1. Building (Transit) People’s Political Power Americans for Transit CFTE June 2013

2. Who we are Americans for Transit’s mission is to strengthen, create, and unite grassroots transit rider organizations across the country. Founded in May of 2012 year by the Amalgamated Transit Union & Good Jobs First. Conduct national capacity building trainings, develop & distribute training materials, provide on the ground support in targeted areas, and build a national coalition of grassroots transit rider organizations.

3. Who we are

4. Who am I? Political Hack…

5. Turned Transit Nerd/lover/advocate/organizer…

6. As Transit Advocates, Organizers, & Proponents we ALL have problems…

7. #Transitprobs

8. #Transitprobs.09 Cent Fare Increase

9. #Transitprobs 2009 Cuts! NOW?

10. #Transitprobs

11. #Transitprobs

12. #Transitprobs

13. One SOLUTION TO ALL Of These problems??? Overcrowding Fare increases/Service cuts Route abandonments/layoffs/people can’t get to work Lack of public support Lack of POLITICAL SUPPORT?

14. One SOLUTION… Are you Crazy?

15. Maybe… But Together we can stop the proverbial bus crash…

16. Not to mention today’s news… Voting Rights Act Axed!! Which will directly hurt many transit users political voice…

17. The Solution to our #Transitprobs

18. What Do all of these photos have in common? Building (Transit) People’s POLITICAL POWER. Why?

19. Because these fair public servants…

20. Have a common ultimate goal…

21. We Know WHY we need political power So the last question is… HOW?

22. 1- Organize Transit Riders (& Supporters http://americansfortransit.org/transit-organizing- directory/

23. Rally the Transit & Mobility Nerds!

24. 2- Organize/Partner with Drivers and Labor Broadly

25. 3- Galvanize Transit supportive businesses http://www.goodjobsfirst.org/bossesforbuses Many people in the room TODAY & &

26. 4- Make Transit an Electoral Issue! #Transitvote

27. ATU 1 Million Rider Flyers in 2012

28. Rider Flyers

29. SC1 Special Election Education

30. We HAVE to make these folks… Feel that they CAN NOT say NO to greater investment in Public Transit for the people who rely on it and use it every single day!

31. Because if they don’t (care about and invest in public transit & its riders…) This will happen to them…

32. Stay in Touch! Like us on Facebook at /Americansfortransit Follow us at Twitter @A4Transit website www.americansfortransit.org Email me with additional questions or news you’d like to share with national pro- transit audience. Andrew@Americansfortransit.org