Breaking news: L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa supports a sales-tax hike for transportation projects

I just rode the subway with L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who said for the first time publicly that he would like to ask voters in November to consider a half-cent sales-tax increase in Los Angeles County to pay for more road and mass transit projects.

"I'd like to get a sales-tax initiative on the ballot, but we have to build a consensus on that first. I'm working on that as we speak," the mayor said.

The idea of a November transportation tax has been gaining ground with rising gas prices and increasing public pressure for new transit lines such as the Wilshire Boulevard "subway to the sea" and an extension of the Gold Line in the San Gabriel Valley.

Earlier this month, David Fleming, chairman of the Los Angeles County Business Federation, said that as a Metropolitan Transportation Authority board member, he intends to vote to move the sales tax toward the November ballot. He just wants assurances that the money won't be raided later for some other government purpose.

Villaraigosa has made building a Wilshire subway a top priority of his administration. But his efforts have made little headway largely because of the $5-billion-plus price tag. Congress last year lifted a longtime ban on tunnel work under Wilshire Boulevard -- but the money to build a subway remains a major problem.

Even if a tax goes on the ballot, it remains unclear whether it would pass. Some elected officials in the San Gabriel Valley and elsewhere have questioned whether the benefits of a subway are worth the huge costs. Transportation officials are considering a variety of new rail lines elsewhere, including extending the Gold Line, a second phase of the Expo Line from Culver City to Santa Monica, and a new line along Crenshaw Boulevard.

More later.

-- Steve Hymon

Comments

[ngan]

Everyone knows (or should) that the govt always raid these funds every year because no one will notice. So why on earth should we give them something else to raid? Existing initiatives had clauses to prevent raids, but the lawyers somehow create loopholes.

So until the govt (state and local) stop raiding these funds and actually work within their budgetary means, do not give them any more money!

Unfortunately, the public has a track record for giving their souls to the politicians. Let's hope we wake up soon.

[Bored in Burbank]

The tax we already pay is routinely hijacked.

[Mark Smith]

A socialist mayor supporting higher taxes. What a shock.

[Earl]

Wake up people. Yet another progression up the tax ladder. Sales tax, property tax, federal income tax, social security and self employment tax, gasoline tax, state income taxes and on and on. When does it stop? I'm paying roughly 60% of my income to taxes. At that rate, I should have the best health care in the world, a guaranteed retirement and then some. What value do I get on the taxes I already pay? None!

[Bonaficio de Brentwood]

Honestly, I'm getting tired of the regressive taxation pushed by "progressive" Antonio Villaraigosa and his City Hall pals like Eric Garcetti.

What this city & state needs is an increase in PROPERTY and CORPORATE taxation. Our state's averages in these two taxes rates are far below those of neighboring and comparable states.

What we need are elected official who do not look for the easy way out by pushing a sales tax that hits working class families much harder than the naked opulence that exist in many corners of this city. What they need to do is be willing to stand up to myopic homeowner associations and the Chamber and Commerce and say, "We will not stand while this state and this city socializes risk and privatizes profits." Do the right thing - raise property taxes! Leave the little guy alone.

Or as my friends like to say, "Tax Brentwood before Boyle Heights."

[deBeer]

Jim I believe we already pay enough taxes towards the poor. That is not a reason to add a sales tax increase. Transportation for the poor? Come on. As far as tourism by the beach.....Have you been by the beach lately? On most nice days there is little room on the sand as it is.. Next reason?

[Alex]

As the article states, as long as the money can't be raided; as long as it is held in escrow EXCLUSIVELY to pay for the transportation project; and as long as the Wilshire Subway is PRIORITY #1, then I would happily pay it. Add in another 1/2% to pay for some more police to patrol the city and the new subway and I'd gladly pay that too.

The extra sales tax will not be felt. In principal I'm against higher taxes, but if it's the only compromise to get this thing started already - and not just a pipe dream - then I'm all for it.

[Bill G]

This tax will go ahead and the money will disappear down some rat hole like it always does.

[Rich]

The Wilshire "Subway to the Sea" will need to be built eventually. We can either spend the $5 billion to remedy the situation now, or we (and our children and grandchildren) can spend $10 or $20 billion to remedy the situation later. These problems are not going to go away on their own.

[Dan]

YES! I'll take this deal any day.

[James Sullivan]

What happened to the BILLIONS of dollars in taxes we paid to the state under the guise of gasoline tax to support transportation projects? Oh that's right...the money went into the general fund and was stolen. And none of it went to the projects we agreed to fund with the tax revenue.

[Tony Fernandez]

But what about Zev's Law. We can't use sales tax money for subway construction, or would this proposition have a clause to overturn Zev's Law?

[Jim Townes]

Normally I'm not a fan of sales tax increases to pay for projects but in this case if its mass transit then poor people would be primary beneficiaries so I would support.

If the subway makes it down wilshire to the sea in Santa Monica it could also be a huge benefit to tourism as they could easily traverse the west side.

But we need to start putting transit in areas where there is greatest need - the worst thing about the current rail system is that it is placed in areas where nimby's put up the least resistance and its benefits are a shadow of what they could be if they were put in the most congested areas or areas that are primary commuter routes.

Whoever built a rail system but had it stop 1/4 mile from LAX rather than extending all the way should be given a gold star for idiocracy.

[Carol]

What about the gas tax we already pay? Is that being used for transportation projects, or has it been highjacked for non-transport related projects?