The private buses that shuttle tech workers to and from offices outside of San Francisco currently pay nothing for the use of Muni bus stops. The private shuttles block public buses from using the bus stops and have come to symbolize the increasing hegemony of San Francisco, complete with unaffordable rents and rampant evictions. In protest, demonstrators have repeatedly blocked the buses. The City's response to protesters' objections has been to propose that the Google buses start paying a fee of $1 per stop in a limited number of bus stops.

On May 1, however, a coalition of environmental, labor, and tenants' rights groups filed suit in San Francisco, declaring that the City's "Commuter Bus Program," aka the "Google Bus Giveaway," is illegal and should be set aside. The suit contends that it is against state law for private buses to use the public bus stops. Plaintiffs in the lawsuit are The Coalition for Fair, Legal, and Environmental Transit; Sara Shortt of the tenants rights group Housing Rights Committee; and Alysabeth Alexander Vice President of Politics for SEIU 1021. Defendants include the City and County of San Francisco; Mayor Ed Lee; the SF Board of Supervisors; Muni; and Google, Apple and Genentech.

"We know that these buses are having a devastating impact on our neighborhoods," said Sara Shortt," driving up rents and evictions of long-time SF residents. We've protested in the streets and taken our plea to City Hall to no avail. We hope to finally receive justice in a court of law."

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Previous Related Indybay Feature: Fighting Back Against the "Tech Takeover": Impact of Tech Industry Protested with Apple, Google, & Yahoo Bus Blockades and Home Demo