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Low-income ‘persons of color’ get to go to Disneyland on taxpayers’ dime, thanks to city program

May 22, 2025 | | Print Article

The Democrat-controlled city of Los Angeles handed out a $150 stipend to low-income people to subsidize their travel expenses that could include trips to Disneyland, the sprawling Anaheim theme park.

The pilot program, the largest of its kind in America, awarded 1,000 low-income residents of south Los Angeles who described themselves as “persons of color” with the monthly freebie to use for public transportation services such as buses, metro rails, Uber, Lyft, scooter and bicycle rentals, with the money provided on a prepaid debit card.

The first phase of the Mobility Wallet Pilot Program ran from May 2023 until April 2024, with preliminary research from UCLA finding that the program “reduced stress by giving participants increased autonomy over their travel choices.”

According to KTLA, the program, which is “the largest of its kind in the nation, was pitched as a way to provide equitable transportation solutions for low-income residents who often find themselves with poor-quality access to transportation.”

One recipient told researchers that he used the money to go to the “happiest place on Earth” with the outing, “creating a life-long memory at a place that would have taken too long to reach using only the bus and train.”

Others used the stipend to attend family get-togethers.

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“The birthday party for my sister, we were able to take my parents and then come back in an Uber or Lyft. …So they were very happy to see the niece, the nephew, staying in touch with family. And not having to worry about, like, ‘oh, who’s going to drive us back, who can drive us back?’ Or trying to see which other family member can just give us a ride back. …It made me happy that they were able to travel and [not] have to worry about that, asking for a ride back,” one participant said, according to UCLA.

“As we urgently work to ensure that our transit system is safe for riders, we also must continue to expand access and reach to the communities that need it most,” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said.

Now that the initial phase is over, the financial stress has returned for participants who are once again forced to foot the bill for their own transportation.

“The financial burden of transportation [is] a challenging one to cut out of my budget. I can try to reduce it as much as possible, but reducing cost means I have to pay in my time. I think the financial support is probably what I miss the most,” one participant told UCLA researchers.

News of the initial phase of the program drew a strong response from X users.

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“Mobility Wallets provide subsidies that can be used for transportation services, including public transit, rideshare, micro-mobility, taxis, and purchases at bike shops. Phase I of the Mobility Wallets program provided 1,000 low-income residents in the South LA area a prepaid debit card with $150 per month to spend on transportation needs. Phase II of the Mobility Wallet program will identify 1,000 new, low-income residents within the South LA pilot zone, as well as an additional 1,000 low-income residents across LA County to receive the Mobility Wallet subsidy,” Bass’s website states.

“Phase II of the Mobility Wallet program will identify 1,000 new, low-income residents within the South LA pilot zone, as well as an additional 1,000 low-income residents across LA County to receive the Mobility Wallet subsidy,” according to the website.

Chris Donaldson
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