Skip to Content
Streetsblog Los Angeles home
Streetsblog Los Angeles home
Log In
Transportation Funding

Times Claims Mayor’s Affair Cost City $336 Million in Transportation Funds

Being a former lobbyist in New Jersey, I've had about enough media coverage of sex scandals on the news to last a lifetime. But there was one detail from this weekend's article on Hizzoner's escapades that deserved comment.

With several of his news conferences dominated by questions about the affair, the mayor kept a relatively low profile for two months, staying out of the spotlight as the state Legislature raided $336 million in transportation funds from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Regalado said.

Memo to state legislators: Just because the Mayor was too embarrassed to stick up for the city's funding needs doesn't mean his residents deserve to get shafted. Why I can think of a lot of great ways to spend $336 million:

1) Roll back last summer's fare hike.

2) Fully fund all of the city's Safe Streets To School's Program

3) Bike racks at every transit stop

4) And with any money left over, how about a down payment on Phase II of the Expo Project?

If anyone has other suggestions, feel free to add them in the comments section.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog Los Angeles

Brightline West Breaks Ground on Vegas to SoCal High-Speed Rail

Brightline West will be a 218-mile 186-mile-per-hour rail line from Vegas to Rancho Cucamonga - about 40 miles east of downtown L.A. - expected to open in 2028

April 23, 2024

This Week In Livable Streets

Active Streets Mission-to-Mission, LAPD reports on its use of force in 2023, Pasadena Transit plans, Metro subway construction, and more

April 22, 2024

CicLAvia Opens Venice Boulevard – Open Thread

CicLAvia opened six miles of Venice Boulevard - from Culver City Station to Venice Beach

April 22, 2024
See all posts