On June 23rd, a spirited group of Brooklynites gathered to protest cuts to the B71 bus and all the bus lines slated to be restructured or totally eliminated next week.  The B71 is a cross town bus whose route is not duplicated by any Brooklyn train line and connects neighborhoods which have been particularly hard hit by budget cuts this year.

Kids came with signs saying where they take the B71: to schools, to doctors and dentists, to libraries, museums and parks. Representatives of the disabled came to remind the MTA how essential buses are for mobility and workers came who need the B71 to get to their jobs. The rally was attended by residents and organizations from the Columbia Waterfront district, Cobble Hill and Carroll Gardens, City Councilmembers Brad Lander and Letitia James and representatives from Assemblywoman Joan Millman and State Senator Daniel Squadron’s offices who all represent areas served by the B71.

Organizers of the rally also gathered more than 2,700 signatures on paper and online petitions to stop the elimination of the bus.  On Sunday, June 27 there will be another rally against bus cuts at the Smith Street Fair, which will begin at the corner of Union and Smith Streets at 11AM.