Thursday, June 4, 2006 | Volume 40 No 12

THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 2026

Black Caucus Members Join Other Legislative Dems to Push Critical Funding for Distressed Public Hospitals

CAPH

H.R. 1 DEMANDS URGENT ACTION

Services at public hospital systems at risk from nearly $3 billion in annual losses tems.

Members of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC), along with other Democratic lawmakers, are ramping up efforts to push for a $500 million state budget investment to help stabilize California's 17 public hospital sys-

Federal budget laws, such as H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, are dramatically decreasing Medicaid funding. Because more than 14 million Californians rely on Medi-Cal, the Golden State's version of Medicaid, these cuts represent a massive blow to the state's safety-net hospitals.

Assemblymember Tina McKinnor (D-Ingle- wood), chair of the Los Angeles County Legis- lative Delegation, said she and her colleagues in the Legislature are actively fighting for this direct state funding to offset devastating finan-

See "Black Caucus..." page 8

Omnitrans Celebrates 50 Years of Connecting Communities Across San Bernardino County

Redlands

Mentone

AMER

San Bernardino, CA - Omnitrans celebrates 50 years of service this year and recently kicked it off with special anniversary events at its East Valley headquarters in San Bernardino and West Valley operations facility in Montclair, bringing together community partners, elected officials, and employees to honor the agency's legacy and look ahead to the future of transit in San Bernardino County.

Over the past five decades, Omnitrans has played a critical role in connecting residents to jobs, education, healthcare, and essential services while helping shape a more mo- bile, sustainable region. The agency's growth is marked by major milestones, including the development of multiple transit centers across the county, the launch of the sbX Green Line in 2014, new connections to ONT Airport, Om- niRide on-demand shuttle service, OmniAccess

Onteria serving seniors and persons with disabilities in the county, and the transition to a 100% alter- natively fueled compressed natural gas (CNG) fleet in 2009.

Omnitrans' celebration highlighted that prog- ress, featuring a historical exhibit with a timeline of key moments across the past five decades, special speeches by local elected officials and stakeholders, and two buses wrapped in com- memorative 50th anniversary designs celebrat- ing the communities they serve across the re- gion.

"Fifty years of service represents the strength of this community and the people who keep it moving every day," said Erin Rogers, CEO of Omnitrans. "We're proud of how far we've come and even more focused on what's ahead, as we continue to expand and modernize transit to meet the needs of our region."

• Montclair
• Upland
• OmniTrans

2026 ANNIVERSARY

That forward momentum includes the upcom- ing launch of the new sbX Purple Line, the newest high-frequency bus rapid transit route, which is set to open in spring of 2027, and will further expand fast, reliable transit options for riders between Rancho Cucamonga and Pomo- na, and connecting them to top regional destina- tions like Victoria Gardens, Ontario Mills, the Toyota Arena, and the ONT Airport., and sus- tainable transportation solutions for the next 50 years and beyond.

To relive the celebration and access share- able assets including a highlight video, event photography, and official 50th anniversary logo files-explore our digital toolkit: www.omni- trans.org/50th Toolkit. To learn more about Om- nitrans highlights over the past 50 years: www.omnitrans.org/50.