Civil Rights Review of MTC Raises Governance Questions - The Bay Citezen

Allies Public Advocates of the national Transit Riders for Public Transportation campaign successful win a federal probe into civil rights violations of the Bay Transit Commision. This Bay Citizen artical extensively covers the potential impacts of probe and interviews BRU lead organizer Esperanza Martinez on the signifigance of the FTA's action for those fighting transit racism in Los Angeles. 

 "I feel like this is a historic move for those of us who advocate on behalf of the transit dependent, working class communities, and communities of color," said Esperanza Martinez, lead organizer for the BRU. Referring to President Obama and FTA Administrator Peter Rogoff, she added, "It speaks to the real possibilities and opportunities that have been created through the new administration."

"It sets a precedent for agencies like the MTC to tread more carefully in terms of how they make choices on how they spend local, state and federal funding to build projects that have discriminatory impacts," she added.

Esperanza pointed to the 30/10 transit plan promoted by LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa as an example of a project that had been pushed forward without equity analysis. She said it would decimate bus service by shifting operating resources to light rail, very little of which will serve transit-dependent communities."

Read the full artical here: