Earlier this week, responding to improved L.A. air quality under COVID-19 'safer at home' orders, L.A. City Councilmember David Ryu introduced a motion calling for a report on the costs of air pollution, and promoting telecommuting for city staff and others. The motion joins a similar COVID-19 air quality and telecommuting motion introduced by City Councilmember Mitch O'Farrell in April.
Ryu announced the motion with a series of tweets stating he finds it "unacceptable" that "air pollution related illness costs... the health and lives of our City's people, particularly in communities of color." He further tweeted "I have spent years getting our City moving in a more sustainable and healthy way."
Today, I introduced a motion to rethink how we work & commute. This legislation includes incentives for telecommuting& work from home for business, and a study on the costs of air pollution.
We can build a healthier LA, we just need to reimagine how we move and work.
Streetsblog contacted Ryu's office to explain the claim of supporting sustainable healthy mobility. Ryu's Director of Communications Mark Pampanin responded that:
Councilmember Ryu was the first City Councilmember to call for dockless mobility throughout Los Angeles, and piloted dockless bikes in Griffith Park to prove their effectiveness and popularity. Despite some resistance, Councilmember Ryu has not wavered from his belief that dockless bikes and scooters are an important mobility option to reduce car dependence and solve first-mile, last-mile issues around transit. Speaking of transit, Councilmember Ryu has been a strong supporter of the Purple Line Extension as well as transit lines to the Valley through the Sepulveda Pass, and bringing electric DASH buses to Griffith Park.
When Streetsblog asked what Ryu is looking to do to improve the air quality situation for the communities of color mentioned in the tweet, Pampanin's response focused on improving access to Griffith Park and the L.A. River, park renovations in Central Hollywood and Mid City, bike-/scooter-share, and the telecommuting motion.
L.A. Twitter isn't buying Ryu's assertions. Numerous replies pointed out that his record is "Literally the opposite; pro parking, anti bike lane, anti road diet," that Ryu pressed for "more parking" and spent his term "making it more dangerous and unhealthy to get around this city,"
Dude, you have said during the campaign that you want more parking. That equals more driving! If you want to rethink how we move, let’s start with creating the infrastructure for it. Bike and bus lanes! And make 4th St a slow street.
“I have spent years getting our City moving in a more sustainable and healthy way” - Literally the opposite; pro parking, anti bike lane, anti road diet
Why is Ryu suddenly asserting his support for sustainable healthy mobility?
Much of it may have to do with Ryu being in a tight run-off election against Nithya Raman. Raman is an urban planner and community advocate who advocates for a Green New Deal, sustainable transportation, renter protections, and ending city hall corruption. In the three-way March primary election Ryu received 44.74 percent to Raman's 41.09 percent. The Ryu-Raman runoff election will take place November 3.
Streetsblog emailed Raman for a comment on Ryu's motion. She responded:
While I appreciate the motion to look into supporting telecommuting for City employees and beyond, I do think that such measures prioritize the needs of white collar workers over the needs of so many people in the service industry and many others who do not have the option to work from home, and lack both the network of safe bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure and plentiful access to public transit that this city so desperately needs.
L.A. Podcast co-host Scott Frazier characterizes the incumbent councilmember's newfound fondness for renters and clean air as "Ryu has dedicated himself completely to copying off Raman’s test." Raman responded to the assertion Ryu is taking up her policy positions, stating "Frankly, I wish he would adopt even more of them. That's precisely why we have put so many detailed policy platforms out as part of our campaign - so that sitting city councilmembers would see our ambitious vision for the city and the passionate support that our vision has generated and be inspired to do more themselves."
New concepts for rapid bus service across the 626 have ironed out the questions of where an East-West route would run and where demonstrations could begin.
Metro and Caltrans eastbound 91 Freeway widening is especially alarming as it will increase tailpipe pollution in an already diesel-pollution-burdened community that is 69 percent Latino, and 28 percent Black
