Glendale councilman is new MTA chairman

Glendale City Councilman Ara Najarian on Wednesday replaced Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa as chairman of the board of directors for the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

Najarian, who has been an attorney for 20 years, was elected to the Glendale council in 2005 and served as mayor in 2007 and 2008. In addition to his three years as an MTA board member, Najarian's transportation experience includes service on the Glendale Transportation and Parking Commission and the board of directors for Metrolink.

Najarian, 48, will head the policy-making body for the third largest transportation agency in the United States. The chairmanship of the MTA board rotates annually among the mayor of Los Angeles, county supervisors and representatives from cities across the county.

-- Dan Weikel

Comments

[RAUL]

LIKE THATS REALLY GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCES

[Dan W.]

I wish him luck.

He was very gracious and generous during the Measure R discussions.

[J in Pasadena]

Give me a break! Najarian is another careless, equivocating, spineless (and in this case brainless) sellout. Did you see what he did to the young homeowner couple in Glendale? His "good intentions" fine of $350k was rammed down their throats for trimming 10 trees on their property. This guy's concept of money and spending is like a bad crack addict trying to get off 'The Stuff'. Yes, this man embraces the kind of irresponsible and wasteful thinking that makes MTA thrive. Anyone who approves of Najarian is either just plain dumb or corrupt.