Back in November we approved Propositions 1A and 1B, bonds that gave $19.9 billion in transportation funding throughout the state. On Friday, California transportation officials recommended cutting more than $1 billion worth of freeway projects sought for Los Angeles County - including funding for a northbound car-pool lane on the San Diego (405) freeway.
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and other officials are obviously not pleased and will be asking residents to step it up by asking them to call and e-mail state officials demanding that Los Angeles get its fair share of traffic relief funding. Later today, the Mayor will hold a press conference and give out flyers on Wilshire Blvd. encouraging drivers to speak up.
If you have never called a state official's office, it is pretty easy. Just say why you are calling and your position on the issue. For the most part, they respond by asking the zip code of your residence and thank you for your time. Sometimes, if they disagree, you could get some lip (that's when you blog back about their attitude).
Statewide, about 8.9 million people voted in the last election, a number less than the size of Los Angeles County, which is 9.9 million residents. In LA County, 51.9% of the 3.9 million registered voters took park on election day in November 2006. While that is a failing grade, we're happy the mayor, who many think does not support the grassroot ideals of Neighborhood Councils, is getting out and asking people to speak up. We only wish he was asking us to speak up about funding the Purple Line and not freeway projects. There is nothing sexy about another car pool lane on the 405.
Photo by ngader via Flickr
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