Brown Berets Join Sensible Transportation Campaign
The Brown Berets, a youth organization based in Watsonville, have joined the Campaign for Sensible Transportation in an attempt to support more progressive transportation planning for the county.
Brown Beret spokesman Sandino Gomez explains, "Our constituency needs improved transportation options. When most transportation funding goes towards widening the freeway instead of rail or bus service, a lot of people who depend on transit suffer." Sandino expressed support for the Rail Trail, as well as for land use planning that "builds communities, not urban sprawl."
Teacher and Brown Berets member Jenn Laskin said, "We totally support anything that will pull transportation away from fossil fuels and the war machine. Especially cheap and healthy things like bike paths and sidewalks. People in Watsonville are economically oppressed by car culture. Any kind of public or alternative transportation is a great thing."
In the words of Watsonville City Council member Oscar Rios, "the Brown Berets have been one of the strongest youth organizations in this community and have led by example by providing our young people with constructive alternatives and the tools to make progressive change." People Power is very proud to be working in conjunction with the Berets and the Campaign.