It Ain't All Big Hair and Cadillacs

IMMEDIATE ACTION NEEDED - HELP SAVE THE CTA

Without immediate state funding, 53 percent of all CTA bus routes will disappear in less than three months - including every lakefront express currently serving Edgewater.

Without funding, some of the routes will be dropped in early November, others in January. If nothing is done, you can say goodbye to the #136 Sheridan/LaSalle and the #147 Outer Drive Express - and enjoy the sole remaining lakefront route, the #151 Sheridan, and the Red Line, both of which are sure to be slower and more crowded than ever.

Other important buses, including the #92 Foster and many other east-west routes on the north side, will also vanish, and fares will rise between 11 and 63 percent. All told, the CTA's current funding crisis will result in the most devastating transit cuts in history. This will be a double whammy for Edgewater because more of the additional traffic from the North and West will be traveling through, and increasing pollution to,our community.

There is still time to stop this nightmare scenario from happening - but the General Assembly and Governor Blagojevich must enact a permanent solution before the first round of cuts on November 4. Our local representatives have been working to prevent these cuts. However, the governor and the legislative leadership needs to hear from you. NOW is the crucial time to make your voice heard, as the legislature is reportedly scheduled to reconvene on November lst to address public transit and other funding issues.

Please email, fax or call the statement below to the individuals listed and tell them that these transit cuts and fare increases will devastate Edgewater, the City of Chicago, and indeed the entire region.

As a resident of the Edgewater Community in Chicago, I implore you to find a permanent solution to the mass transit financial crisis - not another bail-out or quick fix - before the November 4 CTA cuts and fare increases go into effect. I sincerely hope that you will join together to solve this issue that will severly impact hundreds of thousands of people across the city and region and damage the economy and the region's world-class status.

Governor Rod Blagojevich
www.illinois.gov
Phone: 217-782-6830
FAX: 217-558-0897

House Speaker Michael Madigan
mmadigan@hds.ilga.gov
Phone: 773-581-8000
FAX: 773-581-9414

Senate President Emil Jones, Jr.
jjones@senatedem.state.il.us
Phone: 217-782-2728
FAX: 773-995-9061

Senator Carol Ronen
ronen@senate.dem.state.il.us
Phone: 773-769-1717
FAX: 773-769-6901

Representative Harry Osterman
hjo17@aol.com
Phone: 773-784-2002
FAX: 773-784-2060

Representative Greg Harris
greg@gregharris.org
Phone: 773-348-3434
FAX: 773-348-3475

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Edgewater Community Council