California’s leaders are finalizing the state budget and they are looking to slash funding for transit service. This means longer waits for buses and trains, whole routes canceled, and people unable to get to work, school, and the places they need to go. For those who don’t use public transit, these cuts mean more traffic delays, less parking, and dirtier air.

Our communities were already facing transit service cuts. Instead of a helping hand when they need it, Governor Gavin Newsom’s budget kicks communities while they are down.

Right now, he is pushing to:

• Cut state funding for transit service by 30%

• Eliminate the state’s biggest program for building affordable housing near transit

• Continue to give fossil fuel companies billions of dollars worth of free passes to pollute in the state’s Cap-and-Trade / Cap-and-Invest program

But Newsom doesn’t set the budget himself – our state representatives have the final say! So please call these key budget negotiators and the Governor's office to urge them to Fund Transit. Once you're done, let us know by completing the form!

• Governor Gavin Newsom: (916) 445-2841

• The head of the California Senate, Mike McGuire: (916) 651-4002

• The head of the California Assembly, Robert Rivas: (916) 319-2029

• The Chair of the California Assembly Budget Committee, Jesse Gabriel: (916) 319-2046

The most important this is to speak from the heart about what transit means to you, but if you'd like some inspiration, here is a script to use:

“Hi, my name is _______, I live in _______, and I am calling to urge you to reverse the proposed cuts to transit and instead invest an additional $2 billion in transit service and affordable housing near transit. My community deserves dependable and frequent public transit.

Cutting transit funding means more people won’t be able to get where they need to go, more traffic delays, and dirtier air. Transit in our community is already struggling and we’re looking at even less service. Our state budget should help fix that problem, not make it worse.

We can fund this by making polluters pay for the harm they are doing to our state, by making the Cap-and-Invest program stronger. This will lower emissions, and raise the money our community needs for transit and housing. Thank you.”