http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/02/15/done-deal-pico-plan-moves-forward-depite-some-opposition/ Covering Los Angeles's livable streets movement Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:23:58 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/02/15/done-deal-pico-plan-moves-forward-depite-some-opposition/comment-page-1/#comment-152 MetroHopper Sun, 17 Feb 2008 20:07:00 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/02/15/done-deal-pico-plan-moves-forward-depite-some-opposition/#comment-152 It is a delicate issue, this. I wish Tony V were competent; perhaps then we could put up with his being the left coast's Robert Moses.<br/>Unfortunately, Tony is only concerned with creating a legacy for himself. His failed bid to lord over LAUSD established this sad fact; the attempt to bulldoze through constituents concerns corroborates it.<br/>For all my kvetching about the ostentatiousness of an extensive subway system in Los Angeles, I would nevertheless love to have such a system. But I am all too aware of how difficult it will be as well as how long it will take to build one. The current mayor of Los Angeles, however, has not the competence to see it through. It is a delicate issue, this. I wish Tony V were competent; perhaps then we could put up with his being the left coast's Robert Moses.
Unfortunately, Tony is only concerned with creating a legacy for himself. His failed bid to lord over LAUSD established this sad fact; the attempt to bulldoze through constituents concerns corroborates it.
For all my kvetching about the ostentatiousness of an extensive subway system in Los Angeles, I would nevertheless love to have such a system. But I am all too aware of how difficult it will be as well as how long it will take to build one. The current mayor of Los Angeles, however, has not the competence to see it through.

]]> http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/02/15/done-deal-pico-plan-moves-forward-depite-some-opposition/comment-page-1/#comment-151 Justin Sun, 17 Feb 2008 18:25:00 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/02/15/done-deal-pico-plan-moves-forward-depite-some-opposition/#comment-151 To follow up to my own post...<br/><br/>In your article you mention "near unanimous opposition" by various groups. <br/><br/>Yes, there are a small number of people (statistically speaking, in terms of the size of the City) who this will be a moderate inconvenience to. Those people have the motivation to go out and protest this. For the MANY MANY more people who this will (hopefully) help, this probably does not rise to the level of something they are going to go to a meeting to talk about. Thats just the way the world works.<br/><br/>Justin <br/><br/>"Part of the silent (possibly) majority" To follow up to my own post...

In your article you mention "near unanimous opposition" by various groups.

Yes, there are a small number of people (statistically speaking, in terms of the size of the City) who this will be a moderate inconvenience to. Those people have the motivation to go out and protest this. For the MANY MANY more people who this will (hopefully) help, this probably does not rise to the level of something they are going to go to a meeting to talk about. Thats just the way the world works.

Justin

"Part of the silent (possibly) majority"

]]> http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/02/15/done-deal-pico-plan-moves-forward-depite-some-opposition/comment-page-1/#comment-150 Justin Sun, 17 Feb 2008 18:20:00 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/02/15/done-deal-pico-plan-moves-forward-depite-some-opposition/#comment-150 Sometimes you need to break a few eggs to make an omlette. Executives, kind of by definition, are not fans of design by committee. While they may take other people's opinions and thoughts into account, in the end they are looking to make a decision and get something done. If this works well, and improves traffic in a meaningful way, I say "Go Mayor" and support him in his decision to go forward, even with opposition there. Thats part of what we hired the Mayor to do. Make difficult, and sometimes unpopular decisions to improve the City. I have followed this issue somewhat closely, and while th opposition is LOUD, its points seem to be fairly minor, and focused on how this change impacts them personally, not the community at large. ("People won't be able to visit my dry cleaner during rush hour, wah!").<br/><br/>Now, if this change does NOT make a noticeable difference in the traffic problems we are seeing, then the Mayor is choosing to harm some individuals without there being a greater good. In this case the Mayor is a poor executive (in this case) and should be held accountable for his poor decision.<br/><br/>So, go forward, Mr. Mayor, with your plan, but it had better be a successful one.<br/><br/>Justin Sometimes you need to break a few eggs to make an omlette. Executives, kind of by definition, are not fans of design by committee. While they may take other people's opinions and thoughts into account, in the end they are looking to make a decision and get something done. If this works well, and improves traffic in a meaningful way, I say "Go Mayor" and support him in his decision to go forward, even with opposition there. Thats part of what we hired the Mayor to do. Make difficult, and sometimes unpopular decisions to improve the City. I have followed this issue somewhat closely, and while th opposition is LOUD, its points seem to be fairly minor, and focused on how this change impacts them personally, not the community at large. ("People won't be able to visit my dry cleaner during rush hour, wah!").

Now, if this change does NOT make a noticeable difference in the traffic problems we are seeing, then the Mayor is choosing to harm some individuals without there being a greater good. In this case the Mayor is a poor executive (in this case) and should be held accountable for his poor decision.

So, go forward, Mr. Mayor, with your plan, but it had better be a successful one.

Justin

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