Organizing Riders, Organizing Riders, Saving America’s Saving America’s

Economy & Economy & DemocracyDemocracy

Greg LeRoyGreg LeRoy

Executive Director, Good Jobs FirstExecutive Director, Good Jobs First

Center for Transportation ExcellenceCenter for Transportation Excellence

Webinar ~ 4/10/12Webinar ~ 4/10/12

Good Jobs First:Good Jobs First:A Resource for TransitA Resource for Transit

and Smart Growth Advocatesand Smart Growth Advocates

Independent, non-partisan, non-Independent, non-partisan, non-profit founded in 1998, based in DCprofit founded in 1998, based in DC

Promoting accountable economic Promoting accountable economic development and “smart growth for development and “smart growth for working families”working families”

www.goodjobsfirst.orgwww.goodjobsfirst.org

It’s the Jobs, It’s the Jobs, Stupid!Stupid!

Corporate tax breaks for Corporate tax breaks for “economic development” “economic development” are pro-sprawl, anti-transit are pro-sprawl, anti-transit

Sprawl is anti-union (not Sprawl is anti-union (not just anti-transit, anti-UFCW)just anti-transit, anti-UFCW)

1,500 State 1,500 State Job-Subsidy Job-Subsidy Programs – Programs – yet None yet None Links Job Links Job Creation Creation with with Workplace Workplace Access via Access via TransitTransit

Region-Specific Case Region-Specific Case StudiesStudies

Twin Cities (twice) Twin Cities (twice)

Michigan (seven metros)Michigan (seven metros)

ChicagoChicago

Cleveland + CincinnatiCleveland + Cincinnati

BuffaloBuffalo

[now seeking next region][now seeking next region]

Twin Cities Metro Area: Subsidized Business Relocations(Mostly TIF),1999-2003

Twin Cities Metro: Subsidized Business Relocations’ Impact on Job Access via Transit

New Flash! New ATU New Flash! New ATU PresidentPresident

Larry Hanley, Larry Hanley, dynamic dynamic

reform reform leader, is leader, is hell-bent hell-bent

on transit on transit rider rider

organizingorganizing

2010 & 2011 Community-2010 & 2011 Community-Labor “Boot Camps”Labor “Boot Camps”

Rider-Organizing Rider-Organizing ManualManual

Rider-Organizing Rider-Organizing ManualManual

Eight case studies, exemplary Eight case studies, exemplary organizingorganizing

Six common elements of successSix common elements of success

Organizing checklists with links Organizing checklists with links (community, labor, environmental/EJ, (community, labor, environmental/EJ, business, smart growth)business, smart growth)

National directory of all known rider National directory of all known rider groupsgroups

Boot Camp Takeaway #1:Boot Camp Takeaway #1:Too Few Established Rider Too Few Established Rider

GroupsGroups Some accomplished groups (e.g., NYC, LA, Some accomplished groups (e.g., NYC, LA,

Twin Cities, Bay Area, Washington state) or Twin Cities, Bay Area, Washington state) or rising (e.g. Boston)rising (e.g. Boston)

Two networks: TEN and TRPTTwo networks: TEN and TRPT

Crisis coalition-episodes in various metrosCrisis coalition-episodes in various metros

But lack of capacity in many systems (e.g., But lack of capacity in many systems (e.g., DC, Atlanta, Philly, Denver, Southeastern & DC, Atlanta, Philly, Denver, Southeastern & Southwestern states)Southwestern states)

Takeaway #2: High Interest Takeaway #2: High Interest from Rainbow of Groupsfrom Rainbow of Groups

Community/faith-based, community-Community/faith-based, community-labor, bicyclist, environmental/EJ, Citizen labor, bicyclist, environmental/EJ, Citizen Action, disability, consumer, student Action, disability, consumer, student

Keen interest in working with ATU localsKeen interest in working with ATU locals

More rider groups founded recently More rider groups founded recently (due to more funding crises) (due to more funding crises)

Takeaway #3: Takeaway #3: National Resource GapsNational Resource Gaps

CFTE = ballot initiative expertiseCFTE = ballot initiative expertise

TEN = local organizing, federal advocacyTEN = local organizing, federal advocacy

TRPT = EJ capacity buildingTRPT = EJ capacity building

But lots of needs: more boot camps, new But lots of needs: more boot camps, new organizing in many systems, more organizing in many systems, more money, more connections to existing money, more connections to existing resourcesresources

Need for pro-active & strategic targeting Need for pro-active & strategic targeting

AnnouncingAnnouncing

Americans Americans for Transitfor Transit

Founders: ATU and Good Jobs First Founders: ATU and Good Jobs First

Mission: Create, strengthen and unite Mission: Create, strengthen and unite transit rider-organizing campaignstransit rider-organizing campaigns

StructureStructure Independent non-profit 501 (C) (3)Independent non-profit 501 (C) (3)

Seed-funded by ATU w/ $100K; Search for Seed-funded by ATU w/ $100K; Search for ED now underwayED now underway

ATU, Good Jobs First as top board officersATU, Good Jobs First as top board officers

Other founding board members: Dr. Other founding board members: Dr. Beverly Scott and Bill LynchBeverly Scott and Bill Lynch

Good Jobs First = fiscal agent & landlordGood Jobs First = fiscal agent & landlord

Companion 501 (C) (4) able to lobbyCompanion 501 (C) (4) able to lobby

Potential TargetingPotential Targeting(in addition to above-stated (in addition to above-stated

gaps)gaps) Systems with budget storms on horizonSystems with budget storms on horizon

Systems with budget opportunities to Systems with budget opportunities to growgrow

Key states and Congressional DistrictsKey states and Congressional Districts

States fighting voter suppressionStates fighting voter suppression

Voter SuppressionVoter Suppression

Red = law introduced. ID = Photo ID enacted. Star = proof of citizenship enacted. Pen in hand = voter registration restricted. Envelope = early/absentee voting restricted.

Gavel = executive order makes it harder to restore voting rights.

Time for Our OwnTime for Our Own“Transit-Industrial “Transit-Industrial

Complex”Complex” Transit Workers & Unions (& Transit Workers & Unions (&

Agencies) Agencies)

Transit RidersTransit Riders

Transit Vehicle Transit Vehicle Manufacturers & UnionsManufacturers & Unions

Pro-Transit EmployersPro-Transit Employers

Contact Us!Contact Us!

Greg LeRoyGreg LeRoy

Executive DirectorExecutive Director

Good Jobs FirstGood Jobs First

goodjobs@goodjobsfirst.orggoodjobs@goodjobsfirst.org

www.goodjobsfirst.orgwww.goodjobsfirst.org

202-232-1616 x 211202-232-1616 x 211