State Transit Justice Organizing Update

New Statewide Coalition Comes Together to Demand California Legislators Keep Our Buses Running.

Earlier this month, more than 40 people, representing 16 organizations from across the state, piled into an AC Transit Bus and rode to Sacramento where we demanded that our Legislators stop the fare hikes, service cuts, and layoffs that have been devastating California transit operators and their riders.

Delegations from the Bay Area, Sacramento and L.A., representing transit riders, transit operators, transit unions, seniors, youth, disabled people, transit dependent people, and advocates united for the first time to build a strong statewide voice for transportation justice.

Our coalition met with 19 Legislators and their staff, including: Swanson, Blumenfield, Simitian, Skinner, Hill, Perez, Lowenthal (Bonnie), Lowenthal (Alan), Hyashi, Oropeza, DeSaulnier, Pavley, Leno, Eng, Hancock, Solorio, Feuer, Yee and Buchanan.  

In our meetings, we asked legislators to stand with us against the Governor’s gas tax swap proposal, which would almost entirely eliminate funding for transit operations. We also asked them to affirm their commitment to keep the busses running by protecting dedicated funding for transit.  

Beyond our work in Legislators, the day was remarkable because of the breadth and unity of the sectors and regions represented.  Thank you to everyone who helped make this advocacy day a successful first step towards organizing a statewide effort to save our transit and jobs.

Unfortunately, our strength is likely to be tested in the coming weeks as the Senate begins to discuss the state budget.  So far, Senate Democratic transit and budget proposals, though a slight improvement over Governor Schwarzenegger's, would still be DEVASTATING for transit riders, transit operators and transit workers, devolving the responsibility to fund transit to already cash strapped regions.  We will continue to post updates on these proposals as they unfold.