Villaraigosa in D.C. seeking support for faster subway, transit funding

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa was back in the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday wearing a "30/10 for L.A." sticker as he made the rounds to build support for federal help to speed expansion of the region’s transit network, including the subway to Westwood.

The mayor already has picked up a key ally, Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), in his effort to get Washington to provide the Los Angeles region with assistance -- perhaps federal help in paying interest on loans or using federal stimulus money -- so that projects now expected to take 30 years could be built in 10.

Boxer’s support is important because she chairs the Senate committee that will write the next big federal transportation bill. Her staff and officials at the U.S. Department of Transportation are looking at ways the federal government can help Los Angeles -- with or without legislation.

"What we’re saying is let us do over 10 years what we were going to do over 30 years, and bring the jobs faster," Boxer said at a Capitol news conference attended by Villaraigosa and a delegation of business and labor leaders from Los Angeles.

Villaraigosa, who appeared before Boxer’s committee last week to testify in support of federal-local partnerships to speed up transit projects, acknowledged that asking Washington for more money at a time of massive federal budget deficits is a "very difficult proposition."

He said the Los Angeles region isn’t coming to Washington with its hands out, but rather offering to put up billions of its own dollars from Measure R, a half-cent sales tax approved by Los Angeles County voters last year. The program is expected to raise $40 billion for mass transit projects, including extension of the subway to Westwood and extension of the light-rail Gold Line to the San Gabriel Valley. The mayor’s office estimates the projects would create 166,000 jobs, mostly during the construction phase.

When he was speaker of the state Assembly, Villaraigosa said in an interview, "Everybody would come with their hand out. I would always tell people, 'Hey, I’d get more excited about your program if you’re putting up your own money.' "

In an effort to win support for the initiative, Villaraigosa and Boxer said the 30/10 plan could serve as a national model.

"This is the template, not just for L.A., but for what every city, county and state ought to do in these times -- put up their own money, make the investments, create the jobs that we need right now and get the added value of cleaning the environment and reducing congestion," the mayor said.

The mayor may need to spend more time with Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.). Caught by a reporter in the Senate subway, Feinstein said she wasn’t familiar with the mayor’s plan and suggested that the effort could run into resistance.

"The line is long for money from the federal government," she said. "And no one looks at the debt, and no one looks at the deficit."

-- Rich Simon from Washington

Comments

[Astonished]

You know, if this idiot stayed home and attended to business instead for galavanting around, the City wouldn't be facing a crisis right now.

No, wait! I have a better idea. Washington can keep him and will solve the problem ourselves.

[Get_Lost]

Villar, do every LA resident a favor and stay in D.C. were better off if your there.

[Joel Epstein]

So exciting to see the energy building around 30/10, a plan that will help LA reverse the errors of the past transitwise. A day in LA's traffic should convince anyone of the need for 30/10. Angelenos should be out in the streets rallying in support of the plan!

[Responsible citizen]

Again, these right wing idiots, radio talk show addicts are showing up again on this great message board. I have a better idea. Stop reading this great newspaper and go back to your radio talk show programing. At least someone is trying to bring jobs and not jabs to this city.

[Travis]

I visited Los Angeles for the first time in January, and thought your subway was great, but too limited! The proposed expansion sounds great -- hope you get the help to get it done! (I'm from D.C. and I know first hand what happens if you underfund public transit...)

[judicata]

Why is it that when anyone has the audacity to complain against this bad Mayor, they get called names and are accused of being conservative right wing idiots! I voted for the Mayor and I'm not a conservative, but I can tell you this: I will regret voting for this nut job til the day I die. He has ruined Los Angeles. And I agree with those who say he should stay out of state, albeit DC, fine with me, just stay away from L.A. If he didn't spend L.A. into the ground we would have had all the money we need for transit and other fixes. NOW he wants to raise our water and power fees to cover up his incompetence. When's his term UP!!!

[Andre]

In the future, cities with the fastest, most efficient rail systems are going to be the most economically prosperous cities. There is an enourmous economic cost to having workers spend the better part of their day going to and from work. Villaraigosa has this one right, for a change. I wish him the best of luck. L.A. really needs a FUNCTIONING subway system.

[Jack Humphreville]

So we borrow against future tax revenues. Appears we are mortgaing the future.

[S.S. Sam Taylor]

Simply put, Antonio is doing the right thing. It is really sad that Feinstein remains so clueless. She ought to get briefed by her LA staff every so often. Transit in Los Angeles has made major leaps in the 5 years of Antonio in the lead. When that loser Jim Hahn was in office, there never was any City of LA leadership working the Halls of the Capital. What an incredible change.

[Alika]

Now, this trip I can get behind. Get our transit on the fast track, Mr. Mayor! (And get us those jobs, too!)

[Concon]

This right-winger fully supports public transit expansions! I pray that more light rail lines will be built throughout the county and not just concentrated in LA.

[r. russell]

This guy could sleep with half the city, but if he ever gets a functioning rail system working in Los Angeles, he will forever be a saint in my book!

[Rick]

Im not a big fan of the mayor,but,as a MTA employee,I appluad this,as this will hopefully help us expand our current and proposed rail extensions.Good luck getting the funding though.Get as much as you can,and help bring jobs back to Los Angeles!

[MegaChannel]

I am glad this is happening. Lets give Toni some credit, this will benefit everyone in L.A., and those who come from around the globe. As one who has been strapped to Downtown L.A. the last three years due to not having a car, its nice to know that one day I may live where I please, even IF I chose not to own an auto. Go Toni! I've got your back on this one. Good job on the East Side Extension! Lets see more succsess like this!

[Al m]

THANK YOU MAYOR. CONSTRUCTION WORKERS NEED JOBS TOO. IF ENOUGH PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO GET BACK TO WORK, THINGS CAN START TO GET BACK TO NORMAL.

[mindee]

The person who said the right wing nuts/ rightwing talk radio zombies are clogging this message board and others, to oppose this plan, is right. What a bunch of dummies - and WHY does anyone listen to old codger Jack Humphreville who weighs in here with his usual "just say no" attitude?

Of course we needed this subway extension decades ago - it was conservative homeowner groups and the same "right wing nuts" who were afraid "those people" would find their way across town and pressured our reps from then councilman, now Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, Congressmen Waxman & Berman and the feds to actually KILL the subway extension and any funding for it to our city. Using excuses from methane gas to whatever they could find - with the Latinos of the Eastside weighing in claiming it was "elitist" for this subway to go through the westside to the ocean, which just happens to be among the most congested, commuter corridors in the state!

Something Diane Feinstein would do well to realize - she sounds like an out-of-touch San Francisco area "elitist" of the worst kind herself. The mayor's office SHOULD have shmoozed her and gotten her into the "loop" however.

Good for Boxer for "getting it." Let's hope LA finally gets its fair share to make up for the decades when every other city got our share.

[2 cents]

"The mayor may need to spend more time with Sen. Dianne Feinstein"

eeew - that's a creepy thought

[J.H Brown]

SS Sam Taylor:

The city is in bad shape since the Mayor took office. The city council has been the Mayor's rubber stamp. He has taxed more than any mayor for his pipe dreams. He is always in a hurry to do something, and he never finishes what he starts. His term was devoted to his life, and not his family or LA. He is not going to DC to help LA as other mayors have done since this mess started. The Mayor goes to DC speed up the timetable for his monument to himself. The Mayor has been out of the city more than he has been here. Keeping the city from going bankrupt is more important than his pipe dream to the sea. It took him less than 5 years to bring down LA, and you think he is doing a great job. It is a good thing your job does not depend on his because you would not have a job. Feinstein is not clueless she knows he never finishes anything he starts, and does not do his home work.

Hahn took the state bar, and passed it. The Mayor took it 4 times, and has not passed. He is the looser, and his career is DOA. The Mayor can thank himself for his career being DOA in CA, and I hope anywhere else.

[JDRCRASHER]

J. H Brown, this funds much more than just the Purple Line Subway Extension; this funds projects all over the county and is has enough merit to be worthy of support from Washington.

[p.f.stone]

Mayor Villaraigosa - we are still waiting for your answer to one question.

Why Al Checci?

[Angeleno]

Mayor V. disappointed me during his first term for being a candidate who would talk the talk and an elected official who could not walk the walk. He deserves accolades, however, for his 30/10 effort. If successful, 30/10 will not only allow us to benefit from an additional twenty years of an integrated transit system. It will also generate jobs locally when they are sorely needed and allow us to save several billion dollars thanks to currently depressed construction costs. We should do all we can to support his efforts in Washington to help us build a better LA County.