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Community Organizing and Advocacy is all about cutting an issue, gathering an influential group, making an ‘ask’, and holding someone or an organization accountable! That’s just what happened in Oakland last Monday night. The Arc is a member of the local organizing group, Genesis, an affiliate of Gamaliel of California. The issue continues to be transportation. Self advocates from The Arc in the Tri Valley area (Dublin, Pleasanton and Livermore) had previously spoken on behalf of the transportation needs of people with disabilities, seniors, and youth. For example, what it was like for a person with a disability waiting for Paratransit to be picked up for his Senior Prom, but the bus never came! Ballot Measure BB was passed because of that advocacy; but after a year, funding continues to be a problem.
That’s why Genesis organized a 2nd Community Forum, to ask what is happening with the funding and hold AC Transit, the Oakland School District (OUSD), the Mayor of Oakland and other elected officials accountable. 12 of the Genesis organizations gathered their members to attend, including The Arc. One of the high school principals said that the district offers students a choice to attend better schools, but only if you can get there! The transportation funds are not in the coming year’s budget, so some schools are seeing declines in their enrollments. Parents have been left in the dark on how their children will get to school! The funding has been a combination (matching funds) between County, State, Federal and School Districts. There has been enough funding this year, but parents are afraid for 2018-19!
Government funded agencies were asked to address the forum, including representatives from state legislature, the mayor’s office, and board presidents from AC Transit and the Oakland Unified School District. AC Transit emphasized that in addition, they are strapped for money to provide para transit and special education transportation. Graham Drake from Representative Rob Bonta’s office mentioned that the Governor no longer requires additional funding for transportation next year. A Senate Bill (SB 527) has been authored to provide additional transportation dollars to be shared around the state, especially to the East Bay’s AC Transit.
In order to keep these elected and appointed officials accountable, they were asked questions at the end of the forum. Will you continue to monitor and work with staff from AC Transit, OUSD, the Mayor’s Office and elected officials to #RestoreTransit? Will you support the passage of SB 527? Will you give us a list of representatives to contact for the senate bill’s passage by December 1st? Will you meet again with us before April 30th to share results? This last part of the Community Forum is called the Moment for Commitment. Each and every elected official and board member stood and committed to continue supporting and building a plan to restore transit and return to present the solution to our community.
Community Organizing and Advocacy in Action!