A podcast that speaks for itself. Who did we miss?
J.T.
EPISODE 107 – HELEN H. KIM ON K-TOWN IS OK + GIVING TUESDAY
Yours truly sits down with Helen H. Kim (@theotherhelenkim) to discuss our vision for K-Town Is OK and how donor support on #GivingTuesday can make all the difference. We reflect on Helen’s family life in Koreatown, going on to learn that her dad–like my mom–worked at a sowing factory in downtown Los Angeles during her youth. We also discuss the catalyst for our shirts: the racist L.A. City Council recordings published by the L.A. Times just this past October; other notes include the shirt’s design process, design accessibility for immigrant communities in L.A., local community shop Virgil/Normal’s support, and our privileged position to facilitate each of these processes. To donate to K-Town Is OK, please do so HERE. 100% of donations go towards commissioning more interviews for the project, a new website, and miscellaneous expenses like ink, paper, and other items in the effort to reach Los Angeles.
J.T.
December 1st, 2022 L.A. Metro Board Meeting Agenda, Item 50
“The modified fare restructuring recommendation (Attachment B) includes fare capping, fare pricing changes, and additional fare policy elements to simplify the fare structure and maximize the benefits of fare capping for Metro customers. The final staff recommendation is based on consideration of public input via mail, email, stakeholder outreach, and the public hearing. If these changes are adopted, the result will be a system where no rider ever overpays, and our most frequent riders pay less.”
In the words of Oscar Zarate, Director of Building Equity and Transit for SAJE (Strategic Action for a Just Economy):
“I urge you to reject the fare restructuring proposal and commit to achieving universal fareless transit. During the majority of the pandemic, buses were free to use for all riders, relieving the majority of Metro riders of their second-highest living expense behind the rent…The majority (70%) of Metro’s funding comes from local sales taxes. L.A. County residents, including me, already pay for public transit. Instead of adding to transit riders’ already burdensome cost of living and instead of maintaining an expensive and unjust fare collection and enforcement system, Metro should be universally and permanently fareless for everyone.”
J.T.