March for Light Rail Demonstration. Let's Plan one from From DIA steps to City Hall

**Russix** · December-15-11, 10:35 PM

Originally Posted by Zaiko

How about we use whatever we've got. If only 4 show up then that's better than none. Will we be fools? Not if we have a just cause and we believe in it.

Does anyone know how to make a facebook page for this?

Yeah, but have we reached some sort of consensus on a group title?
Something, something like We want an RTA, we want our buses back to 2005, we want WWLR.
Support Detroit Transit already exists as TRU's facebook group.
SE MI Critical Transit Mass? Rally for Rails?

Some cities have "Light Rail Now" groups maybe Light Rail Now Detroit?
idk, anyone have more ideas?

**Zaiko** · December-15-11, 10:45 PM

Light Rail Now sounds good.

I've thought of a couple words for picket signs:

Plan for 2050, not 1950

Snyder You're 0 for 3
Detroit 1-8-7
Cass Tech see http://www.michigannow.org/2011/06/1...-of-cass-tech/
Woodward Light Rail

**Det_ard** · December-15-11, 10:54 PM

Originally Posted by JBMcB

You're right. Assuming that the people of Detroit could get together and accomplish something more than complaining loudly is ludicrous. I guess it's just the best we can do these days.

Grapes. Don't forget to bring grapes.

**Russix** · December-15-11, 11:16 PM

Okay I've made this as sort of way for everyone that seemed interested in the thread "March for Light Rail..." to voice a name we can come together behind and move forward with planning and organizing either through social media or whatever anyone else suggests. Add your suggestion and repost the entire list. If your name is not on the list, add it with your suggestion and repost the quoted part. About 3pm we should have a good idea what name to move forward with.

Originally Posted by VOTE;

dtowncitylover
j to the jeremy
Detroit Stylin
1953
BasementBeat
detroitpride313
gnome
Jason
Detroitnerd
urbanhat
stasu1213
canuck
casscorridor
Det_ard
Zaiko
Russix LIGHT RAIL NOW

**BasementBeat** · December-16-11, 12:10 AM

It should be fairly easy spreading the word for this via social media. I'm more of a twitter user and if my timeline is any indication, lots of people are fired up and I would wager at the very least a small percentage would want their voices heard in this lack of vision.

Contacting the reporters for each respective local news station that's been covering the LR shouldn't take very much time either. At least 2 reporters per station seems to be openinly engaging the Twitter crowd. I'm sure we can get at least one camera down...which would help build steam for the subsequent events.

**Dexlin** · December-16-11, 05:24 AM

Zaiko.

If I were you, I'd contact Occupy Detroit, directly. Most folks haven't notice, but the occupy movement is kind of a permanent, standby protest who will come and add some bodies if you're protesting or rallying for something good. They are always looking for "direct action" opportunities. This kind of stuff is right in their wheelehouse.

Beyond that, I'd definitely get in contact with some of the columnists and reporters at the Free Press who have regularly written favorably about this.

Rochelle Riley: rriley99@freepress.com

Stephen Henderson: shenderson600@freepress.com

Jeff Gerritt: gerritt@freepress.com

BTW, no transit rally is complete without getting in contact with Detroit Transit Riders United [[TRU):

TRU: trumember@detroittransit.org [[313-963-8872)

TRU has the ear of the local media on all things transit.

You could also try Laura Berman over at the News who is generally interested in community/human interest stories, but she's about the only one over there who'd give you any kind of halfway fair coverage. Jeff would probably be the best of the bunch as he's actually writes on transit.

BTW, please stop feeding the troll, you guys. If this is about planning and getting good ideas, you'd be best to stop interacting with someone who is doing little more than trying to discourage you from your work ahead.

**Zaiko** · December-16-11, 08:44 AM

Megan's doing a wake for light rail at a bar at 4 today. She sounds like she's giving up or at least has no energy for protest.

**Zaiko** · December-16-11, 08:51 AM

Dexlin and others are correct in pointing out the need for media coverage. Assignment editors typically do their Monday morning planning on Friday afternoon. So trying to button up our plans by 2 or 3 today would be smart.

Who wants to walk on Woodward as the symbol of where rail should go and how it's the main artery of the city?

If we just walk from the Rosa Parks Transit Center to CAY building that won't take very long. I'm thinking that an hour or so in the middle of Woodward, wearing orange or red jackets so drivers can see us, will gather attention and steam. Maybe some people will want to walk out their doors and march with us.

Should we approach the cops for a permit or an escort?

**Russix** · December-16-11, 09:13 AM

Originally Posted by Zaiko

Dexlin and others are correct in pointing out the need for media coverage. Assignment editors typically do their Monday morning planning on Friday afternoon. So trying to button up our plans by 2 or 3 today would be smart.

Who wants to walk on Woodward as the symbol of where rail should go and how it's the main artery of the city?

If we just walk from the Rosa Parks Transit Center to CAY building that won't take very long. I'm thinking that an hour or so in the middle of Woodward, wearing orange or red jackets so drivers can see us, will gather attention and steam. Maybe some people will want to walk out their doors and march with us.

Should we approach the cops for a permit or an escort?

Impeding traffic without permits would provoke a bad reaction from police and others. We should follow the route somehow from New Center to downtown. Like maybe pretend that we are already riding it???

**Zaiko** · December-16-11, 09:16 AM

So what should our route be?

**Russix** · December-16-11, 11:45 AM

Originally Posted by Zaiko

So what should our route be?

Phase 1 and and downtown routing?

**gthomas** · December-16-11, 11:50 AM

Im down for it, will bring few others along too. When and where..? [QUOTE=j to the jeremy;290638]I'm in. How about next Monday?[/QU

**Zaiko** · December-16-11, 12:10 PM

I'm not understanding....What does phase 1 and downtown routing mean?

**BasementBeat** · December-16-11, 01:40 PM

Originally Posted by Zaiko

I'm not understanding....What does phase 1 and downtown routing mean?

I'm assuming the proposed phase 1 route of the light rail.

**1953** · December-16-11, 02:49 PM

It seems to me that a little pre-planning is in order. Perhaps we could all get together Monday around lunch time and work this out a bit more methodically?

**Zaiko** · December-16-11, 03:03 PM

I thought we were planning to march Monday at 10am?

**canuck** · December-16-11, 09:48 PM

I wish I could walk along with you guys but distance prevents me from being there. Maybe contacting folks who blog about Detroit, many of which are listed in the links page Lowell put together for Detroityes. There are a whole lot of people who could make the difference there disseminating info about marches and such as time goes. Good luck to you all, I mean the proper way to show we care about transit is to take it to the streets where it belongs in my opinion.

**Russix** · December-16-11, 10:20 PM

Originally Posted by 1953

It seems to me that a little pre-planning is in order. Perhaps we could all get together Monday around lunch time and work this out a bit more methodically?

I have to agree alot more organizing and planning is in order. I fear Monday there would be 5 people outside CAY shouting aimlessly without. Is 10am the best time?

**Russix** · December-16-11, 10:32 PM

http://www.facebook.com/groups/LightRailNow
Send a message and I'll make you admin, just don't change the group email address or this shortname will get changed too.

**Zaiko** · December-17-11, 08:26 PM

New face book page. Sign up!

http://www.facebook.com/groups/LightRailNow/members/

**313WX** · December-17-11, 08:34 PM

Good luck you guys.

I personally feel there's a snowball's chance in hell of the plan returning just because of the protest you're organizing, but I do love the fact that you guys are strong on principle and are venting your frustration with things as is. So you do have my support in spirit and hopefully you guys are able to accomplish something

**Russix** · December-18-11, 12:19 AM

Originally Posted by 313WX

Good luck you guys.

I personally feel there's a snowball's chance in hell of the plan returning just because of the protest you're organizing, but I do love the fact that you guys are strong on principle and are venting your frustration with things as is. So you do have my support in spirit and hopefully you guys are able to accomplish something

Well check out this crap:
http://www.detnews.com/article/20111...ed-bus-transit

"I'm pretty clear for my reasons for this. I answer to the people of Detroit. It's as simple as that." - Dave Bing on killing Light Rail

I think Dave Bing got answering to the people of Detroit wrong.
http://www.facebook.com/groups/LightRailNow/
Time to speak up!