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.)