Skip to Content
Streetsblog Los Angeles home
Streetsblog Los Angeles home
Log In
LADOT

New Petition: Mayor Villaraigosa, We Need a National Seach for LADOT GM

Who's going to replace Rita Robinson as head of LADOT?

The question has been a hot one with transportation reformers and other city hall watchers but has failed to gain a lot of traction with the general public.  Maybe it's because the house money is that the new G.M. will be a local hire and not a game changer.  Maybe its because Robinson doesn't have the star power that Janette Sadik-Kahn has in New York or Gabe Klein has in Washington, D.C. and people just don't care who replaces her.

But neither of those reasons are good enough to think that whoever is running the transportation agency for the "largest city, in the biggest state in the most powerful country in the world" couldn't make a major impact, even if the next mayor doesn't bring them back.  For that reason, a group of advocates called Livable Los Angeles have started a petition asking the Mayor to not limit his sites to local talent, but to consider candidates from across the country.

No offense to anyone already laboring at LADOT, but rarely do game changers come from within.

You can read and sign the petition at I-Petition.

(Full disclosure: Yup, I'm part of LLA.)

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog Los Angeles

This Week In Livable Streets

Metro meetings, Marmion Way, Jessica Meaney, Long Beach bridge alert, and more

February 17, 2026

Baldwin Park Greenway is Now Officially Open

The 2.3 mile walk/bike path circumvents the city’s busiest streets, and is slated to expand to a total of five miles in the years to come.

February 17, 2026

Updates on L.A. City Stopping Resurfacing, Instead Doing “Large Asphalt Repair”

Bureau of Street Services GM states that budget cuts forced them to pivot to "large asphalt repair." That practice ends up resurfacing streets partially, ineffectively, and inefficiently.

February 17, 2026

Tuesday’s Headlines

ICE, rain, Metro, L.A. mayor race, LAX, Inglewood, Pasadena, Measure HLA, Bell Gardens, Expo Park, car-nage, high-speed rail, and more

February 17, 2026

Friday’s Headlines

ICE, WeHo K Line, HUD housing, clean-ups, bikes on stairs, BBB, Long Beach, Irvine, car-nage and more

February 13, 2026
See all posts