organizing riders, saving america’s economy & democracy
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Organizing Riders, Saving America’s Economy & Democracy. Greg LeRoy Executive Director, Good Jobs First Center for Transportation Excellence Webinar ~ 4/10/12. Good Jobs First: A Resource for Transit and Smart Growth Advocates. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
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Organizing Riders, Organizing Riders, Saving America’s Saving America’s
Economy & Economy & DemocracyDemocracy
Greg LeRoyGreg LeRoy
Executive Director, Good Jobs FirstExecutive Director, Good Jobs First
Center for Transportation ExcellenceCenter for Transportation Excellence
Webinar ~ 4/10/12Webinar ~ 4/10/12
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Good Jobs First:Good Jobs First:A Resource for TransitA Resource for Transit
and Smart Growth Advocatesand Smart Growth Advocates
Independent, non-partisan, non-Independent, non-partisan, non-profit founded in 1998, based in DCprofit founded in 1998, based in DC
Promoting accountable economic Promoting accountable economic development and “smart growth for development and “smart growth for working families”working families”
www.goodjobsfirst.orgwww.goodjobsfirst.org
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It’s the Jobs, It’s the Jobs, Stupid!Stupid!
Corporate tax breaks for Corporate tax breaks for “economic development” “economic development” are pro-sprawl, anti-transit are pro-sprawl, anti-transit
Sprawl is anti-union (not Sprawl is anti-union (not just anti-transit, anti-UFCW)just anti-transit, anti-UFCW)
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1,500 State 1,500 State Job-Subsidy Job-Subsidy Programs – Programs – yet None yet None Links Job Links Job Creation Creation with with Workplace Workplace Access via Access via TransitTransit
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Region-Specific Case Region-Specific Case StudiesStudies
Twin Cities (twice) Twin Cities (twice)
Michigan (seven metros)Michigan (seven metros)
ChicagoChicago
Cleveland + CincinnatiCleveland + Cincinnati
BuffaloBuffalo
[now seeking next region][now seeking next region]
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Twin Cities Metro Area: Subsidized Business Relocations(Mostly TIF),1999-2003
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Twin Cities Metro: Subsidized Business Relocations’ Impact on Job Access via Transit
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New Flash! New ATU New Flash! New ATU PresidentPresident
Larry Hanley, Larry Hanley, dynamic dynamic
reform reform leader, is leader, is hell-bent hell-bent
on transit on transit rider rider
organizingorganizing
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2010 & 2011 Community-2010 & 2011 Community-Labor “Boot Camps”Labor “Boot Camps”
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Rider-Organizing Rider-Organizing ManualManual
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Rider-Organizing Rider-Organizing ManualManual
Eight case studies, exemplary Eight case studies, exemplary organizingorganizing
Six common elements of successSix common elements of success
Organizing checklists with links Organizing checklists with links (community, labor, environmental/EJ, (community, labor, environmental/EJ, business, smart growth)business, smart growth)
National directory of all known rider National directory of all known rider groupsgroups
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Boot Camp Takeaway #1:Boot Camp Takeaway #1:Too Few Established Rider Too Few Established Rider
GroupsGroups Some accomplished groups (e.g., NYC, LA, Some accomplished groups (e.g., NYC, LA,
Twin Cities, Bay Area, Washington state) or Twin Cities, Bay Area, Washington state) or rising (e.g. Boston)rising (e.g. Boston)
Two networks: TEN and TRPTTwo networks: TEN and TRPT
Crisis coalition-episodes in various metrosCrisis coalition-episodes in various metros
But lack of capacity in many systems (e.g., But lack of capacity in many systems (e.g., DC, Atlanta, Philly, Denver, Southeastern & DC, Atlanta, Philly, Denver, Southeastern & Southwestern states)Southwestern states)
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Takeaway #2: High Interest Takeaway #2: High Interest from Rainbow of Groupsfrom Rainbow of Groups
Community/faith-based, community-Community/faith-based, community-labor, bicyclist, environmental/EJ, Citizen labor, bicyclist, environmental/EJ, Citizen Action, disability, consumer, student Action, disability, consumer, student
Keen interest in working with ATU localsKeen interest in working with ATU locals
More rider groups founded recently More rider groups founded recently (due to more funding crises) (due to more funding crises)
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Takeaway #3: Takeaway #3: National Resource GapsNational Resource Gaps
CFTE = ballot initiative expertiseCFTE = ballot initiative expertise
TEN = local organizing, federal advocacyTEN = local organizing, federal advocacy
TRPT = EJ capacity buildingTRPT = EJ capacity building
But lots of needs: more boot camps, new But lots of needs: more boot camps, new organizing in many systems, more organizing in many systems, more money, more connections to existing money, more connections to existing resourcesresources
Need for pro-active & strategic targeting Need for pro-active & strategic targeting
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AnnouncingAnnouncing
Americans Americans for Transitfor Transit
Founders: ATU and Good Jobs First Founders: ATU and Good Jobs First
Mission: Create, strengthen and unite Mission: Create, strengthen and unite transit rider-organizing campaignstransit rider-organizing campaigns
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StructureStructure Independent non-profit 501 (C) (3)Independent non-profit 501 (C) (3)
Seed-funded by ATU w/ $100K; Search for Seed-funded by ATU w/ $100K; Search for ED now underwayED now underway
ATU, Good Jobs First as top board officersATU, Good Jobs First as top board officers
Other founding board members: Dr. Other founding board members: Dr. Beverly Scott and Bill LynchBeverly Scott and Bill Lynch
Good Jobs First = fiscal agent & landlordGood Jobs First = fiscal agent & landlord
Companion 501 (C) (4) able to lobbyCompanion 501 (C) (4) able to lobby
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Potential TargetingPotential Targeting(in addition to above-stated (in addition to above-stated
gaps)gaps) Systems with budget storms on horizonSystems with budget storms on horizon
Systems with budget opportunities to Systems with budget opportunities to growgrow
Key states and Congressional DistrictsKey states and Congressional Districts
States fighting voter suppressionStates fighting voter suppression
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Voter SuppressionVoter Suppression
Red = law introduced. ID = Photo ID enacted. Star = proof of citizenship enacted. Pen in hand = voter registration restricted. Envelope = early/absentee voting restricted.
Gavel = executive order makes it harder to restore voting rights.
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Time for Our OwnTime for Our Own“Transit-Industrial “Transit-Industrial
Complex”Complex” Transit Workers & Unions (& Transit Workers & Unions (&
Agencies) Agencies)
Transit RidersTransit Riders
Transit Vehicle Transit Vehicle Manufacturers & UnionsManufacturers & Unions
Pro-Transit EmployersPro-Transit Employers
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Contact Us!Contact Us!
Greg LeRoyGreg LeRoy
Executive DirectorExecutive Director
Good Jobs FirstGood Jobs First
[email protected]@goodjobsfirst.org
www.goodjobsfirst.orgwww.goodjobsfirst.org
202-232-1616 x 211202-232-1616 x 211