CTA tries new defense for sticky situation

Some riders say bubble gum is the glue that holds together the Chicago Transit Authority , but CTA President Ron Huberman is on a mission to remove any remnants of gum-chewing that passengers leave behind on ...

[ATZ]

Oh Boy, CTA now has money to remove gum from buses and cameras to watch drivers among other wonderful ideas, in the meantime drivers are paying more for health care for others, pensions and countless other fees and taxes. But at least CTA can clean gum. What a great Idea

[Steve]

ATZ wrote:

Oh Boy, CTA now has money to remove gum from buses and cameras to watch drivers among other wonderful ideas, in the meantime drivers are paying more for health care for others, pensions and countless other fees and taxes. But at least CTA can clean gum. What a great Idea

Think about this...A cleaner bus might mean more customers which means more job security for you and your fellow workers. Stop knocking it!!!!!!!

[u gotta be kidding]

They spent 6 grand for a $250.00 carpet cleaner with all the attachments?

I got some $10,000 toilet seats the Pentagon bailed out on. Have them contact me. I got good deal for'em.

[Joe]

It's sad that I've encountered far more urine than gum on the CTA. Priorities, people!

[da truth]

the fact that we have to use tax payer money to clean up after these people is a joke. What was Cosby saying again?

[Andy]

did you people read the article? the gum buster will save time and money. we've finally got a long-term thinker who considers the economic impact of decisions running the CTA and people continue to cry for the exact penny wise-pound foolish behavior that just bankrupted the system.

[Ald Graft]

This problem has given dick Daley a brainstorm to turn lemons into lemonade...a $1 surcharge on any rider seen in the act of chewing

[EdgewaterScott]

I need to add that it's encouraging and refreshing to see Ron Huberman taking real action. There have been real improvements lately, and he and his CTA people who have been involved in those improvements deserve some credit. I'm grateful and hopeful.

[Pete]

Daley will introduce a $1 city tax on all packs of gum. Better hurry up Stroger before Daley grabs the gum tax for himself!

[Byron]

The CTA's problem is that for years they have caved in to the unions and given pension benefits and health benefits that they (i.e., the public) cannot possibly afford. Their other problem is a total lack of management which is why when you see a CTA employee they are usually doing little to nothing. And so it goes. The public will be taxed to death to pay for the billions and billions in mismanagement at the CTA.

The Tribune's response to all of this I guess is to run a lead story put out by the CTA's PR machine about removing bubblegum. Bewildering!

[Leave it to Beavers]

Pete wrote:

Daley will introduce a $1 city tax on all packs of gum. Better hurry up Stroger before Daley grabs the gum tax for himself!

Better yet, ban gum, charge $1000 bux fine for chewing it, and create a new Bureau of Gum chewing. Put up cameras looking for chewers, and hire a few thousand gum police and a few thousand bureaucrats.

[Leave it to Beavers]

Then cry poor and raise taxes again. Rinse..repeat.

[Chewy]

Chewing gum should be banned altogether as it has become a blight. In downtown Chicago the sidewalks have to be powersprayed daily. This is something that has just transpired in the last few years. What else has changed in the last few years?

[Leave it to Beavers]

Chewy wrote:

Chewing gum should be banned altogether as it has become a blight. In downtown Chicago the sidewalks have to be powersprayed daily. This is something that has just transpired in the last few years. What else has changed in the last few years?

Let's just ban mouths then!

[Leave it to Beavers]

Chewy wrote:

Chewing gum should be banned altogether as it has become a blight. In downtown Chicago the sidewalks have to be powersprayed daily. This is something that has just transpired in the last few years. What else has changed in the last few years?

I really hope that you don't vote. If you do, that explains everything going on.

[dlk]

Chewy wrote:

Chewing gum should be banned altogether as it has become a blight. In downtown Chicago the sidewalks have to be powersprayed daily. This is something that has just transpired in the last few years. What else has changed in the last few years?

Gums don't cause blight. People do. Stop selling Gums in the city. We need a gum ban. Hand in you gum to your local church. Get gum of the street. LOL

[ejhickey]

Is there any way to get the seniors who are riding the CTA and Metra for free to help with Gum cleanup? Could the we charge Gum makers and Gum sellers for the cost of clean up? Could we license Gum chewers and have a three day waiting period on the purchase of a pack of Gum? Just some suggestions to avoid sticking the CTA with this problem.

[mulder42]

It's a shame that the CTA has to waste six thousand dollars on this machine because idiots don't have the courtesy to throw away the gum in a trash can after they're finished with it.

[Tic]

I've been on a CTA bus or two I think the gum was the only thing holding it together,

Maybe Daley should have a gum tax for cleanup the gun on the CTA and sidewalks, heck he taxes bottled water
and he air breathable air if he could
why not gum. it can also capitalize on people who might be chewing gum because
they cannot smoke in most places now.

[CTA is dirty]

Drivers should clean after each run. There should be antiseptic spray etc. Seats are dirty and the whoe system is not taken care of so gum isn't the issues here. Another silly boring article by Jon. Why buy this paper?