Alameda’s AC Transit Meeting recap
On Saturday, I attended the AC Transit service reduction workshop at Independence Plaza along with about 120 other folks. Someone called both the Fire Dept and the Police because the room was over capacity. The meeting went well: 30-minute presentation of what was happening, 60-minutes of discussion with planners. After the presentation, the meeting broke up into the dreaded “small groups.” Whereby everyone had their constitutional rights to a voice in public process squashed by being given one-on-one access to AC Transit planners who listened carefully to their concerns and discussed issues and options. AC Transit obviously hasn’t been told that in Alameda, not being able to grandstand in front of a large group of people is tantamount to not being heard.
When the presentation was over, about 1/3 of the room got up and left. Most were kids who had been organized to protest things that weren’t actually going to happen. (aka: the west end losing all its transit). That helped the Fire code violation considerably. And it wasn’t like it was a waste of their time, they got to hear first hand what is planned and feel assured that the service they care about will remain, albeit in a changed and slightly reduced fashion.
Turn out in Alameda was twice Berkeley’s and about 3 times as big as Oakland’s. Alamedans love their public process, and that’s a great thing.
The school district was out in force, and was able to hook up with the planners of the school routes to make sure that everything works to the benefit of the students. One of the concerns that came up was regarding Island High and its non-standard school hours, listening in on the conversation, it sounded like it would be dealt with.
All in all, a good, positive meeting. Next up: AC Transit Public Hearing on service cuts, September 23.
Popularity: 1% [?]
V Smoothe
September 14th, 2009 at 10:15 am
I went to the workshop in Oakland on Saturday (which had about 80 people show up) and was pretty impressed. I thought the presentation was good and really appreciated the opportunity to speak one on one with the planners.
The later that night someone who had gone to the Berkeley workshop was complaining to me about how AC Transit was so terrible and their workshops were designed to silence the rider’s voices. I was so confused. I think after reading this I understand what they were getting at. It’s stupid, though.
put off
September 14th, 2009 at 1:44 pm
John, your writing exudes nothing but contempt for your fellow citizens. Is it because it wasn’t YOU who helped organize all this great attendance, but rather the little people who live on the west end? One would think, as a professed transit advocate, you would be happy so many people showed up and were concerned, not make disparaging remarks about “grandstanding.”
You have a knack for putting other people’s efforts down, while making a mountain of your own. You are not a good player John. Shame on you.
John Knox White
September 14th, 2009 at 8:58 pm
Actually, I believe I said that the large attendance was great. As a transit advocate, I loved seeing all the people at the meeting.
My comment about grandstanding was in relation to past brouhaha’s about “small groups” and their undemocraticness because people can’t grandstand at meetings. It wasn’t my intent to tie this meetings attendees to it.
As an unbashed small meeting advocate, I felt that breaking into one-on-one conversations was both effective and offered great access to planners to all the people who had issues they wanted to discuss.
Apologies if this sounded like I was criticizing the folks who turned up or helped turn them out.
AC Transit
September 15th, 2009 at 10:48 am
Thank you for attending our Community Workshop this Saturday. If you would like to comment on the Proposed Service Adjustment Plan of specific lines, please visit actransit.org.
http://www2.actransit.org/news/articledetail.wu?articleid=bab11473#HowToComment
AC Transit service reduction workshop tonight : A Better Oakland
September 16th, 2009 at 10:51 am
[...] wasn’t until I read John Knox White’s blog about the Alameda service reduction workshop that I understood what they were getting at. Some people are angry about their line being cut [...]