The fight for equitable and accessible transit is intrinsically connected to the fight for Black lives. In Cleveland and beyond, transit is heavily policed. Evading a $2.50 fare is considered a criminal misdemeanor which pulls disproportionality Black riders into the criminal justice system. Clevelanders for Public Transit stands in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement to enact real change.
Today, the GCRTA transit police force has exploded from 25 officers in 1977 to over 100 officers today. While ridership has plunged due to service cuts and fare increases, the police force has grown over 400% with a budget of over $14,000,000 for 2020. As calls for defunding police departments grow, GCRTA must reallocate these limited resources.
In 2018, CPT’s Fair Fares platform demanded that GCRTA reallocate transit police funds for equitable safety and cease enforcement of criminal penalties for fare evasion. CPT demands leaders support the Fair Fares platform by taking action:
- GCRTA Board President Westlake Mayor Clough and CEO India Birdsong must support Civilian Transit Ambassadors and efforts to improve rider and operator safety. Create a transit ambassador program composed of civilians tasked with assisting riders, conducting fare inspection, and acting as the public face of GCRTA on vehicles and in and around stations and stops. Moving fare inspection from operators to a dedicated staff can also make buses safer by reducing the risk of assault on bus operators. Furthermore, reallocating transit police resources from fare enforcement would improve equity and ensure a focus on the safety of operators and riders.
- Cleveland City Council should support the decriminalization of fare evasion and support Kerry McCormack’s draft legislation to reduce fines. Automobile drivers are protected from being arrested for parking violations, but fare evasion is considered a fourth degree criminal misdemeanor in Cleveland. San Francisco, Portland, and Seattle have all decided to decriminalize fare evasion, making penalties commensurate with a parking ticket. Cleveland City Council must pass legislation which treats fare evasion as equivalent to parking violations.
- The Greater Cleveland Partnership must unequivocally support local and state transit funding. In the last 15 years, RTA fares have doubled while service has been cut by over 25%. GCRTA has not gone to the ballot for funding since 1975. Over 20 organizations signed GCP’s racism as a public health crisis statement committing that their actions will speak louder than words. These organizations must act now by vocally advocating for increased transit funding to support immediate fare relief and service restoration.
- Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson must support safety and accessibility in downtown by ceasing 24/7 curfews and allowing transit downtown. Highly restrictive curfews and poor communication has left riders stranded and downtown residents confused and at worst jailed simply for being in their own neighborhood. Beginning the afternoon of Saturday, May 30, RTA cut service to and from downtown amidst protests surrounding the County Justice Center. The City responded with an 8 p.m. curfew which was not communicated out to residents until a mere five minutes before the curfew was to begin. Residents only received emergency phone alerts after the curfew was already in effect. Many feared being stranded with essential supplies, unable to travel to work, or arrested. Mayor Jackson must cease the use of overly restrictive curfews that do not promote public safety. The City must ensure clear and timely communication among Cleveland residents and workers.
- County Executive Armond Budish and Mayor Jackson need to vocally support local transit funding and appoint members to the GCRTA board that represent the race and class make-up of its riders. We need leaders and board members that understand the urgency that is needed to reverse the death spiral of endless service cuts and fare increases over the last 15 years. The final report from the County’s Transportation Advisory Committee concluded that there must be a much greater and broader recognition of how vitally important public transportation is to our economic and social well-being. County Executive Budish, Mayor Jackson and Cuyahoga County Council members should take meaningful steps toward supporting transit and transit funding.
We are looking to GCRTA and city leadership to take action. For too long, resources have been poured into policing our communities instead of our well-being. It’s time to see well-funded transit that supports a better quality of life for all Clevelanders.
Thank you for your time, consideration.
Signed,