Mayor Rey Leon says the word “Raiteros” is Spanglish for ride.
“The person giving the ride is a raitero, but also the person getting the ride is also a raitero. It’s a notion of equality where we’re all raiteros,” he said.
He was recognized for his Green Raiteros ridesharing program, a non-profit electrical vehicle program designed to service farm communities. It provides reliable transportation for rural residents to and from essential services like errands, pharmacy visits and doctors appointments. Leon’s role as executive director of the Latino Equity Advocacy & Policy Institute helped to launch the program in 2018.
“I'm very pleased and honored that the energy commission and leaders there gave me a good nod in terms of the work and I hope that they continue to support the communities like Huron,” he said.
The inaugural Clean Energy Hall Of Fame Thursday inducted six people for advancing California’s clean energy future. They were called Clean Energy Champions. Each awardee will have a tree planted in their honor.