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.
LAPD got approval from the Police Commission to extend their BolaWrap pilot on Metro in August, but hadn't advised Metro of their plans until after the fact.