Jobs and Transportation

* The League of Women Voters of Ventura County is completing a two-year study of the local welfare system, CalWORKS. Several serious problems face those leaving welfare to enter the work force.

In addition to problems of child care, affordable housing and job training, limited public transportation is a major barrier to getting and keeping a job.

A CalWORKS study in early 1999 indicated that half of the 218 clients who had become employed drove to work and 12% rode a bus. Of the 435 clients still seeking employment at that time, 28% said they would drive if they had access to an automobile and 28% said they would need to ride a bus. This information was submitted at the time to the Ventura County Transportation Commission.

The lack of adequate transportation is a major barrier for those who live in the west county, because many of the available jobs are located in the east county. There are as many as 300 job seekers living in Santa Paula, Fillmore and Piru who could travel to Los Angeles County for work in the Valencia area. They all need an early morning bus to take them to work and a late afternoon bus to return them to their home area.

We commend VCTC for listening to the wishes of citizens. Adequate public transportation is a concern for all the county--whether for work, recreation or visiting in the next town. We suggest that CalWORKS and VCTC work together to identify solutions that can be effected immediately as well as make plans for the future.

SUE KELLEY

President

MARY WILLIFORD

and LILLIAN GOLDSTEIN

Study Committee Members

League of Women Voters

of Ventura County