Sales tax proponents ask Legislature for their support

I just returned from Union Station, where on a roasting pit of a train platform, about a dozen elected officials this morning called for the Legislature to pass a bill that would allow a half-cent sales tax increase in Los Angeles County to be placed on the Nov. 4 ballot.

The increase, if approved, would create a pool of $30- to $40-billion for road and mass transit projects, including $4 billion for a subway extension to the Westside.

Some highlights:

++When I asked the mayor to name names of those holding out in the state Senate, his response was: "I think you know the individuals in the Senate appropriations committee who have spoken their opposition. In our ordinance we have provided more money for the projects that they want. What they said is they want more and we can't do that." We've been reporting for the past week that Sens. Jenny Oropeza and Gil Cedillo are the holdouts and both hold key votes on the Senate's Appropriations Committee, where AB 2321 looks to face judgment day tomorrow.

++"The problem in Sacramento is that there are some who want to engage in the pork barrel politics of asking for even more money than has been distributed for their pet projects," Villaraigosa added later.

++"I think the people are way ahead of their representatives on this issue," said County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky. "I'm not worried about the politicians opposing it."

++Using several maps and visuals, the mayor also said the sales tax revenues would be spent on an equitable basis when factors such as employment density and need are taken into consideration. "On the Westside, there are four times as many jobs than there are homes and people."

++Councilman Bill Rosendahl made a point of saying the Green Line addition is part of the MTA's spending plan for sales tax revenues -- Oropeza wants it in the state bill, too. And, Councilman Richard Alarcon said he now supports putting the sales tax on the ballot. He voted against it last week, saying he had questions since answered about whether busway projects in the N.E. Valley would be adequately funded.

++Two key labor leaders said they were closely watching the the Appropriations Committee vote. "I think this is a real litmus test for them," said Marvin Kropke, chief of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 11. "If you're wrong, you're going to suffer the consequences," said Richard Slawson, executive secretary of L.A. and Orange Counties Building & Trades Council. By which he meant that unions may not support Cedillo or Oropeza in their next elections.

++Finally, and I thought most interestingly, Councilwoman Wendy Greuel had a line that I bet most people will overlook. "It's not about politics, it's not about personalities," she said.

I'll explore that idea more later.

-- Steve Hymon

Photo credit: Steve Hymon / Los Angeles Times