It’s down to the wire - this week Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, key state legislative budget committees will take critical votes on proposals that could avert or accelerate the transit fiscal cliff.  

Speak up at key votes to save transit

We need transit supporters to speak up on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Please make a 1 minute comment supporting state funding for transit. Don’t want to sit through the entire meeting? Sign up below to get notified when to comment and for updated links to agendas (Talking points are here)

• Thursday at 1pm: Senate Budget Subcommittee 2, dealing with Cap and Trade funding. Phone Number: 877-226-8163   Access Code:  6948930

• Thursday: Assembly Budget Committee. Started 12:55pm. Staff report. Dial-in Phone Number: 877-692-8957 Access Code: 1850 1100

Riders must keep the pressure on, as the Governor and legislature have continued to send mixed messages on their support for transit - with some rays of hope thanks to persistent advocacy:

• Last week, Assembly and Senate leaders said they support funding for transit

• Last Wednesday, at Assembly and Senate budget hearings, many legislators seemed to express openness to providing operations funding in order to prevent major service cuts

• Friday May 12, Governor Newsom released the May Revision of the state budget proposal. Unfortunately, it does not include vital funding for transit operations, and retains deep cuts to transit capital funding.  But the governor’s statement also recognized the fiscal cliff facing public transportation, and says he is open to negotiation with the legislature.

• Also Friday May 12, Bay Area constituents had a strong showing at Assemblymember Ting’s Town Hall (Chair Assembly Budget Committee), calling for transit funding for climate, equity, economy. Ting said he remains open to finding solutions such that Bay Area transit does not collapse.

Your actions have pushed the door open a crack. We’ll need to keep pushing please sign up here to comment for this week's critical votes.