The transit fare increase is a necessary first step to clean up the mess, and put our transit system on firm financial footing. Without the fare increase, There is no chance of expanding the system, therefore I would be in favor of repealing the PTP.

Should the fare increase move forward, then the real work of reforming the PTP can begin, but the next step is the fare increase.
Without it, we go backward, not forward.

Despite all the liberal politics of the city, most of that is relegated to voting and other symbolic activities that don’t challenge decisions like this (and let’s face it, most liberals are not concerned with the livelihood of working families). Portland is less spread out than Miami so luckily you can bike when the weather isn’t miserable, but the reality is that that still makes up a rather small section of the population as the planning pushes most out to the suburbs, and reserves the urban center for the wealthy. This is the problem with letting politicians decide this issues for us, the lines are drawn based on class. Unless we take action to defend our interests, the government (liberal or not) will defend the interests of business.

The powers that be are confined by politics and a small minority of either NIMBYs or “You Owe Me”s.

We in America are to self centered to properly make a stand like that against corrupt politicians. I hope one day we can do like the French citizens but I have little hope

You are spot on. Governments rarely if ever act in the interests of the people they claim to serve. They are tied up in serving the economic elites, and prove that at every juncture. In other cities people have been able to fight fare hikes and push for more sustainable transit (not to mention workplaces and housing) through organizing and taking direct action. We can all see what uncountable years of lobbying has yielded. We have to build the world we want to see, not wait around for others to do it for us.

For some examples:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fare_strike

I was just having this conversation with someone. About how sprawled South Florida is. I am thinking of moving to Miami actually from Fort Lauderdale IF I can get a job down there. I like a lot of what they are doing more so than what Ft. Lauderdale is doing. Like the Miami 21 plan which is much like the PlaNYC. New Urbanism + transit = win in my opinion.

I don’t know how Miami can do it but, they need to some how entice big corporations to move downtown. That way, they can improve mass transit. I think with the real estate “mishap”, gas prices and price dropping in real estate people are going to move closer to the core of the city. That will also help mass transit.

As for the mismanagement, I agree 100%, Miami needs to tighten up on that. Miami has come a long way but it still has a LONG way to go. I like what the commissioner said in that other post you made. I think maybe Miami should look at the 595 model FDOT has. Let private plan it out, maintain it etc. but the state government runs the show.

Cranking up the cost of public transit now is the wrong idea at the wrong time. Which is why it will fly here. In Miami, ask yourself what is the right thing to do for the community at large and what will put money in some crony’s pocket, and then you know what the end result will be. The public good loses every time…