Post by nickv on Jul 15, 2007 22:03:08 GMT -8
Okay, I understand that the TTC forums are for SoCal transportation issues, but I had to post this one!
Well, I was trying to do some background research on the BRU here in LA and came across a recent news headline in Google: "Bus Riders' Union called 'disrepectful'". Ah ha! BRU got in trouble (I thought)! Of course, I wanted to see what kind of trouble the BRU got into.
Okay, the article says "the BRU consistently calls for lower fares and more buses rather than rapid transit expansion". Okay, this has gotta be the BRU in L.A., right?
Reading on, the article says, "Maple Ridge Mayor Gordy Robson wants to ban orange-shirted Bus Riders’ Union members from future TransLink meetings."
Maple Ridge? Mayor Robson? TransLink? What's this? What a minute! This isn't SoCal! This isn't even United States! BRU in Vancouver, Canada?
This BRU news article that I found really added insult to injury. Read the artcile and see for yourself. Are we not the only region having trouble with this group? Okay, it may look like there's two BRU groups: Here and there. But something is fishy here... the two BRU groups have similar creeds (more busses, no rapid transit), same reasoning from their end (to service the poor), accuses the agencies with harsh labels such as "racist", and the same name (BRU)... Hmmmm.
Can anybody explain this one?
.....................................
PeachArch News:
www.peacearchnews.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=44&cat=23&id=1021548&more=0
Bus Riders’ Union called ‘disrespectful’
By Jeff Nagel
Black Press
Jul 06 2007
Maple Ridge Mayor Gordy Robson wants to ban orange-shirted Bus Riders’ Union members from future TransLink meetings.
A relative newcomer to the board, Robson said he has no patience for the group’s notorious outbursts – especially after their latest appearance last week.
“I think they’re social terrorists,” he said.
“Certainly they’re not interested in dialogue. They sound like they’re having great fun. But it’s very disrespectful and it doesn’t help the community.”
He spoke after he and other directors fled to a different room to escape the chanting protesters and cries of “shame” at Robson Square downtown.
Robson said Maple Ridge council has sometimes taken the step of getting a court injunction to ban regularly disruptive protesters from council meetings.
One woman was banned for a year, he said, adding TransLink should take the same step with the BRU.
“I see no reason why we couldn’t do that here,” he said.
“I would ban them from public transit meetings unless they’re prepared to behave.”
Vancouver police were present at the meeting but didn’t step in.
The BRU consistently calls for lower fares and more buses rather than rapid transit expansion – which it sees as a conspiracy to pad the profits of private firms like those building the Canada Line.
It’s often a politically charged message, accusing the board of racist or sexist policies that victimize the poor, women and immigrants.
BRU spokesman David Hendry said the board’s latest move to evade protest undermines democracy.
“When people from communities try to defend our rights, we are not terrorists,” he said.
Well, I was trying to do some background research on the BRU here in LA and came across a recent news headline in Google: "Bus Riders' Union called 'disrepectful'". Ah ha! BRU got in trouble (I thought)! Of course, I wanted to see what kind of trouble the BRU got into.
Okay, the article says "the BRU consistently calls for lower fares and more buses rather than rapid transit expansion". Okay, this has gotta be the BRU in L.A., right?
Reading on, the article says, "Maple Ridge Mayor Gordy Robson wants to ban orange-shirted Bus Riders’ Union members from future TransLink meetings."
Maple Ridge? Mayor Robson? TransLink? What's this? What a minute! This isn't SoCal! This isn't even United States! BRU in Vancouver, Canada?
This BRU news article that I found really added insult to injury. Read the artcile and see for yourself. Are we not the only region having trouble with this group? Okay, it may look like there's two BRU groups: Here and there. But something is fishy here... the two BRU groups have similar creeds (more busses, no rapid transit), same reasoning from their end (to service the poor), accuses the agencies with harsh labels such as "racist", and the same name (BRU)... Hmmmm.
Can anybody explain this one?
.....................................
PeachArch News:
www.peacearchnews.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=44&cat=23&id=1021548&more=0
Bus Riders’ Union called ‘disrespectful’
By Jeff Nagel
Black Press
Jul 06 2007
Maple Ridge Mayor Gordy Robson wants to ban orange-shirted Bus Riders’ Union members from future TransLink meetings.
A relative newcomer to the board, Robson said he has no patience for the group’s notorious outbursts – especially after their latest appearance last week.
“I think they’re social terrorists,” he said.
“Certainly they’re not interested in dialogue. They sound like they’re having great fun. But it’s very disrespectful and it doesn’t help the community.”
He spoke after he and other directors fled to a different room to escape the chanting protesters and cries of “shame” at Robson Square downtown.
Robson said Maple Ridge council has sometimes taken the step of getting a court injunction to ban regularly disruptive protesters from council meetings.
One woman was banned for a year, he said, adding TransLink should take the same step with the BRU.
“I see no reason why we couldn’t do that here,” he said.
“I would ban them from public transit meetings unless they’re prepared to behave.”
Vancouver police were present at the meeting but didn’t step in.
The BRU consistently calls for lower fares and more buses rather than rapid transit expansion – which it sees as a conspiracy to pad the profits of private firms like those building the Canada Line.
It’s often a politically charged message, accusing the board of racist or sexist policies that victimize the poor, women and immigrants.
BRU spokesman David Hendry said the board’s latest move to evade protest undermines democracy.
“When people from communities try to defend our rights, we are not terrorists,” he said.