>>> I AM REALLY EXCITED ABOUT
TODAY BECAUSE I GET TO LEARN
LOT.
I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN
TRANSPORTATION FOR 20 YEARS,
THE FIRST 10 YEARS AS A
VOLUNTEER WITH THE SIERRA CLUB
IN WHICH WE FOCUSED ON CLIMATE
INTEREST.
WHEN I RAN FOR CITY COUNCIL
FIRST TIME 10 YEARS AGO HE WAS
THE FIRST TIME I STARTED TO
UNDERSTAND HOW TRANSPORTATION
SYSTEM, JUST LIKE ALL THE OTHER
SYSTEMS, HAVE MASSIVE
INEQUALITIES AND HOW DIFFERENT
COMMUNITIES ARE IMPACTED IN
DIFFERENT WAYS.
I CONTINUE TO LEARN ABOUT THAT
EVERY SINGLE DAY.
WHEN YOU ARE IN THAT SPACE YOU
LOOK AROUND THE COMMUNITIES IN
THIS COUNTRY, AROUND THE WORLD,
FOR PEOPLE THAT UNDERSTAND IT
AND IT IS RIGHT.
TAMIKA BUTLER IS ONE OF THOSE
AMAZING FOLKS.
SHE IS THE DIRECTOR OF EQUITY
INCLUSION AT TOOLE DESIGN GROUP.
I WILL LET HER INTRODUCE
HERSELF.
I WANT TO DO A SHOUT OUT TO
TRANSPORTATION COALITION WE DID
IS A LOT OF WORK TO FILL THE
ROOM TODAY.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE
SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION WHO IS A BIG
ORGANIZATION THAT DOES A LOT OF
WORK.
THEY ARE DOING AMAZING WORK
TRYING TO MAKE THE SYSTEM MORE
EQUITABLE.
THANK YOU TO ALL THE FOLKS THAT
ARE HERE FOR THE AMAZING WORK
YOU DO AND FOR HELPING TO
ORGANIZE THE EVENT.
WITH THAT I WILL SIT DOWN UNTIL
THE END AND HANDED OVER TO
TAMIKA BUTLER TO RUN THE SHOW.
THANK YOU.
>>> THANK YOU.
IT IS AN HONOR TO BE HERE.
I WANT TO THANK THE
TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT AND
TRANSPORTATION CHOICES.
WHEN YOU INVITED ME I HAD THAT
SAME FEELING ESPECIALLY 10
MINUTES BEFORE THIS STARTED.
I NOTICED THE EMPTY CHAIR IN
THE BACK BUT OTHER THAN THAT
CHAIR MANY OF THE SEATS WERE
FULL, SO THANK YOU EVERYBODY
FOR SPENDING A LITTLE BIT OF
YOUR LUNCH WITH REGINA AND ME.
I WILL TALK BRIEFLY AND REGINA
AND I WILL HAVE A CONVERSATION,
WHEN EVERYONE WALKED IN YOU HAD
CARDS ON YOUR CHAIRS, SO IF YOU
HAVE QUESTIONS THAT YOU CAME IN
HAVING, YOU CAN START WRITING
THEM DOWN NOW.
IF THINGS COME UP AS WE ARE
TALKING RIGHT THEM DOWN.
FOLKS WILL BE COLLECTING -- SO,
PLEASE DON'T HESITATE WE ARE
TRYING TO LEAVE AS MUCH TIME AS
POSSIBLE FOR QUESTIONS.
THE ONLY OTHER GROUP I WANT TO
THANK IS THE TOOLE DESIGN GROUP
OFFICE.
I CAME UP A DAY EARLY, WE HAD A
FANTASTIC DINNER, FOR A BRIEF
12 HOURS I WAS LIKE I COULD
LIVE IN SEATTLE.
THEN I WOKE UP THIS MORNING
BUT, THANK YOU.
THANK YOU TO THE TOOLE DESIGN
GROUP OFFICE.
I APOLOGIZE IN ADVANCE BECAUSE
SOME OF THE THINGS I WILL SAY
TODAY YOU HAVE ALREADY HEARD
YESTERDAY.
JUST PRETEND LIKE IT IS FRESH
FOR THE FIRST TIME.
I LIKE TO SHARE THIS PICTURE OF
MY WIFE KELLY, AND MY CHILD,
EVERY TIME TO KIND OF SET THE
PREMISE BEFORE WE TALK ABOUT
ISSUES OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND
INCLUSION.
I LIKE TO SET THIS PREMISE FOR
A COUPLE OF REASONS.
FIRST, I AM JUST A PERSON.
WE ARE ALL JUST PEOPLE.
THERE IS THIS IDEA THAT THERE
IS EXPERTS ON A TOPIC BUT I AM
JUST A PERSON WHO DOES THIS
WORK EVERY DAY BECAUSE I REALLY
CARE ABOUT MY WIFE AND KID IS
NOT WANT THEM TO BE ABLE TO GET
AROUND IN IN EQUITABLE WAY.
AS I SHARED WITH THE SEATTLE
OFFICE I ALSO SHARE THIS
PICTURE BECAUSE OFTEN WHEN I
GIVE TALKS ABOUT INCLUSION,
ESPECIALLY IF I GO A LITTLE
HARD, I ALWAYS HAVE WHITE FOLKS
COME UP TO ME ASKER AND ASK WHY
I DON'T LIKE WHITE PEOPLE.
I ALWAYS ASK THEM WHY DON'T YOU
LIKE BLACK PEOPLE, THEN, THEY
OFTEN SAY SOMETHING ABOUT
HAVING BLACK FRIENDS.
SO, I HAVE JUST STARTED
INCLUDING A PICTURE OF MY WHITE
WIFE BECAUSE I MARRIED HER, MY
WIFE IS ALSO CANADIAN SO SHE IS
SUPER WHITE.
SO I HAVE -- I AM VERY NICE, I
HAVE JUST EXCEEDED THEIR, THE
OTHER REASON I'D LIKE TO SHARE
THIS PICTURE IS THE OTHER THING
THAT HAPPENS FOR WHITE PEOPLE
OR MEN OR FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T
HAVE A DISABILITY OR FOR PEOPLE
WHO AREN'T CLEAR, IF YOU ARE
NOT IN THE OTHER GROUP WHATEVER
THE CONVERSATION IS ONE OF TWO
THINGS HAPPENS.
EITHER YOU TAKE UP A LOT OF
SPACE, BUT, I THINK THAT IS
PRETTY RARE.
I THINK WHAT HAPPENS MORE IS
FOLKS FEEL LIKE I AM HERE TO
LISTEN AND I WILL JUST SIT
BACK.
I DON'T HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY, I
DON'T SEE COLOR, I DON'T HAVE
CULTURE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT MY
ROLE IS BUT IT IS JUST TO SIT
BACK AND LISTEN AND TO NOTHING.
SO I SHARE THIS PICTURE OF MY
WIFE AND SON WHO SAY THAT MY
SON IS A YOUNG MAN OF MIXED
RACE BUT WE ARE RAISING HIM AS
A BLACK MAN.
WE HAVE MANY CONVERSATIONS AND
ARE A VERY CLEAR FAMILY ON IF
WE WOULD RAISE HIM WITH A
GENDER NEUTRAL PRONOUNS.
ULTIMATELY WE DECIDED THAT
WOULD BE A RESPONSIBLE BECAUSE
THE WORLD WILL SEE HIM AS A
BLACK MAN.
SO HE NEEDS TO KNOW WHAT THAT
MEANS.
ALTHOUGH WE ARE BOTH WOMEN I AM
SOMEBODY, BASED ON MY
REPRESENTATION IN THE WAY I
DRESS, PEOPLE OFTEN THINK I AM
A BLACK MAN WHEN THEY SEE ME.
SO I KNOW FIRSTHAND HOW
DANGEROUS IT IS TO BE A BLACK
MAN IN AMERICA.
SO WE DON'T WANT HIM TO BE
CONFUSED AND ALSO WE WANT HIM
TO HAVE BLACKBOARD JOY SO WE
WANT TO BRING ALL OF THAT.
IF HE TELLS US THAT IS NOT THE
CASE WE WILL SUPPORT AND LOVE
HIM BUT WE HAVE A
RESPONSIBILITY FOR HIM TO KNOW
WHAT IT IS TO BE A BLACK MAN IN
THIS COUNTRY.
BUT THAT IS NOT MY JOB AS THE
BLACK PARENTS, I CAN'T BE THE
PARENT WHO IS IN CHARGE OF
THOSE THINGS ONLY.
ONCE THE DECISION WAS MADE THAT
WE WERE GOING TO HAVE A CHILD,
WE BOTH NEEDED TO AGREE THAT WE
WERE GOING TO RAISE HIM
TOGETHER.
SO WHEN WHITE FOLKS ARE LIKE
WHAT IS MY ROLE IN THIS, I
ALWAYS THINK ABOUT MY WIFE, SHE
HAS TO DO HER OWN WORK,
SOMETIMES THAT MEAN I CAN
SUPPORT HER, SOMETIMES THAT
MEANS I HAVE TO SAY TO HER, I
HEAR WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO BUT
I NEED YOU TO FIND A WHITE
FRIEND TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT.
ALL OF US WHO SHOW UP IN THIS
ROOM ARE ALL PEOPLE, WE ALL
HAVE MULTIPLE IDENTITIES BUT
WHEN WE START TO THINK ABOUT
THIS WORK ALL I ASK IS THAT
EVERYONE REMEMBER WE ALL HAVE A
ROLE TO PLAY.
IT WILL NOT WORK IF ONE PERSON
SITS BACK AND SAYS THAT IS
THEIR WORK TO DO.
OFTEN IN THE COMMUNITIES WE
RELY ON THE PEOPLE OF COLOR TO
DO ALL OF THE WORK FOR US.
AS I SAY TO KELLY, I CAN'T
RAISE HIM ON MY OWN.
SHE HAS REALLY STEPPED UP TO
THE CHALLENGE.
SHE HAS REALLY DONE EVERYTHING
SHE CAN IN WITH MATT CONTINUES
TO DO IT, SHE MAKES MISTAKES,
SHE GETS IT WRONG, JUST AS I DO
BUT THAT DOES NOT MAKE HER
STOP.
SO I ASK YOU ENTER THIS SPACE
IN THE SAME WAY.
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT TOOLE DESIGN
GROUP I AM THE DIRECTOR OF
INCLUSION FOR TOOLE DESIGN
GROUP.
I AM ALSO THE DIRECTOR OF
CALIFORNIA PLANNING.
WE HAVE OFFICES ALL OVER THE
COUNTRY AND ABOUT A YEAR AGO WE
STARTED THIS EFFORT, WHAT I
LOVE ABOUT TOOLE DESIGN GROUP
AND A REASON I WENT THERE IS WE
ARE A WOMAN LED COMPANY AND A
MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE IN
LEADERSHIP POSITIONS ARE WOMEN,
WE HAVE REALLY FIGURED IT OUT
WHEN IT COMES TO WOMEN.
BUT AT SOME POINT THE FOUNDER
úAND CEO LOOKED AROUND AND
REALIZED WE WERE REALLY WHITE
COMPANY.
I ALWAYS INVITE PEOPLE TO GO TO
OUR WEBSITE TO LOOK AT THE
STAFF PAGE.
WE HAVE BEAUTIFUL HEAD SHOTS OF
EVERYBODY ON STAFF, IT IS ALSO
A VERY WHITE COMPANY WITH A FEW
CHOCOLATE CHIPS IN THE MIDDLE
OF THE SUGAR COOKIE.
JENNIFER'S CREDIT SHE LOOKED
AROUND AND REALIZE THAT AND THE
SAME WE WERE INTENTIONAL ON
GENDER SHE WAS LIKE LET'S
FIGURE THIS OUT.
SO WE STARTED IN INITIATIVE TO
INCLUDE -- INCREASED DIVERSITY
AND EXAMINE WHAT WE WERE DOING
WELL AND WHAT WE COULD DO
BETTER.
WE DID A SURVEY OF ALL THE
STAFF, THIS IS SOMETHING ONE
MEMBER SAID, I THINK YOU CAN
CHANGE OUT THAT IT IS NOT JUST
IMPORTANT FOR THE FUTURE
SUCCESS OF THE COUNTRY BUT FOR
THE INDUSTRY, CITIES, FOR OUR
COUNTRY.
REALLY TACKLING THESE ISSUES OF
DIVERSITY, ALL OF THE ISMS ARE
REALLY IMPORTANT TO SUCCESS.
THE OTHER THING WE DID IS
ARTICULATE A MISSION STATEMENT.
IT IS VERY LONG BUT WHAT I LIKE
ABOUT IT, SO OFTEN PEOPLE SAY
THEY WANT TO DO SOMETHING BUT
THEY DON'T ACTUALLY WANT TO
ARTICULATE THAT AND PUT IT IN
WRITING.
SO WHEN I DO THESE TRAININGS
WITH THE STAFF WE HAVE INTERNAL
TRAININGS, ONE THING WE ASK
EVERYONE AT THE END IS TO THINK
ABOUT ONE THING THEY WANT TO
START DOING, WANT THEY MAY WANT
TO STOP DOING, ONE THING THEY
WANT TO DO MORE OF.
WE ASK PEOPLE TO WRITE THAT
DOWN.
THEY DON'T HAVE TO SHOW
ANYBODY.
BUT YOU WILL BE SURPRISED WHEN
YOU WRITE THINGS DOWN AND
ARTICULATE A COMMITMENT.
WHAT MANY FOLKS HAVE STARTED
DOING HIS SHARE IT WITH A
FRIEND AT THE COMPANY.
WHEN YOU MAKE IT PUBLIC YOU
HAVE TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.
THESE ARE A FEW CITIES WHERE WE
HAVE OFFICES, WE ALSO HAVE
OFFICES IN EDMONTON, TORONTO,
AND YOU DON'T SEE LOS ANGELES
UP THERE OR OAKLAND BUT THESE
ARE JUST A FEW OF THE CITIES.
THIS IS IMPORTANT IS BECAUSE WE
ARE WORKING IN TOTALLY
DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES.
OFTEN TIMES ONE OF THE
QUESTIONS PEOPLE SAY TO ME IS
COME UP WITH IT EQUITY TOOLBOX.
NO MATTER WHAT COMMUNITY YOU
ARE IN IT IS DIFFERENT.
THE DYNAMICS ARE BIT DIFFERENT,
THERE IS NO ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL
EFFORT.
SO PART OF DOING THIS WORK
RIGHT IS BEING WILLING TO LOOK
AT WHAT IS DIFFERENT AND
APPROACH WHAT IS DIFFERENT THAN
DO THAT WORK IN A WAY THAT FITS
THAT COMMUNITY.
WHEN I WAS ASKED TO DO THIS
TALK I WAS ASKED TO SHARE A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE STUFF THAT
IS GOING ON IN CALIFORNIA.
I WAS SURPRISED TO BE ASKED
THAT QUESTION BECAUSE WHAT I
OFTEN HEAR IS THAT PEOPLE IN
THE NORTHWEST, REALLY
EVERYWHERE, ARE JUST LIKE OH MY
GOD CALIFORNIANS ARE SO
ARROGANT.
THAT IS 100% TRUE.
I AM ACTUALLY A NEBRASKAN SO I
CAN SAY THIS AND YES, BLACK
PEOPLE LIVE IN NEBRASKA.
I AM FROM NEBRASKA, ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT HAS BEEN SO
INTERESTING FOR ME IS HOW
DEFINITIVELY PEOPLE IN
CALIFORNIA FEEL THAT EVERYTHING
THEY ARE DOING IS BETTER.
SOME THINGS ARE BETTER, LIKE
THE BASKETBALL TEAMS.
BUT, NOT LIKE EVERYTHING,
RIGHT?
BUT, I WAS ASKED TO BEFORE WE
JUMP INTO QUESTIONS GIVE A
BRIEF PRIMER ON THE
TRANSPORTATION BALLOT MEASURE
THAT PASSED IN THE SAME
ELECTION AS THE TRUMP ELECTION
AND WHAT WAS REALLY INTERESTING
ABOUT THAT, AS A COUNTRY WE
WERE GOING IN ANOTHER DIRECTION
IN LA COUNTY WE ACTUALLY VOTED
ON A NUMBER OF THINGS AND
DECIDED TO TAX OURSELVES IN A
NUMBER OF WAYS.
WE PASSED A MEASURE WHICH WAS
ALL AROUND TRANSIT ORIENTED
DEVELOPMENT.
WE PASSED SEVERAL MEASURES
AROUND HELPING FOLKS
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND
BUILDING HOUSING.
SO AS A REGION WE HAVE MADE A
DEFINITIVE DECISION THAT NO
MATTER WHAT WAS HAPPENING
ELSEWHERE IN THE COUNTRY WE
WERE GOING TO DO WHAT HE COULD
TO PROVIDE FOR OTHERS.
THIS REPORT IN THE MIDDLE
MEASURES DESPERATE A REPORT RAN
BY THE INSTITUTE OUT OF USC
WHICH IS SPECIFICALLY ABOUT HOW
YOU CAN INTEGRATE EQUITY IN TO
THE IMPLEMENTATION OF MEASURES.
THEY USE THIS PARKS MEASURE AND
TRANSPORTATION MEASURE AS A WAY
TO TALK ABOUT IT.
WHAT WAS THE MEASURE?
IT WAS A SALES TAX THAT WILL
NEVER SUNSET, THAT WILL PROVIDE
A LOT OF MONEY FOR
TRANSPORTATION IN LOS ANGELES
COUNTY, SO FOLKS WHO DON'T KNOW
LA WELL IT IS A CITY BUT ALSO A
COUNTY, AS A COUNTY WE ARE 88
CITIES AND UNINCORPORATED.
IT IS A LARGE COUNTY, I THINK
THE FIFTH BIGGEST ECONOMY.
SO IT IS A HUGE REGION.
THIS IS A LOT OF MONEY.
THIS IS A PICTURE OF ME WITH
THE MAYOR.
WE WILL ALL OVER TO GET THIS
THING PASSED.
THIS WAS ON HALLOWEEN.
WE WERE TRYING TO ENCOURAGE
PEOPLE TO VOTE FOR MEASURE M-
LETTER M. WHY THIS MEASURE WAS
SO TRANSFORMATIVE IS BECAUSE
FOR THE FIRST TIME IT TALKED
ABOUT ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION, IT
AS THE FIRST TIME T
HAD A STRATEGY WHERE THEY
ACTUALLY WENT TO LOCAL COUNCIL
OF GOVERNMENTS AND ASKED THEM
TO DO COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AT
THE LOCAL LEVEL AND BUILT THE
POLICY FROM THE GROUND UP AND
FIGURED OUT HOW THEY WOULD
SPLIT THE INCOME.
THE OTHER MEASURE THAT PASSED
AT THE SAME TIME WAS MEASURE A,
IT IS A PARCEL TAX, BUT THE
DIFFERENCE WITH THIS ONE, IT
WAS ALSO -- IT WAS TRULY
COMMUNITY LED.
I SAY THAT TO MEAN THAT WHAT
THE COUNTY DID IN THIS ONE IS
THEY HIRED COMMUNITY-BASED
ORGANIZATIONS TO LEAD TO THE
OUTREACH PROCESS AS THEY WERE
BUILDING UP.
SO DIFFERENT COMMUNITY GROUPS
THAT REPRESENTED THE DIFFERENT
DISTRICTS THEY WERE HIRED AND
GIVEN FUNDS TO GOOD COMMUNITY
MEETINGS.
IN THE MEETINGS THEY TALKED TO
FOLKS ABOUT WHAT A MEASURE
WOULD BE, WHAT IT WOULD
INCLUDE, SPECIFICALLY SAID IN
YOUR REGION WHAT PROJECTS DO
YOU WANT TO SEE ON PARKS?
SIMULTANEOUSLY BUT THE COUNTY
WAS DOING WAS CREATING THIS MAP
OF THE PARK FOR COMMUNITIES.
THE COMMUNITIES IN RED HAVE A
HYDE PARK NEED, THE COMMUNITIES
IN GREEN HAVE A VERY LOW
THE CAMPAIGN BECAME HOW DO WE
TURN THE RED AREAS TO GREEN
CRACKS AFTER THE MEASURE WAS
PASSED WHAT YOU SAW IS YOU
ALREADY HAD A TON OF COMMUNITY-
BASED ORGANIZATIONS BUT ALSO
COMMUNITY MEMBERS SUPPORTING
WHAT WAS HAPPENING BECAUSE THEY
KNEW THAT THEY HAD BEEN ENGAGED
FROM THE BEGINNING.
THAT MEANT SOME OF THE PROJECTS
THEY HAD EXPLICITLY MENTIONED
WERE ON A LIST OF PROJECTS THAT
WOULD BE COMPLETED ONCE THIS
WAS PAST.
THE LAST PIECE IS WHAT HAS
HAPPENED SINCE WE HAD THIS
TRANSFORMATIVE ELECTION WHERE
WE ALL DECIDED EQUITY MATTER.
THE FIVE BOARD SUPERVISORS HAVE
STARTED TO INTEGRATE EQUITY
INTO EVERYTHING THEY ARE DOING.
IT IS NOT UNANIMOUSLY FIVE,
THERE IS REALLY TWO OR THREE,
BUT, YOU KNOW, THEY ARE THE
MOST POWERFUL SUPERVISORS, THEY
ARE REALLY PUSHING TO MAKE SURE
THERE IS AN EQUITY FRAMEWORK IN
EVERYTHING THAT WE DO.
THE REASON I SAY FRAMEWORK IS
BECAUSE A LENS IS SOMETHING YOU
CAN PUT ON AND TAKEOFF, AS
COMMUNITY-BASED GROUPS WE
WEREN'T JUST HOPING FOR A LENS,
YOU KNOW WHEN YOU ARE AT THE
EYE DOCTOR, THIS ONE OR THIS
ONE, LIKE WE DID NOT WANT TO IS
THE TO BE NO, NO, MAY BE, NO,
RIGHT?
SO WE ACTUALLY WANTED THEM TO
INCORPORATE THE FRAMEWORK WHICH
WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS A BIT
MORE PERMANENT.
METRO, THE REGIONAL MTA AND
FOLKS ON THE BOARD ARE ACTUALLY
ALL FIVE OF THOSE SUPERVISORS
AND A FEW OTHER FOLKS WHO ARE
EMPLOYED THROUGHOUT THE REGION.
THEY FORMED A POLICY ADVISORY
COUNCIL.
THIS COUNCIL WAS COMMUNITY-
BASED ORGANIZATIONS, PRIVATE
INTEREST, GOVERNMENT
REPRESENTATIVES, THIS POLICY
COUNSEL, WHICH WAS VERY MISLED
BY TERESA MCMILLAN WHO USED TO
WORK FOR THE OBAMA
ADMINISTRATION AND HAS MOVED TO
THE BAY AREA, SHE BROUGHT FOLKS
TOGETHER AND THIS PACK WAS
ADVISING ON EVERYTHING FROM
TRANSPORTATION PLANS TO METRO,
WHO DECIDED TO HIRE A CHIEF
DIVERSITY OFFICER.
THEY HAVE BEEN GREAT BECAUSE
THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO OFFER
THEIR OPINION.
I THINK WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IS
TRICKY, WHITE THEY PUBLISHED A
REPORT ON IMPLEMENTATION IS
THAT THERE WAS SO MUCH ENERGY
IN GIVING STUFF PAST BUT
IMPLEMENTATION IS WHERE IT IS
TOUGH.
PART OF WHAT MAKES IT TOUGH IS
TRACKING THE MONEY.
WE HAVE ALL OF THIS MONEY BUT
WHERE IS IT GOING?
IN CALIFORNIA WE PASSED A
STATEWIDE GAS TAX THAT WILL
BRING A TON OF MONEY TO
EVERYWHERE IN THE STATE BUT
ASO LOS ANGELES, NOW THAT WE
HAVE ALL OF THE SOURCES OF
MONEY COMING TOGETHER IT HAS
BECOME MURKY FOR FOLKS TO
FIGURE OUT WHERE THE MONEY IS
GOING.
THE OTHER THING IN A REGION AS
LARGE AS LA IT MEANS DIFFERENT
THINGS TO SO MANY DIFFERENT
PEOPLE, IT HAS BEEN HARD TO
NARROW DOWN THAT DEFINITION.
METRO IS OUT THERE, AS YOU CAN
SEE, METRO HAS PUT TOGETHER
THIS PLATFORM THAT THEY ARE
REALLY TRYING TO LAY OVER
EVERYTHING THEY DO.
BUT, THEY HAVE DONE THAT BEFORE
HIRING THE CHIEF DIVERSITY
OFFICER.
THERE HAS BEEN TALK ABOUT IT
WILL BE THE CHIEF EQUITY
OFFICER BUT ALL OF THESE MOVING
PARTS THAT MAKE IMPLEMENTATION
FOR FOLKS WHO ARE TRACKING IT
AND WHO CARE ABOUT IT, THAT
LACK OF TRANSPARENCY IS JUST
GETTING SICKER AND SICKER.
PRICING IS ON PEOPLES MIND,
ALSO SOMETHING HAPPENING ANY
ILL LA.
METRO HAS RELEASED THEIR FIRST
RFP AND MADE EQUITY FRONT AND
CENTER.
IT MEANS EQUITY AND WHERE THE
MONEY GOES, IS IT EQUITY AND
HOW THE PRICES ARE SET?
IS IT EQUITABLE TO DO IT AT
ALL?
IN A REGION WHERE HOUSING
AFFORDABILITY AND THE DISPARITY
CONTINUES TO GROW.
LOW INCOME FOLKS OF COLOR HAVE
BEEN PUSHED OUT TO AREAS THAT
AREN'T SERVICED BY PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION.
IS IT FAIR TO CHARGE THEM TO
GET BACK TO THE JOB CENTERS.
ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE
STARTING TO PACK THE LAKE
DESPERATE ALL OF THESE THINGS
HAVE STARTED TO PERCOLATE.
THEY HAVE REALLY EMBEDDED
EQUITY INTO ALL OF THE THINGS
THEY ARE DOING.
WHETHER THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT
WATER, THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT
PARKS, TRANSPORTATION, EQUITY
IS THE COMMON THEME AND THEY
HAVE TALKED ABOUT EQUITY AND
INCORPORATING BUT THAT MEANS
FOR INDIGENOUS FOLKS AND HOW LA
COUNTY EVER CAME TO BE.
AGAIN, THE COUNTY IS TRYING TO
TALK ABOUT IT AND DO MORE BUT
THE IMPLEMENTATION IS STILL A
LITTLE BIT UP IN THE AIR.
THIS IS A QUOTE I END WITH,
ESPECIALLY AS WE GO INTO
CONVERSATION.
SO OFTEN SO MANY OF US COME TO
THIS WORK, TRANSPORTATION WORK,
SAYING WE ARE TRANSPORTATION
PLANNERS, THAT IS WHAT WE ARE
HERE TO TALK ABOUT.
BUT WHEN WE HAVE MEETINGS OR
WORK ON A PROJECT OF PEOPLE WHO
WE SAY WE ARE THERE TO SERVE
AREN'T JUST THERE FOR
TRANSPORTATION.
THEY ARE COMING WITH SO MANY
OTHER ISSUES, SO MANY OTHER
THINGS ON THEIR MIND.
SO WE HAVE TO START THINKING
ABOUT THIS WORK, NOT JUST A
SINGLE ISSUE BUT HOW IS THIS
WORK TIED TO OTHER ASPECTS OF
WORK.
THAT IS WHY WE HAVE TALKED MORE
ABOUT JUSTICE, HOW TO MAKE THIS
WORK, HOW DO WE TIE IT UP TO
THESE LARGER ISSUES, SOCIAL
ISSUES THAT ARE GOING ON.
I WILL END THEIR, I WILL LEAVE
MY CONTACT INFORMATION OF BUT
HOPEFULLY WE CAN MOVE INTO
CONVERSATION.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
CAN EVERYONE HEAR ME?
NOW WE ARE GOING TO MOVE INTO
QUESTIONS.
I WANT TO REINTRODUCE MY HOUSE,
MY NAME IS REGINA.
I WILL BE MODERATING THE
CONVERSATION WITH TAMIKA
BUTLER.
IF YOU HAVE NOT YET START TO
RED YOUR QUESTIONS ON THOSE
WHITE CARDS THAT WERE PASSED
AROUND THE ROOM.
SOMEBODY WILL BE COLLECTING
THOSE.
I WILL BE ABLE TO ASK THEM.
I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS
FIRST.
I WANTED TO START WITH WHAT YOU
ARE TALKING ABOUT EARLIER
REGARDING EQUITY IMPLEMENTATION
DURING THE MEASURE PLANNING
PROCESS.
BASED ON YOUR CURRENT ROLE WITH
TOOLE DESIGN GROUP FROM WHAT
YOU HAVE SEEN AND BUT YOUR
EXPERIENCE WAS BEFORE TOOLE
DESIGN GROUP WHAT ARE SOME OF
THE WAYS FROM CALIFORNIA THAT
ARE NOT ONLY ENGAGING
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR TO
PARTICIPATE BUT SHIFTING THE
PRACTICE TO RESOURCE BLACK AND
BROWN AND OTHER MARGINALIZED
COMMUNITY MEMBERS AS EXPERTS ON
THE PLANNING TEAM?
>> THAT IS A BIG ONE TO START.
I THINK
THAT'S.
-- I THINK A COUPLE THINGS,
SOMETHING YOU SAID WAS
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
THAT IS THE FIRST FUNDAMENTAL
STEP.
OFTEN FOLKS WANT TO DO EQUITY
WORK BUT IN DOING EQUITY WORK
WE BRING THAT TO JUST OUTREACH.
DOESN'T AS WE ARE DOING
OUTREACH WE HAVE DONE EQUITY.
WE HAVE TO START THINKING ABOUT
A WORLD IN WHICH EQUITY IS PART
OF EVERYTHING WE DO, NOT JUST
THE OUTREACH.
WE HAVE TO REALIZE OUTREACH AND
ENGAGEMENT ARE NOT THE SAME
THING.
TOO OFTEN COMMUNITIES WHO ARE
TRYING TO HELP WILL WE SAY WE
ARE TRYING TO HELP THEY ARE
EXPERIENCING OUTREACH, WHICH IS
US REACHING OUT AND SAYING THIS
IS WHAT WE DO.
WHICH IS VERY DIFFERENT THAN
ENGAGEMENT.
I GET IT, AS SOMEONE WHO WORKS
AT A PRIVATE FIRM NOW I GET IT
INTIMATELY.
THERE ARE TIMELINES, BUDGETS,
SO THERE MIGHT BE THINGS YOU
COME TO THE MEETING WITH AND
SAY THIS IS WHAT WE ARE GOING
TO DO BUT IS THERE ANYTHING IN
THAT PLAN THAT IS OPEN FOR
ENGAGEMENT?
OPEN FOR CHANGES.
OPEN FOR YOUR MIND TO BE
DIFFERENT.
SOMETHING WE HAVE BEEN TALKING
ABOUT IN THE TRAINING FROM
OFFICE TO OFFICE IS WHITE
SUPREMACY, WHICH IS HARD FOR A
LOT OF PEOPLE TO TALK ABOUT
BECAUSE THEY THINK WHITE
SUPREMACY EQUALS WHITE
SUPREMACIST.
WHITE SUPREMACY IS A WAY OF
THINKING IS NOT ONE OF THE
TRAITS THAT IS OFTEN IN WHITE
SUPREMACY IS THIS IDEA THERE IS
ONLY ONE RIGHT WAY TO DO
THINGS.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT MANY OF
US BENEFIT FROM.
I BENEFIT FROM THAT ASPECT OF
WHITE CHEMISTRY BECAUSE IF I
CAN LEARN THE RIGHT WAY TO DO
IT I SUCCEED THAT IS REALLY
HARD WHEN YOU ARE DOING TO
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
TO COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IS
ACKNOWLEDGING THERE MIGHT NOT
BE ONE RIGHT WAY TO DO THINGS.
WHEN WE HAVE MANUALS AND THINGS
THAT TELL US THIS IS THE ONLY
WAY TO ACCOMPLISH THAT,
BREAKING OUT OF THAT PARADIGM
IS HARD.
ONE EXAMPLE, IN LA WE WORKED ON
A PROJECT WHEN I WAS AT THE LA
COUNTY BICYCLE COALITION.
IF YOU GOOGLE LA METRO BLUE
LINE IT BRINGS UP A WEBPAGE
THAT HAS THE FINAL REPORT AND
ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT THINGS.
BY THE PROJECT WAS SO TRIM WAS
FORMATIVE IS THE BLUE LINE IS
THE OLDEST RAIL LINE GOING FROM
DOWNTOWN LA TO LONG BEACH, IT
GOES THROUGH A NUMBER OF HIGH
DENSITY COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
THOSE COMMUNITIES INCLUDE
THINGS PEOPLE HAVE HEARD OF.
AS IT GOES THROUGH THESE
COMMUNITIES THE JOB WORKING
WITH -- WAS TO DO A WALK AUDIT
OF EVERY STATION, AND TO COME
UP WITH IDEAS OF WHAT
IMPROVEMENTS WE THINK NEEDED TO
BE THERE AND TO ONE POP UP
EVENT AND KIND OF GET COMMUNITY
FEEDBACK ON THE IDEAS WE HAD.
THAT PROCESS WAS REALLY HARD
FOR METRO, WAS REALLY HARD
BECAUSE AS A BICYCLE COALITION
BE BROUGHT TOGETHER A DIVERSE
COALITION OF A BUNCH OF
DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS AND WE
PAID THEM FOR THEIR TIME, WHICH
IS THE BEST PRACTICE.
IT SHOULD GO WITHOUT SAYING BUT
PAY PEOPLE.
WE BROUGHT THEM TOGETHER AND
ALL OF THESE GROUPS WERE
TRANSPORTATION GROUPS.
THEY WEREN'T ALL APPROACHING
FROM A TRANSPORTATION POINT OF
VIEW.
WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE
SURVEY ABOUT WHY DON'T YOU USE
THE TRAIN THERE WERE PEOPLE
THAT WERE LIKE WE WANT AN
OPTION TO BE BECAUSE OF YOU ARE
AFRAID OF ICE.
WE HAD TO WORK TOGETHER TO GET
THERE.
IN THE END IT WAS A PROCESS
WHERE WE WERE ALL ABLE TO GROW
FROM IT.
METRO WAS ABLE TO LEARN YOU
CAN'T PUT ADVERTISEMENTS ON THE
SIDE OF BUSES THAT SAY SUMMER
OF THE BLUE LINE WITH MUSIC
NOTES AND FOOD BUT TELL US
BECAUSE OF THE FUNDING THERE IS
NO BUDGET FOR FOOD.
DON'T PUT THAT ON THE
ADVERTISEMENT, WE NEED DJS AND
FOOD, RIGHT?
SO SMALL THINGS LIKE THAT, JUST
THE PROCESS OF HAVING ALL THOSE
GROUPS GO TOGETHER AND BEING
ABLE TO PUSH BACK AND HAVE OPEN
DIALOGUE.
I GIVE METRO A LOT OF CREDIT
AND TO COMMUNITY GROUPS THE
MOST CREDIT FOR NOT JUST SAYING
WE ARE GOING TO LEARN THEIR
LANGUAGE AND ME THEM WHERE THEY
ARE, WE WILL TEACH THEM WHERE
WE ARE AND THAT METRO EQUITY
FRAMEWORK WAS ACTUALLY ONLY
CREATED AFTER THAT BLUE LINE
PROCESS.
SO I THINK THAT IS A GOOD
EXAMPLE OF GOING INTO THE
PROJECT WITH WHAT YOUR
EXPECTATIONS MIGHT BE BUT
TRYING TO CREATE SPACE FOR
EVERYBODY TO GROW IN THE
PROCESS.
>> AS MANY OF YOU KNOW SALLY
JUST ANNOUNCED IT IS STARTING
TO LOOK INTO CONGESTION
PRICING.
THERE WAS A REPORT RELEASED
THAT FACT WHERE IS LA ON THIS
POLICY -- WHERE IS LA ON THIS
POLICY?
>> CONGESTION PRICING IS REALLY
TOUGH FOR ME PERSONALLY.
NOT FOR TAMIKA BUTLER THE
TRANSPORTATION ADVOCATE BECAUSE
I THINK YOU WILL GET RAN OUT OF
THE ROOM IF YOU ARE A
TRANSPORTATION ADVOCATE AND YOU
DON'T KNOW ABOUT CONGESTION
PRICING.
IT SEEMS TO MAKE SO MUCH SENSE.
YOU KNOW, IN LA THE CEO OF
METRO, HIS BIG THING IS LIKE
THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT YOU KNOW
I WANT TO DO THIS BECAUSE I
WANT TO DO THIS.
IF WE ARE WORRIED ABOUT TRAFFIC
THIS IS HOW WE ARE GOING TO FIX
IT.
NOT ONLY THAT IF WE DO THIS THE
INCOME WILL ALLOW US TO HAVE
FREE TRANSIT FOR EVERYONE.
IT WILL ALLOW US TO ACCELERATE
A NUMBER OF PROJECTS.
IT WILL ALLOW US TO HAVE MORE
BIKING INFRASTRUCTURE.
SO HIS ARGUMENT IS REALLY THAT
IT IS ALSO NOT JUST ABOUT
FIXING TRAFFIC, IT IS ABOUT THE
BENEFITS OF WHAT WE PROVIDE
PEOPLE ONCE WE GET THIS MONEY.
SO I AM MOVED BY THAT ARGUMENT,
HE IS A BLACK MAN, I KNOW HIM,
I KNOW HE CARES ABOUT EQUITY,
BUT, I THINK THE REALITY IS,
FOR ME, CONGESTION PRICING IS
ONE OF THOSE ISSUES THAT TOO
OFTEN IS VIEWED JUST AS A
TRANSPORTATION ISSUE.
YOU CAN THINK ABOUT CONGESTION
PRICING WITHOUT THINKING ABOUT
HOUSING AFFORDABILITY.
YOU CAN'T THINK ABOUT
CONGESTION PRICING WITHOUT
THINKING ABOUT HOUSING THAT
AFFECT PEOPLE EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS.
YOU CAN'T THINK ABOUT
CONGESTION PRICING WITHOUT
THINKING ABOUT MINIMUM WAGE.
CONGESTION PRICING IS SO TIED
TO ALL OF THESE OTHER SOCIAL
ISSUES BECAUSE THE FOLKS WHO
ARE GOING TO BE MOST HEAVILY
IMPACTED ARE THE FOLKS WHO HAVE
THE FURTHEST COMMUTES.
THE FOLKS WHO HAVE THE FOR THIS
COMMUTES ARE OFTEN LOW INCOME
FOLKS AND FOLKS OF COLOR.
THAT IS ESPECIALLY TRUE AS THIS
URBAN MOVEMENT IS COMING BACK,
YOUNG FOLKS WOULD PERHAPS MORE
MEANS MOVING INTO URBAN
CENTERS.
I THINK THAT IS TRUE IN A LOT
OF LA CITIES.
I THINK THAT IS TRUE IN
SEATTLE.
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE TECH
INDUSTRY, IT MAY CREATE JOBS
BUT WHO IS IT CREATING JOBS
FOR?
WHAT IS IT DOING TO THE OVERALL
ECONOMY?
SO, YOU KNOW, IN LA WHERE WE
ARE AT IS THAT WE HAVE
RELEASED THIS RFP, THEY HAVE
MADE ONE TASK IN THE RFP ABOUT
EQUITY, THEY SAID PUBLICLY TO
ANYONE WHO LISTENS THE GROUP
WHO WINS OR LOSES THIS PROPOSAL
IS GOING TO BE BASED ON HOW
THEY TALK ABOUT HOW THEY ARE
GOING TO ADDRESS EQUITY.
THERE IS A GROUP IN OAKLAND
CALLED TRANSFORM, THIS
ORGANIZATION HAS WRITTEN THIS
REPORT THAT I HAVE BROUGHT, IT
IS A PRETTY GOOD PIECE, I THINK
PEOPLE WHO READ IT MIGHT FIND
SOME THINGS THAT THEY MIGHT NOT
AGREE WITH BUT IT IS A GREAT
PLACE TO START IF YOU ARE
THINKING ABOUT CONGESTION
PRICING.
THE OTHER THING I WOULD SAY IS
THAT WE NEED TO BE THINKING
ABOUT THIS NOT JUST IN
INDIVIDUAL CITIES BUT HOW
TRANSFORMATIVE IT WOULD BE IF
GROUPS IN OAKLAND GOT TOGETHER
WITH GROUPS IN LA GOT TO GO SIT
AT THEY SEATTLE, INSTEAD OF ALL
TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT ON
THEIR OWN I THINK WE HAVE TO
START THINKING ABOUT THE FACT
THAT THERE ARE SOME
SIMILARITIES IN OUR WESTERN
CITIES, THERE ARE THINGS THAT
WE ARE ALL EXPERIENCING AND I
AM NOT QUITE READY TO SAY
CONGESTION PRICING IS THE
ANSWER.
I THINK IT PROBABLY IS BUT NOT
UNLESS WE DO IT WELL.
AS A BLACK PERSON IN AMERICA I
HAVE SEEN TOO OFTEN THE BEST
IDEAS OFTEN DON'T BENEFIT MY
PEOPLE.
OFTEN MY PEOPLE AREN'T AT THE
TABLE WHEN THOSE IDEAS ARE
BEING CONCEPTUALIZED.
AFTER YOU LIKE TO TALK ABOUT
THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF
THE POLICY DECISIONS WE HAVE
MADE BUT I WOULD ARGUE THE
CONSEQUENCES ARE INTENDED.
SO I WANT US TO BE CLEAR ABOUT
HOW WE DON'T CONTINUE THE
HISTORICAL INJUSTICES OF
PLANNING AGAINST CERTAIN
COMMUNITIES AND WE REALLY THINK
ABOUT THIS BECAUSE WHEN WE
THINK ABOUT EQUITY WHAT WE HAVE
BEEN TRYING TO DO IS RETROFIT
IT.
CONGESTION PRICING REALLY GIVES
US A CHANCE TO RATHER THAN
RETROFIT DO IT FROM THE
BEGINNING.
>> THANK YOU.
I THINK WHAT WE CAN DO NOW,
MAYBE WE CAN START COLLECTING
SOME QUESTIONS.
I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION
TO ASK TAMIKA.
IN THE MEANTIME I WANTED TO ASK
ANOTHER QUESTION, WHAT IS ONE
OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES YOU
HAVE FACED?
>> ONE OF THE BIGGEST IS JUST
THAT EVERYONE WANTS TO DO THE
WORK, THEY WANT TO HAVE THE
RESULTS WITHOUT ACTUALLY DOING
THE WORK.
SOMETHING I SHARED WITH THE
FOLKS IN OUR OFFICE YESTERDAY,
I SHARED A STORY ABOUT MY WIFE
WHERE MY WIFE IS A PARTNER AT A
LAW FIRM, SHE IS A LAWYER, I
DON'T KNOW IF I MENTIONED IT,
SHE IS WHITE.
ONE OF THE THINGS I HAVE REALLY
STRUGGLED WITH IN WORK SHE
ALWAYS SAYS, HOW ARE YOU GOING
TO FIX IT?
RIGHT.
SHE ALWAYS WANTS TO GET TO THE
SOLUTION OF HOW TO FIX IT.
WHAT I HAVE REALLY HAD TO PUSH
BACK ON HER IS GETTING STRAIGHT
TO THE SOLUTION OF HOW YOU FIX
IT IS SUCH A POSITION OF
PRIVILEGE.
BECAUSE FOLKS WITH PRIVILEGE
ARE ABLE TO IDENTIFY SOMETHING
THAT IS A PROBLEM AND FIX IT.
I THINK MANY OF US WHO DON'T
HAVE PRIVILEGE HAVE BEEN IN
COUNTLESS SITUATIONS WHERE WE
CAN IDENTIFY A SITUATION THAT
IS NOT FAIR OR UNJUST BUT WE
DON'T HAVE THE POWER AND WE
DON'T HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO
AFFECTED SO WE HAVE TO SIT IN
THE DISCOMFORT OF KNOWING
SOMETHING IS WRONG.
AS A GAY PERSON I HAVE TO SIT
IN THE DISCOMFORT OF KNOWING IT
WAS ONE THAT I COULD NOT GET
MARRIED UNTIL THE FOLKS WITH
POWER, THE SUPREME COURT,
DECIDED TO ALLOW ME TO HAVE
THAT RIGHT.
SO I COULDN'T JUST LIKE, I
COULDN'T GET TO THE PLACE WHERE
I FIXED IT.
EVENTUALLY THE COMMUNITY
ORGANIZED BY TO A CERTAIN
EXTENT WE HAVE TO SIT IN
DISCOMFORT.
I THINK ONE OF THE HARDEST PART
OF DOING EQUITY IN
TRANSPORTATION IS FOLKS DON'T
LIKE DISCOMFORT.
WE ARE A PROFESSIONAL PEOPLE
WHO WANT TO JUST FIX IT.
WE WANT TO MAKE THE COMMUTE
BETTER.
WE WANT TO JUST FIX THE TIMING
ON THE SIGNALS.
TO DO EQUITY WORK SOMETIMES YOU
HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS
INEQUITABLE AND THAT IS
UNCOMFORTABLE AND NO ONE WANTS
TO SIT IN THAT.
MAY BE THAT TOO SOFT OF AN
ANSWER BUT THAT IS BEEN THE
HARDEST PART.
>> NOW WE GET TO THE FUN PART
WHERE TAMIKA WILL ANSWER SOME
AUDIENCE QUESTIONS.
THIS FIRST ONE IS HOW CAN OUR
20s BE REDESIGNED TO PROMOTE
MOBILITY JUSTICE?
>> SO MANY WAYS.
I THINK JUST SO WE CAN GET
THROUGH MORE QUESTIONS, HOW CAN
STUDENTS BE REDESIGNED TO
SUPPORT MOBILITY JUSTICE?
AGAIN, I WOULD START BEFORE WE
TRY TO DO THE WORK EXTERNALLY
WITH DOING THE WORK INTERNALLY.
I WOULD SAY WE WOULD INCLUDE
MORE PEOPLE IN THE PROCESS.
HOW CAN WE HAVE STREETS THAT
PROMOTE MORE JUSTICE?
HAVING THE PEOPLE WHO PLANNED
THE STREETS AND DESIGN THEM
HAVING MORE OF THOSE FOLKS WHO
HAVE A DIFFERENT VIEW OF WHAT
IS ASSESSABLE AND WHAT IS JUST
THE PART OF THAT DISCUSSION.
THAT IS A HUGE, HUGE PIECE OF
IT.
UNDERSTANDING THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN DIVERSITY AND
INCLUSION.
IT IS NOT JUST ENOUGH TO HAVE
THE VERSE FACES AT THE TABLE
BUT YOU HAVE TO LISTEN TO THOSE
PEOPLE AND ALLOW THEM TO IMPACT
THE DECISION.
LET SOMEONE WITH A DISABILITY
BE PART OF DETERMINING WHAT IS
ASSESSABLE.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE A HUGE
FIRST STEP.
>> IT MAKES ME THINK ABOUT
SOMETHING ELSE, HOW DO AGENCIES
IN THE PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING
COMMUNITY OUTREACH, HOW CAN THEY
MAKE SPACE OR GIVE UP POWER IN
ORDER FOR THOSE VOICES TO RISE
WITHIN THE PLANNING PROCESS?
>> THAT IS TRICKY BECAUSE
úSOMETIMES TO MAKE A CHANGE WE
HAVE TO INDIVIDUALLY LOSE
SOMETHING.
IN THE FRAMEWORK I HAVE BEEN
USING IS THAT IS THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN AN ALLY AND IN
ACCOMPLICE.
WHEN FOLKS ARE TRYING TO THINK
HOW CAN I DO THIS WORK BETTER I
ALWAYS THINK, GET FROM THAT
PLACE OF BEING AN ALLY TO GET
INTO A PLACE OF BEING IN
ACCOMPLICE.
I THINK IN POPULAR CULTURE AN
ALLY IS THE PERSON WHO EVERY
TIME SOMEONE IS OPPRESSED THE
RIGHT A NEW STATUS UPDATE.
BUT IN ALLY IS ACTUALLY SOMEONE
WHO TAKES IN ACTION, THE
EXAMPLE I USE THAT HELPED TO
MAKE IT TANGIBLE IS IF YOU ARE
IN ALLY AND THERE IS A WOMAN A
PERSON OF COLOR WHO SPEAKS UP
IN THE STAFF MEETING IN EXCESS
OF THE AGREE WITH, AFTER THE
MEETING YOU SEND THAT PERSON IN
E-MAIL AND SAY, I KNOW EVERYONE
IS NOT RECEPTIVE BUT I
APPRECIATE YOU DID THAT.
THAT IS IN ALLY.
YOU HAVE ACTUALLY DONE
SOMETHING TO BE PART OF THAT
SPACE WITH THAT PERSON.
IN ACCOMPLICE IS WILLING TO
RISK SOMETHING.
THE ACCOMPLICE DOES NOT SAFELY
SEND THE E-MAIL, SO YOU DON'T
HAVE TO RISK PEOPLE NOT LIKING
YOU, THINKING YOU ARE TOO
RADICAL OR TOO AGGRESSIVE, IN
ACCOMPLICE IS THE PERSON WHO IN
THE MEETING RAISES THEIR HAND
THE BANK SAYS I APPRECIATE THAT
YOU SAID THAT, I AGREE.
I THINK WHEN PEOPLE ARE TRYING
TO CREATE SPACE IT IS NOT
FEELING BAD FOR THE PRIVILEGE
YOU HAVE FOR THE ACCESS YOU
HAVE OR THE POWER YOU HAVE IT
IS USING IT TO BE IN
ACCOMPLICE.
IT IS USING IT TO MAKE SURE YOU
ARE TAKING A BIT OF A RISK
PUTTING YOURSELF OUT THERE AND
MAKING SURE THAT YOU ARE
PROVIDING MORE THAN JUST ALLY
SHIP BUT ACTUALLY DOING
SOMETHING AND RISKING SOMETHING.
>> MANY PEOPLE GET CONFUSED
BETWEEN EQUITY AND EQUALITY.
SOME TRANSPORTATION SOLUTIONS
HAVE FOCUSED ON INEQUALITY
RATHER THAN EQUITY.
CAN YOU PROVDE FURTHER
GUIDANCE?
>> EQUITY IS HARD.
POLITICALLY IN A POLITICAL
CONTEXT.
IF YOU HOLD IN ELECTED OFFICE
OR APPOINTED OFFICE IT IS
REALLY DIFFICULT TO BE IN A
POSITION WHERE YOU SAY WE HAVE
HAD ENOUGH, GIVE IT TO THOSE
GUYS OVER THERE, IT WILL BE
FINE, MY CONSTITUENTS WILL
UNDERSTAND.
IT IS REALLY HARD TO DO THAT.
THAT IS WHY EQUITY GETS
DEFAULTED TO EQUALITY.
I THINK PARTICULARLY BUT WE
OFTEN SEE IS PEOPLE LEAD A
CONVERSATION WITH EQUITY THAT
IT QUICKLY EVOLVES INTO
GEOGRAPHIC EQUALITY.
WE JUST WANT TO GIVE A LITTLE
BIT TO EVERYONE.
I THINK THAT IS THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN ME TWO TO THE POINT OF
THE QUESTION.
IT IS NOT GIVING THE SAME TO
EVERYONE IT IS ACTUALLY MAKING
HARD DECISIONS TO SAY, THERE
ARE SOME PLACES THAT HAVE
HISTORICALLY NOT GOTTEN LOT AND
THEY ARE GOING TO GET MORE
BECAUSE IT IS THE RIGHT THING
TO DO.
IT IS REALLY EASY FOR ME TO SAY
THAT AS A PRIVATE-SECTOR
PLANNER OR AS A PERSON WHO
WORKS AT A COMMUNITY-BASED
ORGANIZATION AND I THINK
SOMETHING I GET ASKED A LOT IS
IF I WILL RUN FOR OFFICE.
SOME PEOPLE REALLY WANT ME TO
RUN FOR OFFICE, OTHERS ARE
LIKE, YOU ARE ARTICULATE AND
BLACK.
BUT, THE REASON I ALWAYS SAY NO
TO THAT IS BECAUSE I KNOW THAT
WOULD BE HARDER IF I WAS IN
THAT POSITION.
IT IS GREAT FOR ME TO SAY.
MIGHT BE LIKE EQUALITY IS NOT
ENOUGH TO EQUITY RETURN TO THE
COUNCIL MEMBER AND SAY GOOD
LUCK WITH THAT.
HOW CAN I SUPPORT YOU?
I DO THINK AS INDIVIDUALS HOW
CAN WE SUPPORT COUNCILMEMBERS
ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE WILLING TO
BE BRIEF AND TO THE WORK, I
THINK WE HAVE TO SHOW UP.
THE PEOPLE WHO WRITE YELPS ARE
ANGRY, THEY ARE ALWAYS ANGRY
BECAUSE WHEN SOMETHING GOES
WRONG YOU ARE MORE APT TO SAY
SOMETHING.
THAT IS SOMETHING I HAVE HAD TO
LEARN.
I AM REALLY GOOD AT CALLING OUT
WHITE PEOPLE.
I AM REALLY GOOD AT CALLING OUT
MEN.
BUT WHAT IS EVEN MORE RADICAL
IS WHEN THEY DO SOMETHING
RIGHT.
MAYBE IT IS NOT ENOUGH BUT IT
IS STILL RIGHT IN MY GOING TO
THAT PERSON AND SAYING, I
THOUGHT THAT WAS RISKY, THANK
YOU.
I KNOW THERE WAS GOING TO BE A
HEATED MEETING AND I AM GOING
TO SHOW UP FOR YOU.
IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT,
SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO REMEMBER
IT TAKES MORE THAN JUST
CRITICISM TO GET TO WHERE WE
WANT TO BE.
>> THIS SAYS, EQUITY, DRIVING
CARS, SELF DRIVING CARS,
THOUGHTS?
>> WOW!
I APPRECIATE YOUR BRIEF NEWS.
-- I APPRECIATE YOU BEING
BRIEF.
IS THERE A QUESTION.
YOU KNOW, WE WROTE THIS BLOG AT
TOOLE DESIGN GROUP, THE
COMMUNICATIONS TEAM ACTUALLY
HAD A VERY SIMILAR REQUEST FROM
ME.
THEY WERE LIKE, OKAY, IT WAS A
STATEMENT ABOUT HOW TECH
COMPANIES ARE GIVING DATA TO
POLICE DEPARTMENTS AND IT IS
IDENTIFYING WOMEN OF COLOR.
THEN THERE WAS A STUDY THAT
SAID UBER AND LYFT ARE BETTER
THAN TAXIS BUT BLACK AND BROWN
FOLKS CANCEL THEIR RIDES MORE
OFTEN.
SELF DRIVING CARS.
RIGHT A BOOK -- WRITE A BLOG.
SO, WHAT THE BLOG ULTIMATELY
TALKED ABOUT IS THAT TECHNOLOGY
IS NOT GOING TO SAVE US.
I AM ALL THEREFORE TECHNOLOGY.
I WENT TO STAND FOR LAW SCHOOL
SO I HAVE FRIENDS IN THE BAY
AREA WHO WENT TO LAW SCHOOL BUT
STARTED THEIR OWN COMPANY OR
DID THEIR OWN THING.
I BELIEVE THERE ARE PEOPLE IN
MOBILITY IN THE TECH INDUSTRY
WHO ARE TRYING TO DO WHAT IS
RIGHT AND DOING IT BECAUSE THEY
REALLY CARE.
I ALSO THINK IT IS AN INDUSTRY
THAT IS SUPER WHITE, MALE
DOMINATED, SO WHEN STUDIES COME
OUT AS A AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES
CAN'T RECOGNIZE DARKER SKIN I
AM NOT SURPRISED BECAUSE OF
PEOPLE SITTING AROUND WRITING
THE ALGORITHMS TO MAKE THE
VEHICLE, THERE AREN'T THOSE
FOLKS IN THE ROOM.
WHEN I READ A STUDY THAT SAYS
THE SOAP DISPENSER OR THE
FAUCET THAT IS AUTOMATIC,
LITERALLY THE SCIENCE AND THE
WAY THE SENSOR WORKS IT IS
HARDER TO SEE DARKER SKIN THE
LIGHTER SKIN.
I TOLD THIS TO MY WIFE, SHE IS
LIKE ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
THOSE THINGS NEVER WORK.
IT WOULD WORSE BETTER IT WOULD
WORK LESS IF I WAS BLACK.
SO I THINK THE REALITY IS
EMERGING TECHNOLOGY IS
IMPORTANT WHEN YOU THINK OF %
úSCOOTERS, I LIVE IN A BLACK
NEIGHBORHOOD, I SEE KIDS AND
MOTHERS THAT SMACK WE HAVE
BUSES THAT DON'T COME ON TIME.
SO IT IS EFFECTIVE TO BE ABLE
TO GET A SCOOTER.
I DON'T WANT TO RIGHT -- I
DON'T WANT TO WRITE THESE
THINGS OFF, I WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE PEOPLE DESIGNING
THESE TECHNOLOGIES ARE NOT
ALWAYS THINKING ABOUT FOLKS OF
COLOR, ESPECIALLY IF THE GOAL
IS TO GET ACQUIRED AND MAKE
MONEY.
THEY ARE NOT THINKING OF US.
I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT
MANY OF THESE NEW TECHNOLOGIES
ARE PROVIDING SOLUTIONS.
IT IS EASIER AS TAMIKA TO CATCH
A LYFT IN IT IS TO CATCH A CAB.
I ALSO WANT TO SAY WHEN WE
THINK OF SCOOTERS THOSE THINGS
ARE BEING ENFORCED AT A
DIFFERENT RATE.
I JUST WANT US TO NOT THINK
THAT JUST BECAUSE THERE IS A
NEW KNEW THAT EQUITY DOES NOT
MATTER, IT HAS TO BE
INCORPORATED.
>> HOW DO YOU RECRUIT TO
DIVERSIFY YOUR STAFF?
HOW TO GET PEOPLE OF COLOR TO
APPLY FOR TRANSPORTATION JOBS?
>> THIS IS ONE OF THE STRUGGLES
WE ARE HAVING AT TOOLE DESIGN
GROUP.
WE RECENTLY STARTED A POLICY
THAT FOR ANY POSITION FROM IN
TURN TO SENIOR LEVEL, IF WE ARE
INTERVIEWING FELIX YOU HAVE TO
INTERVIEW AT LEAST ONE PERSON
OF COLOR.
SOME FOLKS WHO UNDERSTAND
SPORTS AND FOOTBALL CALL THIS
THE ROONEY WILL.
THE NFL DID THIS.
BEFORE YOU HIRE ANY NEW COACH
YOU HAVE TO INTERVIEW ONE
CANDIDATE OF COLOR.
I THINK THAT IS A FIRST STEP
BUT THIS LAST SEASON IN THE NFL
ALL THE BLACK COACHES WERE
FIRED.
IN EVERY NEW HIRE IT WAS ALMOST
ALWAYS DESPERATE I THINK THERE
WAS ONE THAT WAS A PERSON OF
COLOR.
FOR ME, THIS IS A TWO FOLD
THING.
BEFORE WE WERE EXPECTING
RESULTS WE HAVE TO DO INTERNAL
WORK.
AS A PERSON OF COLOR WHO WORKS
AT A MAJORITY WHITE COMPANY I
LOVE MY JOB, I ENCOURAGE
EVERYONE TO WORK AT TOOLE
DESIGN GROUP.
I AM HAVING A GREAT TIME.
BUT, I ALSO HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE
THAT EVERY BODY IS NOT ME.
EVERY BODY IS NOT TAMIKA BUTLER
WHO GREW UP IN A VERY WHITE
STATE, WHO WENT TO A WHITE LAW
SCHOOL AND HAS LEARNED HOW TO
CODE SWITCH AND NAVIGATE IN
THESE SITUATIONS.
TOO OFTEN THE FOCUS IS ON
HIRING WHEN IT SHOULD BE ON --
WE CAN HIRE THESE FOLKS OF
COLOR BUT WHEN THEY GET HERE
AND WE ARE JUST HAVE A LOT OF
WHITENESS, IT IS GOING TO FEEL
UNCOMFORTABLE.
WE CAN TRY HARDER TO HIRE THESE
FOLKS BUT IF EVERY TIME THEY
USE A BATHROOM IT IS
UNCOMFORTABLE BECAUSE EVERYONE
IS LOOKING AT THEM AND WE HAVE
NOT FIGURED OUT WHAT WE WILL DO
WHAT IS THAT GOING TO LOOK
LIKE.
WE CAN HIRE AS MANY WORKING
MOTHERS AS POSSIBLE BUT IF WE
DON'T HAVE A PLACE WHERE THEY
CAN PUMP WHEN IT IS TIME TO GO
BACK TO WORK, EVERYONE KNOWS
THEY ARE IN THEIR, THAT IS
REALLY AWKWARD.
I THINK TOO OFTEN WE FOCUS ON
HIRING WITHOUT THINKING ABOUT
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THOSE FOLKS
GET THERE.
THE FIRST THING IS TO ASK
YOURSELF ARE WE A PLACE WHERE
FOLKS ARE DIFFERENT CAN THRIVE.
IF THE ANSWER IS NO MAYBE SPEND
SOME ENERGY THERE WHILE YOU ARE
ALSO TRYING TO GET DIVERSE
FOLKS INTO THE DOOR.
I THINK WE HAVE TO BE READY FOR
THE IDEA THAT THIS MIGHT TAKE
LONGER.
IT MIGHT TAKE LONGER BECAUSE IT
HAS BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE WE
HAVE TRIED.
SO IT IS SHOWING UP AT
DIFFERENT PLACES, IT IS
CHANGING JOB DESCRIPTIONS BUT
IT IS REALLY, REALLY
INTENTIONAL AND TOO OFTEN IN
THE PROFESSIONAL WORLD WE WAIT
UNTIL WE ARE HUNGRY TO GO
HUNTING.
THAT IS REALLY A BAD EXAMPLE.
BUT IF WE WAIT UNTIL WE ARE
HUNGRY WE ARE GOING TO LOOK FOR
THAT PERSON TO JOIN THE TEAM
WHO KNOWS HOW TO DO IT, WHO HAS
DONE IT BEFORE, WHO HAS BEEN IN
A SIMILAR SITUATION.
IF WE ARE NOT WORKING ON IT ALL
THE TIME CONSISTENTLY, ONLY
WHEN WE REALLY NEED SOMEBODY,
THAN THE DEFAULT IS TO GO TO
THE PERSON WHO IS JUST LIKE
EVERYBODY ELSE.
>> YOU MADE A COMMENT EARLIER
ABOUT BEST PRACTICE, THIS
QUESTION IS CAN YOU THINK OF
OTHER WAYS TO RESOURCE
COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS
WHEN DESIGNING NEW BUT --
MOBILITY PILOT AND PERMITS?
FOR EXAMPLE, SCOOTERS.
>> SOMETHING METRO-DADE THAT WE
WERE ALL EXCITEDABOUT IS A PUT
OUT A RFP FOR THERE TO BE A
TRAINING FOR CBOS ON HOW TO BE
ABLE TO BETTER PARTICIPATE.
PART OF THE RFP WAS ALSO
TRAINING METRO STAFF ON HOW TO
BETTER WORK WITH COMMUNITY-
BASED ORGANIZATIONS.
I THINK TOO OFTEN WE ARE
EXPECTING FOLKS TO MEET US AT
OUR TABLE.
AT SOME POINT WE HAVE TO BE
LIKE, THIS IS THE WRONG TABLE.
THEY ALREADY HAVE A TABLE.
WHATEVER IT IS, WE HAVE TO GO
TO THEM.
ONE OF THE WAYS, ONE OF THE
BEST PRACTICES IS FIGURING OUT
WHAT IS ALREADY HAPPENING IN
THE COMMUNITY AND WHAT WILL WE
DO THAT IS CULTURALLY
COMPETENT.
WHAT WILL WE DO TO MEET THEM
WHERE THEY ARE AND FOUL -- AND
HOW ARE WE GOING TO BE THE ONES
WHO ARE FORCED TO CODE SWITCH.
-- FORCED TO CODE SWITCH.
>> I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION.
AS TRANSPORTATION IMPROVES LAND
VALUES GO UP CAUSING
DISAPPOINTMENT OF LOW INCOME
TENANTS
>> REPORTER: HOMEOWNERS WHAT
OF THE BEST THINGS FOR AGENCIES
TO DO.
>> THIS IS A TOUGH ONE TO BE
THE LAST ONE.
I THINK WE ARE OUT OF TIME,
SORRY.
YOU KNOW, I THINK, ONE OF THE
THINGS I HAVE BEEN TALKING
ABOUT IN OUR CURRENT POLITICAL
LANDSCAPE THAT HAS MADE ITS
EQUITY WORK SO HARD TO GO BACK
TO IN EARLIER QUESTION IS THAT
WE HAVE JUST DIVIDED OURSELVES
INTO WHAT IS RIGHT AND WHAT IS
WRONG.
WE CAN'T TALK ABOUT RACISM
BECAUSE RACISM IS WRONG, NOT
EXPERIENCING OR NOT BEING
SOMEONE WHO HAS RACIST THOUGHTS
IS RIGHT, SO THERE IS NO WAY TO
TALK ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT IS
RIGHT OR WRONG.
IT IS THE SAME THING WITH
GENTRIFICATION.
WE HAVE DECIDED GENTRIFICATION
IS WRONG SO IT FITS IN THIS ONE
BOX AND MAKES IT HARD TO TALK
ABOUT.
I THINK IT IS 100% WRONG.
I THINK IT HAS BEEN WRONG SINCE
WE DISPLACED INDIGENOUS FOLKS
IN THIS COUNTRY.
BUT THIS IDEA THAT DISPLACEMENT
IS NEW, THAT IS WHAT IS WRONG.
WE ARE A COUNTRY FOUNDED ON
DISPLACEMENT.
THAT IS HOW FOLKS HAVE
ICREASED WEALTH IN MY POWER BY
DISLACING PEOPLE.
THE REASON WE HAVE TO HAVE MORE
COMPASSION IN THE CONVERSATIONS
IS ONE OF MY FIRST JOBS AFTER
RETIRING FROM BEING A LAWYER,
WAS WORKING AT THIS
ORGANIZATION THAT WAS
MILLENNIAL FOCUSED, WE FOCUSED
ON ECONOMIC JUSTICE ISSUES.
I HAPPEN TO KNOW A LOT OF
RANDOM STATS ABOUT MILLENNIALS.
ONE IS THE GENERATION IS THE
FIRST THAT WILL BE WORSE OFTEN
OUR PARENTS.
WE ARE NOT TRYING -- THE DREAM
FOR MILLENNIALS IS NOT TO HAVE
A HOUSE WITH TWO CHILDREN, IT
IS TO NOT HAVE THAT.
THAT IS THE DREAM.
WE ARE WAITING LONGER TO GET
MARRIED, SO FOR ME WHAT MAKES
GENTRIFICATION SO HARD IS THE
ARE OFTEN BOTHERING WHITE FOLKS
AND SAYING THEY ARE GENTER
FIRES AND THIS PLACERS AND THEY
ARE WRONG.
SURE, COLONIZER ALWAYS WRONG,
AGAIN, THERE IS SOMETHING TIED
IN THERE BUT I AM A GENTER FIRE
AS A BLACK PERSON WHO SAID I
WANT MY BLACK KID TO GROW UP
AROUND OTHER BLACK PEOPLE SO I
MOVED TO A BLACK NEIGHBORHOOD
WITH MY RIGHT WIFE AND OUR JOBS
THAT MAKE THE HOUSEHOLD INCOME
WAY TOO HIGH TO SAY PUBLICLY.
I THINK THAT IS WHAT IS TOUGH.
THERE IS NOT A CLEAR AREA.
THE WAY TRANSIT ORGANIZATIONS
HAVE TO THINK ABOUT IT IS FIRST
TO REALIZE AS DISPLACEMENT
HAPPENS IT IS NO LONGER HELPFUL
THAT THIS IS NOT YOUR AREA,
THIS IS NOT THE WORK.
IF YOU ARE A TRANSPORTATION
PLANNER AND YOU SAY I AM NOT A
HOUSING PERSON, I DON'T TALK
ABOUT GENTRIFICATION, THEN YOU
ARE THE WRONG PLANNER.
YOU HAVE TO START IDENTIFYING
THIS IS YOUR ISSUE.
THE REASON IT IS YOUR ISSUE IS
BECAUSE AS PEOPLE GET
GENTRIFIED IN THE PUSHED OUT IT
BECOMES YOUR PROBLEM BECAUSE
THEY ARE GOING TO A PLACE THAT
IS GOING TO NEED TO BE SERVICED
BY THE TRANSIT AGENCY.
THIS IDEA THE IS NO BUDGET TO
DEAL WITH THIS IS JUST WILD TO
ME BECAUSE AT SOME POINT YOU
WILL HAVE TO CREATE A BUDGET TO
DEAL WITH THE PEOPLE WHO YOU
HAVE DISPLACED.
I THINK THE FIRST STEP IS
ACKNOWLEDGING IT IS A
TRANSPORTATION ISSUE.
IT IS NOT AN EASY ISSUE.
MANY OF US WHO ARE TRYING TO
LIVE IN THESE WESTERN CITIES
WHERE IT IS NOT AFFORDABLE WE
ARE ALL PART OF IT.
TO START BEING PART OF THE
SOLUTION WE HAVE TO START
TALKING ABOUT IT IN A WAY THAT
EXHIBITS COMPASSION BUT ALSO
ACKNOWLEDGES HISTORY AND
COUNTRY IS BUILT ON GENTRIFYING
AND DISPLACING CERTAIN PEOPLE
AND CONTINUING TO CUT THEM OFF
FROM WELLS AND RESOURCES.
IF WE DON'T TALK ABOUT
TRANSPORTATIONS ROLE IN THAT WE
WILL NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM.
>> WHAT IN ANSWER.
THANK YOU.
WE ARE GOING TO WRAP UP, WE
HAVE GOT SOME FINAL COMMENTS.
TO STAY IN TOUCH WITH TAMIKA
YOU SHOULD E-MAIL HER
AT TOOLE DESIGN GROUP.COM.
SHE WILL BE PASSING OUT CARDS
TOO.
>> I WANT TO THANK REGINA FOR
DOING AMAZING WORK.
THANK YOU.
WE ARE SO LUCKY TO HAVE AN
ORGANIZATION LIKE
TRANSPORTATION CHOICES
COALITION IN THIS COMMUNITY
DOING THIS WORK.
IT WAS AWESOME TO HEAR THE
QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS.
I WANT TO THANK ALL THE FOLKS
IN THE AUDIENCE.
A FULL ROOM LISTENING TO
SOMEONE TALK AN HOUR IT WAS
REALLY COOL.
YOU TRULY CARE WHAT IS BEING
DISCUSSED.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.