Los Angeles, California – LA/OC Building Trades – I’m Eddie Alvarez, a union representative for the Los Angeles/Orange Counties Building and Construction Trades Council. I grew up in the trades. My father is an elevator constructor, and I started as a laborer. Now, I work for a council of all the trades, where we negotiate agreements to put all our members to work.
In the trades, our goal is to create better opportunities for our members and their families, and I see public transit as a key part of that. We have a Community Workforce Agreement with LA County Metro that targets local and disadvantaged people for hiring when building the new subway, light rail, and bus infrastructure. We’re building these lines right now. That’s bringing true opportunity to people all over LA.
Public transit is about more than getting from point A to point B. It’s about building communities where people can live, work, and spend time with their families without wasting hours stuck in traffic. Our members usually have to drive to job sites because they carry tools, but their families rely on buses and trains to get to school, run errands, and enjoy the city. If we can build more transit-oriented housing—places where you can hop on a train and be downtown in 15 minutes—it will change everything. It would give people more time with their loved ones and less time on the road. And we want our skilled, local union workers to be the workforce to create that housing. Economic mobility is a sign of a thriving city. We need more of it, especially as we rebuild after the fires.
One of the biggest challenges is the lack of affordable housing near transit. Too many families are forced to live far from where they work, spending two to three hours commuting every day. That’s why I advocate for transit-oriented development. I’ve seen how this works in other cities, like Washington, D.C., or Mexico City, where transit is fully integrated into daily life. We need that here in Los Angeles.
At the end of the day, public transit, good housing, and union jobs go hand in hand. Families have more opportunities. They can spend less time and money on transportation, have more time together, and get to enjoy the fruits of their labor. That’s what I want for our members: strong working conditions, good wages, and communities where they can thrive. Transit isn’t just about moving people—it’s about building a better future for working families.
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This story is from our most recent report, Working Families Ride the Bus, which focuses on workers from across the country who rely on public transit to stay connected with their livelihoods, their families, and greater opportunities.