BRU wins two major policy breakthroughs to protect bus riders' Civil Rights at the MTA's monthly Board meeting! After months of pressure from the BRU, Mayor Villaraigosa requests that MTA staff present a plan for bus system improvements and Supervisor Ridley-Thomas introduced an amendment to the 2009 LRTP that included language to protect the 20% of Measure R funds exclusively for bus expansion.

"Pre-Prison Diaries" is a series from the Community Rights Campaign in which organizers, students and parents share stories and observations about truancy tickets, police in schools, zero tolerance, and other "pre-prison" conditions and experiences. Barbara Lott-Holland, shares the story of a Black mother who is determined to challenge her son's truancy tickets and expresses why we must decriminalize tardiness and "truancy". 

The Bus Riders Union surveyed LA's bus riders on the Wilshire Bus-Only Lanes.  LA riders overwhelmingly support the Bus-Only Lanes project for its anticipated reduction and greater efficiency in bus travel time and improvements in the city's air quality.

I learned by experience what transformative organizing is, it is when we transform ourselves by having our values and actions aligned. Even though none of us are perfect, we should try to live our lives with full integrity...

BRU member Julian Lamb reports on the monthly meeting.  "For me, the highlight of the meeting, was when Mike de la Rocha, community activist and strong supporter of the We are Alex campaign, spoke passionately on the plight of Alex Sanchez."

We have just finished with our teatro / rally / action at the MTA headquarters, but we are repeating our performance on Wednesday 10/21/2009 at 12:30pm at the corner of Wilshire / Western.  Don't miss our performance!  The Bus Riders Union, bus riders and their allies will be urging the public to call on MTA Board of Directors to reject the 2009 Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) draft that calls for permanent fare increases and bus service reduction.

"Pre-Prison Diaries" is a new series from the Community Rights Campaign in which organizers, students and parents share stories and observations about truancy tickets, police in schools, zero tolerance, and other "pre-prison" conditions and experiences. Ashley Franklin starts the series with a look at the effects of the truancy ticketing law on one high school graduate.

We are pleased to announce that LAUSD Board Member Tamar Galatzan and Councilmember Tom LaBonge have withdrawn their motions to deputize police officers to issue LA Municipal Code 45.04 Daytime Curfew Citations, popularly known as "Truancy Tickets," inside LAUSD schools. Ms. Galatzan will now be chairing an agenda item on Truancy and Attendance at the October 20th Board meeting, where Community Rights Campaign organizers will be presenting. To advance this breakthrough, important next steps are still needed....

Please join us in supporting ally and friend Alex Sanchez, internationally recognized peacemaker and co-founder of Homies Unidos in Los Angeles. Alex was arrested in June on conspiracy charges brought by the FBI. Alex was denied bail on June 30th. The bail appeal hearing is now scheduled for Monday, October 19th, 2009 and your action is needed to support the campaign for a free a trial.

Important Victory for Transit Riders! On June 30th, the California Court of Appeal, Third District, held that $1 billion in "spillover" gas tax revenues dedicated to public transportation by Proposition 116 may not be diverted by the California Legislature to the General Fund. That decision became final when the California Supreme Court refused to review it on September 29.