Unlike the first two Council District 2 candidates who have responded to our questionnaire, Tamar Galatzan currently holds elected office. Galatzan was elected to the LAUSD school board, unseating incumbent Jon Lauritzen with a boost from Mayor Villaraigosa, in the 2007 elections.
Galatzan is also a prosecuter, her "day-job" when she's not busy with the LAUSD, and has made her success in criminal law which could make her an important voice in the Council when it comes to traffic justice issues.
I can't help but notice that Galatzan joins our first two respondents in discussing commuting habits outside of single-passenger automobile trips. Saltzburg takes the bus, Sheftel has his electric scooter and not Galatzan either carpools or takes the trains 95% of the time. Doesn't anyone just drive where they need to go in this town anymore?
1) When you commute to work, how do you do it? What percentage of the trips that you take don't involve an automobile?
1. I carpool around 75 percent of the time from the San Fernando
Valley to the downtown Beaudry office of the Los Angeles School Board.
I also travel by subway around 20 percent of the time to various
downtown appointments.
2) Over the past year, a number of surface streets in the valley have
had their speed limits raised. Are these increases a result of the
natural order, or an interest that needs to be addressed? What, if
anything can be done to reverse these changes?
2. I oppose any move to increase
residential speed limits if such an effort is deemed unsafe by the
neighboring community. I have expressed an interest in having
community input being given greater weight when such decisions are
made.
3) The city is currently studying leasing the rights to its parking
meters and certain parking garages for a large cash payment up front.
Do you support this kind of financing ideas, and if so what kind of
conditions should be part of any agreement with a private firm?
3. It would have to be judged on a case by case
basis. Leasing is always a good idea because the city can use that
property for revenue or city improvement projects in the future.
4) What can the City Council do to reduce and prevent fatal crashes
involving pedestrians, cyclists and other vulnerable users?
4. The City Council must insure that the lines marking off
crosswalks and bike paths are clearly delineated. I also strongly
support placing traffic lights and stop signs at any intersection in
which there is the possibility that pedestrians or bicyclists could be
in jeopardy. I will reach out to the community for assistance in
identifying such areas.
5) The former Council Woman for CD2, Wendy Greuel, chaired the
Transportation Committee. Do you want to be part of the Transportation
Committee?
5. I would certainly be interest in
serving the transportation committee. I am a strong supporter of
public transport. I know many Valley residents who would avoid working
downtown if not for the Orange Line and the Red Line. One of my
primary goals on the council will be to maintain a strong level of
support for all forms of public transportation.
6) One of the ways that a City Council Member can effect change for
non-motorized users is by appointing informed activists to the city's
Bicycle Advisory Committee and Pedestrian Advisory Committee. Are you
familar with community activists who could best serve an appointed
position on these committees?
6. Yes, I
know many people that would be helpful advisors and very intrested in
serving on a Bicycle Advisory Committee or Pedestrian Advisory Committee
7) If you could change one thing about transportation in Los Angeles
with the wave of a magic wand, what would it be?
7.
I would work to increase the efficiency and the performance of our
subway trains. There are still too many mechanical glitches and late
arrivals.
