Peralta Students: Vote Yes on Proposition A! April 28-29

PROPOSITION A: EASYPASS

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Students overwhelmingly approve discount bus pass program

Peralta students of the four Peralta Colleges (College of Alameda, Berkeley City College, Laney College and Merritt College) overwhelmingly approved Peralta's Proposition A: EasyPass in the April 28-29 student elections.

Of the 1048 total ballots counted, 88 percent of students voted in favor of keeping the Peralta EasyPass program. (See graph of election results)

ELECTION RESULTS BY CAMPUS
College	Yes	No	Total Votes	Percentage Approved
Berkeley City College	263	34	297	89%
College of Alameda	155	7	162	96%
Laney College	409	84	493	83%
Merritt College	93	3	96	97%
District Wide	920	128	1048	88%

See graphical representation of election results

Thank you for supporting affordable transportation for students.

Vote YES on Proposition A: EasyPass

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Vote YES for Proposition A- The Easy Pass program.

Pay just $31, and you get a semester long AC Transit bus pass (that normally costs $116 a month). You'll save $696 each semester!

Proposition A extends and expands the popular Peralta EasyPass program that gives full-time students discounted bus service with AC Transit. This vote is necessary since the one-year pilot program will expire summer 2009.

In fall 2008, full-time Peralta College students gained access to discounted semester-long unlimited ride passes with AC Transit for just $50 per semester (compared to 31-day ride passes that cost $116).

In fall 2008, Peralta students saved a combined amount of over half a million dollars, compared to the regular price for AC Transit's 31-day transbay pass.
The program, called “Peralta EasyPass” was initially paid for by the Peralta Colleges, which paid $500,000 to AC Transit for the one year trial program to test its popularity. Because the EasyPass pilot program was just a one-year trial, on April 28-29, students need to pass this measure to keep transportation affordable for students.

Prop A expands the EasyPass program to all students taking 9 or more units (as opposed to the current program that is only open to students will 11 or more units.)

On Tuesday April 28 & Wednesday April 29, elections will be held at the Peralta Colleges from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Vote Yes on Proposition A!

Recent news

In the news

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COA students board the AC Transit Line 51 across from the campus.

Proposition A: EasyPass

Students attending the Peralta Colleges voted in favor of "Proposition A: EasyPass" by a landslide.

Of the 1048 total ballots counted district wide, 920 students voted in favor while 128 voted against--88 percent of students overwhelmingly voted to keep the Peralta EasyPass program. Only students with nine units or more were allowed to vote in the election.

Beginning fall 2009, all students with nine units or more will be required to pay a $31 per semester transportation fee, making them eligible to receive the Peralta EasyPass. The EasyPass gives students unlimited rides on any AC Transit line throughout the entire semester, including transbay lines.READ MORE

April 9, 2009Students to vote on "EasyPass"
April 9, 2009 The Black Hour 'goes green'
February 12, 2009 Global warming teach-in held
December 4, 2008 Herring returns to College of Alameda
December 2008 Poll: Are you going to purchase a Peralta EasyPass?
November 26, 2008 EasyPass eases trips to class
October 4, 2008 Green Summit in Pasadena
September 30, 2008 Transit needs push bus pass
September 4, 2008 Laney's 'Welcome Back Bash' informs students of resources and programs
August 18, 2008 Increasing access to education with affordable transportation
July 26, 2008 Students win big with discounted bus passes
July 14, 2008 Passage of AB 1980 to be celebrated
June 19, 2008 Senate Higher Education committee unanimously approves AB 1980
May 22, 2008 Board approves AC Transit bus pass proposal
May 8, 2008 Peralta students closer to discounted bus passes
May 8, 2008 AC Transit considers fee increases
April 22, 2008 Staffers look at bus plan
March 13, 2008 Board pulls bus pass proposal from agenda
November 29, 2007 Peralta Board to vote on AC Transit pilot program
November 15, 2007 Students closer to 'universal pass' with AC Transit
September 28, 2007 College lacks pass program

Get out the Vote!

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"Now is the time to make real the promise of democracy,” said Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., an early advocate of accessible transportation, environmental equity and social justice.

We need your support. Every vote counts.

On Tuesday April 28 & Wednesday April 29, elections will be held at the Peralta Colleges from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Elections will take place at the following campus locations:

Laney College - Student Center 2nd Floor
College of Alameda - F Building Quad
Merritt College - R Building
Berkeley City College - Atrium (Basement)

And every volunteer helps ensure that more students exercise their right to vote.

What to Bring to the Polls:

Student Identification Card (Photo ID)
Driver's License, ID Card, Passport, etc*

*Just in case

Volunteer

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Endorsements

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Current list of endorsements

Student leaders

Reginald James, Host
The Black Hour Radio Show*

Brandy Smith, Member
Laney Black Student Union (Laney BSU)*

Elected officials
Abel Guillen, Vice-President
Peralta Community College District Board of Trustees

*For affiliation purposes only.

Add your name to our list of endorsers.

Endorse Prop A

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Who supports Proposition A?
View our current endorsers here.

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Tell a Friend

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April 28-29 is the time for students to stand up. A Yes vote on Proposition A will mean thousands of students will have affordable transportation.

In the meantime, we need students to take action and volunteer.

Please spread the word by telling your classmates to get involved in this campaign to keep affordable transportation.

Campaign Events

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Upcoming Events

Send us YOUR Story

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Let us know how Peralta's EasyPass has helped you.

Resources

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Click Here to Download Adobe Reader

Downloadable Resources
1. Proposition A Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
2. EasyPass Ballot
3. Flyer/Poster
4. EasyPass FAQ

Additional Resources
www.peralta.edu/easypass
Peralta EasyPass Website

www.peralta.edu/referendum2009
Peralta Referendum Website

http://www.actransit.org/
AC Transit Website

EasyPass Ballot

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Peralta Colleges "Proposition A " 2009 - AC Transit EasyPass

Take Action

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Things you can do to help keep transportation affordable for Peralta students.

Volunteer	Endorse
Tell a Friend (or tell TEN)	Downloads
Get out the Vote!	Send us Your Story

Get your very own Peralta EasyPass today. An EasyPass purchased today lasts until August 27, 2009.

Video: How to Get an EasyPass

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Links

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SUSTAINABILITY ORGANIZATIONS

Academic	Community-Based
Association for Advancing Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) Higher Education Associations’ Sustainability Consortium (HEASC) US Partnership for Education for Sustainable Development Campaign for Environmental Literacy Campus Climate Challenge (Energy Action) California Student Sustainability Coalition (CSSC) Student Senate Sustainability Advisory Committee Sustainable Peralta	Apollo Alliance Energy Action Coalition Green for All 1-Sky Communities for a Better Environment (CBE) “Green Collar Jobs” Campaign-Ella Baker Center Urban Habitat Transform (Formerly TALC) Global Exchange East Bay Alliance for a Sustainable Economy

EVENTS

Upcoming Events	Past Events
Love Yo Mama (Earth Day) Focus the Nation TransForm's 12 Annual Summit CSSC 6th Annual Spring Convergence Peralta Sustainability Conference 8th Annual UC/CSU/CCC Sustainability Conference 2009	Earth Day Network (EDN) Power Shift 2009 National Teach-In Campus Sustainability Day

Calendar

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Poster: Vote Yes on Proposition A

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Raise awareness of Proposition A. Donate your Myspace and Facebook profile pictures on April 28-29 to the "Vote Yes on Proposition A" campaign.

Here's how you can help:

1) Right-click and save our "Vote YES" image onto your computer
2) Log-on to your Myspace/Facebook account
3) Upload the Vote YES flyer to your account
4) Set the Vote YES flyer as your default picture

Your classmates who see your page may just be reminded to vote because of your profile picture.

History

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(under construction)

Testimonials

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Proposition A Testimonials
What will Proposition A do for students?

What has the Peralta EasyPass done for students?

Why do students need the EasyPass Program?

Testimonials about Proposition A
"It costs less money and you don't even have to be full-time to get the EasyPass" said Shontrice Williamson, referring to Proposition A.
Read Shontrice's EasyPass story.

Testimonials about the Peralta EasyPass

Testimonials for Creation EasyPass Program

"Now our students won't have to choose between buying lunch at school or paying for a bus ride home...We can ensure access to education by making sure college is accessible to our community. This is a great deal for our students, our coleges, our community and our planet."
-Reginald James

"Offering passes will clearly be a financial benefit to numerous students in the Peralta system, but will also work to support our regional transit system, encourage enviromentally friendly transportation behavior which is one of the more cost effective methods of addressing Climate Change."
-John Knox White

"As a student...it will help me save a lot of money so that I can purchase textbooks and study materials"
-Doris Cheng

"Lowering the cost of a bus pass may mean the difference between a student continuing her/his education, or dropping out due to lack of funds."
-Diane Weston, Merritt College Faculty

"I think such a program is long overdue considering the stress students, particularly community college students, endure--working, sometimes two job, paying bills, taking care of their families and striving to 'make the grade'
-Folasade Scott

"Peralta students also deserve to have access to affordable transit...as a current UC Berkeley student that recently transferred from Laney College, having a discounted AC Transit pass has made a tremendous difference in my experience as a Cal student."
-Katrina Kaplan

"The school would benefit by less private vehicle congestion in parking lots and on adjourning streets. Nearby business would benefit from having parking spaces near the college free for their customers use."
-Tom Lewis

"The cost of a one month pass is too expensive for us to afford and as a result, many of us have to pay the full fare. So we pay more in daily fares because we can't come up with seventy dollars in a lump sum every month."
-Lis Roellig

"I am not poor enough to qualify for financial aid and not rich enough to ride the bus for a month straight. I nickel and dime my way through the month making many sacrifices along the way in order to finish school."
-Tiana Drisker

Ballot

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Link to Proposition A Ballot

Why Vote YES?

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WHY PROPOSITION A IS NECESSARY

The issue
Since 2001, Peralta students have shown interest in having a discounted bus passes similar to UC Berkeley’s Class Pass program. And since Peralta students spend nearly one-fourth of their income on transportation, it’s understandable that they’d want to use their power as a group to get a deal.

In May 2008, the Peralta Board of Trustees voted unanimously to pay AC Transit $500,000 to create a one-year pilot program to discount bus passes for full-time students (with 12-units or more).

The consequences
Prior to the EasyPass, students had to pay $70 for a 31-day local adult pass or were forced to try to either scrounge up cash to get to and from school each day (often choosing between lunch and getting home). Others even lie about their age to get by with the discounted youth fare.

Since the fall 2008, nearly 2,000 full-time students have since gotten their Peralta EasyPass, each saving over $1,000 per year on transportation. Students simply pay $50 at the cashier’s office and receive a customized Translink card with their photo that lets them take unlimited AC Transit rides on “any line at any time.”

But the one-year pilot program ends after the summer 2009, meaning students would have to go back to paying the regular cash fare or finding other ways to get by.

Making matters worse, AC Transit voted in March to raise the adult cash fare, 10-ride tickets and 31-day passes. Monthly passes will be $80 starting July 1, meaning students would have to pay an extra $860 per year for the same service they get now with the Peralta EasyPass.

The solution
Vote YES on Proposition A to keep transportation affordable for Peralta students. Proposition A not only lowers to cost of the EasyPass from $50 to only $31 per semester, but it also lowers the minimum number of units required from 12 to just nine units. An additional 3,000 students will be able to get discounted transportation if Proposition A passes. Proposition A is the green way to go, making sure that students not only save money, but use public transportation, which is better for the environment.

About Prop A

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PROPOSITION A:
THE PERALTA EASYPASS REFERENDUM
"Save over $1,000 a year! Get Peralta's EasyPass"
-Peralta EasyPass Flyer

Proposition A extends the Peralta EasyPass program that gives students discounted bus service with AC Transit. It is necessary since the one-year pilot program will expire summer 2009.

About Proposition A

Since fall 2008, full-time Peralta College students gained access to discounted semester-long unlimited ride passes with AC Transit for just $50 per semester (compared to 31-day ride passes that cost $116). The program, called “Peralta EasyPass” was paid for by the Peralta Colleges, who paid $500,000 to AC Transit for the one year program.

Because the EasyPass pilot program was just a one-year trial, on April 28-29, we need to pass this measure to keep transportation affordable for students.

Voting YES on Proposition A does three things:

o Gives all students with nine units or more unlimited rides on all AC Transit

o Save students time and money

o Encourages use of public transportation, while reducing carbon emissions

Proposition A Election Results

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The results are in. Peralta Colleges students overwhemingly approved Proposition A: EasyPass.

Of the 1048 total ballots counted, 88 percent of students voted in favor of keeping the Peralta EasyPass program.

ELECTION RESULTS BY CAMPUS
College	Yes	No	Total Votes	Percentage Approved
Berkeley City College	263	34	297	89%
College of Alameda	155	7	162	96%
Laney College	409	84	493	83%
Merritt College	93	3	96	97%
District Wide	920	128	1048	88%

What is EasyPass?

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Peralta Colleges' AC Transit EasyPass Program
Frequently Asked Questions

What is AC Transit EasyPass?
AC Transit’s EasyPass program would provide students enrolling in and maintaining 9+ units at Peralta Colleges with an AC Transit discounted bus pass that is valid at any time on all AC Transit lines, both local and transbay. The program enables the Peralta students to purchase passes for every student within a specific participant pool.

Purchasing passes for an entire pool offers EasyPasses to college students at a significantly discounted rate when compared to regular AC Transit bus fares because the costs are spread among many participants. The program uses the TransLink® regional fare card with photo ID as the fare instrument.

Why EasyPass?
By offering unlimited rides on all AC Transit lines, EasyPass programs can introduce and familiarize students to bus transit as an alternative, encourage cost savings and green activity, and reduce parking demands and traffic congestion. AC Transit wants more people to use transit instead of driving single occupancy vehicles.

Peralta students would save as much as $1,528 annually using an EasyPass compared to a years worth of 31-day transbay passes, so students pay only 4% of the full fare!

How does EasyPass work with other Bay Area transit?
Each EasyPass is loaded onto a TransLink card, which is a convenient way to pay for transit rides in the Bay Area. The TransLink card stores value for transit passes like the EasyPass. It also stores electronic cash (e-cash) onto your TransLink EasyPass for easy access to other transit systems in the Bay Area. Golden Gate Transit and Muni are already accepting TransLink cards, with BART soon to follow this summer.

How much will EasyPass cost Peralta students?
In a seven-year program, students would pay according to the following schedule:
• For Fall 2009-Spring 2012, Peralta Colleges students would pay $31 per semester per student ($62 annually).
• For Fall 2012-Spring 2015, students would pay $36 per semester per student ($72 annually).
• For Fall 2015-Spring 2016, students would pay $41 per semester per student ($82 annually).

Who is eligible for a Mills EasyPass?
The program would be valid for all students enrolled in and maintaining nine or more units for the fall and/or spring semesters. Students dropping below nine units during the semester would have their EasyPass deactivated. Students enrolled only in summer classes would not be eligible. Currently, about 11,000 students would be eligible for the program.

How long would the program be valid?
The program would be valid for seven-years, starting Fall 2009.
 Fall 2009-Spring 2010
 Fall 2010-Spring 2011
 Fall 2011-Spring 2012
 Fall 2010-Spring 2013 (fare increase)
 Fall 2013-Spring 2014
 Fall 2014-Spring 2015
 Fall 2015-Spring 2016 (fare increase)

What is the validity of the EasyPass program each semester?
The Fall 2009 EasyPass would start one week prior to the first day of instruction. The Fall pass would overlap with the first week of instruction of the Spring semester. The Spring semester pass would start one week prior to the first day of spring instruction and would end one week after the start of Fall semester instruction.

The Spring semester EasyPasses would be valid throughout the summer. However, students enrolled only in summer classes would not be eligible to receive an EasyPass.

How does the EasyPass TransLink card process work?
All students would be required to use a TransLink card with a photo ID. The EasyPass is not refundable or transferable to anyone else. If someone other than the person identified on the card uses the pass, AC Transit personnel or the Alameda County Sheriff’s department could confiscate the card. A fine of up to $250 and/or community service could be imposed (California Penal Code 640). Students would “tag” the TransLink card on the card reader at the front of any bus each time they board.

Peralta would work with AC Transit to develop a process for distributing the passes to students.

Is the pass valid on the Dumbarton Bridge Express service?
The EasyPass would be valid on all AC Transit local and transbay bus lines. The pass would not valid on the Dumbarton Express.

What are the AC Transit bus fares if the EasyPass student referendum does not pass?
On March 11, 2009, AC Transit Board of Directors voted in increase bus fares as of July 1, 2009. The new fares will be:
• $2.00 for adult fare
• $.25 for transfer
• $80 for 31-day local pass
• $132.50 for 31-day transbay pass

For more information about the Peralta EasyPass, visit http://www.peralta.edu/easypass.

EasyPass Questions & Answers

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Peralta EasyPass Questions & Answers

Q: How do I Get Peralta’s EasyPass TransLink Card?
A: To qualify for a Peralta EasyPass, you must be a full-time student with at least 12 or more units. To apply go to your College’s Cashier’s Office to sign the Pass Acceptance Form, pay your fee, and receive instructions to have your photo taken if necessary.

All Peralta EasyPass TransLink cards have a Photo ID. If you do not already have a Peralta Student ID card, you will not have a photo on file and must take the extra step of having a photo taken.

Q: How long will the new EasyPass be active?
A: Your card will be valid until August 27, 2009 or for as long as you are a Peralta student maintaining 12 units or more and pay your fee.

Q: Is it too late to sign up for a Peralta EasyPass TransLink card?
A: No. Applications for the Spring/Summer 2009 Peralta EasyPass will be accepted until August 1, 2009. All you have to do to sign up is to pay your fee, sign the Pass Acceptance Form, and have your photo taken at the appropriate Photo ID location.

Q: Once I have signed the Pass Acceptance Form, paid my fee and had my photo taken, how long before I get my new TransLink EasyPass?
A: It usually takes from three to five business days.

Q: Since I applied after the enrollment period, what do I use while I am waiting for my new TransLink EasyPass?
A: You will need to carry cash and pay full fare. Once AC Transit receives your photo from Peralta’s EasyPass Site Coordinator, they will create a new card for you and mail it to the Cashier where you applied for the EasyPass within 3 to 5 business days. Contact the same Cashier’s Office to pick up your new TransLink EasyPass card.

Q: When will I get my EasyPass TransLink card? I have not received anything yet.
A: All of the initial EasyPass applicants have had their new TransLink cards mailed to the Cashier’s Office where the card was applied and paid for. Pick up your new TransLink EasyPass at the same Cashier’s Office.

Q: My card does not work. How do I get it fixed?
A: If your card is defective, through no fault of your own, call TransLink at (877) 878-8883. They will verify your identity and remotely check your defective card.

If your card cannot be fixed remotely, TransLink will request that you mail your defective card to TransLink. Once the card is received and confirmed defective, TransLink will order AC Transit to make a new card for you. Once AC Transit gets the request from TransLink, a new card will be created and mailed to you within 3 – 5 business days. *Note – you may want to try the card first on another bus’ TransLink reader just in case the original reader was problematic. It is a good idea to carry back up cash in case your card does not work.

You must call TransLink as soon as possible to report defective cards. The EasyPass TransLink card cannot be verified or repaired by Peralta or AC Transit.

Q: The TransLink Reader stated, “Denied, insufficient funds.” What do I do?
A: Your card is defective. Call TransLink for instructions to fix your card.

General Questions about the EasyPass Program that apply to all TransLink EasyPass card holders

Q: Do I have to get a new TransLink EasyPass card every year?
A: No. You keep your TransLink EasyPass with photo ID long term - like you would your driver’s license. When you no longer qualify for the EasyPass, it will be removed from your TransLink card, but you can continue to use your TransLink card without the EasyPass loaded, by adding e-cash onto your card.

Q: How do I take care of my TransLink card?
A: Be sure to take care of your card as you would your driver's license and make sure it does not get bent etc. Since there are antennas throughout the card, do not punch a hole into it for hanging on a chain.

Q: My card is damaged, lost or stolen. How do I replace it?
A: Call TransLink at (877) 878-8883, so they can check your card’s activity and deactivate it to keep anyone else from using it. TransLink will verify your identity, charge a $5 balance restoration fee (paid by check or money order) and order AC Transit to make a new card for you. You will not have to have your photo re-taken. You will receive your new card in about 3 - 5 business days.

Q: What if my TransLink card has e-cash on it when it is stolen? What do I do?
A: Call TransLink at (877) 878-8883, so they can stop anyone from using your card and accessing your stored e-cash value. TransLink will charge the balance restoration fee of $5.

Q: The reader on the bus says that my pass expires in 31 days! I thought the EasyPass was for the whole year?
A: The EasyPass is active until it is no longer valid. The TransLink card automatically rolls over the active EasyPass every 31 days. Ignore the expiration date stated on the TransLink card reader.

Q: How do I use my TransLink EasyPass on AC Transit?
Each time you board the bus, simply "tag" (do not swipe) your card by holding it flat against the TransLink logo on the card reader as you board the bus. Wait until you hear the “beep.” The smart chip in the TransLink card will verify that you have an active pass.

If all you have loaded onto your TransLink card is your EasyPass, the first time you use the reader it will display “Travel O’K, Pass Used, Pass Added” followed by the date of expiration. After the first time, the reader will display the same message without the words “Pass Added.” If the card reader sounds “three beeps” instead of “one beep,” your pass has been misread by the reader, or has been damaged, deactivated, or is defective. Please contact the TransLink Customer Service Center at (877) 878-8883 if your card is not working.

Be sure to always have backup cash for your ride in case you have problems with your card. Please view the animated instruction, “How to use TransLink” by going to www.actransit.org, and clicking on the TransLink card graphic on the homepage. Be sure to have your computer’s sound turned on so you can hear the “beep.”

Q: What other transit systems can I use my TransLink card on if I add e-cash to the card?
A: You can use the TransLink card on San Francisco’s MUNI and Marin’s Golden Gate Transit if you have added value onto your card. To learn more about adding cash to your TransLink card, go to www.actransit.org, and click on the TransLink card graphic on the homepage. Select “Locations for adding value in person.” You can also set up an account online by clicking on the link, “Add value online” in the left-hand menu of the same page.

Source: AC Transit Marketing and Communications, February 2009

Shontrice's story

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Shontrice Williamson attended Contra Costa College in San Pablo before decided to come to Laney College in Oakland. Because there was limited access in her Richmond neighborhood to outlets she could purchase an AC Transit bus pass—such as grocery stores or chain stores—she would have to pay cash to board the bus to-and-from school every day.

“I usually had to pay cash to get to school. It costs more,” the 25-year-old African American Studies major Richmond resident said. She paid around $30 a week just go get to school in neighboring San Pablo. “And you know transfers expire, and I’d need to get other places besides school.”

Shontrice was already considering coming to the Peralta Colleges for classes when she found out about the Peralta EasyPass program. The program gives students a $50 semester long bus pass for only $50. Currently, AC Transit’s 31-day ride passes are $70 per month.

“I thought it was a typo,” said Shontrice, referring to the $50 bus pass. “That’s a come up.”

“I don’t have an issue with transportation anymore...I can get to school for the rest of the semester and not have to worry about how I’m going to get there.”

In the beginning of the fall 2008 semester, Shontrice would take BART and bus to school each day as she waited for her financial aid check from Peralta. And since BART costs $2.45 per trip from Downtown Oakland to Downtown Richmond, Shontrice now feels “less stress” since she can now take the bus all the way to school—and not have to worry about the cash fare.

“I don’t have an issue with transportation anymore,” said Shontrice. “I can get to school for the rest of the semester and not have to worry about how I’m going to get there.” Shontrice now has “less limitations” and takes the bus when every she wants to, when she wants to.

“You are unlimited and you can go almost anywhere you want to go, when you want to,” said Shontrice.

She is grateful for the EasyPass, because without it, Shontrice said doesn’t think she’d be able to continue attending school full-time.

“I’d probably change schools or have to restructure my whole life,” said Shontrice, who hopes she can continue going to school full-time. “It’s the difference between going to school twice a week at night and being able to go to classes five times a week.”

“And if I take less units, it’s going to take longer for me to finish my classes,” she added.

Shontrice said she will “Vote YES on Proposition A” April 28-29.