On Dec. 1, Henriquez and other community leaders and organizations such as  Strategic Actions for a Just Economy (SAJE), Alliance for Community Transit-LA (ACT-LA) and Community Power Collective (CPC) gathered outside of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro) headquarters, to demand universal fareless transit in LA. Oscar Zarate, director of Building Equity and Transit at SAJE, said fareless transit is something obtainable and feasible. “The next steps are pretty clear,” Zarate told CALÓ NEWS.

Delvi Henriquez. (Photo by Brenda Fernanda Verano.)

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority introduced a new plan that would restructure LA Metro fares. The Latino community is the largest ethnic group, representing 58% of LA Metro riders, in comparison to Black/African Americans representing 14% of riders, followed by 12% who are white and Latino organizers say the increases will harm the community.