NICE BUS, $7.3 million in the red, already threatening service cuts

NICE BUS, $7.3 million in the red, already threatening service cuts

By Benjamin Kabak

When Veolia took over operations of Long Island Bus from the MTA, the company never made explicit promises to maintain service levels or the fare structure. Now, just a few months into their tenure, the company has announced proposed service cuts totaling $7.2 million set for April. “A budget shortfall makes service changes necessary, although the changes are significantly less than those proposed by the MTA last year, involve no route cancellations, and are designed to impact the fewest possible passengers,” the company said in a statement.

Clearly, Veolia is a bit touchy about these service cuts. In the statement, they claim that they have realized $35 million in operating efficiencies and that the cuts are only a portion of the $26 million in eliminations proposed by the MTA. Of course, that MTA proposal was designed as a ploy to call Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano’s bluff. The MTA simply wanted Nassau County to be upholding its end of the funding agreement.

So how is Veolia planning on these “reductions and reconfigurations”? They offered up this take: “Our proposed system re-design is the result of a very careful analysis of how riders use the system. We rode every route and every stop, seven days a week, recording actual passenger usage and travel patterns. After a rigorous analysis, we focused on making the smartest changes that would impact the fewest passengers. Naturally, we focused on the routes that are least used by customers and are thus the most expensive to operate.”

Essentially, then, Veolia is doing what the MTA threatened to do. Since Mangano cut county contributions to the bus system from $9 to $2.5 million, NICE BUS is essentially placing that funding cut on the backs of its riders. Perhaps the are operating at greater efficiencies than the MTA. Perhaps the MTA was bluffing about a $26 million cut to force Mangano’s hand. Either way, Long Islanders are no better off now as their county leadership continues to withdraw funding for transit.

Students and Workers Call for Customers to Break Up With Verizon this Valentine's Day

Yesterday evening, nearly 100 workers and allies protested to tell Smithhaven Mall customers to break up with Verizon Wireless. Check out UCOMM Radio's video on the action here.

The company continues its assault on middle-class jobs despite billions in profits and hundreds of millions paid out in executive compensation. It wants to force workers to pay thousands of dollars more for health care, and has slashed the level of benefits.

It is time for Verizon to stop breaking hearts and do the right thing by negotiating a fair contract!

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Celebrating the Anniversary of Bread and Roses Strike

Film Screening

BREAD AND ROSES

Wednesday, February 8^th, 2012

6:00-9:00pm

Huntington Cinema Arts Centre (423 Park Avenue, Huntington)

Admission Fee: $20

Panel Discussion and Reception to Follow Screening

RSVP to Anita Halasz

at 631-348-1170 ext. 310

or email lijwj01@gmail.com

**Sponsorships Available**

Bread and Roses is an inspirational film that follows the story of a young female service worker, who sought to organize her workforce in Los Angeles, California. The film highlights the organizing efforts of SEIU’s “justice for janitors” campaign and takes the viewer through the emotional journey of a lively organizing campaign.

LI Bus Riders' Union to Hold First Meeting

Are you a Bus Rider?

Join the Long Island Bus Riders’ Union!

Nassau County elected officials just voted to privatize Long Island Bus, signing a contract with Veolia Transportation.

Bus riders should not be left to worry that they will be stranded without bus service. We should not have to worry about fare increases and service cuts. We should not have to choose between food and a bus pass, or be forced to drop out of school because no buses will take us there.

Our demands for the County are exemplified by our Riders’ Bill of Rights, which include:

1.     No service cuts and fare hikes for at least 5 years.

2.     Free transfers between county buses and New York City subways and buses, as exists today.

3.     Safe and efficient service for all riders, provided by highly trained and qualified union employees.

4.     Equipment that is clean, modern, and in a state of good repair.

              5.   Transparent and responsive administration of service, which includes giving riders and the broader public a way to provide input into how county transit is run.

Tuesday, January 17^th at 6pm

First LI Bus Riders’ Union Meeting.

100 Duffy Avenue in Hicksville, 3^rd floor*

*1199 SEIU Building, next to Hicksville Train Station

(N20, N48/N49, N50, N73/N74, N78/N79, N80/N81, N94)

Long Island Jobs with Justice Announces the Formation of an LI Bus Riders' Union

Over the past several years, we have seen bus riders get “rolled over” by Nassau County elected officials. Recent developments in our campaign work suggest that the one private bidder, Veolia Transportation, slated to take over Nassau County’s bus service is in a financial crisis in Europe and is pulling out of the transportation business. The future for Nassau County’s bus riders remains uncertain.

Bus riders should not be left to worry that they will be stranded without bus service on January 1^st. They should not have to worry about fare increases and service cuts. They should not have to choose between food and a bus pass. However, our country continues to prioritize corporations and the wealthy 1% over the needs of working people. We are creating a Bus Riders’ Union in Nassau County to both fight back against service cuts and fare increases; and to advocate for a better transportation system that provides a higher quality of service for working people.

The Long Island Bus Riders Union will be a project initiated and staffed by Long Island Jobs with Justice. We will mobilize hundreds of riders to fight against service cuts and fare hikes; and to advocate for transportation rights; ensuring that the voices of riders themselves are heard over those of private corporations and the politicians who indiscriminately support them.

Today, the Nassau County Legislature is slated to vote on the privatization of Long Island Bus.We have issued several reports critiquing Veolia and the move towards privatization; we have mobilized hundreds of community members, drivers, and riders to oppose the contract. But the unified voices of hundreds of Nassau County voters may not be enough to move a stubborn legislature to vote against a catastrophic decision for the County's taxpayers.

We are creating a Bus Riders' Union as a way to fight back against service cuts and fare increases, and to envision a new future for Nassau County that involves affordable, reliable public transportation for everyone. 

As we move forward with creating the LI Bus Riders' Union, we ask for your financial support to jump start the project. We are looking to raise $5,000 in the next two weeks to mobilize bus riders before January 1st. Please make a donation online here and help us fight for transportation equity in Nassau County. Donors of $500 or more will be publicly listed as "supporters" on our website.

Veolia Backing Out of Transportation System... And Into Nassau County?

by Charlene Obernauer

On Monday, December 5^th, nearly 250 bus riders, bus drivers, community members, and transportation advocates gathered together to collectively oppose efforts by Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano to privatize the bus system. Executive Director Charlene Obernauer made reference to a recently published report by LI Jobs with Justice, Tri-State Transportation Campaign, and the LI Federation of Labor; critiquing Veolia’s record in the U.S. and abroad; and urging legislators to not give Veolia the keys to its transportation system.


The public understands that Veolia has a bad history in several cities where it operates: fares increase and service gets cut. It's that simple.

After the public gave passionate testimony, Veolia finally answered questions from legislators (not from the public). Veolia representatives told Nassau County elected officials that their record was flawless and that reports to the contrary were incorrect; they contradicted Comptroller Maragos’ report that suggested that numerous bus lines would be cut in 2012; and they denied that their company was negatively impacted by the fiscal crisis in Europe.

However, the next morning, policy analysts awoke to interesting news about Veolia: the company is in financial crisis and is backing out of the transportation business. Are we really still considering Veolia as a viable option for Nassau County?!


While Veolia’s representatives still claim that they are capable of taking over the service, elected officials are skeptical.


County Executive Ed Mangano, the force initially behind the privatization, stated that the news requires Veolia's immediate response and attention. Well, I think we could use a little bit more than their attention. A graceful exit from our County seems slightly more appropriate.

“NICE” Bus Deal for Veolia, Bad for Nassau County

Yesterday, the Nassau Legislature's Rules Committee voted 4-3 in approval of the contract instating private company, Veolia Transportation, as Nassau County's bus operating system. In yet another move to squash and silence community and labor concerns regarding the future of Long Island Bus, a final legislative hearing, previously scheduled for December 19th, has been unexpectedly rescheduled for December 5th at 1pm. While the hearing begins at 1pm, we expect to be there until around 7 or 8pm. Please prepare to come for a part or all of the hearing. Bring signs, friends, family--now is the time to make your voices heard!

PUBLIC HEARING

on 

The Privatization of Long Island Bus 

Monday, December 5^th 2011

Begins at 1PM

Speakers are on a first come first serve basis.

Registration starts at 10:30AM

Theodore Roosevelt Executive & Legislative Building

1550 Franklin Avenue, Mineola NY 11501

Public Hearing will address concerns about:

• Veolia’s management and operation of a county fixed route for transit and paratransit bus system
• The power of the County Executive to execute contracts for management, operations and maintenance of the county bus system

To get to the Nassau County Legislative Building:

Take Exit M1W (Old Country Road) from the Meadowbrook Parkway. Follow Old Country Road West and make a left on Franklin Avenue. The Legislative Building is on the right and parking is available around the building.