The End: No More Sirus XM Radio For Me

Today I finally canceled my subscription to Sirius/XM Radio. In hindsight, its a really sad thing I had to do.

I can't recall when, exactly, I got the radio, but I think it was 2006. I was excited, and I enjoyed having a chance to listen to the latest metal and punk whenever I wanted to on the thing. Throw in having my own personal radio station, and times were good.

I refused to pay for a lifetime subscription since I already had a feeling it wouldn't last too long, so I never actually went for it.

Over the years, my love affair for Sirius went south. They eliminated the Punk channel I loved, starting to play more and more of the same songs over and over again on the metal and hard rock stations, and the entire thing got monotonous. Throw in not being able to access your radio stations on the computer without paying an extra fee, and you can see why $45 every 4 months wasn't a deal.

I basically stopped listening to it over the last 3 months, and its just gathering dust now.

Its sad, really... really, it is. I also have the failed Portable Sirius Radio that never delivered on the promise of portable satellite radio in the form of a radio in your pocket. If I get one, I'll go back to them since I would actually use that. I don't drive so I don't have it for my car, either. Right now, its simply obsolete to me.

Well, here's to the future.

LAST DAY to SAve on Artwork by Philadelphia's Own Larry West!!!

EVIL SCREAMING MONKEY BRAIN! by LuvataciousSkull
Browse the poster designs at zazzle.com

SWINE FLU - Beware The Pandemic! by LuvataciousSkull
Browse Swine flu Posters

The Chosen Mousepad by LuvataciousSkull
Make computer mouse pads at Zazzle

You're Life In Flames by LuvataciousSkull
See other Evil T-Shirts

Philadelphia Artist Larry West (OK, that's me) is having a sale on all his artwork that ends today though Zazzle.com! This includes 40% off all posters, 25% off all mousepads, and 15% off all t-shirts!

Check it out, and support the arts in Philly!

You Don't Bring a Gun to a Snow Ball Fight

According to an eyewitness, a D.C. Police detective went nuts after kids pelted his Hummer with snowballs at 14th and U Streets NW this afternoon. The veteran detective got out of his car and eventually grabbed for his gun, displaying it to the crowd. He did not immediately identify himself as a police officer. He calmed down once his fellow uniformed cop arrived. Apparently, someone called 911 to report a man with gun. The snowball fight had been well hyped on Twitter. The news of the incident first broke there.

...

"An hour ago, we showed up to see a snowball fight already in progress. Two factions along 14th Street along the intersection. It was pretty friendly, mostly OK. At one point, there was one interaction with the police that I saw. A cop got stuck in the snow. People stopped and helped him out. A couple moments later, at the intersection, heading west along U was this big maroon Hummer. A small faction of people decided to target it with snowballs. They're throwing snowballs at the Hummer. It turns out the driver of the Hummer is a detective. He gets out. He's waving a walkie talkie. It's not going well. Then he starts waving a gun. He hadn't identified himself at this point. There was a point where things cooled off a bit, more police showed up, and he identified himself at that point. The name was Det. Baylor. My guess was B-A-Y-L-O-R."

Read the rest of the story here.

DEBTORS REVOLT: Chase Card Services!

Today was the final straw.

A few years ago I signed up for a Amazon Visa Credit Card. Whenever I ran up debt on it, I would pay it off the next month with no problem. This went on for a few months and even a full year, and all was right with the world. Then, I hit hard times. It got harder and harder to make payments and I soon fell behind. It even got to a point where I had maxed out the card. I decided then and there that I would do everything I could to fix the card and straighten out my finances! With a new job, more money, and a fresh start, what could go wrong?

That was back in April of 2008. Today, things are worse.

Starting April of 2008, I was put on a plan to pay off my then $700 Chase Card bill. The plan was simple: In exchange for making $50 a month payments, Chase would in turn not raise my interest rate or charge me an over-limit fee of $35 a month. My limit was only $400. The agreement was to get it back below $400 and work from there. To me, that was more than fair, so I complied. I still received statements but rarely opened them since, to me, there was nothing to see since the money was being taken from my account every month.

So imagine my shock when, April 2009, I took a look at my statement and saw that, once again, my bill was $700!!!!

HOW did this happen, you ask? It turns out that a check had bounced. Not only had it bounced, but Chase STILL got the money anyway and then dropped me from the plan because I had "missed a payment"! I found that out after calling them to find out what was going on. I never got a letter, never got a phone call, I was just dropped off their plan!

In April of 2009 I called Chase Card Services back to get onto a new payment plan. There was still some time left to pay off the card and still use it (about 5-6 months), so I asked the person if the money I had been paying on the plan could go towards the current bill since I was taken off the plan without ANY notice. They said no. Without much of a choice, I took the hit and agreed to a new plan with the same terms: $50 a month, no fee, and we pay off the entire debt.

There was a new twist: MY CARD HAD BEEN CANCELED!

I repeat: My Credit Card was CANCELED! WITHOUT ANY NOTICE AT ALL my card was canceled! Never got a letter, never got a call, it was CANCELED FIVE MONTHS EARLY! I was informed of THIS when I said I was willing to cut up my card to make sure nothing like this happened again.

So, let me sum up what happened within a year:

• Put on a payment plan to pay off debt
• Taken off payment plan without notice
• Not allowed to put past payments toward current debt
• Credit Card Canceled without ANY notification 5 months early

The solution? I did the only thing I could: Get on the same plan as before and hope for the best.

Fast-forward to November 2009.

I'm looking over the finances as November comes to a close and am living on the edge. Knowing that I owed Chase their $50 payment for the month, I did what I could to ensure the money was in the account. Sadly, it didn't work, and here's why:

The agreement with Chase says the money will be deducted from my account on the 20th of the month. Sometimes it isn't. Sometimes it's deducted late. Or, sometimes, even earlier. Either way, they get their money. In this case, the money wasn't taken from the account until THE 25TH OF THE MONTH. Is it Chase's fault? According to them it isn't. Is it the bank I do business with? Possibly, but I doubt it.

So, the payment is missed and, ironically enough, this is the one that would have gotten me to my below-the-limit amount. It would have put me at $375.77.

IF I went down to $375.77, guess what would happen? If you said I would be under the limit and thus stuck with all the problems associated with it... you're right.

This means I would rack up more debt as my plan would expire. No matter what, the $50 payment would never be enough as I would be hit with $35 in return, plus whatever interest would occur on the account.

So far, over the last year and half, CHASE BANK has gotten $800 DOLLARS from me on a $700 DEBT!

Today was the last straw!

Today is Sunday. A day of rest.

I've gotten 10, count them, TEN calls from their Debt Collection Department! Every single time I answered the phone, NO ONE answered, no one said anything, and no one told me WHO they were are WHY they were calling! TEN GOD-DAMN TIMES ON A FUCKING SUNDAY! TWO OF THEM AFTER 8PM!

Finally, I had enough.

I called the number back and spoke to an agent. I told the person what I told you, and in the end, I got nothing. No apologies for the calls, no apologies for calling so late, and nothing towards just settling this entire thing.

For the last week, I've gotten a call or two from Chase and I've told them the simple fact that I was sick for the last week and a half and I can't work. I told someone calling to collect the debt the first time that I was sorry about the payment but I wanted to just work out a settlement on the account and pay it off. Granted, I couldn't do it all at once or soon since I was sick, but I wanted to pay them off and be done with it. They said I would get a call in a few days with a possible offer or a reason why it would be decline.

After today... I don't know. I have no idea where to go from here.

Here's what I want: I want to not owe you anything, and I don't want to keep getting calls from you to collect this debt. Either make a settlement offer and I'll do my best to pay it, or don't bother calling because it isn't going to go anywhere at all! Personally, I think I've been pretty fair about this. Again, I've paid you over $800 on a $700 debt, and I've done what I can to hold up my end the agreement.

IF you don't agree.... WELL, I'M WITH HER!!!!!!!!!




DEBTORS OF THE WORLD UNITE!!!!!!

First Snow of the Season! ... sort of.

Check out my new song, "First Snow".

So we got our first real snow fall in a long time... in fact, I do believe its the most snow we've gotten at once in about 4 years! AWESOME! Nearly 2 feet of the white stuff over the weekend and right before Christmas!

Well, enjoy the song, the snow, and I hope you have a great day!

The Leaked TSA Memo: Is the Press Aiding Terrorists?

I won't say much, but I think my headline says too much and yet everything at once.

There was a memo leaked of classified TSA procedures. The TSA says it's outdated from last year.

As I write this, Good Morning America is reporting about this story and giving anyone who's dumb or crazy enough to want to attack America every possible bit of information in the memo. Now, the memo, as I said, is leaked and anyone wanting to read it now can. Its likely that the people who wanted to know it already do and can, quite easily, make their own sick, fucked-up plans.

But not everyone knew about the leak, and not everyone was ready to run out and download it, even the crazies on the right and the left of this country. I think the way this story was, and very well could, is a problem and not a good idea. You know, like talking about the couple that crashed the White House dinner and how they could have hurt the President.

MUNICIPAL WASTE IS GONNA FUCK YOU UP!!!

Municipal Waste, for the uninitiated, is a crossover thrash metal band from the great state of Virgina. For years, they have built a loyal and dedicated fan base here in Philadelphia, and have played at the First Unitarian Church to countless applause and moshpits!

Thursday, December 10th at 7:30PM, they will take the stage yet again at the First Unitarian Church and destroy all in their way!

Make sure you download and hand out the original poster, which you can get here!

GET YOUR TICKETS NOW NOW NOW!!!!!

And check out the video for their latest song, "Wrong Answer":

Philadelphia's Best Kept Secret: 43 N3 Posters

A month ago, I went out with a few friends on First Friday to walk around. I decided to hold off displaying art this time around and instead focus on seeing what was going on at the galleries for a change. On 3rd Street, we walked by a store front that looked incredibly interesting, especially for Old City, filled with concert posters that I had never seen before.

I walked in and was greeted to a massive space only 1/4th filled with some posters, the rest empty and gutted. The walls were covered in massive English Subway Posters from yesteryear, and the man who ran the place was as jolly as Santa Clause! I found rare Iron Maiden and Metallica posters, and tons of movie posters.

I asked if it would be possible to show some of my stuff there down the line, and I signed a already half-filled piece of paper with other artists with the same idea.

Currently, the artwork of Cal Schenkel, long-time artist for Frank Zappa, is hanging in this store. It is worth checking out!

The store is located at 43 N. 3rd Street, and is open sporadically, although they are aiming for Fridays - Sundays in the afternoon.

Bike Messangers Oppose new Bike Laws, Hit & Run

Nothing better than finding out that Bike Messengers will be holding a protest at their little hang out, LOVE Park, at 5PM today to protest the new bike laws that were proposed. They say they have no problem with current laws, but say the new ones target them specifically.

The fines would raise for existing laws (riding on the sidewalk, running red lights) and banning "breakless bikes". Again, the Bike Messengers oppose these ideas.

But on a sad note, one of them was hit early on Thanksgiving:

Fletcher said she was yelled at by an angry driver near 23rd and Locust and then struck by his silver hatchback at about 2:30 a.m. Brito says police are treating the incident as an accident, not the hit-and-run they said it should be.

Was this a hit-and-run based solely on the person being a cyclist? If it was, it simply is tragic to see this happen, especially due to the severity of the injury. I hope she has a speedy recovery. This hit-and-run driver needs to be persecuted immediately.

Again, the protest is:

LOVE Park
5PM Today

DIE HIPSTER SCUM!

DIE HIPSTER SCUM! by LuvataciousSkull
Shop for a t shirt on Zazzle

I have a personal disdain for Hipsters, and so do many, many, many, MANY more.

Feel free to spread the hate with this shirt.

* I do not advocate the killing or hurting of Hipsters or anyone. The shirt is meant as a joke.

50% OFF ALL MY ARTWORK!!!!!

Hey, have you wanted to buy one of my pieces of art but never thought you could afford it? Today is your lucky day!

Zazzle.com is having a 50% off sale on all posters TODAY ONLY! On top of that, FREE SHIPPING!

So hurry up and buy some!!!!

CHECK OUT THE FULL SELECTION OF POSTERS HERE!!!!


buy unique gifts at Zazzle

Philadelphia Begins to Enforce Bike Laws, Bikers Complain

When it comes to the topic of people riding a mode of transportation that's marginalized and demonized and virtually criminalized, skateboarders have everyone else beat. An otherwise legal activity, skateboarders have been forced to skirt around unfair laws and deal with legislation that, in the end, harm a large number of people who would otherwise use it both for fun and as a mode of transportation.

So when I heard new bike laws were going into effect, I was thrilled!

During the least year, we've seen the number of cyclists climb a lot. This is due to both high gas prices and people, on a whole, ditching both cars and SEPTA in favor of riding a bike. It's estimated that around 10,000 people ride their bikes in Philadelphia to get to and from work, an astounding and wonderful number!

But, like any mode of transportation with a large number of people using it, there are problems and, in turn, laws.

So lets have a run down of what's going on:

1. The Law as it currently exists

Philadelphia already has multiple bike laws to help curve dangerous behavior, as well as fines. Here's the short list:

Vehicle Code Violations:
3112-A-3i- Disregard Traffic Signal ($119.50)
3112-A-3ii- Turn on Red, Fail to Stop/Yield Pedestrian/Traffic ($119.50)
3308-B- Wrong Way 1-Way ($119.50)
3323-B- Disregard Stop Sign ($119.50)
3323-C- Disregard Yield Sign ($119.50)
3345-A- Improper Passing of a School Bus ($364.50)
3542-A- Failure to Yield to Pedestrian in crosswalk court ($119.50)
3711-A- Clinging to a Moving Vehicle ($119.50)
3714- Careless Driving ($119.50)
3736-A- Reckless Driving ($294.50)

Philadelphia Traffic Ordinances:
12-808 Riding a Bicycle on a Sidewalk ($54.00)

On a whole, the idea is actually fairly simple: A bike in Philadelphia is treated nearly like a car. And, as both a skateboarder and a cyclist, I actually agree with this.



2. Why Bikes are Like Cars

For starters, bikes can go really fast, around 20 mph. On a sidewalk in Center city with quiet wheels, its a problem. They're also capable of doing a lot of damage to a pedestrian, as two Philadelphian's were struck and killed by cyclists in the past month.

In contrast, a skateboard tends to be a little safer. For starters, you can hear them. Its hard to miss a skateboard. Its also a lot harder to not get hit by a car on a skateboard. Same with roller blades and scooters. On a whole, these are a separate class of vehicle.


3. Who This Is Targeted To

If you already are a kind and courteous cyclists, you have nothing to worry about. In fact, only a small handful of people really need to cut their behavior.


4. The Reaction

The reaction to this has been priceless.

For starters, you have the people who are angry at the fact that they are going to enforce the law. Seriously. One example:

A potential safety hazard is in no way comparable to the dangerous crimes that are committed every day in our city’s least patrolled neighborhoods. A lot of the “Don’t Snitch” mentality arises from the fact that residents of these crime ridden neighborhoods feel completely unsafe and ignored due to the lack of police presence. - posted by mmmmokay

So, let's get this straight: A potential safety hazard isn't cause for alarm? L&I shouldn't condemn hazardous buildings, the police shouldn't stop someone driving like a maniac, and that actually enforcing a law on the books is a BAD idea?

Then you have the people who are upset that people lump cyclists all in one group. To their credit, they make a valid point. Not all cyclists are inconsiderate jerks who run red lights and ride on the sidewalk. In fact, a large number of cyclists are actually law-abiding folks who just want to get from Point A to Point B. No, this enforcement is only for the jerks who actually do break the law.

But the best part of all the reactions? The closet racism I've discovered from cyclists!

A photo popped up of someone getting a ticket for breaking the new bike laws and was posted on Philebrity. The comments are priceless:

What a great frickin’ use of city resources…using the cops to stop and ticket all the Center City kitchen help riding in from South and North Philly. -chuck63

great job philadelphia. does it make you proud that he won’t be able to make rent now? kitchen staff don’t make 100k a year ya know. -lightonfire

As they seem to enjoy saying there, "Stay Classy, Philadelphia!"

5. The Bike Coalition Needed This to Happen to Them

Again, I'm saying this as a skateboarder.

The Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia (BCGP)has a ton of sway in Philadelphia. They have advocated for cyclists in Philadelphia for years to promote a healthy life style and a cleaner and greener world, and I'm totally in favor of that. I love cycling myself, and I still fondly remember the days of my youth where I did bike everywhere.

But as you may recall, I wrote back in June that cyclists get away with breaking the law a LOT in this city, and the selective enforcement of the laws concerning both cyclists AND skateboarders was basically discrimination. Is it a little hypocritical to trumpet seeing these laws enforced for cyclists while I, as a boarder, has once said these things. To a degree, yes. But skateboarders don't have an advocate or protection.

Cyclists in Philadelphia have had the BCGP to help them, and in turn, things have been good for them. They've gotten more respect than non-motorist in this city and have gotten most of what they wanted (new bikes lanes and more bike racks). Is this taking them down a peg? Yes and no. They're still a good group in and of themselves, and their cause is good, but the fact that they are now advocating falling the law to a large degree... well, I'm glad to see it.

Especially since they oppose the new laws enforcing tougher fines of those breaking the law and making people register their bikes and get license plates. Its unlikely they'll get their will.

6. Aftermath

Will the enforcement of these new laws stop the need for new laws and fines to go into place? I do, to a large degree, hope it does.

I'm all for tougher fines for the laws in place, but the bike registration idea has me a bit on edge. If we can avoid that but making sure that all cyclists in Philly simply follow the law and are more courteous, that's the best possible sollution. People think laws exist only to stop behaviors or to surpress freedoms. In the end, a law is only needed when we, as a society, choose to put otherwise acceptable behavior as a norm when its dangerous and harmful to others. If we all treat others with respect, we won't need them.

X-Men 90's Cartoon... from Japan

Saw this posted on Topless Robot and, hands down, this is one of the COOLEST openings for a cartoon I've ever seen! I'm not kidding, this thing is simply incredible:

Your Bank SUCKS: The Problems With Banks

Yesterday I said I was going to start my new series dealing with banks and why they suck. Today, I present with you the introduction.

What is the single biggest problem with banks? The problem anyone making less than $50k a year most likely runs into?

Fees. Tons and tons of fees.

I was introduced to the "poor tax" system in 2002. I was only 17 and I had started my first checking account, thanks in large part to my first job that I took while starting college. Just like anyone with all this new responsibility and resources, I made the mistake of overdrawing my account. My assumption was that if I tried to go over my limit, my card wouldn't work. Instead, it did, and with a hefty price.

When it costs you $35 in fees to buy a candy bar, I think its safe to say its not only a problem but a tax on being poor. And throwing on another $35 fee on top of that for being over drawn, and you have a really, really, REALLY sick system.

This went on for a while. I would have months where I did nothing more than play catch-up and try to keep my account from going over the limit and months where things weren't just fine, they were great. This went on for about a year until I got so far behind that they finally just closed my account.

Over the years, much has been made about bank fees and how they essentially nickle-and-dime everyone who is just scraping by.

Now, lets just call this what it is: It's a poor tax. It's a tax for being poor. Forcing people to pay fees on top of fees for not having money is, by definition, a TAX ON BEING POOR. What, in all honesty, is the reason for this? They spend more money sending you a letter in the mail TELLING YOU you're over drawn then it most likely costs them to deal with your account.

So, a laundry list of the Poor Taxes:

1. Overdraft Fee
2. Overdraft Post Debit Fee
3. Minimum Account Balance Fee
4. Bounced Check Fee
5. Fees for Taking Out Your Own Money
   

Lets run down these, shall we?

1. Overdraft Fee

Your hanging out with your friends one night and you decide to treat everyone to diner. Hey, it's no problem! You just got paid, just put in some extra cash, and you already have all your bills paid! Afterward, you head out and decide to buy a soda. The next day, you check your account. Everything's fine, until you see that while all your bills are paid and the dinner was fine, the fact that you bought a dinner actually put you over. You are now overdrawn.

Worst case scenario? You're not getting paid again for another 2 weeks. You're stuck with that fee for not having any money. Depending your bank, you're now are going to get charged that fee as much as DAILY. Some places will forgive it and let it go, but some will not and let you rot.

The Overdraft Fee, when re-occurring more than once a week, makes little or no sense to begin with. You have NO money. You're being penalized... for not having money! What, exactly, is it costing the bank to deal with this? The most they're spending is 40 cents to waste both your time and theirs by sending out a letter informing you that, guess what, YOU HAVE NO MONEY!

If it's reoccurring, it's even worse! WHY? Why charge the same fee on a daily basis for not having money? Why charge someone on a bi-daily basis? Why charge them at all for anything less than $10?!


2. Overdraft Post Debit Fee

We'll go with a different end of our last scenario. You just spent money on bills and food, and head out to work the next day. During the course of the day, you buy a soda, some chips, coffee... essentially, a bunch of little purchases. You should be fine, everything was OK the night before. Plus, your card is still working, right? You get home, decide to check your account, and are astonished to see you're not just over your account balance... you're REALLY over your account! Those little purchases you made, totaling only $12 in and of themselves, has just netted you an Overdraft Post Debit Fee of over $200!

Some banks are sneaky assholes, so let me explain: There's overdraft PROTECTION and overdraft POST-DEBIT.

Overdraft Protection is aimed at making sure that you're not embaressed when you go to the store and do something stupid, like go over your account. So with overdraft protection, you would have been covered when you bought that bit of stuff and just had to pay it back, and depending on the bank a fee for the service. In order to get this service, they do a credit check at some (if not all) banks. With poor credit, you can't get it.

With Overdraft Post Debit (though it has different names), you are FUCKED. The same person who was told they have a bad credit history and couldn't get protection will instead be able to get this. It allows you to not be embarrassed for getting turned down for a Kit Kat bar, but you are in turned charged for the service. The going rate is $35 PER TRANSACTION. Make a lot in one day, and it adds-up. Fast.

Its a little more understandable WHY this fee exists: If they're covering you to make a purchase made at a location, there are fees involved with it, but the fact that most places automatically enroll you in it, and even worse, charge you REPEATEDLY for it, is insane! Some places allow transactions under $10 to slide without a fee or a repeated one, but most places don't.


3. Minimum Account Balance Fee

Why? WHY does this exist?! You open a checking account and you pay your bills, you eat, you live. Sometimes your account isn't great, sometimes its not. If you're not making a lot, your average account balance may be anywhere between $200 or $10.

So why do banks charge you just to keep your money in their bank?

Most banks have student checking accounts, and the idea is that if you're in college, you don't have a lot of money. There are no fees for a monthly minimum balance, so we can easily rule out that they're needed to have an account to begin with. But WHY charge to have an account?!


4. Bounced Check Fee

This is the most understandable fee, but it can also be one of the most frustrating. Without going into a ton of detail, most banks will hold checks in order for smaller payments to go through. This practice allows for a large chance that it will, in the end bounce. When that's added with an overdraft fee... its really is ugly.


5. Fees for Taking Out Your Own Money

This is the largest problem, and its the one we all have to deal with. ATM fees (anywhere between $1 - $4!), fees to get a money order or cashier's check (anywhere between $1 - $10!), and they jut don't make any sense! Cashier checks and money orders are just other ways to sen cash itself! Its like writing a check, only they take the money straight from your account! WHY?



So what can you, as a consumer, do to protect yourself?

1. Don't carry your debit card around

It's a hard thing to do, and in some cases not a good thing, but on an average day you most likely don't need it. If you can, just carry cash around with you, and only enough for what you need. This will save you from a lot of the fees I listed.

2. Check your account daily

Most banks have online banking. Check your account daily and make sure you're still in the green.

Coming Soon: YOUR BANK SUCKS!

I am officially furious at banks.

I've been with 2 banks over the last 7 years, and both of them have wound up doing things to me and their customers that no one should allow or be forced to deal with.

Inspired by Consumerist, the woman who started the debtors revolt, and my own personal struggles with banks, I'm working on a series of posts that will discuss, in as much detail as I possibly can, the reason why these banks... suck. Not just "oh, I don't like this" sucks. More like "these banks steal your money and mentally rape you as much as possible, and its all perfectly legal."

I'll provide suggestions for not only the banks, but on how YOU can deal with these people and get treated with respect. If I find a bank that's good, I'll gladly report it.

So stay tuned and watch this blog: It's going to get messy!

Lessons From the SEPTA Strike

With the strike finally over, I think its safe to saw we've all learned a lot from it.

1. SEPTA workers have the ability to go on strike, despite the fact that they provide a public service. We need a law passed that treats them just as we do with other public service jobs that risk lives such as cops and fire: Binding arbitration.

2. The City Unions have gone without a contract since June 30th, and are now looking at this current dispute and Nutter's involvement and are getting some ideas.

3. We've all learned that we can, to some degree, live without SEPTA buses and subways.

4. A lot of people got a lot of extra exercise due to the strike and walked, biked, and even skateboarded to get to where they had to go.

5. If you're going to go to a protest as a supporter, bring friends. SHEESH!



So what will we actually learn? Well, there are countless lessons in life to learn from, but to actually retain that knowledge and apply it is rare and harder to do.

Hopefully we will learn that the best way to settle a problem is head on. As I wrote a few months ago in my review of "I Kill Giants", I talked about how our "giants" are the problems we avoid. The longer we wait, the worse they get. To that end, the City Union's have been without a contract for over 4 months. If we simply ignore it, its not going to go away. The best thing to happen is for the president of that union to try and talk to Nutter, and vice-versa.

So what's the solution to TWU 234 and the SEPTA strike threat? Pass a law, as soon as possible, making it illegal for them to strike and forcing them into binding arbitration. Again, its based on the fact that they provide an essential city service. They are responsible for transporting over half a million people on a daily basis and provide transport to our jobs, doctors, and hospitals. We can go a while without trash pickup, but not without public transit.

We've all learned new ways of getting around during the strike. In some cases it meant walking through parts of the city we never wanted to and learning something new about the areas we live in, and for others it was that regional rail may be better to use than a bus and subway. We've learned that riding a bike has certain rules and that with more on the road everyone seemed to get a little more considerate.

Will we all learn our lessons? Only time will tell.

SEPTA STRIKE OVER!

The SEPTA Strike is finally over.

All buses, subways, and trolleys are back on. All passes bought last week will be good until Noon today.

The question on the mind of riders: Will our fares go up? No. The current contract fits within their budget so fares shouldn't go up thanks to this deal.

More details will be posted as they become available.

LOONEY TUNES ARE BACK!!!!

I'm really am glad to hear this bit of news!

In the world of cartoons, Cartoon Network announced today that, after 5 years away, Looney Tunes will make a return to regular rotation!

Why is this big news?

By and large, Looney Tunes has been on television since 1958. Every week, anyone in America could turn on a TV and catch an episode or one of the countless shorts of the series over the years, including new ones made during the 60's. In 1988, Nickelodeon began showing Looney Tunes and continued to do so until 1999. In 2000, Warner Bros decided to only show the shorts on their networks, and by 2005, they were all but gone.

The return of Looney Tunes is something I've been waiting for for years. I love cartoons, but I also love animation! For years, I've complained that kids today are getting deprived of these shorts. Yes, I won't lie, its boring and tiring at times to watch the same jokes a million times. I got sick of them by the time I was 10. But, well, time heals all wounds, and this is the same case. The classic slapstick and missing, and I would love to see Tex Avery cartoons come back, as well as those of Chuck Jones... but, like I said, I love animation.

Bugs Bunny and Co. will return to Cartoon Network Sunday, November 14th at 1PM. I don't think I'll leave my house.

SEPTA STRIKE Day 6: No End in Sight

There is no deal.

Governor Ed Rendell has left town and with him he takes nearly $7 Million dollars in funding to help the union get what it wants. The union got increasingly angry at SEPTA for rewriting the deal. At last check, TWU 234 wanted an independent audit of their pension and SEPTA wanted language in the contract so they could possibly work on health benefits if (or when) the public option is passed.

TWU 234 President "Little" Willie Brown stated during a press conference that any talk of an agreement "was a lie." No new talks are scheduled.

The 2005 SEPTA strike lasted 7 days. A 1998 SEPTA strike lasted 40 days.

Willie Brown, this one goes out to you:



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Today a protest was scheduled at 1234 Market Street for 1PM in front of SEPTA headquarters by someone on Twitter called simply "strikeprotest". I arrived at 12:45PM and saw one protester named Till Ayala, who had actually lost a job due to this strike. When I arrived, there were a bunch of cameras and reporters, far outnumbering the protestor. I arrived carrying a sign that read, "I'm not Anti-Union, I'm Anti-Willie Brown." I spoke to reporters and was asked if I was the organizer and replied, "No, but I saw this on Twitter and wanted to put my money where my mouth is."

Shortly after most of the media left, 3 people came over to support us and hold balloons with slogans to help the cause of the protest: To show that the people of the city were being hurt most by this strike.

SEPTA, Union Talks Stall: Is a Class-Action Lawsuit Possible against TWU 234 and "Little" Willie Brown?

Talks between SEPTA and the union have stalled and no deal seems to be in sight.

As I noted before, Mayor Nutter's administration is looking to file an injunction to force the SEPTA workers to go back to work based on the fact that people, during a city-wide health emergency, can't go to their doctors and hospitals.

Today, I was talking with a friend and he told me he was losing money because of the strike. Since he doesn't drive or own a car, he can't go to his assignments as a substitute teacher. "Wow, you really are losing money over this!", I remarked. "I can't even get to my doctors appointments because of this thing!"

Then it came to me: A Class-action lawsuit against TWU 234's President "Little" Willie Brown.

The idea is this: Right now, it is safe to say that this strike is inconveniencing everyone, but people are actually getting into serious trouble without SEPTA. Some people can't get to their jobs, others can't get medical attention, others are forced to call ambulances to get to the hospital instead of taking a bus (in serious non-lethal emergencies), and businesses are losing money daily due to the strike.

To that end, a lawsuit seems reasonable.

This strike comes at the worst possible time: People can't get to their jobs or go to interviews, so their losing money. Because they can't get to doctors, especially during a state of medical emergency, TWU 234 is now endangering the lives of everyone in Philadelphia. Businesses are suffering because people may not be able to get to the stores, or may avoid traveling all together in fear of crowded trains and crowded roads.

Could it happen? I don't know, but I wouldn't be shocked it someone tries.

SEPTA Union Leader meet with Leaders

UPDATE: Talks resulted in "Little" Willie Brown didn't like the offer given to him by the state, which was said to be a lot like the offer given to him by SEPTA before he walked out and called a strike in the first place. It is worth noting that the offer has been said to be the best one for him.

Meanwhile, Mayor Nutter's administration is taking a step not taken in any strike of SEPTA workers in recent memory: Filling an injunction to get SEPTA workers back to work.

"The City Solicitor, the Law Department, all of our public safety areas and public health areas, have been monitoring the impact of the strike from not just an inconvenience standpoint, but a true impact on people trying to get to their doctor or their hospital."

On a personal level, this is incredibly true. I had to cancel two different doctor appointments due to the strike and put off, yet again, a visit for vital care I needed. If I had to go to the ER from my house, I couldn't take a bus (assuming it wasn't bad enough), I would have to call an ambulance, which costs over $1000.

I would like to add that I would love to see Mayor Nutter try and push a bill through City Council forcing the union into arbitration in the future so this never happens again.

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Don't call it the end yet.

"Little" Willie Brown, president of TWU 234, met with Governor Ed Rendell and Rep. Bob Brady on Thursday night.

The agreement , as it stands, is going to hurt commuters and those who rely on SEPTA. The talks are going more and more in the favor of the union members, despite them walking away from the table and causing the over 500,000 people who use the system on a daily basis to have increased difficulty getting around. As it stands, the union will still get a 11.5% raise, but other details, including their pension contributions going up or their health care costs staying the same (1%) have not yet been revealed.

The main talk among the news media right now is that this could be the end of the strike itself, but I am caustically optimistic.

At this point, the union doesn't deserve anything close to the deal that was offered to them that they went to strike over. The deal they got was as good as possible during a recession, and walking away from it was an insult, not only to the parties involved, but to everyone who needs and relies on the system to get around.

Will their deal cost you in the end? Don't be surprised if it does.

There Is No Joy in Philly...

...the Mighty Phillies struck out.

The Yankees Didn't Deserve This

"They'll win it in 6."

I was at a little deli from where I work, and it was early on a Friday morning. I was doing all I could to show my support for the Phillies, namely insulting Yankee's fans. I ran into a little "superfan." He was an older man, maybe in his late 50's, and he was dressed in a Yankee's coat and hat. I was making jokes about Cliff Lee's performance and countered with the results of Game 2. I said, "Well, we always give them Game 2; its us being nice." I don't recall the rest, but I do remember it came down to him saying, "Yankees in 6", and I remarked with some hesitation "Phillies in 5."

Over the weekend, this city got hit. Hard. Not only did we have to deal with 2 Phillies losts, but we also had to deal with the threat of a SEPTA strike. When that was gone, we had to worry about if our team could win a game again. We also got hit with the latest number, a 11% unemployment rate.

Life in Philly was taking a hit. Hard. The Phillies could and should have rallied this city back together again, but the SEPTA strike, in my opinion, spoiled the mojo of this city and its collective energy. At the same time, we brought this lost upon ourselves. How pompous and arrogant was it of us to start planning for a parade down Broad Street, simply assuming it would happen?

A win tonight and tomorrow would have given us all hope and joy. It would have been a much needed boost for the morale of this city that has been hit with more crap in the last week than we can imagine. A sports team brings us together and can bring out the best of us. Uniting for a common good, a common cause.

The Yankees didn't need this. They didn't deserve this win.

The Yankees aren't a team. In my entire life, they've never been close to a team. They are a group. They are a group of highly-paid men who play on the same team. The players are good, but there is no real sense of teamwork and collective will with the Yankees. Watching them isn't like watching a team effort, its more like watching a bunch of individual efforts.

On top of that, the Yankees have won the World Series nearly 25% of the time. TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT. They have 27 World Series titles to their name! Like one more or one less would make a difference!

And the fans... fuck you! FUCK! YOU! Come on! The stadium was empty sooner than you could imagine in Game 1 and 2, and tonight's game saw a crowd that was excited, but not even CLOSE to what you saw here in Game 5 of the World Series last year.

I saw no real passion in the Yankees, no real love of the game. The Phillies are a team in every sense of the word, and seeing Cliff Lee and Chase Utley set records and did incredible work and one of them should have been named the MVP, and Jimmy Rollins, Raul Ibanez, Shane Victarino... they were all amazing.

The Yankees didn't deserve this, but we certainly didn't play like it at times this series.

"Little" Willie Brown Explains Why He Rejected the Deal, Discusses Strike

At 11:30AM today, "Little" Willie Brown had his first press conference since calling a strike at 12:01AM on Tuesday morning. Here is the un-edited video:



Here are the headlines:

1. He walked out of the deal because of the pension. He complained that while employees only get 50% put into their pension while SEPTA management get's 90% put in.

2. He thinks Mayor Nutter, or he calls him "Little Ceaser", shouldn't be involved in talks since he's trying to keep the compromise low, and refuses to talk with him at the table.


The deal they were given was reviewed and commented on by labor experts and the verdict was unanimous: It was a pretty decent deal.

The compromise was, in the end, a good one: The workers still received a raise over 5 years of 11.5%, they did get more put into their pension (although they would have to put more into it themselves as well), and their health care contribution would remain at only 1%. Considering SEPTA wanted to raise their health care costs to 4% alone... it was a major victory in the end with all things considered.

To Willie's credit, I get the part about the pensions.... somewhat.

There's a few problems. For starters, the fact that there is a pension is amazing. How many places actually still have one, save the government? Its safe to say that paying into your own retirement makes sense and is fair, and paying 50%, to me, is a little tough but fair. The fact that SEPTA management get's 90% is crazy, and the smartest thing to do would be to accept the contract on the condition that management decreased what they got put into their own accounts. Maybe that was the case. If it was, he would have been idiotic to not mention it.

Word is that SEPTA and the unions and Ed Rendel could meet Thursday to discuss the contract. Rendell had stated Monday that if they didn't meet by Thursday he would not give SEPTA an extra $6 Million to help pay for the deal the union was given.

There is something important to consider: the funding for SEPTA is NOT set in stone.

The budget for SEPTA over the next few years depends on state funding, which in and of itself has always been iffy, but also on putting tolls on I-80. If the federal government doesn't allow us to put tolls on I-80, SEPTA will be further in the hole than before, and any and all raises and benefits won will fall on you and me, the average SEPTA rider.

As I've stated before, I do believe SEPTA management is partly to blame for what we're seeing happen with this agency. The company is horribly mismanaged and has never in its history turned a profit. Improvements to the system have been slow, with everything from basic station improvements to a updated fare system being held back.

At the same time, its hard to say that long term improvements are the fault of management. Its the same story as always: If you're spending a ton on your employees and day-to-day operating costs, how can you afford to do things to improve you company?

SEPTA spokesperson Jerri Williams spoke to NBC10 about the strike as well:



SEPTA is willing to talk and get this taken care of. Will "Little" Willie Brown be willing to do the same?

Expecting Parents: Want A Book of Names to Ruin Your Kids Life?

George Carlin hit the nail on the head! Want to hear a real name? Eddie, Jackie, Bobby... those are REAL names!

Well, now there's a new book out to ruin the lives of your children, a big 'ol book of names called "Rocking Names!"

Seriously, what the hell?! Who the hell names their kid ZON?"Honey, let call him Bink!"

There is a plus, though: This book isn't in English, it's for the Netherlands. So, unless your from that part of the world, and you're about to have a kid who most likely will grow up to play kick-ass metal.... please, don't name your kid Rembrandt unless you feel like healing their wounds from getting beatten up once a week by Tony, Eddie, and Buck.

KYW Newsradio 1060 Philadelphia - Gov. Rendell On SEPTA Strike

Ed Rendell went on KYW Newsradio 1060, and he outlined a TON of stuff. This includes the fact that the union didn't vote on this, or how they refused a sweetheart deal.

KYW Newsradio 1060 Philadelphia - Gov. Rendell On SEPTA Strike

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An Open Letter To TWU 234 Leader Willie Brown

Dear Willie Brown,

Hey. How are you?

I don't know if you read blogs or not, or if you consider the opinions of others a waste of time. By your reaction over the past 2 weeks, I'm inclined to think its the later. In case you didn't know, I've been writing a lot about you and your leadership and the way you handled the current SEPTA negotiations.

You have taken out ads saying that you're looking out for the "working man", that what you want is a "civil rights issue". You know what? I actually agree with you. I don't want to pay anything for my health insurance cost, I want my company to give me more money for my pension, and holy hell, a 19% raise GUARANTEED over 4 years?! Throw in a no lay-off clause, and I think its safe to say I'm set for life! That's the type of deal anyone working for a company these days would kill for, the type of deal I know countless people would want.

Sadly, I live in the world where you can't always get what you want. I live in a world where health care costs are rising so much that in order to keep health care services, not only did they need to raise our contribution, but they also raised our co-pays. The pension is the same, which is fine by me, but raises? Well, I can't say much about myself, but I know a lot of people who didn't get one this year because everyone is hurting this year. I even know people who got laid-off and outright fired by sneaky means by their companies.

Willie, you want the best for your members, and that's admirable and understandable. The fact that you are willing to risk not only your wages and money, but those of all your members to get what you want, the fact that you may actually be risking your jobs because they could simply fire you all (or at least quite a few) for not working... wow.

But I can't agree with your methods at all.

You've been working without a contract for 7 months, since March in fact. You talked with management until your contract expired, but I can only assume that you decided not to authorize a call for a strike because there is no way your workers could survive without a paycheck. So you waited and waited. You didn't talk to management at all, you just kept working. Over time, you spent money, union money, on newspaper ads and television ads, where you talked about how SEPTA wasn't willing to give you everything you wanted. You said that because they saw an increase in ridership, they should be able to give you more. Since March, they've been losing ridership and money.

So you waited and waited until the last week of October, conveniently enough, the weekend before the World Series, a Eagles vs Giants game, a sold-out concert, and more. You waited until you had the city by the balls and could squeeze as hard as possible to get what you wanted for your union. Then you threatened to walk out right as the games started. Then you agreed to talk past the deadline and not strike.

Now you, Willie Brown, the man who wants to look out for the "common man", the man who wants to make sure "civil rights" are respected... Now YOU have shown you don't care about any of that.

You went on strike at 12:01 AM without any warning of it, stranding thousands of commuters and leaving us to scramble at the last minute! You left the table when you were offered a 11% raise over 5 years, an 11% pension increase, and NO RISE in your health care benefits! YOU! YOU JERK! YOU GREEDY LITTLE PIG! YOU walked away from a compromise. YOU have decided it would no be in the interest of "the working man" to take the deal and STRIKE.

Willie Brown, you don't care about the working man. You don't care about us. All you care about is getting what you want and you don't care how. If union dues rise in turn, I wouldn't be surprised by that, either.

You've taken any chance, ANY CHANCE, of the common working man supporting your union and your cause away with your dirty tactics and the fact that you STRANDED THOUSANDS OF WORKERS AND PEOPLE!!!! You want our support? You lost it!

Right now, I hope YOU get fired. Not the members, but the ENTIRE TWU Local 234 leadership!

Willie, that's how I feel, and trust me, I'm one of the nicer ones.

SEPTA ON STRIKE!

In a shocking turn of even, TWU Local 234 is now ON STRIKE.

Despite a call not to strike at all, especially not during the World Series, Willie Brown WALKED OUT OF THE TALKS! In turn, workers walked off the job and took to the picket lines. The walkout happened at 12:01AM this morning, and will effect all Bus, Subway, and Trolly service in Philadelphia. Regional Rail is not effected. The strike will be effective as of 3AM.

The talks fell apart over the pension and pay.

The silver lining? The walk out waited until AFTER the World Series, so everyone at the game should be able to get home safely. On top of that, while the loss of SEPTA will be a problem, it will not be the horrible doomsday scenario we would have seen this weekend.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

It is worth noting that TWU 234 has also purchased more air time to support their cause as they complain about SEPTA not giving them more money.

Don't Win It For Us.... Win It For Harry

Going into the World Series, Philadelphian's had something they haven't had about a team with an amount of certainty you rarely see: Pure cockiness.

As soon as it was announced the Phillies were the NLDS Champs, talk began of the Parade down Broad Street, and how SEPTA would handle it compared to last year. Many were contemplating how great it would be to go see Game 5 at Citizens Bank Park and what they had planned that night. Phillies fans are smart, but we seem to have a short memory. In this city, there was no talk of parades last year until after the World Series won. We learned from the Eagles, Flyers, and 76ers, that you can't put the cart before the horse.

This year, though, we seemed to have forgotten why we fight.

This year was not about a "repeat". It was not about going back to the World Series. It wasn't about winning the NLDS or even the NLCS. It wasn't about selling out the stadium, a possible parade, or even the players. No, this season started out about being the best damn baseball team we could be, but by April, it meant something else.

This year is about winning it for Harry.

Harry Kalas, the voice of the Phillies, was taken from all of us on April 12th, 2009. In turn, we had a day of mourning for him and the Phillies have worn his initials over their hearts. Whenever I watch a Phillies game this season, I see that patch and I remember those great days with Harry and I always get a little sad. But all season long, no matter how sad, mad, or furious I may be over the Phillies, as the season and post season has gone on, I can only think of how Harry must be looking down from us and smiling that his team may just, just maybe, do it again.

To the Philadelphia Phillies

Churchill's Speech

We shall go on to the end.
We shall fight in France,
We shall fight on the seas and oceans,
We shall fight with GROWING confidence and GROWING strength in the air.
We shall defend our island whatever the cost may be.
We shall fight on beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds,
We shall fight in the fields and in the streets.
We shall fight in the hills,
We shall never surrender!

SEPTA: No Strike, But That's Not the End of the Story

There will be no SEPTA strike this year, so the doomsday scenario we all worried about will not come to pass. This is thanks to Governor Ed Rendell ordering Willie Brown, President of TWU 234, to keep services running during the talks.

But right now, things may be dire for riders as the first bit of news from the contract talks come out:

Health-care issues had been resolved, and the sides were reported to be close to an agreement on wages as talks ended for the day at 10:15 p.m. at the Bellevue. The two sides were to reconvene at 6 p.m. today.

As he was leaving the Bellevue, Willie Brown, the new president of Transport Workers Union Local 234, said members would not see an increase in their contributions to the cost of health insurance. Members currently contribute 1 percent of their base pay toward coverage.

Considering the fact SEPTA wanted them to pay 4%, this can't be good for riders unless funding is coming from the state to cover this. At this point, this isn't a compromise, its giving into the demand of the union.

Again, Brown has allowed his members to work for 7 MONTHS without a contract before striking, and the average SEPTA bus driver makes $50k+ after 4 years of service with guaranteed raises every year.

The next hurdle now is pay raises, and this is what we're looking at: SEPTA is offering a 9% pay raise over 4 years, while TWU Local 234 wants 19%.

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I've been writing a lot about this over the last week, and its largely because this is a systematic problem that has plagued this city for YEARS! Its nothing short of insane that, nearly every few years, we have the leadership of TWU 234 demanding more and more from a company that has NEVER turned a profit. Its irritating that they hold nearly 80,000 people who rely on the system on a daily basis hostage while making insane demands that can't be covered due to funding issues from both riders (ridership has gone down since gas prices got cheap again) and the state (funding for SEPTA right now depends on the I-80 toll being approved).

SEPTA is an agency on the ropes, and has been for a long time. In 2007 they warned that they would have to cut and eliminate services if they didn't get the funding they needed, and in the end they did get their funding, but raised fairs for Regional Rail riders.

TWU 234's contract expired in March and they didn't strike. It was the first time in a long time that we saw this happen, and I actually gained some new respect for the union at the same time. In my eyes, they realized two things: Going on strike would not help their reputation, and it would hurt their members since they wouldn't get paid during a strike. Considering the economy the way it is, it was a smart move.

In the end, both sides are to blame for holding economic guns to the heads of the people who work for and those who rely on SEPTA.

SEPTA and TWU 234: No Deal, And Still No Sttike

UPDATE: SEPTA and TWU 234 went past the midnight deadline and continued talking through the night. No strike has been called by Willie Brown, the President of the TWU 234. Talks will continue until 6PM tonight, but a strike can be called at any time.

So, my opinion?

I think its safe to say the call for a strike was, more or less, a bluff, which makes perfect sense considering the fact that Willie Brown has a history of, well, being a fucking drama queen. Did you pick up a copy of this weekend's Philadelphia Metro? There's a giant PAID ad on the back of the newspaper where they try to convince the public that "we don't want to strike, but we have to." Then you have the ad before it that was, in essence, race-baiting. The strike vote and and date set for the strike were all ploys in order to get what he wanted.

People like Willie Brown are smart, but in the end, their assholes. He may have read up on Sun Zsu, but he never read The 48 Laws of Power. Simply put, you never destroy your public reputation in order to get what you want.

At the same time, it goes back to the entire fact I brought up, namely that Philadelphia Sports Fans aren't exactly going to be happy. If a strike is called for during the World Series, or if it happens just as people are going to the stadiums, I can say, without a doubt, without a moment of hesitation, that there will be fighting and there will be blood as angry fans are met with closed gates and no buses. Neither side will want the blame.

It's worth pointing out that this is, in essence,t he only thing I've written about all week. Check out the older stories on this issue.

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It's 12:34AM and the Union is still talking with SEPTA with a State mediator. No indicator talks have stopped, none of a strike as well. Some progress is being made.

It's 11:00PM: SEPTA Strike 2009 Looks Likely

Talks between SEPTA and TWU Local 234 shutdown tonight in Philadelphia. TWU Local 234 President Willie Brown wants, on behalf of the union he represents, a guaranteed 4% annual raise and a 25% rise in their yearly pension contribution from SEPTA.

Now, admittedly, this blog has had a VERY anti-TWU 234 opinion. I think you can understand why, as a rider, Philadelphia Sports Fan, worker bee, etc... I'm pretty mad. So, with that said, I am going to try and be fair and point out the sheer facts.

So, here we go:

What TWU 234 wants:
A 4% Annual Raise for their 4-year contract
Health Care contributions from employees to remain at 1%
Increase of pension contributions from $75 to $100 a year
Source

What SEPTA wants:
No raise for the first 2 years, and a 2% raise
Health Care contributions from employees to rise to 4%
Freeze the current pension contribution level
Source

What Do SEPTA Employees Make:
Bus, Subway, and Trolly Workers - $14.54 to $24.24 an hour ($30k - $50k a year)
Mechanics - $14.40 to $27.59 an hour ($30k - $57k a year)
Cashier - $50k a year, plus annual raises
Source
-Cashier Source


Now, let's talk about how SEPTA is wasting money, and how this effects you. SEPTA is one of the very few, if not only, mass transit systems that insists on gender ID stickers. They don't work, they act as a form of discrimination, and more importantly, ITS A WASTE OF MONEY.

One thing we always do in these situations as well is blame the workers. If I had a nickle every time I saw someone post "Fire them all and start from scratch", I would by a CD. Right now, the problem is that Brown waited 7 months to actually talk to management, and in turn waited until now to authorize a strike vote.

Let's also deal with this fact: $30 to $50k.... it isn't a bad deal if you don't have a big family. If its just you and a loved-one (who works), you're fine. Throw in a kid, and $50k is good. Myself? I don't make as much as a Bus Driver, and I know a lot of people with degrees and who work their fingers to the bone who don't, either. In the eyes of the working class, its a decent sale, and with a city with an unemployment rate of 10.7%, it looks really nice right now. Throw in a pension fund and a low health care fee, and you have a great job benefit deal with a decent pay rate.

TWU 234 leadership has been taking out ads, calling their strike a "call for the common man". To a degree, their right. With banks getting bailouts, benefits and pay being cut for most workers, who wouldn't want a Working Class Joe to strike back and get a decent days pay from an agency that's big, bloated, and hogs the cash? If you read the last paragraph, I think we know why.

My Predictions

What's my predictions? Right now, Nutter has stated that there will be increased police presence in Philadelphia, especially around the South Philly complexes, and he is already called for people to stay cool. The Phillies have plans just in case, although they haven't been disclosed yet.

IF SEPTA workers strike, it won't last past Sunday. I already see fist-fights breaking out between fans and picketing union members, and the union leadership buckling because of tone simple fact: Their demands are somewhat just and fair (a raise makes sense, but not 4% annually), and the cost for the rider will be tough. The base fair in Philadelphia is $2, one of the highest in the nation. If it goes up, riders will not be happy and ridership will decrease even more.

And one last note: There are very, very, VERY few people who are supporting the union at this time. A strike, especially this weekend, will not help them in any popularity contest.

Photo courtesy.

The SEPTA Strike and Philly Sports: This Could Get Ugly

TWU 234, you have a real public relations problem and here's why:

1. People feel you get paid too much and only want what you want out of greed.

2. You waited 7 months and until the World Series to strike, picking the busiest weekend possible.

3. You made your union members pay MORE IN DUES last year, which may be why they need more money.

4. You took out an ad that doubles as race-baiting against SEPTA because you weren't getting your way.

5. You have a provision in your contracts that allow your members who are hurt to become cashiers and get double-wages AND raises.

6. You want MORE money and MORE benefits during a time when everyone in America is cutting back and suffering.


Right now, here's the situation: TWU 234 goes on strike at 12:01AM tomorrow, this weekend is going to be fucked. "Messed-up" would be more polite, so would even "Screwed". But this... this is a situation where the word "fucked" is the only appropriate word, because it would be! This weekend, you have TWO World Series Games, the Eagles against the NY Giants, Pearl Jam, the Flyers, and if there's anything else, I must have forgotten. But ALL of that is happening this weekend!

So far, talks have been stalled with no progress from either side.

Now, during 99% of the time when people in Philadelphia aren't worried about a strike, we complain about how and why SEPTA sucks. How the service is slow, the workers rude (sometimes), the schedules off, the high fares, and countless other problems with nearly every aspect of the company. So why is it, when the strike looms and starts, we never take the side of the workers and of SEPTA?

Because while we may be mad and angry over the service, we know that this is partly due to the union in and of itself. One problem with SEPTA right now? The bus drivers and supervisors. On an average weekday, drivers may start out early but due to the GPS system in their bus they may have to slow down or stop in order not to get in trouble. On Sunday's, with no supervisors, buses tend to come and go as they please.

Who's to blame for this? I don't know. Maybe SEPTA for wanting accountability of their drivers, and maybe the union workers for not doing their job right and now facing these reprimands from management. I don't know.

Right now, this is about to get ugly.

I was speaking to a few people and we all have the same fear: A SEPTA strike is going to get ugly in the worst possible way. This is largely because of one fact both sides are ignoring one factor: The Philadelphia Sports Fan.

We are not easy people to deal with. We're fine and nice and polite most of the time, but when it comes to our sports, we don't screw around in this town! The riots when the Phillies won could be nothing compared to the reaction from fans unable to watch their hometown play in the World Series after paying over $300 to stand there. The anger of fans unable to see the Eagles play against the Giants.

Could people get so angry and upset over this that they would start actual fights against either side in order to get SEPTA union members back to work? Could we see crowds of people lining up at Broad Street Subway stations demanding to be let on despite a fight, starting riots? Could we see full-scale riots due to a strike? Yankees fans and Giants fans coming down from New York City, pissed that they can't make it to the stadium because of no public transit, mixed with Phillies and Eagles fans?

Sunday, bloody Sunday, it could be.

Personally, I hope this stays as civil as possible between everyone: The union, management... and all the fans. I doubt there would be actual fights, but I don't dismiss it. Try to stay cool, and hey, everyone could just walk down to the stadium and enjoy the game on radios and cheer and boo outside the stadium. A good time to be had by all!

SEPTA, TWU 234? Get your shit together, get to the bargaining table, AND WORK THIS OUT! NOW!

Photo courtesy of Brownstoner.

The Problem With TWU 234 and Unions: A Response to a Comment

It's rare that I respond to a comment in general, and this is the first time I've dedicated an entire entry to a response.

I saw this comment, and I honestly think it warrants a full response from me:

Hmmmm I spent most of my adult life avoiding working for a Union. Most of my family are in Unions, including TWU 234.

But I have a family and child with medical needs that had me chasing good Medical Benefits and pay all my adult "working" life!

I have had to pay up to $1300.00 a month for family coverage. And when I would get a raise, it would be dissolved into higher Medical Coverage costs! EVERY YEAR!

I had to work longer hours and spend less time at home. I would have to suffer no pay days off just to see the kid's school play. I would sell my vacation back to my work to afford Christmas.

So I have managed up to 30 associates and held a good Management position while doing all this.

Then after years of growing business and expanding the work as well as the companies profit. I was laid off.

That's when I understood Unions and their purpose.

It is not greed my friend. It is protecting your work and fighting for fair wages and benefits.

Last year I would have stood 100% behind you on this. But after what I have been through in the last 15 years. I was forced to face a question.

This question was where can I work that will give me affordable Medical Coverage for my child and wife, while make enough money to keep ahead of the quick rising cost of living while using my non-college educated experience in customer service?

Then I was faced with a tougher question. Who will hire me in 2009 while the economy takes a dive and companies are laying off all over?

SEPTA was the "ONLY" company that called me back. I had a CDL already so it was set to happen.

I once was on the out side. Now I am on the inside. But it was the outside that convinced me.

Ask not what is wrong with Unions/SEPTA/TWU 234. But ask why is it that in 2009, that people are fighting for just the cost of living increases? You have a few facts wrong, and so does the article you linked. That's why it is getting shredded as we speak.

You have every right to your opinion. But that's what should be noted. It is your opinion. Not facts, nor from what I see, you have no idea what it is like as a father and husband trying to give his family the best life he can give them.

I hope the Phillies win. And I get the deserved terms that I work my ass off for. You should get what you work for right?

gfunkerror: By no means am I trying to be anti-union, and I am sorry if my response came off as such. More than anything, and I think you understand, I'm not Anti-Union: I'm anti-TWU 234.

The leadership of TWU 234 is crooked, plain and simple. They have allowed the workers they are designated to protect to work without a contract without striking since March. Its been over 7 months. Within that time, neither side has made an effort to actually meet at the bargaining table, and SEPTA ran as usual without any strikes. All the while, the leadership of TWU 234 spent money on ads they took out in local newspapers and on Television complaining about how SEPTA isn't meeting their demands for more money.

The idea of a union is to protect its workers and demand fair treatment. The problem, though, is that the demands of the leadership of the union are unreasonable to most people. They originally went on strike in 2005 because they didn't want to contribute ANYTHING to their health care, and now they pay a simple 1%. With health care costs rising and co-pays with them, this is now the second biggest issue and here's why:

The union does not want to increase its health-care contributions, but does want to increase its pension benefit to $100, up from $75, for every year of service. The union also wants to remove the cap for those earning more than $50,000 a year, so that their benefits are commensurate with their salaries.

In essence, they want more for less. I've seen numbers saying that SEPTA wanted a measly 4% from them of health care costs and offered them a yearly raise, although I agree that it's not enough at only 2% during the 2nd and 3rd years.

Also, lets go back to the fact that last week was the first time SEPTA and TWU 234 sat down to actually TALK about this since MARCH. Seven MONTHS. Why, why, WHY did it take 7 months for TWU 234 to agree to sit down with management? Why did they, instead of sitting down in April and working out a fair and honest deal as soon as possible they benefit both sides, did they wait until AFTER the Phillies were in the World Series? Why did they wait to vote on a strike until AFTER the Phillies were going to play in the World Series? Why did they wait until the first DAY of the series in Philadelphia to actually go on strike?

Greed, for lack of a better word.

The leadership of TWU 234 doesn't care about their workers or protecting their rights. Instead of working over the last 7 months to get a deal, they now are holding SEPTA to the wall and holding the city hostage to get what they want. These thugs are holding economic guns to their heads and want their demands met.

A strike will hurt this city. Traffic will be a nightmare, the city could lose millions in revenue it would have gained from the playoffs, and they're forcing their agenda on SEPTA and the riders. If the cost of riding one of the most expensive public transit systems in America goes up AGAIN, the union will lose more public support! In fact, that's the biggest problem TWU 234 faces: Public opinion. In the eyes of many in Philadelphia, TWU 234 leaders are, as I've said, simply thugs hellbent of take as much as possible from taxpayers and riders for their own gain while their workers still struggle.

The fact that they decided to wait until NOW to strike doesn't help, and the public is far from the side of the workers.

No one is disputing that they deserve fair wages, but there are problems with the system, most notably the fact that SEPTA cashiers are pulling in duel-incomes of $55k a year with a 4% raise each year. SEPTA needs to eliminate the practice of letting people do that instead of getting disability, and TWU 234 needs to agree that this needs to stop.

Am I anti-union? No. I've actually considered joining a freelancers union myself because they offer benefits and protections you don't have as an independent worker. At the same time, they also offer various problems and restrictions. It used to be for a long time that you couldn't get certain jobs unless you were a member of a union, and that has changed greatly over the years. Will unions come back? I hope so to a large degree, but only if we start asking questions about how they are run, who runs them, and if they actually help the workers or hurt them.