This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Photo by R. E. ~ via LAist Featured Photos on Flickr
The news of a hunger strike protesting July's fare hike has Metro scrambling to clarify what's going on. The Bus Riders Union is not happy with July's fare hike and are camping out across from Union Station until Thursday's Metro Board of Directors meeting, but that doesn't mean fare hikes will be discussed. "The Metro Media Relations office is refuting the assertion by the Bus Riders Union that the fare increase will be on tomorrow’s Metro Board agenda for discussion or vote," an agency statement read. "There is no action item on the agenda."When LAist spoke to BRU members on Tuesday evening, no one claimed the fare hike was an agendized item.
Metro also is emphasizing what the fare hikes really mean. Marc Littman said that it's "important to always note there will be no change for half our riders since Measure R froze current fares for seniors, students, disabled and Medicare recipients until 2013," he wrote in an e-mail. "BRU keeps saying we can use Measure R rail monies to subsidize fares. Legally we can't but we are using a good chunk of Measure R dollars that are eligible to subsidize fares for seniors, students and disabled and also to extend Orange Line to Chatsworth." He added that the transit agency is eliminating 523 jobs, among other cuts as it faces a large deficit.
