Yes on the Measure VV Event

By Lindsay Imai

Over 50 students, parents, bus riders, and people representing community and faith organizations gathered at the busiest bus hub in Oakland to spread the word about Measure VV and why it needs to pass in this November’s election. The group held a rally and then gave information out directly to bus riders.

If passed by voters in November, Measure VV will fill the gap in AC Transit’s operating budget – preventing service hikes and major budget cuts. If Measure VV doesn’t pass, then the consequences could be devastating to AC Transit’s over 200,000 daily riders- many of whom have no other transportation option and include youth, seniors, working people, and people with disabilities.

Listen to KPFA Wendall Harper's report on the event click Here or listen to KCBS' Bob Melrose click Here

Superintendent of Alameda County Office of Education started off the group of speakers, which included a youth, a parent and a bus rider. They each articulated the importance of Measure VV – ensuring youth can get to school, enabling seniors and people with disabilities to remain independent, reducing traffic and air pollution. They also discussed how AC Transit’s budget shortfall is both the result of state budget cuts and rising fuel costs, along with chronic unfair and unequal underfunding compared to primarily-commuter rail systems like BART and Caltrain.

Claudine Tong, member of Genesis and parent of children at Skyline High School, shared her frustration with AC Transit and how AC Transit doesn’t provide enough service as it is. “We can’t afford for service to be reduced or fares to go up.”

Organizations represented included: Berkeley Center for Independent Living, Building Opportunities for Self Sufficiency, Californians for Justice, Genesis, Kids First Oakland, Oakland Rising, Parent Leadership Action Network, Transportation and Land Use Coalition, Urban Habitat, West Oakland Youth Standing Empowered and the Youth Transportation Coalition.

After the press conference, which was covered by KCBS, KPFA and the Ming Pao Daily, the demonstrators spread out across the intersection of 14^th and Broadway, some flyering at bus stops and holding up signs and others boarding AC Transit buses to flyer and talk with bus riders. Approximately 400-500 flyers were given out to people waiting for the bu.

If you are interested in getting involved to help promote Measure VV, we’ll be doorknocking the next two Saturdays and phonebanking almost every Wed and Thursday evening with Oakland Rising until the Election. Genesis, a faith-based coalition, will be holding a forum on transportation inequities on Sunday October 26^th. To get involved, please call us or email us at: 510-844-1191 or 510-839-3716 or Lindsay@urbanhabitat.org or bob@urbanhabitat.org.