LAist: Assemblyman Calls Public to Action for Transit Projects

jrb

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:53:12 -0800

Thank you Kymberleigh!

Kymberleigh

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 10:02:29 -0800

I'd be very surprised if Torlakson was opposed to the Feuer bill. I've known the Senator since he was an Assemblyman, and he has always been a strong supporter of public transportation. To answer the question that jrb asked: Metro, being a "special district agency", lacks the legal authority to, on its own, place such measures on the ballot. They not only need the state legislation giving them the authority, but the rubberstamping of the County Board of Supervisors to actually get onto the ballot. The good news (which should reassure you) is that this would be a local sales tax and therefore not subject to raiding by the State every time there is a budget shortfall. In fact, the Feuer bill specifies the projects this tax can be used for, so the voters can see what they're being asked to pay for. My organization, Southern California Transit Advocates (http://www.socata.net) will be doing all it can to help this measure pass, and we hope the public will side with us.

jrb

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 07:36:13 -0800

OK, I don't get it! They need to pass a bill to put another bill on the ballot? I thought all you needed is signatures. This seems overly red tape-ish. I'll gladly vote for the $.005 sales tax, but they better stipulate, "ringfence the funding", so you don't have everyone and their dog "borrowing" it every time there's a budget crisis.

Militant Angeleno

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 18:36:58 -0800

Wilshire/Normandie Purple Line station.