In Boston-An Open Call from "Camp Charlie"-Rescind The Fare Hikes And Service Cuts Now!

An Open Call from Camp Charlie

Dear Fellow T-Riders:

On April 4, 2012, Occupy MBTA launched a ten-day occupa­tion at the State House. This occupation is a direct response to the approval of the draconian MBTA FY 2013 budget by the Mass DOT Board of Directors on April 4. They plan to cut services, to raise fares by 23%, and to jack up the price of the RIDE service by 125% or more! To make you pay more for less.

This is an unjust tax on the 99%, at a time when the 1%, the corporations, the millionaires and billionaires are getting their taxes cut! Indeed,'Big Banks are getting rich off the interest on the very debt that caused the T's budget crisis; they profit from our suffering.

In alliance with T-riders across Boston, we call for a "People's Veto" over the MBTA's budget. We are occupying at the State House to rally state residents to help us to stop these fare hikes, service cuts, and layoffs of transit workers before they start. We are asking you to help us!

We Demand: "No Hikes! No Cuts! No Worker Layoffs!" & a Fully-Funded, Sustainable, Transportation Plan that Works for the 99% of All Massachusetts, (not just the 1%)!

We believe that Public Transportation is a right, and must be defended as such. Join us in the fight to  Defend Public Transportation. For the sake of workers, the poor, the elderly, the youth, and the l disabled. For the sake of city, the air we breathe, and the climate -we depend on. Come support Occupation on the Statehouse Steps.

People's needs must be put before the Profits of a Few!

We call our State House occupation "Camp Charlie," in honor of the famous character in the "Charlie on the MTA," who is forever trapped underground on the subway because he—like many of us—cannot afford a fare increase. Help us to "Free Charlie!" from the bonds of state deprivation and big bank profiteering. Let's Free Charlie from the chains of debt! Visit www.occupymbta.orj more information.