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January 12, 2017

Mr. Philip A. Washington
Chief Executive Officer
Los Angeles County MT A
One Gateway Plaza
Los Angeles, CA 90012 Subject: Acceptance of Title VI Complaint Dear Mr. Washington:

This is to notify you that the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Office of the Secretary and the Federal Transit Administration have accepted the formal complaint against the Los Angeles County Metro Transportation Authority (LACMT A). The complainant, the Labor/Community Strategy Center, alleges that LACTMA is discriminating on the basis of race with regard to its policies and practices of fare enforcement, citations, and arrests on public transportation, in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI). 42 U.S.C. § 2000d. LACMTA is a recipient of Federal financial assistance from DOT and its Operating Administrations. DOT has the authority to investigate whenever the agency has reason to believe that there is a possible failure of a recipient to comply with Title VI. 49 C.F.R. § 21.11 ( c ). Title VI and DOT Title VI’ s implementing regulations at 49 C.F .R. § 21 prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, and national origin by recipients of Federal financial assistance. Please note that no recipient or other person shall intimidate, threaten, coerce, or discriminate against any individual for the purpose of interfering with any right or privilege secured by Section 601 of Title VI or 49 C.F.R. § 21, or because he or she has made a complaint, testified, assisted, or participated in any manning in an investigation, proceeding, or hearing under 49  C.F.R. § 21. 49 C.F.R. § 21.1 l(e). Please do not hesitate to contact Ryan Fitzpatrick, Lead Civil Rights Analyst, in our office with any questions about the complaint process. Mr. Fitzpatrick can be reached at (202) 366-1979, or ryan.fitzpatrick@dot.gov. A copy of the complaint has been attached for your review. We look forward to working cooperatively with your agency. Sincerely,

Yvette Rivera, Associate Director
Equity and Access Division Departmental Office of Civil Rights

U.S. Department of Transportation cc via e-mail and without attachment:

Eric Mann, Director,

Labor/Community Strategy Center

Courtney Wilkerson, Acting Associate Administrator,

FT A Bonnie Graves, Attorney-Advisor, FTA
Dawn Sweet, Senior Equal Opportunity Specialist, FT A

 

For questions, more information and Press inquiry call:

Eric Mann

Director, Labor Community Strategy Center

Manuel Criollo

Director of Organizing, Labor Community Strategy Center

(213) 387-2800

info@thestrategycenter.org

View the full-text of the Complaint here:

The Strategy Center Submits DOJ & DOT Civil Rights Complaint Against the LACMTA