Thursday, November 13, 2008

A Homophoblic Incident on the Big Blue Bus

Here is a letter I sent today to the Big Blue Bus regarding an unfortunate incident that happened on Tuesday.

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Dear Big Blue Bus,


I am sorry to have to write this note for I do not like to get people in trouble, but I've thought about this incident for two days and based on the events of the past week, I feel I must report it.

On Tuesday night, I was riding on a No. # Bus, number ####. Around 6:10 p.m. we past a "No on 8" demonstration in Santa Monica on Ocean Avenue. The bus driver surveyed the situation and exclaimed the slur, "sodomites."

As a gay man, I found this to be incredibly and deeply offensive. I do not believe a public employee on duty and in uniform has any excuse for using a slur like "sodomites". What's next? "Faggots"?

A bus operator is entitled to his beliefs, opinions and even prejudices.

However, no rider should have to hear any slurring language against them by a bus operator on duty for any reason, be it race, gender, religion, sexual orientation or anything else.

Anti-gay bigotry is no longer publicly acceptable as far as I am concerned. Perhaps your operators need diversity training.

In any event, I would like an apology and a promise that it will not happen again.

I am sorry I had to write this note. I believe the Big Blue Bus provides exemplary service and I am otherwise a very satisfied customer.

Best regards,

Dan Wentzel

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Here is the text of the note the Big Blue Bus sent me in reply:

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Thank you for taking the time to contact us.


The Big Blue Bus does not condone the type of behavior that you have described. Your comments have been forwarded to the operations supervisor. The driver will be addressed and the appropriate action will be taken. It is our priority to have curteous drivers.


We appreciate your feedback as it makes us aware of the problems that hinder us from providing excellent public transportation.


Customer Service
Big Blue Bus

Saturday, June 21, 2008

Paying for the Pink Line and other new rail projects

There will likely be a 1/2-cent sales tax increase measure on the ballot in November to help pay for new transit projects.

I am hoping that Metro will choose Alternative 11 as part of the Westside Transit Corridor Extension Project, a combined alternative which includes both the Wilshire Blvd. and Santa Monica Bld. alignments. If Metro unfortunately approves the Wilshire-only option at this time, this means a separate Santa Monica / La Cienega alignement will have to be lobbied for. (This blog will certainly continue to do that lobbying and hope you will too.) Hopefully, Alternative 11 will be chosen.

However, whenever a Santa Monica Blvd. alignment is approved, built either in conjunction with the Purple Line or by itself. It is unlikely without a new source of money that even the Purple Line by itself will ever get built, no matter how desperately it is needed.


This truth will set you free, but first it will tick you off. I will state the following about taxes which many of you don't want to hear, but need to hear:


Reaganomics has failed under three Presidencies now. Advocating low taxes for the wealthy as a matter of policy is certainly a person's right, however, contrary to what these "supply-siders" tell you, this policy doesn't result in the enormous economic growth that then causes additional tax revenues to come flowing into government coffers. Experience has now shown us how real wages have remained stagnant, that prosperity did not trickle down to the middle and working classes, and money did not flood the government coffers. Reagan, Bush I and especially Bush II all exploded the federal deficit, believing (or at least successfully selling the idea) that their "something for nothing" approach would actually work. It didn't and doesn't.

Conservatives know that the American people would never tolerate the severity of cuts to protective services (military/police/fire) and social services (Social Security/Medicare/education) and crumbling infrastructure (bridges, dams, rails, highways) that would be required in order to allow them to pay the derisory levels of taxation they'd be willing to pay. In particular, long-term investments like infrastructure is particularly vulnerable to the political circus and interests of short-term budgeting. Therefore, in order to get what they wanted, conservatives had to come up with an economic theory that said that tax cuts for the affluent wouldn't actually require any pain for anyone. ("W." and the neo-cons extended this amoral "something for nothing" approach in Iraq when they convinced themselves and sold the radical and now discredited idea we could have a successful war without common sacrifice.) Conservative political strategists knew that they would be selling something that people would want to believe. Who wouldn't want to believe in "something for nothing"? Elder Bush once accurately called it "voodoo economics". The truth is self-evident. Lower taxes actually responsibly require cuts in spending. Conservatives had control of the Presidency and Congress for 4 years (2002-06) and put their faith in voodoo economics rather than objective reality.

As much as conservatives know that people want to believe we can have "something for nothing", the truth is, and adults know this, that if we want something funded, it has to actually be responsibly paid for and not dumped into the future like a maxed-out credit card. George W. Bush's failed economic policies have proven once and for all that supply-side economics just doesn't work in the real world. Low taxes for the wealthy only extended wealth at the top. Prosperity does not trickle down to the masses, nor are the government coffers increased in this approach. Let us put aside the wishful belief that needed investments in the common welfare don't actually have to be paid for. There is no tooth fairy and there is no transportation fairy who will wave a magic wand to pay for these improvements. We, all of us together, will have to pay for them, for they will benefit everyone economically and environmentally directly and/or indirectly in the County, even if we don't use these lines ourselves.

While I enthusiastically support the 1/2 cent sales tax increase to pay for transportation projects, I know several people who do too in theory, but have great skepticism that the money will all go to transit. Transportation money is an inviting target to raid in a budget crisis because the anti-tax and social service lobbies are much more vocal. The Governator is once again proposing raiding transit funds again in the current state budget negotiations. Many people understandably just don't believe that the politicians won't be able to resist raiding any new transportation money for other non-transportation related purposes.


With gasoline prices ever upward and realistically over $5/gallon over the summer, and with ever-worsening congestion, a tipping point has been reached where the masses really want more transit capital projects like new rail lines built. The real question now is that is whether their desire so focused and determined that they are actually willing to pay for them. I believe they will if they believe that the money will actually go to transportation. Is it really possible to design this upcoming sales tax increase ballot measure so that the money CANNOT be raided, period? Convincing people that is really the case may be the real challenge.


The sales-tax increase measure will meet with several responses:

1) Yes, we desperately need these projects and we need to pay for them.
2) I'd like to support this, but I just don't believe all the money will actually go to transportation.
3) I'd like to support this, but I'm so pinched economically I just cannot afford it no matter how much I know this money is needed.
4) I support more transit funding, but the government should just better use the money it already has and cut government "waste".
5) No new taxes, period. I don't care what gets cut or destroyed in the future. Nor, do I care if Southern California remains economically or environmentally sustainable because I will be dead eventually anyway or just move somewhere else.
6) All transportation money should go to preserve my divine right to drive and park an automobile anytime, anyplace, anywhere, and I want all transportation money spent on roads and screw the common good.


Getting to two-thirds voter approval will be tough, especially in a difficult economic climate. To get to yes, in adding to the 1s, we need to hope that enough 2s vote for it anyway by convincing them the money cannot be raided. 5s and 6s won't vote for it under any circumstances. 3s are possible, but they are most likely to switch sides to "no" in the privacy of the voting booth. A number of 4s are still possibles too. The Governator is finding out that this myth of all this "waste" is coming up against reality. One person's "waste" is another person's "lifeline" and "essential funding".


The 1s will vote for this. The 5s and 6s will not. Some 3s and 4s will still vote for it, but the issues involved go beyond just transportation funding into larger issues about personal microeconomics snd government funding and may be solely beyond persuading on this issue.


I don't think we can get to a two-thirds vote unless enough of the 2s are convinced that the money will not be raided for other purposes. Let's hope they design this ballot measure right. Even then, a two-thirds vote is a very high hurdle.


High-speed Rail will also be on the ballot this fall as a bond issue. We desperately need that too. But that's for another blog post.

Friday, June 6, 2008

Rail Riders Union comes to Gay Pride!

Everyone should know about the Rail Riders Union -- a desperately needed alternative and counterbalance to the backward looking and vehemently anti-rail, but thankfully declining in influence, Bus Riders Union. (Reasonable transportation advocates recognize we need both a strong rail network and a strong bus system.) Other transportation advocacy organizations worth joining include Southern California Transit Advocates and the Transit Coalition.

Founded in 2008, the Rail Riders Union’s mission is to promote new transportation solutions for Los Angeles. As a not-for-profit mutual benefit corporation, the Rail Riders Union relies on the support of people like you in our efforts to educate Southern Californians on the need for an expanded subway system, identify supporters of new transit projects and mobilize them to give Los Angeles the subway system it deserves as a world-class city.

The Rail Riders Union will be at the Pride Festival this year.

Rail Riders Union Comes to Pride

Just imagine... Someday we will be able to ride The Pink Line to Gay Pride each year!

And perhaps we can have a station with rainbow colors and gay-themed monuments, such as the ones in Berlin and Montreal, at the LaCienega/Santa Monica Station.

Go to the Pride Festival, and if you see someone from the Rail Riders Union and they offer you a sticker, wear it proudly!

Sunday, May 18, 2008

The Pink Line Supports the Purple Line

These two lines do not "compete" with each other, they compliment, reinforce and strengthen each other, and the Red Line too.

Check out this article from WeHoNews.com
wehonews.com/z/wehonews/archive/page.php?articleID=2298


Note the following excerpt:

To their own surprise, the proposed subway expansion makes better sense to planners when a Santa Monica Boulevard route is added to the traditionally better-preferred Wilshire Boulevard route.


A crowd of 75 attendees listened in rapture while Long Range Transportation planners explained how a Santa Monica spur running from the current Hollywood/Highland Red Line Station hooking up with a Wilshire line south of West Hollywood would not only increase ridership significantly, but also provides enough in travel time improvements to give Congress reason to fund the subway expansion.


“What was surprising to us,” David Mieger, project manager said, “is that adding Santa Monica Boulevard to the Wilshire route, in compliment to one another, it works [from a feasibility, cost and ridership perspective].”



Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Here are the maps of the finalists!

From the four finalist maps for the Westside Transit Corridor Extension Project, here are the revised alternative alignments for #11 and #16, the two finalists that includes the framework of the Pink Line. They are both great for the Pink Line. These two alternatives, while not including a one-seat ride to/from the Valley to/from the Westside, do include the possibility for extension south to Expo/LAX and extension east to SilverLake/Downtown.

Pick your preferred Wilshire alignment and send your support to WestsideExtension@metro.net

Alternative #11













Alternative #16


Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Sneak Peak at final selections for Westside Transit Corridor Extension Project

What I've been told thus far is that of the four final rail maps, two have the Pink Line! Woo hoo!

I will get maps to you just as soon as I can, but what is on offer is the Pink Line alignment going from the Purple Line up La Cienega, running on Santa Monica Blvd. then up to Hollywood and Highland.

There is every reason to celebrate. If these are built as light rail, they can be extended on the southern end to Expo or even potentially LAX. On the northeast end, it can be extended to Silver Lake and then downtown.

So pick the Wilshire alignment of your choice and let the MTA know you want the Santa Monica Blvd. line included in the final proposal.

The one downside is that this means there will not be a one-seat ride from the Valley to the Westside via Santa Monica Blvd. I really hope there has been sufficient support shown for a Sepulveda LRT going from LAX to Metrolink in the Valley to make it into the Long Range Transportation Plan. Countless people who are snaking through passes and canyons every day deserve a quality public transit alternative.


Thursday, May 1, 2008

Social Networking for the Pink Line

If you'd like to meet others who support the Pink Line project, there are now "groups" on both MySpace and Facebook.

groups.myspace.com/thepinkline

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=11096618173


While you are on Facebook, join the Metro Westside Extension group and express your support for the Pink Line: - http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=10040701921


SAVE THE DATE


Westside Extension Transit Corridor Update Meetings - May 5th, 6th, 8th, and 12th

Please join Metro for the next round of community meetings to learn about progress on the Westside Extension Transit Corridor Alternatives Analysis Study. These meetings will update you about the refined set of alternatives that will continue for further study and the schedule for future steps.

Wilshire/Fairfax area: Monday, May 5th, 6 – 8pm
Los Angeles County Museum of Art: West - Terrace Room, 5th Floor
5905 Wilshire Bl, Los Angeles

Westwood area: Tuesday, May 6th, 6 – 8pm
Westwood Presbyterian Church
10822 Wilshire Bl, Los Angeles

City of Santa Monica: Thursday, May 8th, 6 – 8pm
Santa Monica Public Library – Multipurpose Room, 2nd Floor
601 Santa Monica Bl, Santa Monica

City of West Hollywood: Monday, May 12th, 6 – 8pm
Plummer Park
7377 Santa Monica Bl (at Plummer Pl), West Hollywood

Content presented at these meetings will be identical, so make sure to attend at the time and location most convenient for you.

For additional information or questions, please visit the Westside Extension Transit Corridor Study website at metro. net/westside or contact the project information line at 213.922.6934.

Monday, April 14, 2008

10 Days to Get Your Pink Line Support to the MTA

There is ten days left in which the MTA is taking public comment and feedback for the draft Long Range Transportation Plan.

Alternative #9 is the one I support, pictured here:















It contains both the one seat ride from the Valley to the Westside and a one seat ride from West Hollywood to Hollywood. It also includes the incredibly necessary Purple Line extension down Wilshire to the Santa Monica via Century City. This would likely be a "heavy-rail" alternative similar to the Red Line.

Here's Alternative #16, which is also interesting:














The Pink Line goes to the the Beverly Center/Cedar Sinai here instead of the back end of Beverly Hills. In this model, the Pink Line would likely be a "light-rail" line similar to the Blue, Gold and Green lines. If this model is chosen, the Pink Line could probably head down La Cienega to the Expo Line, even possibly be a zig zag crosstown line as a northern extension of the Crenshaw Line -- think the "G Train" in Brooklyn/Queens. It could also be easily extended east of La Brea on Santa Monica to Sunset Junction, then down Sunset to Silver Lake, Echo Park and the Downtown Regional Connector.

It's the one seat ride from the Valley to the Westside that really makes the Alternative #9 the preferred choice for me to start with, offering a valuable alternative to countless people snaking through passes and canyons every day. This is an argument for using Alterative #9, but instead of going straight through the back end of Beverly Hills, heading from San Vincente/Santa Monica to the Beverly Center, then joining the Purple Line at La Cienega/Wilshire on the way to Century City. That may add a few minutes to the total ride, but its certainly better than parking on Laurel, Coldwater Canyon, or the Sepulveda Pass, isn't it? Still, with the right-of-way still owned by the MTA, I think Alternative #9, is the right way to go to start the Pink Line. (Note: The MTA believe the Purple Line is the higher priority as do most transit advocates, so don't harbor any illusions it will be picked instead of Wilshire. At this point, our best bet is to get the MTA to commit to BOTH the Wilshire and Santa Monica Blvd. lines.)

Send e-mail supporting one or the other of these alignments or both to the following:
metroplan@mta.net
WestsideExtension@mta.net

You'll be glad you did. You can find out more about the other alternatives for the Westside Transit Extenion Corridor Project and the Long Range Transportation Plan at www.mta.net

Just keep imagining riding that subway from Universal City to the Beverly Center and Century City or from The Abbey in West Hollywood to The Eagle in Silverlake.

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SAVE THE DATE

Westside Extension Transit Corridor Update Meetings - May 5th, 6th, 8th, and 12th

Please join Metro for the next round of community meetings to learn about progress on the Westside Extension Transit Corridor Alternatives Analysis Study. These meetings will update you about the refined set of alternatives that will continue for further study and the schedule for future steps.

Wilshire/Fairfax area: Monday, May 5th, 6 – 8pm
Los Angeles County Museum of Art: West - Terrace Room, 5th Floor
5905 Wilshire Bl, Los Angeles

Westwood area: Tuesday, May 6th, 6 – 8pm
Westwood Presbyterian Church
10822 Wilshire Bl, Los Angeles

City of Santa Monica: Thursday, May 8th, 6 – 8pm
Santa Monica Public Library – Multipurpose Room, 2nd Floor
601 Santa Monica Bl, Santa Monica

City of West Hollywood: Monday, May 12th, 6 – 8pm
Plummer Park
7377 Santa Monica Bl (at Plummer Pl), West Hollywood

Content presented at these meetings will be identical, so make sure to attend at the time and location most convenient for you.

For additional information or questions, please visit the Westside Extension Transit Corridor Study website at metro. net/westside or contact the project information line at 213.922.6934.


LONG RANGE TRANSPORTATION PLAN – Comments due April 25

Metro’s Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP), which identifies and prioritizes projects for future funding, is currently being updated. Even if you have already commented directly to Metro about the Westside Extension study, Metro’s LRTP planners also need to hear from you about potential transit improvements on the Westside if they are to be included in future regional transportations plans.

For more information about the LRTP, including how to comment, go to metro. net/longrangeplan.

What We Had, What We Lost, What Will Return



















Here's a map from 1928 Los Angeles.

Dont' let ANYONE tell you that mass transit isn't for Los Angeles. Mass transit BUILT Los Angeles. Furthermore, with three million more people projected in Los Angeles County over the next three years, meaning major densification and re-centralization along transit corridors, it will be what we need again.

Look at the beautiful Santa Monica Blvd. rail line on this map and imagine hoping on the train from West Hollywood to Silverlake, or from Universal City to Century City. It's a beautiful thought, isn't it?

Regency Fairfax Cinemas - A Transit Friendly Business



















On Saturday night, my boyfriend Michael and I went to go see the new movie "Shelter" at the Regency Fairfax -- a second run art house cinema at 7907 Beverly Blvd. I spoke with the manager Ben and expressed my admiration for their public transit display see in this pic.

Because Regency Fairfax has no parking, they are active seeking transit-riding customers. In the new Los Angeles, businesses will provide both driving and transit directions to their location. This would be considered normal in any other city. The dying "car culture" assumes that everyone will drive. Fewer people are willing to sit in ever-worsening congestion, and higher gasoline prices leave less discretionary income for fun things like movies. For the price of 1-1/2 gallons of gas, you can go see a film!

I once saw an Audrey Hepburn double feature at this cinema, so I am happy to go back repeatedly to this place. This transit display in the lobby only enhances that loyalty.

So, please patronize the Regency Fairfax. The tickets are $6, the staff is nice and the bathrooms are clean.
P.S. I really enjoyed the movie, "Shelter", but that's for another blog.

Another case in point: My church is near Vermont/Wilshire and has been including its accessibility to the Red and Purple Lines in its directions.

For me, to see any business actively seeking transit riding patrons, and not just seeing transit riders as unwanted low lives or undesirable poor persons and unlikely customers, is a good thing. Besides, with that discretionary income that comes from not paying for $4/gallon gasoline, I might be able to actually patronize their business.

Thursday, April 10, 2008

Living and Working in the Triangle


















Everyone should read John Von Kerczek's superb blog "Ditch the Car, Take the Metro".

http://takethemetro.blogspot.com/

In particular, he refers to this particular map above showing the Red Line, the Purple Line and the Pink Line, a transit triangle between Downtown, Hollywood and Westwood. I completely agree that this is where Southern California is heading and needs to head that way.

Someday, we will be talking about living and working "Within the Triangle".

A northern extension of the Crenshaw Line up La Brea or Fairfax might even be built.

But let's get the transit discussion thinking in terms of "the triangle" and the need for planned density and centralization along these corridors.

Save the Date - Let the MTA Know You Want the Pink Line!

SAVE THE DATE

Westside Extension Transit Corridor Update Meetings - May 5th, 6th, 8th, and 12th

Please join Metro for the next round of community meetings to learn about progress on the Westside Extension Transit Corridor Alternatives Analysis Study. These meetings will update you about the refined set of alternatives that will continue for further study and the schedule for future steps.


Wilshire/Fairfax area: Monday, May 5th, 6 – 8pm
Los Angeles County Museum of Art: West - Terrace Room, 5th Floor
5905 Wilshire Bl, Los Angeles

Westwood area: Tuesday, May 6th, 6 – 8pm
Westwood Presbyterian Church
10822 Wilshire Bl, Los Angeles

City of Santa Monica: Thursday, May 8th, 6 – 8pm
Santa Monica Public Library – Multipurpose Room, 2nd Floor
601 Santa Monica Bl, Santa Monica

City of West Hollywood: Monday, May 12th, 6 – 8pm
Plummer Park
7377 Santa Monica Bl (at Plummer Pl), West Hollywood

Content presented at these meetings will be identical, so make sure to attend at the time and location most convenient for you.


For additional information or questions, please visit the Westside Extension Transit Corridor Study website at metro. net/westside or contact the project information line at 213.922.6934.



LONG RANGE TRANSPORTATION PLAN – Comments due April 25

Metro’s Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP), which identifies and prioritizes projects for future funding, is currently being updated. Even if you have already commented directly to Metro about the Westside Extension study, Metro’s LRTP planners also need to hear from you about potential transit improvements on the Westside if they are to be included in future regional transportations plans.


For more information about the LRTP, including how to comment, go to metro. net/longrangeplan.

The public comment period for the LRTP closes on April 25, 2008 so be sure to weigh in by then!

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Let the Los Angeles MTA know you want the Pink Line!




















The Los Angeles MTA is currently gathering feedback for its Long Range Transportation Plan and its Westside Transit Corridor Extension Project.


If you want a Santa Monica Blvd. transit line in addition to the vital Purple Line extension down Wilshire (a.k.a. "the subway to the sea"), then let them know as soon as possible.

Send an e-mail to both these addresses:

metroplan@mta.net
WestsideExtension@mta.net

You'll be glad you did.

I've also started a Facebook group and a MySpace group for the Friends of the Pink Line.

groups.myspace.com/thepinkline

www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=11096618173

Come join us!