Two Sides of Prop. G Face Off

24 Divis
Photo by DavidTakesPics

Still not sure how you’ll vote on Prop G? The good folks at Ocean Beach Bulletin took Sup. Sean Elsbernd and the drivers union, TWU-250A, to task on Prop. G, which would remove the minimum pay guarantee in the city charter for Muni drivers. We saw a spirited discussion about Prop. G when we posted about Sup. Elsbernd’s ad two weeks ago. What do the two sides of Prop G have to say? Read on.

Elsbernd told the Ocean Beach Bulletin:

Prop. G could potentially deliver millions in funds for riders and operations that currently are spent on Muni drivers’ salaries and work rules. Prop. G eliminates the salary guarantee [in the city charter] that ensures Muni drivers are the second-highest paid in the country. Prop. G also resets Muni driver work rules that contribute to millions of dollars lost in systemwide inefficiencies. Prop. G does not generate new money for Muni from the City, state or federal government, but rather it allows Muni to use the money that it has more wisely, and to the greater benefit of Muni riders.

But TWU-250A disagrees:

Prop G doesn’t actually deal with any specific work rules. Proponents argue that Prop. G will give management an opportunity to bargain away certain work rules, but they flat-out misstate the facts about Muni drivers and the rules they work under.  Muni management has a tremendous amount of power to suspend, remove and fire operators for poor performance. In fact, under the existing collective bargaining agreement, management is even required to execute disciplinary proceedings quickly so drivers can either be terminated or get back to doing their jobs. Voters shouldn’t be confused: Prop. G doesn’t require any increased service, altered work rules or increased management accountability. It just punishes drivers.

You can read more about Prop G from Sup. Elsbernd and TWU-250A at Ocean Beach Bulletin. Have you changed your mind about Prop. G?

Weekend Photos: Muni Blender

powell muni
Photo by dolanh

This week really went by in a whirl, especially because we are two short weeks away from Muni Diaries Live! number four! We’re super excited about our excellent lineup and some new stuff we’re bringing to the show…stuff you can bring home with you, aside from some great prizes. Meanwhile, in Muni news this week:

  • Fewer Muni riders, more fare revenue (SFGate)
  • Plan in the works to restore Muni service (SF Public Press)
  • Rolanda Jones, Accused of Pepper Spray Attack on Muni, In Court (SF Weekly)
  • Muni Service Restoration Task Force Considering Bus Stop Optimization (Streetsblog SF)
  • Muni shows off first light-rail vehicle fixed with stimulus cash (SF Examiner)
  • Fix Muni Now Prop. G Will Lead to Fewer Pee Breaks, Driver’s Union Claims (SF Weekly)
  • Muni Driver Measure Doesn’t End Problems (SF Business Times)
  • Coalition pushes for free Muni for kids (SF Examiner)
  • 60 Minutes segment ow/1906 footage aboard cable car airs Sunday (Market Street Railway Blog)

Enjoy your weekend and these photos, and don’t forget to send us your Muni stories or bring a story to tell on stage on Oct. 29!

Muni Metro
Photo by MarkPritchard

muni
Photo by tonx

Muni train
Photo by skew-t

Muni blur
Photo by MattyMatt

j church muni metro in dolores park, san francisco
Photo by stephenlienharrell

Tiny new features on Muni Diaries

MUNI streetcar reflection
Photo by Images by John ‘K’

We’ve decided to join the rest of the entire freaking internet and add a new feature, which should be familiar to you by now: The ability to “like” posts and comments on Muni Diaries.

If you’re the type that can’t be bothered to comment on a post, yet you read something that someone else said that you a) agree with, or b) think is funny, you can let us all know, anonymously, by clicking the little red “+1” at the bottom of that comment. Same goes for sharing your feelings about a post on MD: There’s now a red heart along with “I like this post” near the bottom of every post.

We decided against a voting-down mechanism. You guys can be nasty to each other on the bus or someplace else. Here on Muni Diaries, we encourage … encouragement.

So have fun with these new features, and keep sending us all that amazing Muni content!

Weekend Photos: Life on Muni Metro

Meanwhile On Muni
Photo by davitydave

Things are really ramping up ahead of our next Muni Diaries Live, on Oct. 29 at the Make-Out Room. We’ve got some amazing surprises (and prizes!) lined up, and I really think this event could be our best yet. (Will this one really be our fourth?)

Thanks for bearing with me as I emerge from a two-week-long acclimation. Eugenia was kind enough to let me put this post together, which should be the final step. Your Muni stories and photos help out tremendously in that regard. And while yesterday was one of those familiar low points for Muni (computer breakdowns causing systemwide Muni Metro delays, fatal collision between a bus and cyclist), it’s nice to know that … well, um, hey, the Giants are hot-hot-hot! 🙂

Speaking of, here’s my pro-tip for getting to the ballpark: BART to Powell, then walk. Yes, I’m advocating not taking Muni. It’s Indian Summer out there, so take advantage of it. Also, Third Street during the playoffs is unlike your everyday Third Street: It’s lined with make-shift merchants who’ve come out of the woodwork to sell you stuff and get you hyped for the game.

But this is all neither here nor there. Here is the week in Muni news:

  • SFMTA move curbs sick calls (SF Examiner)
  • Woman in Pajamas Slaps Muni Bus Driver (SF Weekly)
  • Muni officials working on a smart phone app (ABC 7/KGO)
  • Scott Wiener: Muni ‘Beyond Incompetent’ (SF Weekly)
  • Muni floats ideas to improve service (City Insider/SFGate)

Enjoy your weekend, and go, Giants!

Muni N-Judah Line
Photo by SunKING1791

Go further
Photo by KayVee.INC

Mind the Gap
Photo by Roshan V

10-1-08 muni noise
Photo by republicofaustin

Bicyclist Killed in Collision with Muni (Updates)


Photo by SF Citizen

Update (8:55 a.m., Friday): The cyclist killed Thursday evening in a collision with Muni has been identifed as Derek Allen, who was 22 years old, according to SF Weekly.  Allen was found unresponsive and died at the scene, according to Bay City News (via SFAppeal).

Original post: A bicyclist was killed in a collision with the 44 O’Shaughnessy bus at Sixth Avenue and Clement around 5 p.m. Thursday evening. According to Streetsblog San Francisco, this is the second bicyclist fatality this year. CBS5 has the raw footage of the scene after the accident.

The bus and the bicyclist were both traveling north when the collision happened, reports CBS5. The bicycle became trapped under the bus after the accident. A witness told Streetsblog that he believes the 44 bus had been trying to pass another 44 bus when the collision happened. The identity of the bicyclist has not been released.

See coverage of this story:

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