Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
MTA Marks Clean Air Anniversary
The MTA has done a lot of bonehead things, and in this space we have enumerated many of them (but not all, not by a longshot), perhaps to the point of losing sight of those things the MTA gets right.
One of those things is the MTA's decision 11 years ago to shift to buying only Alternative Fuel Vehicles for their bus fleet. That decision has, according to the MTA, paid off in removing "approximately 6,400 tons of nitrogen oxide emissions and 50 tons of particulate matter from L.A. skies since [MTA] began using compressed natural gas buses".
That's a lot of crud that could be floating around LA and clogging the bronchial passages of asthmatic kids (and anyone else who breathes). Imagining MTA's ridiculously large bus fleet as a horde of diesel-burning, particulate-belching smog machines nearly brings anticipatory pollution-induced tears to our eyes.
Support for LAist comes from
Good at 'em for their foresight.
Now if they could just get off their bus fixation and extend the Red Line down Wilshire already...
In Other Transit Notes:
• Civic leaders in the Foothill Communities are pushing forward in their effort to construct a Gold Line extension from Pasadena to Montclair. The public comment period on the Draft EIR has ended, and cities along the proposed route are finalizing station plans in advance of the Final EIR.
• The proposed Exposition Light Rail Line, which would intially run from Downtown to Culver City, and later all the way to Santa Monica, is in the final stage of the EIR process. The final report is done, and will soon be open to public review. If all goes well, groundbreaking is scheduled for 2006, with Phase 1 completion in 2010.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
After rising for years, the number of residential installations in the city of Los Angeles began to drop in 2023. The city isn’t subject to recent changes in state incentives, but other factors may be contributing to the decline. -
The L.A. City Council approved the venue change Wednesday, which organizers say will save $12 million in infrastructure costs.
-
Taxes on the sale of some newer apartment buildings would be lowered under a plan by Sacramento lawmakers to partially rein in city Measure ULA.
-
The union representing the restaurant's workers announced Tuesday that The Pantry will welcome back patrons after suddenly shutting down six months ago.
-
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake.
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
Best of LAist