CSULB not affected by bus strike

By Alex Roman
Daily Forty Niner

As the MTA strike affects thousands of Los Angeles citizens, it has fortunately not impacted the students at Cal State Long Beach or the thousands of people who ride the Long Beach Transit everyday.

"On some of our routes it has gotten a little bit more crowded," said Guy Heston, Assistant General Manager for Long Beach Transit. "Some of our Long Beach routes are a little less busy, because some people just have to drive now."

For those few CSULB students who have been impacted by the strike, Edna Ordonez a customer service representative at the downtown Long Beach Transit Mall, says that there are answers.

"If you need to get to Los Angeles, you can take the #3 to the Del Amo Mall and than take the Torrence Transit bus #1 or #2," she said. "Sure it's taking some people close to two or three hours to get there, they still can't beat the price."

Interestingly, some Long Beach Transit drivers are non-sympathetic to their MTA counterparts.

"I think it's a big mistake," said driver Mark Pane. "We worked a whole year without a contract and never once did we think of striking, because we knew they would work it out."

If there are students who are feeling the squeeze of the MTA strike, you can find solace in knowing that not only are all lines of Long Beach Transit running, but as a courtesy, they are taking all MTA bus passes.

"We are honoring all MTA bus passes, until the strike is over," said Pane. "So they can ride free until the strike is settled."

One sentiment of all the Long Beach Transit workers is that bosses will be understanding of the MTA situation.

"Someone came in today and told me that they were fired because they couldn't get to work," said Ordonez. "I hope that it's settled soon, so that doesn't keep happening."

Pane echoes her sentiments, "I really hope that people don't lose their jobs over this," he said. "It's been crazy and some of our lines and I think that somebody needs to intervene and settle this, before it's gets out of hand."