Page 14 THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2020 ~ LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ~ President of Boston Carmen’s Union speaks out against proposed MBTA cuts Dear Editor: It’s undeniable that COVID-19 has reshaped our daily lives. Yet, bus and train service remains essential to the riders who make hundreds of thousands of trips each day, including and especially the frontline workers who have kept our communities running during the pandemic. As transportation workers, the 6,000 members of Local 589 are among those essential workers. Now, there is a danger of MBTA offi cials exploiting the crisis by forcing austerity measures upon riders and workers alike. It is the same old song of MBTA offi cials pushing austerity, rather than daring to ask the wealthy to pay their fair share, despite the strong public support for new revenues that will ensure high quality, aff ordable, safe public transportation. The MBTA Fiscal and Management Control Board would be failing riders and the public yet again if they make these cuts before the Biden administration has an opportunity to take important steps on infrastructure funding. It is completely tone-deaf and against the interest of riders and our communities for the MBTA board to be pushing service reductions, instead of working to hold large corporations and the superwealthy responsible to fi nally pay their fair share and to protect the common good. Now is the time to invest in our future and our economy and in the public transportation services that our communities need, not to decimate public transit with misguided austerity measures. The members of Local 589 are calling for a moratorium on further austerity measures at the MBTA and a moratorium on any proposed cuts that will hurt the essential workers across the Commonwealth who rely on public transportation. We call on our elected leaders and on MBTA offi cials to reject these premature austerity measures, and to support the quality public transportation our cities and state rely upon. Sincerely, James Evers President Boston Carmen’s Union Local 589 The Eastern County Ditch was cleaned in this reconstruction effort. (Advocate photos by Tara Vocino) BRIDGE | FROM Page 1 Redley said he likes to stand on the bridge and see children playing with Frisbees. He thanked City of Revere employees and everyone involved in its reconstruction. Robert Connors said it’s a solid bridge compared to what was there before. “This one will last a long time,” said Connors, who walks his two-year-old dog, Baby, along the bridge. “Once a side of it collapsed, it was condemned.” Edward Nadeau, who wouldn’t take his dog Princess across it in prior years, said it is now the best bridge they ever had. “It’s superb now,” Nadeau said. “I use it as a cut-through to get to the beach.” Sears Street resident Edward Nadeau walks his dog, Baby, along the bridge. Robert Connors walks his pug, Princess, to the Sears Street footbridge.
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