Snow days usually mean scrambling to find a baby sitter or taking the day off of work to stay with kids off of school. They mean wet feet, longer commutes, and cranky commuters. But on March 7, 2007, snow days took on a whole new meaning at the Allegheny County Court House.

Nearly 100 people braved the elements and risked frostbitten toes to gather on the court house steps as the Campaign to Stop the Bus Cuts launched with a spirited rally. [See Photos]

Speakers from SEIU, representing the thousands of janitors that work downtown, UniteHere, representing city Hotel Workers, High School Students, and members of the Campaign all passionately relayed there stories of what the proposed cuts would cost them and their communities.

After the impassioned series of speakers, Barney Oursler, from the Mon Valley Unemployed Committee, led the fired up crowd in a March around the building, through the metal detectors and up to the door of the County Executive Dan Onorato.

Despite security’s attempts to turn the crowd away at the door Campaign leaders Khari Mosley and Gabe Morgan insisted they be allowed to enter the office to offer the petitions to Mr. Onorato.

With News Cameras keeping steady watch, Mosley and Morgan spoke with Mr. Onorato for 15 minutes, encouraging him to address the crowd and receive the petitions.

Success! Onorato came into the hall to announce that he would be going to Harrisburg within two weeks to talk to legislators about the need for dedicated public transit funding. Then he personally accepted the over 12,000 signatures, handed to him by each of the rally participants.

While the event was a success, it represents a beginning, not an end. Today started the campaign.

Keep the petitions coming and watch for what’s next, because you know it gets fun from here!

Here’s some of the activities that have been going on throughout the county in opposition to the cuts:

In Brookline, the Community Council’s energetic opposition to the cuts helped several politicians to oppose them. City Council representative Motznik urged everyone to call and write Bland and Onorato. Mayor Ravenstahl said the cuts are too harsh. (His city planner pointed out that 11 city neighborhoods will lose ALL bus service, including Brookline).

The St. Claire Village Tenants Council got State Representative Jake Wheatley to walk with them from their old stops in the community up the hill to Mt. Oliver through snowy hills and streets with no sidewalks. Rep. Wheatley sent a letter to the Tenants Council stating that he had changed his mind, and he is now opposing the service cut to their community.

We have held 6 community meetings throughout the county where hundreds of public transit riders were given the tools to organize on their buses and in their communities to stop the cuts.

For several Wednesdays in a row, SEIU Local 3 members have gathered signatures at downtown intersections. SEIU Activist, Dee McCoy remarked," It's amazing how people just come right up to us, wanting to sign their name!"

The union activists wonder, who (if anyone) wants these cuts!

At noon on April 27th around 200 folks gathered on the steps of the County Courthouse to demand that the Port Authority open its books. Khari Mosley kicked things off getting the crowd riled up with chants of "stop the cuts" and a call to "open the books." Video is below; also see photos and report at the League.

Again, see photos and report at the Pittsburgh League of Young Voters website.

On April 27, hundreds of riders rallied in front of the County Courthouse. One of our demands was to publish the new schedules. It was cruel and unfair, we told Dan Onorato, to make riders wait till the last minute to see how the first round of service cuts would change their lives. At long last, Port Authority has released the schedules.

Click on the link below to view the new schedules:
http://www.portauthority.org/PAAC/Default.aspx?tabid=371

With the support of County Executive Dan Onorato, the Port Authority plans to go ahead with their 15% service cut on June 17. And they're talking about cutting another 10% in September!

This first round of cuts is just a taste of what's coming in September unless riders come together to force our elected officials to stop the cuts and get the funding that we need from Harrisburg.

It's not too late to stop the cuts! If you want to help, join us at our May 31 rally in Mellon Square and sign up to volunteer.

On Friday, May 31 the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 85 and the Campaign to Stop the Bus Cuts organized a rally to protest the service cuts and layoffs and to tell our state legislators to provide adequate, dedicated funding for mass transit.

Over 400 people attended the rally. It was led by Pat McMahon, President-Business Agent for ATU Local 85. Speakers included State Rep. Chelsa Wagner, Allegheny County Labor Council President Jack Shea, Barney Oursler from the Campaign to Stop the Bus Cuts, UNITE-HERE Western PA Director Sam Williamson, and many others.

All speakers denounced the service cuts and layoffs and called upon Port Authority workers, riders, and the rest of labor and the community to continue the fight for adequate, dedicated funding for mass transit.