FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Friday, January 22, 2021
For information, contact on behalf of the Public Transit Public Good coalition:
Orianna Tate, orianna@617mediagroup.com, 617-895-6783
Public Transit Public Good Coalition Issues Statement on the Appointment of Jamey L. Tesler as the Acting Department of Transportation Secretary
Boston — Public Transit Public Good, a coalition of transit workers and riders throughout Massachusetts, recognizes the departure of Secretary of Transportation Stephanie Pollack for her new role as Deputy Administrator Federal Highway Administration, and the temporary appointment of Jamey L. Tesler as Acting Secretary. We look forward to working with Acting Secretary Tesler and hope we can come together on the urgent issues affecting transit workers and riders.
As they begin the process of identifying a new permanent Secretary of Transportation, the Baker-Polito administration has the opportunity to choose a new direction for transportation policy in Massachusetts. We urge the Baker-Polito administration to choose a leader who prioritizes the needs of working people, low-income communities and communities of color, and our threatened environment.
The new Secretary of Transportation should prioritize restoring and strengthening our public transit systems, including preventing and rolling back cuts at the MBTA; ensuring public transit is affordable for all in the Commonwealth; and ensuring transit workers and riders are adequately represented in transportation governance. Now more than ever, it is crucial to invest in services to help our state recover from the coronavirus pandemic’s impact. Riders and workers deserve a safe, affordable, and accessible public transit system.
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About Public Transit Public Good Coalition:
Public Transit Public Good is a partnership of transit workers and riders throughout Massachusetts fighting for the future of public transit. Community Labor United convenes PTPG. Visit publictransitpublicgood.org to learn more.