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Streetsblog LA
Villaraigosa Offers Bi-Partisan Praise for Federal Transportation Bills, But Favors Boxer’s Over House Mica’s
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa was in Washington, D.C. today to support the dramatic increase in the TIFIA loan program to $1 billion that is proposed in both the House and Senate draft reauthorization bills and is the center plank of the America Fast Forward plan to accelerate transit construction. By the time he flew out of town, he also through his hat in the ring to be the most popular man about town. This is Villaraigosa's 7th trip to the Capital to lobby for and promote portions of the America Fast Forward program.
July 21, 2011
City Council Unanimously Passes Anti-Harassment Ordinance
When Streetsblog first began publishing in Los Angeles, there would be Transportation Committee hearings where I was literally the only-person in the room that wasn't either city staff or a lobbyist. The scene at City Hall couldn't be more different these days as advocates for cyclists rights and infrastructure are a common site in the halls (and steps) of City Hall. Yesterday's victory for cyclists, the final passage of Councilman Bill Rosendahl's "Bicyclist Anti-Harassment Ordinance" would have been similarly unthinkable.
July 21, 2011
Streetsblog Talks to Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa about His Goals for Metro, Constellation Avenue and “Plan B.”
The weekend before Carmageddon, I had a chance encounter with Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa while visiting Councilman Bill Rosendahl's house as part of an upcoming StreetsFilm that we're working on. Villaraigosa was pleasant, and offered to do an interview with Streetsblog sometime soon. I decided not to bother his staff until after Carmageddon, but on Monday morning his media relations team contacted me to set up an interview with the Mayor to discuss his plans for his year as Metro Board Chair.
July 20, 2011
The Mica Bill: Good for 30/10, Bad for Everyone Else. How Will Boxer Respond?
Much has been made of the proposal to reauthorize the Federal Transportation Trust Fund that was submitted by Republican Congressman John Mica last week. The Mica Bill has been criticized by Democrats who feel left out of the proposal, advocates for green transportation options who bristle at the proposed elimination of the bicycle and pedestrian programs and the construction industry shocked by dramatic cuts to an industry that is already seeing higher-than-average unemployment in an era where the unemployment rate is beyond average.
July 12, 2011
Next Up for the Streetsblog Reader Questionnaire: Zev Yaroslavsky
If there's one politician we've given a hard time to here at Streetsblog, it's County Supervisor and Metro Board Member Zev Yaroslavsky. Yesterday while we were IM'ing on Facebook (really!) I asked if he would join LADOT General Manager LADOT General Manager Jaime De La Vega and LAPD Sgt. David Krumer in answering a Streetsblog reader questionnaire.
July 7, 2011
More Expo Delays? Fight Between Expo Board, Culver City Could Delay Final Phase I Station
In November of 2007, the Expo Construction Authority and Culver City agreed that instead of building a "temporary" station at the terminus of Phase I of the Expo Project, that the Authority would build the permanent aerial station in time for the grand opening of Phase I. As part of that agreement, Culver City agreed to pay the Authority $7 million to cover some of the construction costs.
July 6, 2011
Crenshaw Update: Ridley-Thomas Pushes Community Benefits, Community Weighs Options for Subway/Leimert Station
When Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas' motions to make the Crenshaw Light Rail project run entirely below-grade and to construct a station at Leimert Park both failed, the Board Member promised he would be back with a new motion to improve the project in a different way. At last week's Metro Board Meeting, Ridley-Thomas introduced a motion calling for community benefits during construction of the Expo Line.
June 30, 2011
LADOT GM De La Vega on Better Data, Multi-Modalism and, Yes, Pedi-Cabs
We're two for two in getting strong, substantial responses to a Streetsblog reader questionaire. First Sargent David Krumer talked about the improved relationship between cyclists and the LAPD and now the new LADOT General Manager takes time to answer your questions on multi-modalism, data collection, budget issues and more.
June 29, 2011
Meet the New Metro Board Chair, Same As the Old Metro Board Chair
Three years ago, Antonio Villaraigosa took over as Chair of the Metro Board of Directors and used the influence of the Chair to guide the legislation that would lead to the creation of Measure R. The Mayor of Los Angeles chairs the Metro Board once every three years, and Villaraigosa will hold the seat from July 1 until June 30, 2012. When you consider that the Mayor just took over the presidency of the Conference of Mayors, you can see he certainly has his hands full these days.
June 24, 2011