I’ve only been in Oxford for two weeks now, but I’m in love. Why? The city planning and public transit here seem to make a huge difference, compared to what I regularly see in LA and NYC, in racial integration, accessibility of jobs and healthy foods, and overall health. I can’t tell you how many elderly people have cut me off on the sidewalk because I was walking too slowly for them. I also see old people riding bikes all the time! It’s great! It not only implies that the infrastructure is set up so that it’s easy for people for walk and bike, but it also makes clear that living in a city that emphasizes these environmentally friendly methods of transport contributes to better health and independence.

A huge problem in LA is the disproportionate amount of money spent on freeway and car-related transit, and the transportation racism/classism and residential segregation that results. The first two things I noticed about Oxford were 1) how easily accessible everything is and 2) how visibly racially diverse the city is. I daresay these two observations are inextricably related.

It’s rare to find a city where, with any given glance, you see Whites, Blacks, Asians, Indians, and others, who all seem to be of similar socioeconomic status. While LA is diverse, the odds of regularly seeing wealthy Black or Hispanic people in Santa Monica or Beverly Hills are pretty low. This might well be related to the fact that you absolutely do not need a car here in order to have access to the same job opportunities. So even if Oxford is residentially segregated and I just don’t know about it, it doesn’t seem have the same social, socioeconomic, environmental or health impacts apparent in LA.

Part of the Bodleian

The city is small enough that you could walk the whole place if you had the desire and the whole day to spare. But it’s also big enough that every time I walk the city, I find something new. If walking doesn’t suit, about 90% of the population owns a bike, and there are bike lanes everywhere. The public transportation is excellent and affordable (and clean!). They only have buses because most of the underground is owned by the Bodleian Library, and it’s too small to make lightrail financially or environmentally sensible. I got a monthly key card, equivalent to the TAP, for 42 pounds, and I’ve taken the bus everyday, which I still have never done in LA despite having lived there my whole life.

I’ve only been here for two weeks, so I’m sure some dystopian race-related observations will come my way, but It’s the first European country I’ve been to where, as a Black person, I could easily be a well-off local.

Is LA too big to achieve this sort of accessibility? Possibly, but after being here for a short time, I have even more faith in the BRUs push for more clean air buses and bus lanes. I see a definite correlation between (apparent) increased racial equality and prevalence of affordable, quality (particulate free!) public transportation.

YOOO WHATS UP MY GREEN RELAY PEOPLE LONG TIME NO TALK THIS SHADDIE ON THE NEW POST JUST SEEING WHATS UP WITH YOU GUYS AND HOW EVERYTHING BEEN GOING BUT ME I BEEN COOLER THAN THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PILLOW OUT HERE IN VIVA LAS VEGAS CHILLING…

Are we sure we want to tax the wealthy?

As we all know, we are in an economic crisis and lawmakers are doing anything to close the multi-billion dollar deficit. A new “outlook” President Obama is now calling for a tax on the wealthy . The wealthy are up for an increase on their income tax that scheduled to be nearly 40% in addition to the surplus tax. The tax would be levied on single income earners making $280,000 and for couples earning $350,000.  5.4% of the surplus tax would come from income earners making $1 million. It`s surely a tax break for the working class.

However, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is pushing for the “new” tax to be placed on singles making $500,000 and couples making $1 million. Pelosi’s push for the tax to be placed on the previous stated incomes will affect a smaller group of people than President Obama’s push.

According to the article “The ‘new’ tax on the rich” the $280,000/$350,000 tax raise would incur $544 billion over 10 years. This “new” tax is expected to affect a smaller percentage of people.

Posted by www.cnn.com The ‘new’ new tax on the rich

“The original proposal would affect 1.2% of Americans, according to the JCT. If the income thresholds were increased, the surtax likely would affect a smaller percentage of people. Data from the Tax Policy Center suggest that by 2011, fewer than 450,000 households could be subject to the surtax if the thresholds are raised.”

It is safe to say that with Pelosi’s push, less tax would be raised. I think it is great that the burden of tax increases are being shifted from the working class to the wealthy. It`s time for the trickle down effect to finally take place. The trickle down theory is a policy that provides tax cuts or other benefits to businesses and rich individuals in the belief that this will indirectly benefit the broad population. The proponents of this theory are of course the big business and Republicans supports. In an ideal society, the trickle down theory would be successful if these businesses are investing in local infrastructure that includes providing jobs within the community. One might agree that the theory of trickle down is a fairy tale. However, it is clear from the article that the “new” tax on the wealthy will pay for the health care reform. I can say that I think President Obama needs to come with a better presentation for the health care reform package.

"Nickel and Dimed" (courtesy of George Mason University)

A book written by Barbara Ehrenreich, Nickel and Dimed sets out  to investigate the impact of 1996 welfare reform on the United States. Barbara Ehrenreich throughout the novel moved from Florida to Maine, and also Minnesota, working minimum wage jobs, such as a waitress, hotel maid, house cleaner, nursing home aide, and also at Wal-mart. All of these jobs came with no benefits at all. So if you had children, you would still have to depend on the state. She soon finds out that if you want to survive in America and at minimum wage you need atleast two jobs, because one just won’t work. I find this book to be very humorous, and an eye opener to America. Regardless of how Amercans feel we should have better living conditions when working at minimum wage. I really enjoyed the book and would like more young people to read it, and pass it along. Please feel free to leave a comment especially if you read the book.

Higher prices for gas

that’s causing the pain in our a**.

Higher cuts toward our in-home health care

that’s causing old people to fear.

HEY ARNOLD !

Transit racism still proceeding

as the minorities keep bleeding.

They keep failing

and the President keeps bailing.

HEY ARNOLD !

I wish some companies would see the pollution in the sky

cause we as people do not want to die.

When will they finally see

that they are polluting our sea.

HEY ARNOLD !

When I think of environmental justice, I don’t only think of the air supply. I also think about land and water. The North Pacific Gyre is patch of garbage collecting new trash everyday. Most of the trash that ends up in the garbage patch is plastic. The plastic, which not biodegradable, can take up to a hundred years to discompose.  While the plastic is discomposing, fishes and birds confuse the plastic for food and consume it. Many animals are dying because their bodies are not use to digesting plastic.  How is this affecting us? Well, there are many people around the world that consume seafood and don’t know where their food is coming from. Eating contaminated food can result in diseases and infertility.

I think its important to remember that the environment, what is around us, needs to be taken care of. We can’t just litter and expect the world to be a clean place. We need to change our habits starting at home. Instead of throwing away plastic, we can start to recycle so our plastic does not end up harming anyone or anything. We must also encourage our government to start taking action to reshape our cities into green cities. By adding recycling bins around the city we can rest assured that our plastic will not travel down a drain and end up in our oceans. We must remember that we have future generations coming and we must build a clean place for them to live in. We need to take care of nature because it’s our environment. We need to start taking action by recycling and keeping our streets clean.

The book Just Transportation is about justice in the transportation system for people of color, the working class, the poor, women, the elderly, and the disabled. Just Transportation clearly illustrates that the struggle for just transportation is not over. Two of the most historic movements surrounding just transportation are the Freedom Riders and Rosa Park’s refusal to give up her seat to a white man on the bus. Although those are two historical moments for Black folks, the fight for just transportation goes farther back to after President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1^st, 1863. Even with the freeing of slaves, they were not truly free, forced to ride in rail carts in the back or standing up.

Freedom riders of the 1960s challenged transportation “laws” in place during the time period. They challenged interstate traveling even if it resulted in their death. Rosa Park’s refusal to give her seat is also a significant catalyst in history, for she challenged the racist Jim Crow laws in place.

Though landmark decisions such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the Fair Housing Act of 1968 were made, the scars and strains of racism are still profoundly embedded in America’s society today, even with a historic shift on November 4^th, 2008.

As stated in the book, unjust transportation policies keep poor people and minorities separate and apart from reaching their full potential. I agree that public transit too often does not link urban job seekers with suburban jobs. It’s no secret that urban job seekers want the white collar, upstanding jobs just like suburban job seekers. We too want a livable wage job. Since transportation isn’t connected, urban folks lose out on opportunities.

It’s not rocket science to find out that transportation affects every aspect of our lives and daily routine. Mobility directly influences where we live, work, play, shop, go to school, and attend medical appointments. The role transportation plays in shaping human interaction and human settlement patterns should be taken into consideration when deciding just transportation policies.

Grassroots community groups across the country have come together to put an end to transportation discrimination. Freeway construction, transit services and investments and facility siting are issues these groups are combating. A Los Angeles-based community organization, the Bus Riders Union, understands that just transportation can only be realized if poor people and people of color receive their fair share of transit services and investments. It is important to view transportation as an environmental, civil rights, and social justice issue. In order to end transportation discrimination, a link needs to be made between unequal treatment on buses and trains with violations of constitutionally guaranteed civil rights.

Well luckily the Bus Riders Union of Los Angeles was able to make that link. In doing so they sued the MTA in 1994. They filed a class action civil rights suit. The plaintiffs of the suit were the Labor/Community Strategy Center, Bus Riders Union, the Korean Immigrant Workers’ Advocates, and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference all represented by NAACP Legal Defense. The plaintiffs challenged the use of federal funds in building an expensive rail system and challenged the allocation of public funds in Los Angeles’ two-tiered (bus vs. rail) public transit system.

Some statistics: 90% of Los Angeles transit riders use the bus system (hmmm) the bulk of the dollars were being expended to build a rail system. There were questions of expenditures of  over $700 million on the newly opened Green Line. ( “the line to nowhere” LITERALLY). Fares Decrease- Ridership Increase; Fares Increase- Ridership Decrease (funny ratio)

After some years of court battling, an out of court settlement was reached (not surprised). The Consent Decree of 1996, which expired in 2006 sadly and was not renewed, was reached. In the Decree, monthly passes were kept, biweekly and weekly passes were implemented at reasonable prices, and the MTA promised to keep fares low, purchase 102 new buses over the next 2 years, use CNG fuel, expand bus service to new areas, and implement the Rapid bus service.

Well this seems like a great victory, (it is), but the fight continues with the 2007 fare increases and the continual allocation of funds to an unneeded rail system. Funds are needed more than ever to be put into the bus system. We need to be able to have just transportation as a human and civil right. According to Just Transportation, “a socially just and ecologically sustainable transportation has the potential to increase job and income opportunities, create environmentally safe communities, decrease fossil fuel energy consumption and improve overall social, economic and environmental quality of life.” Of course I agree. A final quote from Just Transportation: “transportation programs that continue to support suburban commuter needs and development at the expense of the urban core contributes to patterns of institutional racism, class bias in urban poor, working poor, and people of color communities.”

Give just transportation for education not long waits on the block where correctional handcuffs await young Tyrone.

Spoken Word Piece: Untitled

As I walk thru the valley of the shadow of death, I take a step back to realize the social injustice brought out by the increase police presence of the plea by Mayor Antonio Villaragiosa of a 1,000 more police to target black and brown youth. Spearheaded by the police, the split between black and brown, I spit this pleas so you can scrutinize my every word, memorize my every line, that my plea is real.Increase police presence orchestrates the fear for the green in the eye and the “nine” close by to protect from the entity hired to protect and serve. As I spit this pleas of a 1,000 less police, as I mosh with BRU behind me, I exercise my right to express to impress those ears, how you interpret it is on you. I put my voice behind a 1,000 less police and a 1,000 more buses. If you don’t understand, don’t bother to ask. 1,000 more teachers protects the minds corrupted in the unjustified latter of nothin more in this world. A 1,000 more parks protects the targeted black and brown youth with a place to go and a spot to kick it. As I mosh with the BRU behind me, we gon’ charge, we gon’ stomp, we gon’ march thru the swamp, we gon’ step to those doors, we gon’ make our demands ” 1,000 Less Police,  1,000 more buses, 1,000 more teachers, 1,000 more parks. All you’ll see is a sea of people, some black some brown even white, no matter the color; all that matters is we’re together to demonstrate the same cause to show what a 1,000 more police looks like, by millions of black and brown youth locked up in record numbers, deaths of Devin Brown and Suzie Pena, and the beating of Rodney King. As I provide just enough spark that we need to proceed to carry on with the demands; Respectively, I disagree with a 1,000 more police

A Tree of Life !

Playing outside, giggling and laughing

under the tree,where there’s a cool

breeze, which takes smoke from

city to city, where kids play

under the sun, soon comes rain

and washes it away, until tomorrow

when its a new day

the sun comes up and shine

below, for all the plants to grow

the tree, the grass, the animals

cant wait to see the day go.

Metro Local Bus in the San Fernando Valley

Tomorrow morning, public transportation advocacy organizations around the country will be demonstrating in favor of increased federal funding for transit operations. From the Transit Riders for Public Transportation’s press release:

On Wednesday, July 22, the Bus Riders Union will be part of a national day of action by the Transit Riders for Public Transportation national campaign to call on Congress to restore federal funding for transit operations that includes transit advocates, civil rights and environmental justice organizations throughout the country. Advocates including Chicago, San Francisco Bay Area, New York and Portland will be calling on their congressional representatives.

The BRU will be at the northeast corner of Wilshire and Western leading a mass education drive highlighting the connection between the need for transit operation funding is related to the service cuts threatening millions of transit riders across the country including bus riders in Los Angeles. With giant banners, call booths and petitions the BRU will be encouraging scores of residents and bus riders to call the Southern California Congressmembers and President Obama to support a greater share for operations funding . The goal of the nationwide coordinated events is to influence the debate over the authorization of the $500 billion Federal Surface Transportation Authorization Act (FSTAA) slated to dedicate roughly 80% of the funding to highways, freeways and roads, while providing only 20% to mass transit. Advocates and transit riders will hold press conferences, rallies, phone-banking drives, and street theater encouraging thousands to call on their congressional representatives to dedicate at least 50 percent of all transit funds in the bill to operate transit systems in response to the crisis across the country.

Nationwide Transit Crisis

Across the United States, major cities and regions are facing massive cuts in transit services, raising fares and implementing regressive measures to make up for declining tax revenues and government support. These cuts hit the most vulnerable communities, predominately low-income and people of color, escalating already-existing economic burdens. The numbers are stark. New York Metro raised fares early this year, while Oakland’s bus operator, AC Transit, announced proposed cuts in service ranging from 15-30% despite a fare increase that went into affect earlier this month. Los Angeles MTA has proposed fare increases for the next 30 years along with the elimination of 120,000 hours of bus service. Portland’s TriMet implemented service cuts in May that eliminated weeknight transit service.

Supporting H.R. 2746 as First Immediate Action

As a major first step towards restoring federal support for transit operations, advocates will urge constituents and bus riders in various congressional districts to call on their Congressional Representatives to co-sponsor the H.R. 2746 (Rep. Carnahan – MO). The marker bill would allow transit agencies in urbanized areas of over 1 million to use up to 30% of their federal transit capital funds for operations, and grant even more flexibility for smaller urbanized areas. In contrast, the FSTA currently allows only 5% of federal transit capital funds to be used for operation in large urbanized areas.

New Opportunities to Improve the Environment

The U.S. must reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 60% over the next twenty years if it is to meet the goal of achieving a 90% cut in emissions by 2050. Congress has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create first class transit systems and dramatically curb emissions with the passage the FSTAA. As a first step, the bill must preserve the integrity of our current transit systems and provide the funding to operate them at full capacity.

The TRPT campaign calls on the Obama Administration and Congress to break with the last two decades of favoring toxic highway expansion by making massive investments in a clean-fuel, world-class transportation systems that meet both the needs of transit riders and international emissions-reduction targets.