Activists to Wave Signage on the 110 Flower St. Bridge This Morning
Angelenos, as you cruise (or roll slowly along) the 110 this morning, you may witness a crowd of people waving signs and banners on the Flower Street overpass beginning at 9am. If you can't catch what the signage reads, here's what's happening.
South L.A. residents want Congress to tax corporations and the rich, create good jobs and build L.A. The funds generated by taxing said groups will go towards The American Jobs Act, a measure that will save or create 125,400 California jobs. Of these jobs, 51,500 will involve rebuilding California's roads, 37,300 will prevent California teacher, police and firefighter layoffs plus 36,600 positions will entail fixing California's schools, per today's news release.
The Federal Highway Administration deems the Flower Street overpass "structurally deficient," and the American Society of Civil Engineers says that 30% of California's bridges are in said condition or functionally obsolete, according to the release. Activists are calling attention to the issue by engaging drivers while standing on this bridge as well as handing out leaflets.
The call for good jobs is an initiative of Good Jobs LA, a coalition of community members and organizations committed to holding corporations accountable for fixing the economy and calling for investments in struggling communities to create good jobs.
Below are a few more statistics from the release, highlighting California's need for employment opportunities and highway repair.
*68% of California’s urban highways are congested.*66% of the state’s roads are in need of repair.
*L.A. traffic congestion is the worst in the nation, costing drivers an average of 72 hours a year stuck in traffic and $710 in wasted time and fuel costs.
*One in four people in Los Angeles County are unemployed or underemployed.
*Corporations have laid off thousands of L.A. workers in the past several months.
