his position, citizens should begin a recall petition. (You know, I like Bing as mayor even less than I did when I voted against him in May. Still, for some reason "recall" sounds like something that would cost the city even more money that we don't have).



Not one of the people who got up to speak for the nearly three hours of public comment voiced any support for the cuts. A lot of people got up to share how the cuts would affect them personally. A grandfather said that he worked midnights while his son and daughter worked and went to school during the day. In this way there was always an adult at home during the day if someone needed to go to his grandchildren's school. He shared that he had lost one job--a very good job, when routes were cut under Kwame Kilpatrick's administration. One woman told that she worked at a nursing home. On Sundays she already takes a cab to work because she has to be there at 6am and the bus starts running on that route at 8am. She said that she couldn't afford a taxi in both directions. Several people got up and spoke about employees of casinos, entertainment, and the hospitality industries downtown. More than one brought up the Cobo deal that had finally been made and wondered who would work at these venues without transportation. An Episcopal priest with two part-time jobs explained how she navigated the bus system to get to work and her community activities.

One bus driver shared how he had taken the bus to work a few years back. He related that 12 or so individuals arrived with him at Capital Park at four in the morning and how they scattered, scrambling to make their connections. The current "proposal" ends service between 2am and 5am. Another driver said that she has watched the children who take the bus get younger and younger. She expressed concerned for them, waiting longer with increased wait times and with predator awaiting them when parents' have to leave them to catch their own buses. While she made her comments, the individuals facilitating the public hearings sat with the same constant lack of expression.

Henry Gaffney, president of the bus drivers' union, told the crowd that 113 drivers will be laid off Friday. These, he reported, account for 70% of the weekend drivers. In effect, the cuts are already happening.

According an article in the Detroit News, "Councilwoman JoAnn Watson, who attended the first of eight hearings, said she may move to scuttle the changes." Oh, she may? Alberta Tinsley Talabi was present at the Tuesday evening meeting, stating that the buses were a "core service" that should not be cut. When an audience member asked about her city-provided car, she replied that she had suggested two weeks ago that City Council let the cars go. Unimpressed, the man suggested that she should have already done that twelve years ago. Council Candidate Saunteel Jenkins insisted city officials give up perks before taking things from those who are already overworked and underserved.

Several practical suggestions were offered and, I'm sure, diligently written up by the court reporter present to be filed neatly somewhere and never looked at. Several commenters noted that people who actually use the system were not consulted for feedback. A fare increase of 25 to 50 cents was suggested (at least twice), without serious objections. Losing cars for city officials was a well-received. A couple of individuals were interested in establishing a transportation authority to run the system. Naturally someone suggested partnering with SMART. One older man suggested that now was the time for innovation--he wanted to see the system increase bus service to the point that people don't want cars.

BAMN was present (with about a dozen organizers who commented and told everyone to attend the union-community meeting being held Saturday 8/29/09 at 4pm at the St. Regis Hotel's Boulevard Room; there's also a Wednesday 9/2/09 4:30pm meeting somewhere (I'll post if I find it). Detroit FIST was also there, with two members who spoke (the first of whom gave us the only Spanish heard at the meeting). Both groups advocated organizing and not expecting the elected/city officials to do it for us.

Unlike what Oneita Jackson wrote that she saw at the earlier meeting today, I found the people remarkably calm and respectful of each other (especially given that people's livelihoods are threatened). Now people did get a little "church" up in there at some points--but I have never seen anything wrong with a little call and response.