Michael Rhodes
Michael Rhodes is a former reporter for Streetsblog San Francisco. He lives in the Mission Dolores neighborhood and is a graduate of UC Berkeley's Department of City and Regional Planning.
Recent Posts
This Week in Livable Streets Events
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The MTA Board’s decision last Friday to cut Muni service by 10 percent was just the beginning of a months-long saga over Muni’s budget. On Tuesday, get a glimpse of what’s to come at the MTA Board meeting, followed by a Muni Summit on Saturday that will bring together dozens of groups hoping to save […]
MTA Board Approves 10 Percent Muni Service Cut; Discount Fast Pass Spared
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Muni riders packed the overflow room at the South Light Court in City Hall, waiting to speak to the MTA Board. Photo: Matthew Roth At one of the most heavily attended MTA Board meetings in recent memory, the MTA’s directors voted 4-3 today to cut Muni service by 10 percent and require $70 premium Fast […]
SPUR Director: Muni Drivers Deserve Good Pay, But Work Rules Must Change
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Flickr photo: tehf0x With Muni riders looking for somewhere to direct their frustration at potential service cuts and fare increases, and with the Mayor eager to frame the MTA’s budget deficit as a choice between labor concessions and fare hikes, it’s easy to view a proposed charter amendment that would change how Muni driver salaries […]
Transit Advocates Gearing up for Friday’s MTA Board Vote
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Click for full-size PDF: The Transit Not Traffic coalition is distributing flyers to transit supporters. Friday could be a dark day for San Francisco’s public transit system: The MTA Board is set to vote on a ten percent cut in service and increases to several monthly passes in order to cover a $16.9 million budget […]
SF Youths Protest Costly Muni Ride to School while Sunday Parking is Free
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San Francisco high school and college students, most wearing orange shirts protesting Muni cuts, pack the Board of Supervisors chamber on Tuesday. Photo: Michael Rhodes If the MTA Board approves budget solutions being presented by staff on Friday, the price of a youth monthly Fast Pass will go up to $30, regardless of family income. […]
MTA Board Vote on Service Cuts and Fare Hikes Confirmed for Friday
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Riders could soon be waiting longer for buses and trains. Flickr photo: burpsean It’s official: The MTA Board will be voting on a ten percent cut to Muni service and a ten dollar increase in the senior/youth/disabled monthly Fast Pass price this Friday. Facing a $16.9 million end-of-year budget deficit, and having seen a plan […]
Board of Supervisors Delays Vote on Garage Legislation
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Supervisor Bevan Dufty. The Board of Supervisors has delayed a vote on legislation that would limit new garages in Chinatown, North Beach and Telegraph Hill for two weeks. After approving the legislation on first reading by a 7-2 vote on February 9, the supervisors voted today to continue the measure until March 9, a move […]
Dufty Still Deliberating as Garage Legislation Vote Looms
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Preparing for a new garage addition. Photo: Michael Rhodes Supervisor Bevan Dufty says he is still considering how he will vote tomorrow on legislation that would limit new garages in existing buildings in Chinatown, North Beach, and Telegraph Hill and eliminate minimum parking requirements in those neighborhoods. Advocates are urging him to support the measure, […]
Muni Operators Likely to Vote Again on Cost-Saving Proposal This Week
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Muni operators rejected a concessions proposal by a 60-40 ratio last week, but could vote again before Friday. Flickr photo: Thomas Hawk Muni operators may vote again on a package of concessions in time for Friday’s MTA Board budget vote, just a week after resoundingly voting down such a measure. Irwin Lum, President of Transport […]
This Week in Livable Streets Events
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See parking guru Donald Shoup speak in person this Wednesday, and then speak your mind on transit service cuts at the crucial MTA Board meeting on Friday. Here are the week’s highlights: Tuesday: SPUR Lunchtime Forum: Building Green in China: A presentation by architect Jeff Heller. Learn about the intricacies of the design and approval […]
Muni Events Roundup: Summit Set for March 6, MTA Board Vote Next Friday
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The upcoming weeks hold several key events for Muni’s future that transit supporters won’t want to miss, including an MTA vote on service cuts, public hearings on the budget, and a summit of groups trying to save Muni. MTA Board Vote on Service Cuts and Fare Increases: February 26 First, the MTA Board will be […]
Muni Missing 80 Percent More Runs as De Facto Service Cuts Set In
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De facto service reductions through cuts to overtime and maintenance mean more buses never make it out of the yard. Flickr photo: the jof An analysis by Streetsblog of daily Muni performance data for the four most recent weeks available on the MTA’s website shows Muni has been missing 80 percent more runs compared to […]