[image of Wyvernwood apartment buildings via LA Eastside blog]
BOYLE HEIGHTS: The LA Eastside blog goes in deep and in depth to the Wyvernwood apartments, now threatened with demolition to make way for even denser housing. "Everyone at Wyvernwood knows this is a special place, even if no one can pronounce the name. Men and boys playing futbol and boisterous children on bikes or playing hide-and-go-seek mark a typical afternoon here, while every day, at dawn and at dusk, dozens of señoras can be seen determinedly walking their laps in groups, in pairs, or solo." [Curbed Inbox/LA Eastside]
LOS ANGELES: County Supervisor Gloria Molina is a bit late to the press release party, but nevertheless we're happy to publish her anti-transit 1/2-cent tax screed, kindly forwarded to us by a reader as a response to the reader's email. Here's the meat of her email: "I will always be an ardent supporter of funding for transportation improvements. I will even be willing to ask voters to support new taxes to fund these direly needed improvements. But I firmly believe that we should take our time, involve the entire county, and craft a proposal that treats all areas of Los Angeles County with greater equity when the expenditures are made with those precious tax dollars." [Curbed Inbox]
From: Gloria Molina
Thank you for your correspondence regarding the most recent proposed Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) half-cent sales tax ballot measure to fund transportation improvements in Los Angeles County.
Please understand that I have supported every transit project that has been built or is currently being built by the MTA and its predecessor agencies. I also strongly supported Propositions A and C; both ballot measures imposed a half-cent sales tax to fund transportation projects and services. Therefore, it was with deep regret that I could not support the current half-cent sales tax proposal.
Unfortunately, this current proposal was drafted hastily and without the involvement of many interested parties throughout the region-and well beyond the City of Los Angeles. The result is a thirty year expenditure plan that will not fairly distribute the transportation funding benefits to all Los Angeles County residents. I strongly believe that everyone who pays the tax should see some benefit from it. Otherwise, it is not only bad policy but is likely to fail at the ballot box where it must garner a two-thirds vote to pass.
It is unfortunate that those representing the City of Los Angeles chose to ignore the input and participation from the other 87 cities within Los Angeles County, in addition to our unincorporated areas. As a consequence, representatives from the San Gabriel Valley, north Los Angeles County, and other regions have decided to oppose this tax proposal.
I will always be an ardent supporter of funding for transportation improvements. I will even be willing to ask voters to support new taxes to fund these direly needed improvements. But I firmly believe that we should take our time, involve the entire county, and craft a proposal that treats all areas of Los Angeles County with greater equity when the expenditures are made with those precious tax dollars.
To more thoroughly explain my position, attached is an op-ed I submitted to the Los Angeles Times on this subject. To date, they have chosen not to publish it. I hope, however, that it sheds more light on what motivated me to take my current position and why I feel so strongly that it is the correct one.
Thank you again for taking the time to write.
Sincerely,
GLORIA MOLINA
Supervisor, First District
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