ATU Releases Statement on Elon Musk’s Transit Plan
Amalgamated Transit Union International President Larry Hanley released the following statement in response Elon Musk's recent comments on public transit.
“Elon Musk’s recent criticisms of public transit reveal his elitist ignorance of U.S public transportation today.
“Musk’s outlandish vision for public transit caters to the wealthy — the same people who are able and willing to fork over $100,000 for one his Tesla’s. This is crazy talk.
“Like most of his millionaire and billionaire friends, Musk has no idea what life is like for working Americans — single mothers, fast food workers, Walmart workers — who depend on public transit every day to get to work, school, and the doctor because they can’t afford a car or an Uber, constantly struggling to just provide for their families.
“Musk doesn’t seem to understand that the trouble with public transit is the refusal of federal, state, and local governments to provide the funding necessary to meet the needs of our nation’s commuters and our sprawling cities, and fix our nation’s crumbling and cash-strapped transit systems.
“Musk’s plan is another unadulterated attempt to privatize a public service by building a profit-driven autonomous transportation system for the elite who don’t want to drive, but have the money to pay for personal, driverless service. Meanwhile those who rely on public transit are left stranded. And Musk enjoys a tidy profit.”
