Free youth fare idea back from the dead
The SFMTA might receive $6.7m out of $15m allocated by the MTC for introducing new riders to the system. Those funds could be allocated to the defunct free youth ride program, which would create a 22-month pilot program to give free passes to 40,000 of the city’s low income youth. The SFMTA would still need to put in $4.4m of the $9m plan.
“With the funds specifically available for the program, it could be up and running by early next year”, said Supervisor David Campos. SFMTA board Chairman Tom Nolan says that the money could be better spent elsewhere in the system, and SFMTA spokesman Paul Rose said the agency won’t make a decision until after the Oct 24th vote.
Introducing new riders to the system? This is designed to get low-income youth out of their cars?
I’m going to take a stab at it and say the money is to keep parents from driving their kids around. More likely this is an excuse to do a money grab to fund the unsustainable free Muni idea.
Wouldn’t it be less expensive now in parents’ time and money to have their kids take transit?
I don’t have a problem subsidizing low-income youth to help them get to school if it is too far to walk.
I am tired of this ‘FOR YOUTH ONLY’ crap! Thus limiting benefits to helppeople only under a set age! This is ageism, and unacceptable! If there is going to be a programme to help low income people by offering for example, in lieu of the $32 month Lifeline pass, a FREE service to low income people (such as SSI recipients et al) then lets stop discriminating against older people and making them pay! This is NOT right! It’s grossly unfair!
If you wish to help low income (poor) people then Please, let’s help ALL poor people on low fixed incomes! I am tired of this so-called youth only mentality as if it were ONLY those people who need our help — exclusively!
Youth is UNDER EIGHTEEN! NOT up to 23, 27, 30 something years of age! That is just plain age discrimination and that particularly hurts when we are talking about impoverished people! Are older poor to be left out of the equation of our help? This should NOT be!
Not all (of course) but many of the so-called ‘youth’ have been the ones responsible for damaging NUMI property, such as grafitti etc. ….And you want to penalise older people and making them pay? Ridiculous!
NO FREE YOUTH FARE IN SAN FRANCISCO! Instead a FREE fare for ALL poor people (who qualify such as being on GA, SSDI, SSI, etc) — regardless of age!
Thanks!