I am inviting all of my followers around the world to jump in on this opportunity to make a living from home; and this is a business that costs absolutely nothing to get involved in.
All I am asking you to do is go to this website and take a look: www.zamzuufreeagent.com/1018077. Then take a look at the opportunity an give it a try.
If there should be any questions, you should feel free to contact me via telephone, 312/446-2202; or, via my email address: beckless@yahoo.com.
I hope to hear from you in the very near future. It is time for us to get up off of the pot and start making some serious cash.
Friday, January 7, 2011
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Sen. Hendon prioritizes free rides over jobs
by Ferman Mentrell Beckless
When State Senator Rickey Hendon was campaigning in the Democratic primary to be the Democratic nominee for Lt. Governor, he boasted that he successfully fought to keep free rides for senior citizens.
He also boasts on his web site that he was the youngest African-American male ever appointed to serve as Assistant Majority Leader in the Illinois State Senate. Are these the only two accomplishments that matter to the people of the State's 5th Senatorial District in particular and the State of Illinois in general?
On Wednesday, Sen. Hendon was seen gloating again about his efforts to keep the free rides for seniors alive. Arguing, along with his Democratic pals on a panel that narrowly rejected a Republican push to prevent affluent seniors from skirting fares on buses and trains and tying the free rides program to a retiree's income would be unfair in a bad economy, the dumb, er sleeping Democratic majority won out again.
Wednesday's bill, sponsored by Senator Minority Leader Christine Radogno (Lemont), would require single seniors receiving an income of less than $27,610 annually, to continue receiving the free ride perk. Single seniors making more would be required to ante up at the fare box.
More distressing is the fact that most seniors in Hendon's West Side Senatorial District would continue to qualify for the free ride. I have driven through that area and haven't seen anything that looks affluent to me.
So if affluent seniors are required to pay, it would appear that hardly anyone in Hendon's district would have to pay.
Commenting on the free rides program as it is, Radogno said "It's the poster child for ineptness and misnagement. And if we can't do something this simpleas as a means test for free rides for seniors, we shouldn't be here."
Democrats on the panel, led by Hendon, insists: "It's outrageous that in these tough economic times that we would allow anybody -- CTA, RTA, the rest of them -- to come and try to take this one, itty, bitty little thing away from our dear poor, struggling senior citizens at a time of economic crisis."
Maybe Sen. Hendon hasn't noticed the spike in unemployment, particularly the unemployment rate in the State's 5th Senatorial District.
Take for instance the Feb. 6 cutback of Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) service that cost 1,200 jobs of men and women who look a lot like Sen. Hendon.
When former Gov. Rod Blagojevich introduced legislation two years ago that included the free rides for seniors, he predicted that the CTA would lose as much as $20 million. The CTA has argued that it has lost in excess of $60 million annually due to the free rides.
I say the numbers the CTA is putting out is conservative.
For example, as a CTA Bus Operator, I saw on numerous occasions where a grandmother would usher a grandchild onto the bus and tell that grandchild to go and have a seat while inserting a "Senior Free Ride Permit" in the fare box then exiting the bus. That grandparent would then yell to that grandchild to "call me when you get home."
What I saw as a teen riding, and a senior using a "Senior Free Ride Permit" for that teen to ride. Isn't that just one of the many abuses this program opened the door for?
Another example is the teen getting on the bus and using grandma's "Senior Free Ride Permit" to ride with. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to determine that this is abuse in the first degree.
While this is going on, Sen. Hendon continues his fight to keep the perk for all senior citizens while his able-bodied neighbors are standing in line at the unemployment offices, applying for meager means to pay bills.
When the CTA announced that it was being forced to layoff thousands of workers due to a $300 million budget deficit, Sen. Hendon was bragging during his campaign that he saved free rides for seniors.
I had no clue that State Seniors were elected solely to protect the interests of senior citizens.
I also would lke to know where was Sen. Hendon when CTA officials lobbied Gov. Pat Quinn for money, $54 million to be exact, so that fares would be frozen during an election year while CTA prepared to lay off 1,200 workers. Shouldn't Sen. Hendon and his colleagues in Springfield been fighting to save jobs during an economic era that has seen millions of jobs just vanish?
I know exactly what has been happening.
During an election year in which Sen. Hendon ran for Lt. Governor, he knew if e didn't win that office that he still had his seat in the Senate. And it appears to me that he was running for the job of Lt. Governor as more of a concerted effort to prevent Sen. Art Turner from winning the primary.
For those who have been asleep. Sen. Hendon and Sen. Turner have been feuding for years and Sen. Hendon's candidacy for the Lt. Governor's job could have been an effort to split the African-American vote or just an effort to stop Sen. Turner from succeeding in his efforts to ascend to higher office.
Sen. Radogno's efforts provided Sen. Hendon with an "out." But he is obviously either too blind to see or he isn't concerned with anyone other than senior citizens, who just may be the only qualified voters in his senatorial district that do get out and vote.
Joining Radogno in an effort to amend the legislation requiring affluent seniors to pay is Steve Schlickman, executive director of the Regional Transit Authority (RTA). Schlickman told the Senate Executive Committee that "This (free rides for all seniors) will become an unsustainable burden to the system in the future.
When the CTA announced it had a $300 million budget shortfall, it planned to cut thousands of jobs. The CTA, in turn, went to Gov. Quinn and asked for money to prevent a fare increase. Gov. Quinn granted the CTA $54 million that it would not have to pay back, money that allowed the CTA to freeze fares for two more years.
The CTA, after receiving the money from Gov. Quinn, then determined it had a $95 million budget deficit for the current year and proceeded to cut services and lay off hundreds of hard working men and women in order to balance the budget.
Meanwhile, hundreds of African-American workers, along with Hispanics and a few Caucasions, were laid off from the CTA.
While the feud between Turner and Hendon continues, Hendon remains in office. Turner, whose seat was up for reelection, didn't take the safe route and not run for Lt. Governor. He gave his seat up.
This article is mainly about Sen. Hendon because he has been outspoken in his quest to become a hero. What he doesn't know is that he could become a bigger hero if he somehow championed jobs for all ad succeeded.
I deplore Sen. Hendon to wake up and smell the coffee. Or, should I say: "Wake up and drink the coffee."
It is high time hat Sen. Hendon and all of his fellow sleeping colleagues in Springfield are held accountable for their inactions during the worst economic era of our lifetime. If these sleeping Democrats don't wake up, I am sure it won't be long before that 37-22 Democratic majority in the Senate vanishes -- just like the thousands of jobs in Illinos
When State Senator Rickey Hendon was campaigning in the Democratic primary to be the Democratic nominee for Lt. Governor, he boasted that he successfully fought to keep free rides for senior citizens.
He also boasts on his web site that he was the youngest African-American male ever appointed to serve as Assistant Majority Leader in the Illinois State Senate. Are these the only two accomplishments that matter to the people of the State's 5th Senatorial District in particular and the State of Illinois in general?
On Wednesday, Sen. Hendon was seen gloating again about his efforts to keep the free rides for seniors alive. Arguing, along with his Democratic pals on a panel that narrowly rejected a Republican push to prevent affluent seniors from skirting fares on buses and trains and tying the free rides program to a retiree's income would be unfair in a bad economy, the dumb, er sleeping Democratic majority won out again.
Wednesday's bill, sponsored by Senator Minority Leader Christine Radogno (Lemont), would require single seniors receiving an income of less than $27,610 annually, to continue receiving the free ride perk. Single seniors making more would be required to ante up at the fare box.
More distressing is the fact that most seniors in Hendon's West Side Senatorial District would continue to qualify for the free ride. I have driven through that area and haven't seen anything that looks affluent to me.
So if affluent seniors are required to pay, it would appear that hardly anyone in Hendon's district would have to pay.
Commenting on the free rides program as it is, Radogno said "It's the poster child for ineptness and misnagement. And if we can't do something this simpleas as a means test for free rides for seniors, we shouldn't be here."
Democrats on the panel, led by Hendon, insists: "It's outrageous that in these tough economic times that we would allow anybody -- CTA, RTA, the rest of them -- to come and try to take this one, itty, bitty little thing away from our dear poor, struggling senior citizens at a time of economic crisis."
Maybe Sen. Hendon hasn't noticed the spike in unemployment, particularly the unemployment rate in the State's 5th Senatorial District.
Take for instance the Feb. 6 cutback of Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) service that cost 1,200 jobs of men and women who look a lot like Sen. Hendon.
When former Gov. Rod Blagojevich introduced legislation two years ago that included the free rides for seniors, he predicted that the CTA would lose as much as $20 million. The CTA has argued that it has lost in excess of $60 million annually due to the free rides.
I say the numbers the CTA is putting out is conservative.
For example, as a CTA Bus Operator, I saw on numerous occasions where a grandmother would usher a grandchild onto the bus and tell that grandchild to go and have a seat while inserting a "Senior Free Ride Permit" in the fare box then exiting the bus. That grandparent would then yell to that grandchild to "call me when you get home."
What I saw as a teen riding, and a senior using a "Senior Free Ride Permit" for that teen to ride. Isn't that just one of the many abuses this program opened the door for?
Another example is the teen getting on the bus and using grandma's "Senior Free Ride Permit" to ride with. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to determine that this is abuse in the first degree.
While this is going on, Sen. Hendon continues his fight to keep the perk for all senior citizens while his able-bodied neighbors are standing in line at the unemployment offices, applying for meager means to pay bills.
When the CTA announced that it was being forced to layoff thousands of workers due to a $300 million budget deficit, Sen. Hendon was bragging during his campaign that he saved free rides for seniors.
I had no clue that State Seniors were elected solely to protect the interests of senior citizens.
I also would lke to know where was Sen. Hendon when CTA officials lobbied Gov. Pat Quinn for money, $54 million to be exact, so that fares would be frozen during an election year while CTA prepared to lay off 1,200 workers. Shouldn't Sen. Hendon and his colleagues in Springfield been fighting to save jobs during an economic era that has seen millions of jobs just vanish?
I know exactly what has been happening.
During an election year in which Sen. Hendon ran for Lt. Governor, he knew if e didn't win that office that he still had his seat in the Senate. And it appears to me that he was running for the job of Lt. Governor as more of a concerted effort to prevent Sen. Art Turner from winning the primary.
For those who have been asleep. Sen. Hendon and Sen. Turner have been feuding for years and Sen. Hendon's candidacy for the Lt. Governor's job could have been an effort to split the African-American vote or just an effort to stop Sen. Turner from succeeding in his efforts to ascend to higher office.
Sen. Radogno's efforts provided Sen. Hendon with an "out." But he is obviously either too blind to see or he isn't concerned with anyone other than senior citizens, who just may be the only qualified voters in his senatorial district that do get out and vote.
Joining Radogno in an effort to amend the legislation requiring affluent seniors to pay is Steve Schlickman, executive director of the Regional Transit Authority (RTA). Schlickman told the Senate Executive Committee that "This (free rides for all seniors) will become an unsustainable burden to the system in the future.
When the CTA announced it had a $300 million budget shortfall, it planned to cut thousands of jobs. The CTA, in turn, went to Gov. Quinn and asked for money to prevent a fare increase. Gov. Quinn granted the CTA $54 million that it would not have to pay back, money that allowed the CTA to freeze fares for two more years.
The CTA, after receiving the money from Gov. Quinn, then determined it had a $95 million budget deficit for the current year and proceeded to cut services and lay off hundreds of hard working men and women in order to balance the budget.
Meanwhile, hundreds of African-American workers, along with Hispanics and a few Caucasions, were laid off from the CTA.
While the feud between Turner and Hendon continues, Hendon remains in office. Turner, whose seat was up for reelection, didn't take the safe route and not run for Lt. Governor. He gave his seat up.
This article is mainly about Sen. Hendon because he has been outspoken in his quest to become a hero. What he doesn't know is that he could become a bigger hero if he somehow championed jobs for all ad succeeded.
I deplore Sen. Hendon to wake up and smell the coffee. Or, should I say: "Wake up and drink the coffee."
It is high time hat Sen. Hendon and all of his fellow sleeping colleagues in Springfield are held accountable for their inactions during the worst economic era of our lifetime. If these sleeping Democrats don't wake up, I am sure it won't be long before that 37-22 Democratic majority in the Senate vanishes -- just like the thousands of jobs in Illinos
Saturday, March 27, 2010
PUSH / LOCAL 241 UNITED TO SAVE JOBS
The Rev. Jesse L. Jackson and members of the Rainbow PUS Coalition joined forces at a rally Saturday, Marh 27, 2010 in an effort to restore service at CTA and to put the more than 1200 workers recently laid off back to work.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
What's wrong with being highest paid?
by Ferman Mentrell Beckless
As a laid-off Chicago Transit Authority bus operator, I take exception to the inferrence that CTA operators are the highest paid in the industry. And, if we are, what's wrong with being the highest paid.
First, I would like for Chicago Tribune reporter Jon Hilkevitch to get his facts before depicting bus operators as a bunch of greedy men and women who are only concerned about a paycheck. Many operators, such as myself, applied for the job for a variety of reasons.
First, I applied for the job because I am indeed a people person who cherishes the act of interacting and assisting others. Secondly, I appreciate the benefits that come with being a bus operator, including the pay.
The mayor of the City of Chicago campaigned hard to become mayor and spent millions of dollars in the proces of doing so. Yet, he makes a six-figure salary with a responsibility to serve all citizens of the City of Chicago. Was there anything wrong with him being highly paid?
The mayor then appoints cabinet members who also have a responsibility to the citizenry of Chicago. Most of them are making six-figure salaries that only seems to serve as a pre-requisite to becomng convicted felons because they find it difficult keeping their sticky fingers out of the cookie jar.
Let us not stop there.
The people at 567 West Lake Street (CTA headquarters) are making pretty hefty salaries, as well. Some with the responsibility of making decisions pertinent to the operation of public transportation in Chicago.
Just as the mayor tells you how great public education in Chicago is while sending his own children to private schools, CTA management would like for you to know how great public transportation is in Chicago while motoring around town in chauffeur-driven vehicles at the expense of the CTA and the taxpayers of the City of Chicago.
Does anyone ever wonder why CTA management is always crying broke.
Other facts that isn't ou for the public to see, but I'l be glad to reveal.
A bus operator at CTA starts off as a part-time employee making only 65 percent of what the highest paid bus operator makes. At $28.64 per hour, 65 percent of that ($18.62) is the starting salary for a bus oprator working part-time.
By contract that operator is never to make more than 32 hours per week. After accumulating 2,080 hours, that operator moves up to 70 percent. Then, after accumulating another 2,080 hours, that operator moves up to 75 percent.
In order to get up to 80 percent, he/she must accumulate another 2,080 hours before making the jump to 100 percent of a bus operator's pay.
With at least 25 percent of all bus operators working as part-timers, that only leaves 75 percent working as full-timers. Add in the fact that all full-timers are not at maximum pay, and there you have it.
To this moment, I don't know why Mr. Hilkevitch didn't include this in his story that was published on March 9, 2010.
Another fact Mr. Hilkevitch obviously didn't look at is, the vast majority of bus operators are Black and Brown-skinned. Very few whites are even applying for the job and there are a variety of reasons.
Some of us believe that because we stood behind our union leaders and encouraged them not to open the contract as the mayor and his minions have insisted, that we are the arrogant "Kneegrows," er, slaves that stood up to the almighty and powerful Mr. Daley.
In the City of Chicago, garbage collectors make considerably more money than bus operators. Yet, this is not an issue. Someone should please convince me that as a bus operator, I am not as relevant to the city as a garbage collector.
Factor in the high cost of living in Chicago, someone should tell me why I shouldn't mak a decent living so that my children and grandchildren can attend the same schools, eat at the same restaurants and attend the same functions as the mayor and his minions. Especially those who are just a heartbeat away from a Federal indictment for corruption.
It has become pretty hard to believe that in the city where the nation's president hails from during a time of economic instability, the president's fellow Democratic party members can't wait to put more citizens in the unemployment lines while cutting back on a service that provides a means for others to get to and from his/her place of employment.
And don't forget, it wasn't that long ago when the CTA borrowed a billion dollars from the union's pension fund, a loan that was forgiven by the previous union's administration.
Yes, with what a bus operator must go through on a daily basis, not only with the riding public, but also with TA's management, we should be the highest paid in the industry.
WHAT IS WRONG WITH THAT?????
As a laid-off Chicago Transit Authority bus operator, I take exception to the inferrence that CTA operators are the highest paid in the industry. And, if we are, what's wrong with being the highest paid.
First, I would like for Chicago Tribune reporter Jon Hilkevitch to get his facts before depicting bus operators as a bunch of greedy men and women who are only concerned about a paycheck. Many operators, such as myself, applied for the job for a variety of reasons.
First, I applied for the job because I am indeed a people person who cherishes the act of interacting and assisting others. Secondly, I appreciate the benefits that come with being a bus operator, including the pay.
The mayor of the City of Chicago campaigned hard to become mayor and spent millions of dollars in the proces of doing so. Yet, he makes a six-figure salary with a responsibility to serve all citizens of the City of Chicago. Was there anything wrong with him being highly paid?
The mayor then appoints cabinet members who also have a responsibility to the citizenry of Chicago. Most of them are making six-figure salaries that only seems to serve as a pre-requisite to becomng convicted felons because they find it difficult keeping their sticky fingers out of the cookie jar.
Let us not stop there.
The people at 567 West Lake Street (CTA headquarters) are making pretty hefty salaries, as well. Some with the responsibility of making decisions pertinent to the operation of public transportation in Chicago.
Just as the mayor tells you how great public education in Chicago is while sending his own children to private schools, CTA management would like for you to know how great public transportation is in Chicago while motoring around town in chauffeur-driven vehicles at the expense of the CTA and the taxpayers of the City of Chicago.
Does anyone ever wonder why CTA management is always crying broke.
Other facts that isn't ou for the public to see, but I'l be glad to reveal.
A bus operator at CTA starts off as a part-time employee making only 65 percent of what the highest paid bus operator makes. At $28.64 per hour, 65 percent of that ($18.62) is the starting salary for a bus oprator working part-time.
By contract that operator is never to make more than 32 hours per week. After accumulating 2,080 hours, that operator moves up to 70 percent. Then, after accumulating another 2,080 hours, that operator moves up to 75 percent.
In order to get up to 80 percent, he/she must accumulate another 2,080 hours before making the jump to 100 percent of a bus operator's pay.
With at least 25 percent of all bus operators working as part-timers, that only leaves 75 percent working as full-timers. Add in the fact that all full-timers are not at maximum pay, and there you have it.
To this moment, I don't know why Mr. Hilkevitch didn't include this in his story that was published on March 9, 2010.
Another fact Mr. Hilkevitch obviously didn't look at is, the vast majority of bus operators are Black and Brown-skinned. Very few whites are even applying for the job and there are a variety of reasons.
Some of us believe that because we stood behind our union leaders and encouraged them not to open the contract as the mayor and his minions have insisted, that we are the arrogant "Kneegrows," er, slaves that stood up to the almighty and powerful Mr. Daley.
In the City of Chicago, garbage collectors make considerably more money than bus operators. Yet, this is not an issue. Someone should please convince me that as a bus operator, I am not as relevant to the city as a garbage collector.
Factor in the high cost of living in Chicago, someone should tell me why I shouldn't mak a decent living so that my children and grandchildren can attend the same schools, eat at the same restaurants and attend the same functions as the mayor and his minions. Especially those who are just a heartbeat away from a Federal indictment for corruption.
It has become pretty hard to believe that in the city where the nation's president hails from during a time of economic instability, the president's fellow Democratic party members can't wait to put more citizens in the unemployment lines while cutting back on a service that provides a means for others to get to and from his/her place of employment.
And don't forget, it wasn't that long ago when the CTA borrowed a billion dollars from the union's pension fund, a loan that was forgiven by the previous union's administration.
Yes, with what a bus operator must go through on a daily basis, not only with the riding public, but also with TA's management, we should be the highest paid in the industry.
WHAT IS WRONG WITH THAT?????
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