Google donated $6.8 million to San Francisco to help provide the youth with transportation. The money will go to the Free Muni for Youth Pilot Program, a year-old program that provides free access to public transportation to low and moderate-income students in the area.
According to Morning News USA, this program, run by the Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), requires about $3 million each year to fund it. The program has assisted more than 31,000 students.
This is one of the biggest private donations the city of San Francisco has ever seen toward city services. According to CNET, Mayor Ed Lee said, "With this unprecedented gift from Google, we can keep this successful pilot program running for at least two more years at no cost to taxpayers or Muni riders and free up critical funds for other vital Muni maintenance and services.”
However, some wonder if this generous act by Google was because the technology giant is experiencing backlash in San Francisco due to its highly-paid employees moving in and contributing to rising rents.
Image courtesy of Google