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The Guardian: Public Transit Is a Lifeline. Trump Is Derailing Our Protections

July 24, 2026—In a new Guardian op-ed, Congresswoman Lateefah Simon and Public Advocates President & CEO Guillermo Mayer expose how the Trump administration quietly gutted civil rights protections for millions of transit riders—reversing decades of disparate impact liability that held transportation agencies accountable for discriminatory outcomes, intentional or not. Drawing on Public Advocates’ own case against BART’s Oakland Airport Connector, they show what’s at stake when those protections disappear—and why California must lead in filling the gap.

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California transit agencies are sliding toward a fiscal cliff—and the budget isn't helping. Senior Transportation Policy Advocate Laurel Paget-Seekins explains why funding stability isn't optional.

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Press Release: U.S. Department of Transportation Stops Asking Who Gets Left Behind

The Trump administration has eliminated disparate impact protections under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act—stripping the federal requirement that transit agencies consider whether their decisions disproportionately harm communities of color and low-income riders. Public Advocates Senior Transportation Policy Advocate Laurel Paget-Seekins calls it "a major rollback of civil rights protections" and is calling on California to fill the gap.

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Talking Headways: Why Civil Rights Enforcement in Transportation Matters

What happens when the federal government stops enforcing civil rights in transportation? Senior Advocate Laurel Paget-Seekins joined the Talking Headways podcast to explain what's at stake—and what California can do about it.

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