Swindling of Low Income Transit Passes

[darklord700]

http://www.calgarysun.com/2013/02/04...transit-passes

My first reaction was didn't this "You don't know who I am" lady Alderman have better things to do than chasing down a few low income earners making $20 every month?

[Regular_John]

Originally Posted by darklord700

http://www.calgarysun.com/2013/02/04...transit-passes

My first reaction was didn't this "You don't know who I am" lady Alderman have better things to do than chasing down a few low income earners making $20 every month?

Ditto, "Big Red" seems to enjoy being a busy body on inconsequential things & making empty grand stands in the media. On the one hand I guess it's good that she's "engaged" as an alderman, I just wish she'd do a better job of picking her battles.

[Byrns]

Plenty of bigger problems out there for her to get involved with. Leave the poor (literally), people alone.

Now where can I find these blackmarketeers?

[Addick]

To be honest, it is well past time for Calgary Transit to start having pictures on the concession passes.

[pylon]

God the optics of this are horrible. These people are doing this for a few extra bucks a month. How poor do you have to be, to be selling your transit pass for a $40 profit? Is it wrong? Yes. But I can guarantee you half these people are in desperate situations, that this is what they have to resort to. Plus any solution, will likely cost more, than what they are losing.

What a big, gross, vindictive cow.

[me_dennis]

i think they should be targetting the students who sell their U-passes for profit more than the low income subsidized transit passes.

[Regorium]

The solution that you need your previous month's pass in order to buy a new one seems pretty reasonable to me and would not cost an extra cent.

Originally Posted by me_dennis

i think they should be targetting the students who sell their U-passes for profit more than the low income subsidized transit passes.

Isn't the cost of a UPass clearly marked as part of your tuition (that whole social fees bit) and it's basically the same as regular price? They're basically selling at a loss in order to get some cash that they'll have to pay later anyways even if it's part of a scholarship or a loan.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by Regorium

The solution that you need your previous month's pass in order to buy a new one seems pretty reasonable to me and would not cost an extra cent.

This would create extra hassle for people who are getting their first pass, people who's pass has been lost/or stolen, and people who only get a pass some months for the year.

[The Yen Man]

Originally Posted by Regorium

The solution that you need your previous month's pass in order to buy a new one seems pretty reasonable to me and would not cost an extra cent.



Isn't the cost of a UPass clearly marked as part of your tuition (that whole social fees bit) and it's basically the same as regular price? They're basically selling at a loss in order to get some cash that they'll have to pay later anyways even if it's part of a scholarship or a loan.

How much is the Upass these days? 10 years ago, it was $50 a semester, which was pretty cheap if you actually did take the bus. It was basically subsidized by the portion of students who didn't use Calgary transit (me being one of them).

[Addick]

Originally Posted by SebC

This would create extra hassle for people who are getting their first pass, people who's pass has been lost/or stolen, and people who only get a pass some months for the year.

It is a bit unfair to the lower income individuals getting passes and I think the City has the responsibility to provide the security on their investment. If they had photo ID passes, this 'issue' wouldn't be a problem.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by SebC

This would create extra hassle for people who are getting their first pass, people who's pass has been lost/or stolen, and people who only get a pass some months for the year.

Perhaps. However in the same system that shows if the person qualifies; it should also show if they bought one the previous month. Lost or stolen; let that slide once or twice per year.

However I do agree this is a waste of an Alderman's time. It could have been dealt with using the internal communications that exist within the city. And if DCU really wants to do something about the people costing transit money- why not go after the people gulity of Ctrain fare avoision.

[Hockeyguy15]

Probably the first time "Big Red" has been that close to public transit. I cannot stand that woman.

[Bigtime]

Big Red, please please please please run for mayor so we can get rid of you on council finally.

[puckluck2]

What a waste of time for this idiot to even be thinking of going after these people and all on the time and money of the taxpayer. The time and resources it takes to catch these guys will far exceed the actual amount that is being "swindled".

[Mazrim]

Pretty sure the cost of tracking down and going after this "black market" will be more than what they'd recoup from it......but at least she didn't mention Shawnee Slopes in this story.

Unfortunately, Ward 13 will probably vote her in again.

[Northendzone]

collecting the old pass to get a new one, seems like a common sense idea.

my other question was, is it possible for a low income person to get more than one pass? if we are taking about busting folks for selling a couple of pass a month to make $200 then this is no big deal, but if somene can buy a 100 passes and make $2,000 then ther is a problem.

My guess is that big red could easily find ways to make up the lost funds.

as an aside, i found it humourous when she seemed surprised that a regualr person did not recognize her......

i now have only 19 articles left to read from the sun site.....

[Handsome B. Wonderful]

Originally Posted by me_dennis

i think they should be targetting the students who sell their U-passes for profit more than the low income subsidized transit passes.

How exactly do they sell their student ID card?

[CubicleGeek]

I hope she next targets those blights to society that pick up discarded parking stubs and resells them - it's costing our privatedly operated parking lots hundreds of dollars a year!

[REDVAN]

I think it's no surprise I don't like her- I've made some harsh posts about her policies over the years. And when she ran for provincial, I really think you should not be able to run for another office and hold the old one... wow.

Anyway, I moved out of ward 13 a few years back. Now I live in a ward where our alderman.... excuse me, councilor, doesn't even LIVE in the ward.

Municipal politics is a joke! I can't believe how they keep re-electing her.

[mykalberta]

I am fine with this.

The City is constantly looking for money and Calgary Transit is already horribly subsidized and the fact that some people are trying to take advantage of this doesnt really suprise me. They probably have a history of trying to scam the government for money they havent earned and dont deserve.

Im actually surprised there isnt more of this scamming (there probably is but people dont think that these add up).