Hammond to Cut Buses

freetime · **Posted:** Wed Jul 09, 2008 7:55 am

Since this topic has been deleted at least 6 times now on the Times board, I assume their censorship problem is NOT fixed yet.
So here's my take on the Hammond Transit System that is in the news today:

Postby freetime on Wed Jul 09, 2008 8:41 am
Hammond City Council President Dan Repay is targeting the city transit system for elinination.
The move is meant to help the city meet budget constraints imposed by the state legislature.
Here's today's Times story about it:

http://nwi.com/articles/2008/07/09/news ... 03c283.txt

A couple of questions about this proposal. Will the RDA be ready to provide transit services in Hammond when Hammond's system is gfutted, or will there be a lot of last minute scrambling like what happened with the Health Department? Has Repay contaced the RDA? Does he know what they are planning? Does he have anytrhing in writing from the RDA?

Contrary to what many people think, thousands of Hammond residents without cars-or unable to afford to operate them now-rely on Hammond Transit to get around on a daily basis. . Also, The HTS paratransit system takes thousands of disabled people to doctors appointments, shopping, etc. Many kids take the bus to school. Look at the HTS website. They have reported on their ridershiop there. It's higher than you may think.

I hope equivelent replacement for these services is guaranteed. Unless you've been there, you have no idea what it is like to get around without some sort of public transit.

Yesterday, in a post here, I detailed the $50 million sapent on Cabelas and River Park, with questionable benefits to the citizens.
I'm also concerned, as always, with Hammond's priorities. What is the projected expense for self-insurance for the coming year? Isa it still around $20 million a year? I think it is completely ridiculous for city employees to STILL be paying $25 a month for insurance. I haven't heard of any major changes in that program. As I have mentioned before, as far as I know no public reports have been filed by the self-insurance committee, which was established ostensibly to cut the cost of the program. Generalities don't cut it. Hammond also hired a couple of consultants to study the insurance program. Where are their recommendations?

City employees should have a REASONABLE insurance program, but not a CADILLAC program. Not when services to residents are being jettisoned this way.

Another area for cuts-the take home cars and free gas. Do the City Clerk and City Controller still have city cars? Again, Hammond law requires that quarterly reports are to be made public, detailing who has take homes and WHY. The last time I checked, no such reports were available. I think mcmayor should order all the take homes parked. I think it is unfair for city employees to drive around on the taxpayer's dime when residents may be losing their bus service.

In recent Post-Tribune stories, it was revealed Gary is spending $30,000 a WEEK in gas. What is Hammond spending? The last time I asked mcmayor, he said he doesn't know how much Hammond spends for gas, but he said "It's a lot." I think it is high time he learned, don't you?

The right priorities?

Mirage · **Joined:** Mon Feb 14, 2005 10:08 am **Posts:** 4555

Yesterday, in a post here, I detailed the $50 million sapent on Cabelas and River Park, with questionable benefits to the citizens.

This was only since yesterday? Damn. I could swear you posted this as fact like 12 times already between the 2 boards and I'm still looking for the post that shows where you came up with that number.

the oracle lives here · **Joined:** Fri Sep 29, 2006 4:38 pm **Posts:** 1360

this is hilarious in a pathetic sort of way. the woman bitching about a bloated city budget and demanding cuts...is now crying because she may have to do with out a personal service.

believe me. no one wants to cut the transit department. but the legislature has mandated certain cuts...and to meet the 1-2-3 legislation the city has to operate more efficiently...which means we have to cut some services. there was an alternative...a local option income tax...but the masses clearly dont want that so now there is no alternative.

much of the shortfall can be made up through simply growing the city's tax base...and that will make up about 6 million of the short fall...that still leaves 3 million that must be cut out of next years budget.

hammond transit...only employs a small number of city employees many of which wont need to be layed off as they can fill voids in other depts from retirees and other people that have left voluntarilly, the drivers are all contracted from a private company.

honestly, while i would hate to see the great work that has been done by the transit dept in recent years just go away...i think its a prudent cut to make at this time in light of the fiscal situation. no it wont be immediately replaced by a regional system as good as the city system has become...but the rda money is at least flowing now and this was going to eventually become a duplicative city service in a few years anyway.

there is one other high profile cut (consolidation) coming...look for news on that in a few weeks...and it is exactly what was predicted by some to have to happen if the legislature implemented the 1-2-3 caps..,..I cant wait to see free's reaction to that one.

as for her crap about cabela's and other tifs. there wouldnt be any revenue for the city whatsoever if the tif's werent created to entice it. so there is no revenue shortfall created from a tif. its simply a matter of freetime not being able to grasp a simple business concept...no egg...no chicken!

dixie chick · **Posted:** Wed Jul 09, 2008 4:58 pm

LETS RECAP SHALL WE, FROM WES AND THE GANG, FREE, TIGER ETC.
CUT THE BUDGET, OK FAIR ENOUGH..
HOW ABOUT THE HEALTH DEPT??- CAN'T DO THAT PEOPLE WILL DIE
OK THAN HOW ABOUT THE FREE GIVE AWAYS, PAINT, FLOWERS ETC.. WHAT ARE YOU CRAZY THE NEIGHBORHOODS WILL GO TO HELL !!
OK THAN HOW ABOUT THE BUSES?? NO NO NO.. PEOPLE NEED TO GET AROUND THEY'LL STARVE IF THEY CAN'T GO TO THE GROCERY STORE.
OK THEN WHERE?? FREETIME- LET US FREELOADERS KEEP OUR WELFARE, AND MEDWISE CARDS, BUT LETS SCREW THE CITY WORKERS OUT OF THIER INSURANCE THEY GOT UNDER DEDELOW, INSTEAD OF RAISES.

HERE'S AN IDEA, HOW ABOUT GOING AFTER ALL THE HOMESTEAD CHEATS AND MAKE THEM PAY THIER FAIR SHARE

BigWhiteGuy · **Posted:** Wed Jul 09, 2008 5:08 pm

Hey, I'm going to Cabella's Saturday morning!

bert68 · **Joined:** Sat Nov 18, 2006 4:33 pm **Posts:** 970

freetime wrote:

Since this topic has been deleted at least 6 times now on the Times board, I assume their censorship problem is NOT fixed yet.
So here's my take on the Hammond Transit System that is in the news today:

Postby freetime on Wed Jul 09, 2008 8:41 am
Hammond City Council President Dan Repay is targeting the city transit system for elinination.
The move is meant to help the city meet budget constraints imposed by the state legislature.
Here's today's Times story about it:

http://nwi.com/articles/2008/07/09/news ... 03c283.txt

A couple of questions about this proposal. Will the RDA be ready to provide transit services in Hammond when Hammond's system is gfutted, or will there be a lot of last minute scrambling like what happened with the Health Department? Has Repay contaced the RDA? Does he know what they are planning? Does he have anytrhing in writing from the RDA?

Contrary to what many people think, thousands of Hammond residents without cars-or unable to afford to operate them now-rely on Hammond Transit to get around on a daily basis. . Also, The HTS paratransit system takes thousands of disabled people to doctors appointments, shopping, etc. Many kids take the bus to school. Look at the HTS website. They have reported on their ridershiop there. It's higher than you may think.

I hope equivelent replacement for these services is guaranteed. Unless you've been there, you have no idea what it is like to get around without some sort of public transit.

Yesterday, in a post here, I detailed the $50 million sapent on Cabelas and River Park, with questionable benefits to the citizens.
I'm also concerned, as always, with Hammond's priorities. What is the projected expense for self-insurance for the coming year? Isa it still around $20 million a year? I think it is completely ridiculous for city employees to STILL be paying $25 a month for insurance. I haven't heard of any major changes in that program. As I have mentioned before, as far as I know no public reports have been filed by the self-insurance committee, which was established ostensibly to cut the cost of the program. Generalities don't cut it. Hammond also hired a couple of consultants to study the insurance program. Where are their recommendations?

City employees should have a REASONABLE insurance program, but not a CADILLAC program. Not when services to residents are being jettisoned this way.

Another area for cuts-the take home cars and free gas. Do the City Clerk and City Controller still have city cars? Again, Hammond law requires that quarterly reports are to be made public, detailing who has take homes and WHY. The last time I checked, no such reports were available. I think mcmayor should order all the take homes parked. I think it is unfair for city employees to drive around on the taxpayer's dime when residents may be losing their bus service.

In recent Post-Tribune stories, it was revealed Gary is spending $30,000 a WEEK in gas. What is Hammond spending? The last time I asked mcmayor, he said he doesn't know how much Hammond spends for gas, but he said "It's a lot." I think it is high time he learned, don't you?

The right priorities?

Thousands use the buses daily? They must be invisible. Shut it down.Then let's take a look at HomeBound, the subsidies given to things like the Towle Theatre, Legal Aid etc. I have spoken to Repay a few times and he seems appreciate that as a city we need to be much more financially prudent than we have been.

freetime · **Posted:** Thu Jul 10, 2008 10:14 am

I wish I could find Hammond Transit's ridership report online again. I saw it once but can't find it now. You'd be shocked at the number of riders. Obviously, some routes are much more heavily used than others. The one in North Hammond that goes to Horseshoe carries many Clark students, and the one that goes to WalMart/Food for Lessis very well used too.
Then there are a few thousand seniors and disabled people, including myself, using the HTS paratransit program.
We'll all be without a way to get around without Hammond Transit. Today's Times story says the RBA will NOT rplace Hammond's routes, although that's why mcmayor decided togive them $3.5 million a year in casino money a few years agoo.

Here's what I posted on the Times board today. My attempts to talk about this there yesterday were deleted 20 times:
As I tried unsuccessfully to discuss yesterday, Hammond residents without cars will be left without viable transportation if the City Council follows through on Dan Repay's plan to eliminate the city transit system.
Contrary to what Repay said in yesterday's Times, the RBA or RDA will NOT pick up Hammond's bus routes. At best, one route down Indianapolis Blvd. MIGHT be instituted for a year.
This is shaping up to be another Health Department situation. Nowritten plans are in place to replace the transit service, which Repay claims must be cut for budgetary reasons.
Here's what Sue Brown reported today:
http://nwi.com/articles/2008/07/10/news ... 10d9e2.txt

Just think. The quarter million mcmayor paid consultant Ed Krusa while he was being paid by at least one company to work AGAINST the taxpayers would fund 3 months of bus service for Hammond residents.
Could Hammond save the transit system by actually shoring up the self-insurance plan, which costs city employees the laughable premium of $25 a month?
How much could be saved if ALL take home vehicles and free gas were eliminated?
How many consultants and lawyers are on the payroll now? Can we do without them?
How about cutting the Legal Aid Department? Isn't that about $600,00 a year?
We need to see some real numbers now.
And I hope the City Council has a public hearing on this proposal at a time of day when bus riders can attend. The buses stop running at 7 PM.,

the oracle lives here · **Joined:** Fri Sep 29, 2006 4:38 pm **Posts:** 1360

freetime wrote:

[size=150]This is shaping up to be another Health Department situation. Nowritten plans are in place to replace the transit service,

yes it is. despite all the hell raised over the closing of the health dept, once it was gone, nobody noticed!

except for the city bank accounts which are fuller becuase of it.

freetime · **Posted:** Thu Jul 10, 2008 10:46 am

Posting from work at the Hammond Street Department today, Orafice?

mike3775 · **Joined:** Sat Jan 13, 2007 6:52 pm **Posts:** 2164

So lets see, a bus service thats a drain on the taxpayers, is being cut, and Freetime, who bitches and moans about the cost of everything, is upset.

What a hypocrite

Oh and Oracle may be on break or even Lunch Freetime.

But notice something about him posting Freetime, he is not posting as much as you are, but then again, he holds a job and pays taxes unlike you, who is a leech on society by faking things to get SSI, when you could easily get a job that you can handle with how you post thousands of words a day on a messageboard, yet you claim you can't even type for a living

freetime · **Posted:** Thu Jul 10, 2008 10:52 am

PostPosted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 10:19 am

the oracle lives here wrote:

freetime wrote:

[size=150]This is shaping up to be another Health Department situation. Nowritten plans are in place to replace the transit service,

yes it is. despite all the hell raised over the closing of the health dept, once it was gone, nobody noticed!

except for the city bank accounts which are fuller becuase of it.

Posting from work at the Hammond Street Department today, Orafice? Isn't the Street Department lunchtime at 11 AM? Your post was made at 10:19 AM.
You've been calling Kiesling a liar for days for asserting Hammond city employees are posting at work.

mike3775 · **Joined:** Sat Jan 13, 2007 6:52 pm **Posts:** 2164

Does it matter when someone takes their lunch Freetime?

Do you eat lunch at the same time every single day?

Then again, I do notioce that McDonalds does have more Big Macs and Double quarter pounders than are needed at the same time every day when you waddle in though, so maybe you do

freetime · **Posted:** Thu Jul 10, 2008 10:57 am

BACK ON TOPIC:

freetime wrote:

I wish I could find Hammond Transit's ridership report online again. I saw it once but can't find it now. You'd be shocked at the number of riders. Obviously, some routes are much more heavily used than others. The one in North Hammond that goes to Horseshoe carries many Clark students, and the one that goes to WalMart/Food for Lessis very well used too.
Then there are a few thousand seniors and disabled people, including myself, using the HTS paratransit program.
We'll all be without a way to get around without Hammond Transit. Today's Times story says the RBA will NOT rplace Hammond's routes, although that's why mcmayor decided togive them $3.5 million a year in casino money a few years agoo.

Here's what I posted on the Times board today. My attempts to talk about this there yesterday were deleted 20 times:
As I tried unsuccessfully to discuss yesterday, Hammond residents without cars will be left without viable transportation if the City Council follows through on Dan Repay's plan to eliminate the city transit system.
Contrary to what Repay said in yesterday's Times, the RBA or RDA will NOT pick up Hammond's bus routes. At best, one route down Indianapolis Blvd. MIGHT be instituted for a year.
This is shaping up to be another Health Department situation. Nowritten plans are in place to replace the transit service, which Repay claims must be cut for budgetary reasons.
Here's what Sue Brown reported today:
http://nwi.com/articles/2008/07/10/news ... 10d9e2.txt

Just think. The quarter million mcmayor paid consultant Ed Krusa while he was being paid by at least one company to work AGAINST the taxpayers would fund 3 months of bus service for Hammond residents.
Could Hammond save the transit system by actually shoring up the self-insurance plan, which costs city employees the laughable premium of $25 a month?
How much could be saved if ALL take home vehicles and free gas were eliminated?
How many consultants and lawyers are on the payroll now? Can we do without them?
How about cutting the Legal Aid Department? Isn't that about $600,00 a year?
We need to see some real numbers now.
And I hope the City Council has a public hearing on this proposal at a time of day when bus riders can attend. The buses stop running at 7 PM.,

mike3775 · **Joined:** Sat Jan 13, 2007 6:52 pm **Posts:** 2164

You won't find the numbers because the numbers will be all lies

Cutting the buses is the best thing the city can do, because its a drain on money.

freetime · **Posted:** Thu Jul 10, 2008 11:05 am

freetime wrote:

BACK ON TOPIC:

freetime wrote:

I wish I could find Hammond Transit's ridership report online again. I saw it once but can't find it now. You'd be shocked at the number of riders. Obviously, some routes are much more heavily used than others. The one in North Hammond that goes to Horseshoe carries many Clark students, and the one that goes to WalMart/Food for Lessis very well used too.
Then there are a few thousand seniors and disabled people, including myself, using the HTS paratransit program.
We'll all be without a way to get around without Hammond Transit. Today's Times story says the RBA will NOT rplace Hammond's routes, although that's why mcmayor decided togive them $3.5 million a year in casino money a few years agoo.

Here's what I posted on the Times board today. My attempts to talk about this there yesterday were deleted 20 times:
As I tried unsuccessfully to discuss yesterday, Hammond residents without cars will be left without viable transportation if the City Council follows through on Dan Repay's plan to eliminate the city transit system.
Contrary to what Repay said in yesterday's Times, the RBA or RDA will NOT pick up Hammond's bus routes. At best, one route down Indianapolis Blvd. MIGHT be instituted for a year.
This is shaping up to be another Health Department situation. Nowritten plans are in place to replace the transit service, which Repay claims must be cut for budgetary reasons.
Here's what Sue Brown reported today:
http://nwi.com/articles/2008/07/10/news ... 10d9e2.txt

Just think. The quarter million mcmayor paid consultant Ed Krusa while he was being paid by at least one company to work AGAINST the taxpayers would fund 3 months of bus service for Hammond residents.
Could Hammond save the transit system by actually shoring up the self-insurance plan, which costs city employees the laughable premium of $25 a month?
How much could be saved if ALL take home vehicles and free gas were eliminated?
How many consultants and lawyers are on the payroll now? Can we do without them?
How about cutting the Legal Aid Department? Isn't that about $600,00 a year?
We need to see some real numbers now.
And I hope the City Council has a public hearing on this proposal at a time of day when bus riders can attend. The buses stop running at 7 PM.,

Northwest Indiana Discussion

Hammond to Cut Buses

Who is online