RH Should Check Out the WPT and Leave the CTA Alone
By Jocelyn Geboy in News on Jun 1, 2007 11:02AM
There are a lot of ways to make money playing poker on the World Poker Tour circuit. To do it successfully, you have to consistently play good poker. Occasionally, you can get a string of good luck, and sometimes you can get away with being aggressive and the master of the bluff. Poker personality Mike "The Mouth" Matusow and recent 2006 World Series of Poker Champion Jamie Gold are two prime examples of people who have mastered the latter. They are also two examples of people who can easily go on tilt at the poker table and can blow a huge stack of chips in a short amount of time.
Ron Huberman and the CTA board insist that they're not bluffing when it comes to the proposed fare hike/service cut plan they're throwing out as a solution to the budget deficit they face for the coming year. Their first plan recommends cutting service on 63 bus routes and the Yellow Line and Purple Line Express routes and introducing a new fare structure that would charge rush-hour commuters up to $3.25. Many of you agreed with us that the whole thing seemed confusing and overpriced.
But it gets worse. After Tuesday's board meeting Huberman put a whole lot of chips on the table and forced people to really consider what kind of cards he was holding. Huberman said that if nothing happens (no funding, no increases), the CTA will have to shut down by October. How will the javelin throwers get to Olympic Village then?
Huberman also upped the ante by saying that the plan outlined was really the best thing the board came up with. One option involved raising fares to $7 during rush hour. Another had the rush-hour fare at $5.50, but cutting all trains except the Red and the Blue lines. OK, Ron. Chicagoist is making the call on that one. We are calling bullshit. We want to see a flop. And all of you should, too. So here we go again.
Here's how you find what district you're in so you can call your state representative and your state senator and tell them to do something about this mess after you go to one of the public hearings.
Tuesday, June 5, 6:30 p.m.
Sherman Park Fieldhouse
1301 W. 52nd St.
Chicago, IL 60609
Wednesday, June 6, 6:30 p.m.
Michelle’s Ballroom
2800 W. Belmont Ave.
Chicago, IL 60618
Monday, June 11, 6:30 p.m.
University of Illinois at Chicago
Student Center East
750 S. Halsted, Room 302
Chicago, IL 60607
Wednesday, June 13, 9:00 a.m.
CTA Headquarters
567 W. Lake
Chicago, IL 60661
Mike "The Mouth" Matusow by CoachCashMoney