Judi Redman: "Blacks have historically had ties with transportation and Civil Rights,
or the lack thereof; from the slave ships to Pullman porters to Rosa
Parks and segregated school busing.

The struggle for Civil Rights, unfortunately is never ending.

MTA's plans for revenue from Measure R's 1 /2 cent sales tax is the latest
example of transit racism/segregation. We urge newly elected L.A.
County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas (representing South L.A., Korea
town, Compton, and Mar Vista) to commit  to his constituents a fair,
equitable, first class bus system. We call upon his background in the
Civil Rights movement to recognize the lack of accessible and
affordable transportation for lower income, disabled, youth, elders and
people of color. We ask that Supervisor Ridley-Thomas  and the MTA
Board adopt the BRU's plan for clean air and economic justice in the
2009 Long Range Transportation Plan. 

Our struggle continues..."

Javier Combron: "My name is Javier Cambron and I have been fighting with the Bus Riders Union for a little over a year now. This day was my first time ever publicly speaking at any Board meeting, as well as my first time ever writing a speech. I didn't want this to be about myself but rather, in the larger scheme of things, about my community. I especially wanted Jose Huizar to get a sense of the urgent need of a better bus system in his district"

Rosa Miranda: "Hoy 23 de Julio, yo he hablado ante de la Mesa Directiva de la MTA.Ha sido una experiencia un poco molesto de mirar que ningunos de los representantes ahi presentes se han pronunciado a favor de nuestro plan, ellos demuestran más entusiasmo por rieles costosos y de largo plazo.
Senti muy injusto que muchos de los que están a favor de la extensión de la linea morada son blancos y dueños de negocios en el area de Santa Monica, más injusto cuando son tan costosos y cuando tengan algun otro deficit nos afectarán subiendo nuestras tarifas y recortando nuestros servicios como lo que paso anterioremente.

Today, July 23rd, I spoke in front of the Board of Directors of the MTA. It was an annoying experience to see that instead of supporting our plan, the board members expressed great enthusiasm for the rail system. It is a great injustice that those in favor of the extension of the purple line are whites and Santa Monica business owners, and an even greater injustice that the MTA plans to raise our fares and cut our service to deal with the deficit that these rails have created."