From bus benches to bus lines, transit-dependent Angelenos are being left stranded.

Facing the scrutiny of a federal civil rights review for disappearing bus service and an exploding controversy over disappearing bus benches, LA's political leaders are straining to convince the federal government and the public that the region's transit policies genuinely protect the needs of vulnerable transit-dependent people. As LA County MTA cuts muscle and bone from transit lifelines that low income communities of color rely on as they struggle to participate in the economic recovery, the agency stands accused of once again violating federal civil rights laws.

Check out the BRU being interviewed about the bus bench controversy in LA Times and San Francisco gate

An expert panel joins over 30 community organizations to expose LA's mass transit crisis at Town Hall meeting Saturday

A city-wide multi-racial coalition of over 30 organizations - working in transportation, housing, faith, labor, public health, environmental and civil rights arenas - have joined the Bus Riders Union to shine the light on the transportation crisis resulting from not just the elimination of bus benches, but the disappearance of whole bus lines and the rapid degradation in bus service by LA County MTA.

Community testimony to contribute to new FTA report

An expert panel and community testimony shared in this town hall will contribute to a new report to be released as the Federal Transit Administration continues its civil rights compliance review of MTA. Hard-hit bus riders from across the region will share true stories of the grueling waits on street corners - with or without bus stops -- and epic hours-long transit trips as they try to find a job, stay in school, or get to the doctor.

What: Transit Justice Town Hall on MTA Cuts to Bus Service Lifelines
When: Saturday, August 20, 9:30AM-1PM
Where: Immanuel Presbyterian Church, 3300 Wilshire Boulevard @ Catalina, Koreatown, LA.

Expert Panelists

Dr. Robert Bullard. Named by Newsweek in 2008 as one the 13 Environmental Leaders of the Century and described as the "Father of Environmental Justice," he is the author of 16 books on sustainable development, environmental racism, and urban planning policy, including the landmark book on transportation justice, Highway Robbery: Transportation Racism and New Routes to Equity.

Martha Argüello is the Executive Director of Physicians for Social Responsibility in Los Angeles. One of California's leading voices for environmental health and justice, she co-founded the Los Angeles County Asthma Coalition and the Coalition for Environmental Health and Justice, and was appointed to Cal/EPA's Environmental Justice Committee.

Guillermo Mayer is a leading transportation civil rights attorney in the US at Public Advocates. He co-authored the civil rights complaint in the landmark 2009 BART Airport Connector case and is a National Co-coordinator of the national civil rights and environmental justice campaign Transit Riders for Public Transportation.

Barbara Lott-Holland has been the co-chair of the Bus Riders Union for over 10 years. A mother and grandmother and a decades-long bus riders from South Los Angeles, Barbara is a leading voice for transit justice in Los Angeles.

Sponsoring organizations: Acción Westlake, Association of Communities United in South Los Angeles, California Latinas for Reproductive Justice, Clergy & Laity United for Economic Justice-LA, Coalition for Clean Air, Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles, Comite Pro-democracia de Mexico, Comunidad Presente, Communities for a Better Environment , East Los Angeles Community Corporation, Esperanza Community Housing Corporation, Green LA Coalition, HOLA - Hispanos Organizados en Los Angeles, Inner City Struggle, Inquilinos Unidos, Koreatown Immigrant Workers Alliance, Korean Resource Center, Little Tokyo Service Center, Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy, Los Angeles Community Action Network, Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition, Los Angeles Taxi Workers Alliance, Natural Resources Defense Council, Physicians for Social Responsibility-Los Angeles, Public Counsel, Reproductive Justice Coalition of Los Angeles, Restaurant Opportunities Center - Los Angeles, SEIU United Long Term Care Workers, SEIU-United Service Workers West, Southeast Asian Community Alliance, Strategic Action for A Just Economy, Unification of Disabled Latin Americans, Union de Vecinos.

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