Latest news with #LateefahSimon
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Oakland congresswoman is on a mission to save BART, mass transit
The Brief Rep. Lateefah Simon met with BART officials as the transit agency faces a deficit and lingering low ridership A push is being made for more federal funding to get BART back on solid financial tracks, a push Simon leads OAKLAND, Calif. - Oakland Congresswoman Lateefah Simon met with BART officials at Oakland's 19th Street station on Wednesday to see BART stations and other developments for the critical transit agency facing massive deficits and still lingering low ridership. But, the freshman congresswoman may have both the strength and believability to get cash-starved BART back on solid financial tracks. If BART is to have a brighter future, assistance from the federal government will be a lifeline to help close as much as a $400 million deficit in the coming years. Simon will be a critical connection to Congress in that respect. "I couldn't think of a better person in Washington, D.C. to articulate the needs for public transit than Congresswoman Lateefah Simon. She came from the BART Board, she was the president, and I was the general manager when COVID hit," said Bob Powers, BART's General Manager. Simon can prove that the federal money received has and is being put to good use and that more money is needed and will be equally well spent. "We've been beating slashes in funding. We've had some wins. We've just got to keep up the pressure," Simon said. The group then took BART to Fruitvale Station where they met with various business owners and the Unity Council to discuss the future. Simon also toured Casa Suenos, a brand-new 191-unit low-income housing complex right next to Fruitvale BART. Developed and managed by BART's partner, the Unity Council aims to do the same at many other nearby BART stations. The importance of putting a lot of housing right near transit is the mere fact that when it is there, it also puts people in transit. The question always comes up: What about crime? "Violent crime is down now 23 percent, compared to the same period of time last year, even with increased ridership. We have more people out and about in the system, but we're seeing crimes reduced," said BART Police Chief Kevin Franklin. New tollgates have substantially cut gate jumpers and fare evasion. "The new gates are very successful, and I'm pleased that we're going to have them installed at all 50 stations by the end of the year," said Franklin. Simon knows with the Republicans in control of the White House and Congress, she has enormous work cut out for her. "I'm not disillusioned. It's going to be a hard four years, but my job is to work," she said. Local Fruitvale businesses owe much of their survival to two sources: local residents and BART passengers.
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
ICE contractors knocking on doors in East Bay, according to congresswoman
(KRON) — Private contractors who work for the United States Customs and Immigrations Enforcement Agency have been knocking on doors in the East Bay, according to a congresswoman who represents the area. 'Private contractors who work with ICE are knocking on doors in our district,' said Rep. Lateefah Simon (D-Oakland), who represents California's 12th district, posted on Facebook. Simon's district covers Oakland, San Leandro, Alameda, Emeryville, Albany, and Berkeley. Stanford hires Frank Reich as interim football coach She did not provide specifics as to where in District 12 the alleged ICE activity had taken place. However, she did share a 'Know Your Rights' informational package on her congressional website. The informational package included information about what to do if ICE agents come to your home. Simon, who has been called a 'rising star on the left,' is serving her first term in Congress, having won the seat formerly held by former Democratic Rep. Barbara Lee. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Will the government shut down Friday?
The House of Representatives passed legislation Tuesday to avert a partial government shutdown and fund federal agencies through September. The bill now needs support from eight Democrats in the Senate to get it to Trump's Lateefah Simon, D-Calif., called the continuing resolution a 'nonstarter,' saying 43% of the people in her district will be harmed by it. Rep. Rich McCormick, R-Ga., says while he doesn't like the bill, he voted for it because lawmakers didn't come up with a better alternative. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Congresswoman talks walking out of Donald Trump's speech and Democrats' fight ahead against his agenda
Rep. Lateefah Simon, who walked out of Trump's joint address to Congress, weighs in on how Democrats are fighting against the President's agenda.
Politico
26-02-2025
- Politics
- Politico
Musk meets with Johnson as DOGE tension heats up
Progressives are naming California Rep. Lateefah Simon, a rising Democratic star, to deliver their response to President Donald Trump's joint address to Congress next week, according to a statement provided first to POLITICO. 'I'm honored to speak on behalf of the Working Families Party,' Simon said in a statement. 'We need a government that is run by and for working people, not billionaires — and that's what the WFP is fighting for.' Simon, who is serving her first term and represents a district centered around Oakland, California, is expected to focus on the impact of Trump and Elon Musk's dramatic overhaul of the federal government, according to a spokesperson. She is also likely to talk about her recent visit to labs at the University of California, Berkeley and the effects of cuts at the National Institutes of Health on disease research. The Working Families Party response to the State of the Union or the president's joint address has generally given the party's left flank an opportunity to provide counter-programming apart from Democrats' main rebuttal speech. The progressive organization also gave rebuttal speeches to former President Joe Biden's joint addresses, causing some controversy among Democrats who chafed at the left-flank pressure. Philadelphia City Councilmember Nicolas O'Rourke gave the rebuttal speech to Biden last year, and progressive 'Squad' member Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) gave the last progressive response to Trump in 2020. 'Working people are looking for leaders who will fight for them, and Rep. Lateefah Simon was born to lead in this moment,' said Maurice Mitchell, national director of the Working Families Party.
