Los Angeles County Supervisors Gloria Molina and Mike Antonovich have stepped up their attacks on the MTA's tactics to suppport Prop. R's $40 billion sales tax hike.
The supervisors condemned spending more than $1 million to send all the nearly 4 million households in the county a 16-page color brochure promoting the tax hike, which mostly builds a subway and light rail for the Westside to justify densification.
They are particularly critical of County Counsel Roy Fortner for okaying the brochure. "I think you made a drastic mistake, a very drastic mistake," Molina said menacingly.
Antonvich called the brochure "propaganda," adding, "Even a high school government student would tell you that this is a political mailing,"
If the supervisors are serious about going after Fortner, they need to press him on why he hasn't issued an opinion on the mayor's campaign getting money from these special interests when there's a tough law on the books authored by former state Sen. Tom Hayden that sharply tightened restrictions on the MTA because of its long history of scandal and abuse of the public's money.
Ron Kaye is the former editor of the Los Angeles Daily News where he spent 23 years helping to make the newspaper the voice of the San Fernando Valley and fighting for a city government that serves the people and not special interests.
Twice in recent years, Los Angeles Magazine listed Kaye among the city’s most influential people, specifically in the area of politics. Kaye has been variously described in the media as the “accidental anarchist,” “the Patrick Henry of the San Fernando Valley” and a “passionate populist.” He is now committed to
carrying on his crusade for a greater Los Angeles as an ordinary citizen. Previously, Ron worked at the Los Angeles Herald Examiner,
Associated Press, Cleveland Plain Dealer and The Australian as well as papers
in Fairbanks, Alaska and Yakima, Wash. He also wrote for Newsweek magazine, The Guardian in London and the National Enquirer.
Ron, as always, I enjoy your blog.
I understand where old concerns about the MTA come from, but the fact is that in recent decades their reforms have worked -- big time. Take the Gold Line Eastside extension, which the MTA is supervising and which is almost complete: it's ahead of schedule, under budget, and has an unprecedentedly good safety record. I'm not saying that Metro is perfect, but I do believe their reforms have worked. And Measure R has important taxpayer protections built in.
In fact, many of the biggest advocates for Measure R, from ballot signatories to behind the scenes advocates throughout the past year are Valley leaders. Measure R has been endorsed by the Valley Industry & Commerce Association, by Valley leader & BizFed Chair David Fleming, and by an odd coalition of regional business, labor, and environmental groups, from the LA Chamber to the LA chapters of the AFL-CIO and the Sierra Club.
The fact is, it's cheaper than the costs, tangible and intangible, of congestion (LAEDC says Measure R will just cost the average person $25 per year).
Measure R is far from being purfect, but in my opinion is it better than nothing. With the Federal Bailout underway annd Arnold always raiding the transportation funds, there is no money to look for Los Angeles.
We've got to take care of ourselves and pay for it ourselves. I am disapointed in the Board of Supervisors not backing Measure R and the Press telegram for taking a stand against it too. Whay is the Press-Telegram thinking whern they said that they was no money involved for the Long Beach Area? There is money for Long Beach Transit, the Dial-a-Rides and keeping the bus fares low. There is also new trains for the Blue-line and how does that not help Long Beach?
David Fleming works for Latham & Watkins. Of course he endorsed Measure R. Anyone know how many of those contractors, engineering firms, etc. who will benefit from Measure R are represented by Latham? Start counting.