Board of Supervisors votes against putting transit sales tax on ballot

Updated: 3:50 p.m.

Illustrating how politically difficult it is to tackle traffic in Los Angeles County, transportation officials were caught by surprise today when the Board of Supervisors failed to back a proposed sales tax increase that may raise up to $40 billion for road and transportation projects.

The supervisors’ failure to muster a simple majority to place the proposal on the Nov. 4 ballot does not kill the measure, but makes it more complicated and more costly. If the Legislature gives its blessing — a bill to authorize the measure goes before a key committee Thursday — county election officials would create a separate “conditional” ballot that general election voters would also consider.

But even the progress of that bill has been slowed by squabbling among state lawmakers who want more of the tax money to pay for work in their districts, since construction could trigger millions of dollars in jobs and development.

East Los Angeles officials want more for extending light rail lines east of downtown; west Los Angeles officials want to keep the focus on relieving congestion on the Westside and starting the so-called subway to the sea.

With gas prices soaring and mass transit ridership up, the sales tax effort has been gaining steam and last month was approved by the board of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Within minutes of the supervisors' vote today, MTA chief executive Roger Snoble said the agency would sue the Board of Supervisors to force the sales tax onto the regular ballot.

"I'm in the process of hiring outside counsel because we can't hire county counsel because they would have a conflict," Snoble said. "We have a fairly decent chance of going into court and getting that reversed."

Many politicians have hailed the sales tax as the county's best shot at getting a $30-billion to $40-billion pot of money that is controlled locally. Budget woes, the economy and the Iraq war have made it difficult to get state or federal funding of that magnitude in recent years, and sales tax backers argue that a tax hike is the surest way to secure projects such as a subway, the Expo Line to Santa Monica and an extension of the Gold Line from Pasadena deeper into the San Gabriel Valley.

The 13-member Metro board voted in July to put the sales tax on the ballot. All five supervisors sit on the Metro board, and Snoble said that his understanding of the law is that the Supervisors vote today was largely procedural.

In particular, he said, the law requires the Board of Supervisors to examine the ballot and vote against placing an item on it if there is a physical issue with the ballot -- for example, that it doesn't fit.

"I'm already looking at this thing costing a whole lot of money, and to add more money, to me, it's really hurtful," Snoble said.

The problem has been politics. Local transportation officials have said that even $40 billion is not nearly enough to build all the projects that should have been built long ago or ones needed in the future. Complicating matters, it is well known that politicians sometimes seek transit projects because of the construction jobs, development and influence they generate.

Another issue has been legislation concerning the proposed sales tax. Officials at local, state and federal levels have all been trying to get language inserted that ensures their districts not only get projects but also see them funded robustly and in a timely manner.

That, in particular, was the problem three of the supervisors had with the sales tax: They believed that the money was distributed unfairly and that the MTA came up with a poor spending plan that favored project such as the subway on the Westside over other rail lines in the county.

"But the way it was done at the MTA certainly wasn't by any way kind of a fair process [of] let's be fair to the voters," said Supervisor Gloria Molina, who abstained. "It was a nice concocted scheme that went on. And every single and every step of the way it has made arrangements at how they were going to get more for one side of town versus the other side."

She later added: "It's a very funny way this little choo-choo is getting on the ballot."

Supervisor Mike Antonovich said that the money should be split up on a per capita basis. He, too, complained that money for some projects -- such as $1 billion earmarked for a mass transit project along the 405 through the Sepulveda Pass -- will ultimately be diverted to pay for the costly subway.

Supervisor Don Knabe, who portrays himself as a fiscal conservative, initially said that although he would vote to put the sales tax on the ballot, he wasn't for it -- but didn't think taxpayers should foot the bill for a symbolic vote. He quickly reversed course and voted against the sales tax.

Later, in an interview, Knabe said that he expects the MTA to successfully sue to place the tax measure on the existing ballot. Still, he said the supervisors' decision would reap benefits.

"I think it got everybody's attention that there is an equity issue here," Knabe said. "It's always a real dogfight to get a fair share of the dollars east of the 110 Freeway."

Knabe was absent for the MTA board vote last month because he was attending a celebratory event for the birth of his first grandson.

Transit advocates were not pleased.

"What a fiasco of childish parochial grandstanding," wrote Dana Gabbard, of the Southern California Transit Advocates, on a Times comment board. "...We desperately need leadership in this region, and it is obvious that isn't what we are getting from the Supervisors."

The Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce also issued a statement denouncing the vote -- even though the Chamber has yet to take an official position on the sales tax.

“Nearly every workday begins with a discussion about traffic,” said Gary Toebben, the president and CEO.  “Voters should be allowed to consider all potential solutions including a half-cent sales tax increase to fund transportation projects.”

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who chairs the MTA board and said that he has been working to build a coalition for the sales tax, had not commented on the supervisors' vote as of early this afternoon.

Even more surprising, the vote came after county attorneys told the board that the sales tax would still go forward -- but now on a separate ballot than the rest of the general election. That move would cost taxpayers an additional $2 million to $3 million, said county officials.

In addition, county election officials said that a separate ballot would require a separate mailing of ballots to voters and that it's likely the separate ballots would be counted well after the general election ballots.

-- Steve Hymon and Garrett Therolf

Comments

[Kymberleigh Richards]

Those who are genuinely concerned about the proposed transportation sales tax measure are invited to attend this Saturday's meeting of Southern California Transit Advocates, where Metro Board member Pam O'Connor will be the guest speaker. The meeting is held in the 4th floor community room of Angelus Plaza, 311 S. Hill St., one block north of Pershing Square Red/Purple Line Station (the location is also served by several bus lines, including 4, 10, 81 and 94). The meeting begins at 1:00pm.

[lsm]

M thinks creatively and raises an interesting point proposing funding mass transit development with voluntary contributions. That I would gladly donate much more than $25 per year and that (s)he would willingly donate time to organizing and collecting speak volumes about how dysfunctional our system is. We private citizens--I assume M is also a private citizen--wanting nothing more than for our elected and appointed officials to get out of the way so we can take care of our county should prompt serious reflection on all our parts.

[Raul]

The one thing I am not sure of is how much money tourists would bring in with this proposed tax. They are not mentioned in anything I've read so far, but I am pretty sure they spend a decent amount on restaurant meals, souvenirs and other taxed items and services. I don't know if an additional tax would affect these people to the point where they would not vacation here any more and how significant their contributions are to the quote of "$25 per person per year".

M, I believe there are sales taxes in Europe that eclipse the proposed 8.75% tax. I doubt a half cent sales tax will cause a tourist to second guess buying tchotchkes and eating out.

[Dana Gabbard]

Channel 58 will be rebroadcasting the Supervisors' meeting tonight, Wednesday, August 6, beginning at 10:00pm, for those who want to see it for themself.

[M]

Ism, why won't we set up some sort of system where everyone can directly give $25 into a fund to use for public transportation, voluntarily and bypass the whole elected official stuff and the cost of either a lawsuit or an additional election. If so many people already want the public transportation, getting the money shouldn't be an issue. I'd personally volunteer some of my time to help with the organization and collection efforts if that was needed. I'd do that way before I'd vote yes for a new tax. Some of us already use public transportation, pay our fares every single time we step onto a train or bus and pay our taxes and would like to see things improved because we already experience how limiting depending on public transportation can be. If people stop working in these regions because of transportation issues (and I am sure that already happens, but I don't know when or if that data is captured anyplace), employers would probably be willing to help out with this in some way as well.

The one thing I am not sure of is how much money tourists would bring in with this proposed tax. They are not mentioned in anything I've read so far, but I am pretty sure they spend a decent amount on restaurant meals, souvenirs and other taxed items and services. I don't know if an additional tax would affect these people to the point where they would not vacation here any more and how significant their contributions are to the quote of "$25 per person per year".

[Kymberleigh Richards]

What no elected official other than Zev Yaroslavsky has said in public session is that transportation projects should not be ranked in terms of population, but rather by where that population needs to travel.

I wonder if the Antonovich/Molina/Knabe triumverate has done any research as to where their constituents are commuting to, and whether they are stuck in traffic at the non-San Gabriel Valley/South Bay end of their commute?

It would be interesting, would it not, to see how many of their districts' residents are commuting to the Miracle Mile, Century City, or the Westside and would welcome the Purple Line extension. I'm sure those residents are already thinking they voted for the wrong person as their County Supervisor (and if I were a member of the triumverate, I'd be a little more worried about the next election).

[Dan W.]

Ism,

That was incredibly well stated. Thank you.

[lsm]

Those who live in and those who must commute to the Westside or Downtown easily see how Mr. Knabe, Ms. Molina and Mr. Antonovich sold them out today. The myopes rejoicing that they neither live nor work in these gridlocked neighborhoods, however, should think long and hard about how these three irresponsible supervisors have also sold them out over a tax estimated to cost us about $25 per person per year.

We are much more interdependent in LA County than we like to admit. For better or worse, the Westside and Downtown are the economic engines driving our region. Failing to invest in vital transportation infrastructure to serve these engines will only ensure our gridlocked and smog choked region will become ever more loathsome to employers offering desirable jobs; these employers will relocate their desirable jobs to regions (such as the Bay Area) having the foresight to make these necessary investments. Tomorrow, when those of you who "live in the County, not the City" face steadily declining payroll tax revenues, falling home values and worsening air quality, be sure to take a moment to remember how your support for these feckless supervisors slit the throats of all of us throughout LA County. Perversely, the regional recession these supervisors will achieve will slow congestion, but at a cost which will prove unacceptable to all of us.

Those who point out that a county sales tax is not the best way to fund these necessary transportation investments are of course right. Unfortunately a county sales tax is the only politically feasible way to fund these vital investments today. If we were not so woefully behind in our investment, we could afford to delay until more appropriate funding could be developed. We simply do not enjoy that luxury.

Those who complain that approximately $25 dollars per person per year is far too much to pay for this vital investment are penny wise and pound foolish. The price we and our children will all pay for failing to make this investment will be orders of magnitude higher than what we are niggardly shirking.

This county sales tax is far from ideal, but it is necessary. I will do whatever I can to prevent these three supervisors who today tried to deny us an opportunity to vote our way out of our current transportation morass from ever again winning any elective office.

[Freedom for Taxpayers]

Kudos to Molina in killing the proposal.

Snoble needs to shut up and stop hiring consultants in finding ways to cram this sales tax down our throats.

Stay out of our wallets, MTA figure out your budget and be prudent in your spending habits.

[John von Kerczek]

We should start a campaign where commuters stuck on the 10 or Wilshire Blvd mail Molina, Antonovich, and Knabe their receipts for the gas they've burned and time they've wasted stewing in Westside traffic. They should demand to be reimbursed because of these supervisors dereliction of duty. LA needs to clean house of these provincial clowns if it intends to be anything other than a 21st century Detroit. (No offense, D, but sometimes ya gotta take one for the team)

[Morgan Wick]

Getting a real mass transit system built in LA is so convoluted, so complicated, so politics-driven, so subject to grandstanding and redirection, that I hope the voters throw out everyone involved with this debacle on both sides.

While you're calling Molina, Knabe and Antovich, don't just tell them to support mass transit. They already nominally do - they just want as much money for their little Gold Line pet project as possible. (Wait, isn't the Gold Line extention supposed to be really cheap?) Tell them the Purple Line will benefit everyone in the county, certainly those who work on the Westside, and you can see through the "equity" facade to see that their pet project is no example of "equity" within the SGV but is just a way to help the rich get richer.

[Live in the County not the City]

I live in the County, not the City. Why would I vote to pay taxes to support LA traffic woes, because the City allowed the Westside to be overbuilt. I moved from that headache, maybe the people on the Westside need to confront their City leaders about getting relieve. I would like to have my traffic woes relieve as well, but the question has to be asked is the tax good for the County or just one particular area of the City. I moved out of the City, because the dumb leaders they have there lead without vision. Until I see these so call leaders start spendind my tax dollars like they care about the people, my answer is no to every County tax proposed. Someone needs to take a look at Antonio Villar at the amount of money he is suddenly in charge of, the gangs money, the schools money, the transportation money, the City money and nothing is getting better in LA. I say right on Mike Antonovich!! Keep on protecting your constitutes who do not live in LA City.

[Kymberleigh Richards]

Others have said what I would, so I would like to advocate that we (especially those who live in their districts) also thank Supervisors Yaroslavsky and Burke for their leadership in realizing that our region's mobility problems are not going to be solved without an influx of funding that does not presently exist.

Zev Yaroslavsky:
(213) 974-3333
zev@bos.lacounty.gov

Yvonne Burke:
(213) 974-2222
seconddistrict@bos.lacounty.gov

[Eric G]

Sorry, I disagree with all you people. Our 8.25% sales tax is already way too high. There has to be a better way to fund transportation projects than to increase taxes on unrelated items like general household goods and restaurant meals. Increasing the fuel tax is a better idea. That would also be very unpopular, but at least it makes sense if the money goes towards transportation issues.

Thanks for posting the links to the supervisors sites. I'll enter a thank you note of support.

[Dan W.]

The whole Board of Supervisors needs an overhaul. Who's bright idea was it to allow a county of 10 million people be governed by a fused executive/legislative board of only five people anyway? This isn't Colusa County.

We need an elected county legislature and a directly election county executive instead, as Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester Counties have in New York. A County Executive could advocate for the needs of the county as a whole.

----------------

It is a pretty dark day for Los Angeles County. I don't expect any better from Antonovich or Knabe. However, Gloria Molina knew better. I hope she's happy now that she's getting her revenge for the Eastside not getting a subway, but a "lousy" light rail instead. (a "lousy" something that every neighborhood in Southern California will increasingly want for themselves.)

Well, now no one will get anything. The Gold Line moves way to the back of the line, and there will be precious little grade separation on the Expo Line.

[Carolyn]

These Supervisors are making too much money, since they cannot relate to the high gas prices and the need for more/better public transportation. Let's put their salaries at minimum wage until this bil passes.

[Dan W.]

This just defies logic. Now Molina, Knabe and Antonovich can have a greater percentage of nothing.

[Matthew]

I am terribly disappointed. I thought LA really had some momentum behind it with this tax measure. These three supervisors' names will go down in history along with General Motors, who ripped LA's streetcar system out in the first place.

Shame on them! Get Old LA out from government positions. They don't reflect the populace, whether in a recession or not.

[Scott Mercer]

I will work tirelessly to make sure that Gloria Molina LOSES her next election.

[Dan]

I you have not already, please e-mail these supervisors with your disappointment - especially if you live in their district. I have received several responses from my e-mails in the past. They need to know that their constituents are not happy with their vote. Especially this crazy vote which simply wastes our money since they all knew the MTA would sue if it did not get supervisor backing.

molina@bos.lacounty.gov
http://www.knabe.com/askdon/askdon.html
Antonovich: FifthDistrict@lacbos.org

[Donny H]

So let me get this straight. Antonio puts out a County sales tax measure that needs 2/3rds County support, but doesn't take amendments from three of the County Supervisors who represent 60% of the County population?

Sounds like Antonio didn't think this through very well.

[jeremy]

anyone who is appalled by the actions of the county board please, do us all a favor, write your representative an email.

its about as hard as making a comment here and they will see how pissed they have made this county

Supervisor Molina:
molina@bos.lacounty.gov

Supervisor Knabe:
http://www.knabe.com/askdon/askdon.html

Supervisor Antonovich
http://antonovich.co.la.ca.us/contactus/contact.html

[Stacy Lumbrezer]

LA desperately NEEDS this subway! It will benefit ALL who leave their homes and want to avoid traffic. This is the ONLY tax I was going to vote for in November.

Come on, how often do residents protest a tax being voted down?!

The supervisors need to put their squabbling aside and REVOTE to put this on the ballot!!!!

[LKitsch]

Regardless of one's opinions of the board and individual supervisors, for political reasons, I'd be willing to bet lunch that the transit tax is toast.

This demonstrates the lack of consensus and super-majority support for the tax. I can tell you from practical experience, you really want to have NO major opposition and no controversy in order to get to the 2/3 threshhold you need for any tax to pass.

This is based on the fact that there is always 25-30% of the voters who will never support taxes, even for motherhood and apple pie. That number will possibly be higher in light of the bad economy and the strong possibility that the state is going to raise the sales tax statewide by 1% in order to cover its budget deficit, resulting in the sorry scenario of asking LA voters to approve a local sales tax of almost 10% if they were to approve the MTA tax.

It might get 50%, but not 2/3.

[Steve]

This is ridiculous - whether right or wrong to raise taxes for a major public works project, let the masses have their say, not a small handful! I’ve already fired off my complaints and have included contact info for the Supervisors in Question below. Hope you join me in giving them an earful.

S

molina@bos.lacounty.gov
http://www.knabe.com/askdon/askdon.html
http://antonovich.co.la.ca.us/contactus/contact.html

[Dana Gabbard]

If Molina, Knabe or Antonovich is your Supervisor and you disagree with their no vote call their office and let them know. Staff keep a tally on the opinions residents of the district call about. A lot of calls can shake up their complacency.

Gloria Molina - (213) 974-4111
Don Knabe - (213) 974-4444
Mike Antonovich - (213) 974-5555

[Frank]

This is absurd! It's time for new blood in LA leadership. These backward politicians are and will drive LA into the ground. Do they not realize the need for public transportation? Do they not realize that gas is 4+ a gallon? and is only going to get worse. It's time to get real and face our issues now!

[Bart Reed]

The Transit Coalition has long endorsed the viewpoint that Los Angeles County needs to save itself, as we are not getting money from the state or federal government to build or fund the transportation we so vitally need. Sadly, 3 supervisors don't want the public to have a crack to see if they want to fund improvements. Kenneth Alpern, TTC President wrote about this the other day in CityWatch respectfully asking that the Supes act as adults. http://www.citywatchla.com/content/view/1471/75/ If you are outraged, simply pick up the phone and call the offices of Gloria Molina, Don Knabe or Michael Antonovich. Tell them you want a chance to vote this up or down and not waste taxpayer funds on a separate election. Democracy is about choice, not elected officials acting to deny you any choice.

[David Raether]

The LA County Board of "Supervisors" is a better name for it. Put the last word in quotes.

They haven't supervised the county's health care system for years now.

Why should we expect them to supervise an improvement in the county's transit system?

What a joke these people are!

[Raul]

I can't believe how petty and short-sighted Molina, Knabe and Antonovich are. I just came back from a weekend in SF and marveled at how comparatively efficient and useful their public transit is compared to ours. Sure, Bay Area residents have their gripes with Muni and BART, but if they get a taste of what we have here, they'll consider themselves lucky. It took me two hours using the Flyaway and the Metro to get home from LAX last night. It took me all of half an hour to get to my hotel from SFO. Now I'm ranting, but I can't believe that much needed funds are being blocked out of sheer pettiness. I am from West Covina and my family still lives there, and I don't see how the eastside is getting the shaft from the Metro proposal. It is fair and equitable. It may seem that the city gets most of the benefit, but in truth it will benefit everyone.

[Darrell Clarke]

Talk about opponents shooting themselves in the foot: With no sale tax there's no Eastside extension past Atlantic for Gloria Molina, no Foothill Gold Line for John Fasana and Mike Antonovich, and no increase in operating funding for the BRU's supporters. On the ballot finally or not, with "leadership" like this what are its chances of passage in November?

For contrast, be sure to read Ken Alpern's CityWatchLA column this week, "Time for the County Board to Act Like Grownups" ( http://www.citywatchla.com/content/view/1471/75/ ).

[LAX]

You have got to be kidding me. Please tell me the LA Times will be naming names with their cover story on this sham tomorrow.

[Jose]

My contempt for the board of supervisors grows day by day. For a gang that does not seem capable of getting ahead of anything that is under their control, to avoid yet another opportunity for the citizens of the county to actually have a voice in how things go in the future is just imbecilic.

All the talk about putting it on a separate ballot is just that - talk. It is apparent that they have no plan for how to deal with the traffic in this county, and just don't care enough to even try alternatives.

Nero is fiddling madly in Elysium, trying to keep his position ahead of these buffoons, but losing ground steadily.

[eclexia]

I'm a resident of Molina's district. I can't express how furious I am with our representative for blocking this. Maybe it's time for a "Don't shop in District 1" consumer boycott campaign.

[Jimmy]

What a joke. This is why this country will never get it's head out of its you know what. The people are suffering from air pollution, aggravation, and are wasting their lives away sitting in traffic. They want the sales tax increase to at least do something to expand mass transit, and the "big boys" in charge shoot it down. Is there really any hope for LA/other big cities/the country in general?

[Dana Gabbard]

What a fiasco of childish parochial grandstanding (you can beat Antonovich's whining about equity is code for more money in his district). We desperately need leadership in this region, and it is obvious that isn't what we are getting from the Supervisors...

[Lawrence]

The LA board of supervisors is ridiculous. So their position is what? If we don't get enough money for projects in our district we're going to shoot it down so nobody gets any money and transit continues to suck in Los Angeles! Way to go supervisors - you really showed em! Glad to see you impeding the progress of America's second largest city.

L.A needs better transit and it needs it now. All of these people who resent paying for projects that aren't in their district fail to realize that we already pay for freeways and road improvements throughout the county even if we don't all use them. We do it because we know its important regionally. The same holds true for public transit.