BART Seeks Public Input, People Want Accountability!

By Reginald James

BART's Outreach

BART recently announced an unprecedented community outreach schedule to improve outreach to “minorities and other underrepresented communities.” What BART didn’t announce was that it was only doing this to fulfill a federal funding requirement, not out of concern or moral obligation to the poor and disadvantaged.

Earlier this year, the Federal Transportation Administration (FTA) withheld $70 million in stimulus monies because BART ignored civil rights issues, both with its proposed Oakland Airport Connector (OAC) project, and as an agency as a whole.  From the murder of Oscar Grant, to fare hikes and service cuts to BART’s arrogance over the OAC project, the transit agency has consistently shown disregard for low-income and communities of color.  BART’s public meetings are part of their efforts to get back into compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.

West Oakland Residents Call for Accountability
BART held a meeting in West Oakland on April 5 at the Mandela Village community center. About seven members of the public, four BART staffers and consultants and two members of the press attended.

Long-time residents expressed frustration with BART’s neglect of their community, comparing it to a relationship lacking trust and respect.

“The relationship with BART and West Oakland was a public domain act,” one man said. “The system was built and that was the last time people in the community ever heard of BART.”

When BART was built, the historic Seventh Street business and entertainment district was destroyed. Residents were promised easy travel to suburban jobs. Attendees said BART never delivers on its promises.

Another man said the lack of people in attendance at the meeting shows that the public does not trust BART and does not believe the agency will take their concerns seriously.

“The public is more astute than BART gives them credit for,” said another woman. “We want real input, not canned input, not controlled input.”

Attendees said that MIG, Inc. (the consultant group being paid nearly $100,000 for the outreach series) might be reaching out in good faith, but BART has never been a good faith partner.

Attendees said BART can’t just send out a newsletter to communicate with residents, but it needs to repair its abusive and neglectful relationship with the people face to face. BART Directors were criticized for not being present.

San Antonio Meeting
The scene at the sole meeting near East Oakland was much different. Over 150 people packed the San Antonio Neighborhood Center on Tuesday, April 6. Numerous interpreters were on hand to translate into Burmese, Nepalese, Vietnamese, Cantonese and Spanish.

Instead of a conversation like West Oakland, the group was simply instructed to fill out a 14-question survey. The survey asked about the best mediums BART could use to communicate information about fare increases and service changes to residents.

Through use of translators, people expressed their concerns about BART’s fares being a burden to employment and survival, as well as concerns about safety when leaving stations. Most of the people in attendance said they rode AC Transit, not BART.

At both sessions, MIG consultants capsulated what they heard and wrote it (in English) on a large butcher paper display.

When asked why BART was now so eager to conduct outreach, BART Director Carole Ward-Allen, the sole director in attendance, said that some people at the agency hadn’t wanted to do the necessary community outreach in the past.

This was somehow transported to the large butcher paper to read, “FTA requires it.” When asked if BART was officially going on the record saying that this was the real reason for the expansive outreach plan, that was crossed out.

It is unclear how passengers suggestions will be filtered and brought to the BART board for adoption, or if the people will have an opportunity to consider and weigh in on the suggestions.

BART Continues to Ignore East Oakland?

The ambitions plan calls for 17 public meetings in just 22 days time. Three weeks is hardly sufficient for a meaningful conversation about radically transforming the BART machine.

Cryptically, BART has not scheduled any meetings in Deep East Oakland, the location of the proposed OAC, and the purpose of this series of meetings.

The omission of an outreach meeting in the same community most affected by the OAC project is a glaring example of BART’s true intentions: a shrewd media facelift that will let BART “check a box” to receive the lost millions while ignoring the people’s needs.

There is still hope. This is an opportunity to hold BART accountable to requirements that they include low-income people in the decision making process. This is a chance to make BART a fair, democratic institution. BART belongs to the people, but democracy only works if you participate.