San Francisco Chronicle

Wiener should support free Muni

- By Carolyn Goossen

Our morning routine is similar to that of many families in San Francisco. After tossing empty cereal bowls in the sink and gulping down the last mouthfuls of black tea, I look for matching socks and a clean shirt while my third-grade daughter makes her school lunch. We grab our coats and head out. Many days, we are rushing up to 24th Street to grab the 48 bus, followed by the 24 bus, to get to her school, Harvey Milk Civil Rights Academy, in the Castro.

Since my daughter was a baby, I’ve regularly taken Muni to work, and to ferry my daughter to and from child care and school. I take Muni because it’s convenient and affordable, and because I want my daughter to understand that taking the bus is part of being a member of a city community.

In recent years, I’ve noticed more children and families riding the 48 and 24 lines in the morning. This is most likely because budget cuts forced 20 elementary schools to discontinu­e the yellow school bus service. Muni has become our kids’ school bus, and parents are expected to fill the budget gap. Many have a hard time doing so.

Last year, I joined the Free Muni for Youth campaign. I have worked alongside women like Manuela Esteva, a home child care provider with two girls who lives in the Mission, and Carmen Lee, a UCSF shuttle driver and mother of two boys, who lives in Hunters Point. They both struggle to make ends meet for their families. We are determined to make this city better for all children by advocating for this program.

Over the last two years, we gained the support of the school board, the mayor, the Board of Supervisor­s, the youth commission and the county transporta­tion authority. We recently won regional funding that would allow San Francisco to launch the Free Muni for Youth pilot program.

My supervisor, Scott Wiener, has stood alone in his opposition to addressing the transit needs of families. Supervisor Wiener says he is a transit advocate, but he is wrong when he pits the youth-pass pilot program against the strength of Muni as a whole. The San Francisco Municipal Transporta­tion Agency budget is $800 million a year. This program is 1 percent of that and benefits more than 40,000 youths and their families. The newly approved regional funds are divided into two pots, able to cover youth passes and contribute to Muni maintenanc­e needs as well.

Regardless of their income, all parents want to be in a city that values and supports its families and kids. Free Muni for youth is a crucial step in that direction. It’s time for Supervisor Wiener to get behind free Muni for youth.

 ?? Sonja Och / The Chronicle ?? San Francisco Supervisor Scott Wiener has said the city can’t afford let all kids ride Muni for free.
Sonja Och / The Chronicle San Francisco Supervisor Scott Wiener has said the city can’t afford let all kids ride Muni for free.

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