In what appears to be a push to improve its public image, Google (News - Alert) has made a donation of millions of dollars so low-income youngsters in San Francisco can ride for free on public transit.
Google will give the public transit system $6.8 million – after criticism surfaced of how tech company employees were using private shuttles that stopped at public bus stops. The increasing presence of tech employees is also seen as threat to lower-income tenants in the San Francisco region, where landlords have evicted them in favor of renting to wealthier residents.
The $6.8 million grant from Google will fund the Free Muni for Low Income Youth program. More than 31,000 youngsters, ages 5 to 17, used the program – which was originally funded by the city government – for about a year. Also, Google and other tech companies are paying for the use of public bus stops for their private shuttles.
“Continuing to provide free Muni for thousands of young people from lower-income households will help make our City more affordable for working families,” San Francisco Mayor Edwin Lee said in a statement. “With this unprecedented gift from Google, we can keep this successful pilot program running for at least two more years at no cost to taxpayers or Muni riders, and free up critical funds for other vital Muni maintenance and services. Google is demonstrating with real action and real resources that they are a true partner in addressing our City’s affordability crisis for lower and middle-income families.”
There is increasing pressure from community activists for Google and other tech firms to do more to help the lower-income residents in the region. Last December, activists blocked buses shuttling Google and Apple (News - Alert) employees to work. Demonstrators also allegedly broke the windows of a Google bus in nearby Oakland.
Google wants to appear sensitive to the community’s concerns – and does not want to end up representing an image of promoting income inequality. Thus, it gave the recent historic gift to the city.
"San Francisco residents are rightly frustrated that we don't pay more to use city bus stops," Google told The Verge in a statement. "So we'll continue to work with the city on these fees, and in the meantime will fund Muni passes for low income students for the next two years."
Edited by Cassandra Tucker
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