Brianna

Well…I’ve been to quite a few contentious transit meetings myself 😢

As a dietitian and medical student, reading the list of competencies has me 🤨🧐🙃

My university, known for being a leader in nutrition and lifestyle/preventive medicine, is not listed 👍

They regularly do this.

The governance of this agency needs to seriously be studied!

They don’t even do “2nd reading and final adoption” on votes.

Metro lists fare opportunities, including raising base fare to $2-$2.50

Discussion of what is and isn’t Metro’s core functions - how funding these has impacts on transit operations. Non-core stuff mentioned: bike, Seed school, homeless outreach. [no mention of costs of Metro Micro, park&ride - much less highways - the latter generally separate non-ops-eligible funds]

I like how I can look at these bikes and name exactly who they belong to @southbayforward.bsky.social 💗 🚲

To celebrate partnership and the role of advocates, our folks showed up in blue @southbayforward.bsky.social tees and bikes and got in all the photo ops ☺️

The City of Torrance is hiring a Public Works Director.

The city needs a forward-thinking leader in this role to move the city from car-oriented to multi-modal.

Please share! Let us know if you apply! www.governmentjobs.com/careers/torr... #publicworks #engineer #transportation

RB city council approved an AB 2011 project that was initially denied at Planning Commission for bogus health and safety (read: parking) reasons.

Discretionary approval bc site is in Coastal Zone. Apparently there are several more AB 2011 projects in the pipeline. bsky.app/profile/sout...

Jesse Welles Come for the songs, stay for the songs

Jesse Welles is a good one youtube.com/@hellswelles...

found out today that the boy whom i placed ghost bike for many years ago had been taught by my kids' principal when she was doing her student teaching & that she had enjoyed seeing the potential in him. she was disappointed to learn that the driver had never been arrested/charged.
#Bikesky

Lane Miles Added to the State Highway System • 214 lane miles were added (0.4% growth) • Most lanes were funded by Multi-funded Non-SHOPP projects • Most new lanes added to the SHS were HOV and GP lanes • The Inland Empire and Sacramento region had the highest concentration of added lanes.

CA has massively expanded highways in Sacramento and the Inland Empire while underinvesting in transit. We need to build regional rail for Sacramento and electrify the San Bernardino Line to give residents a REAL solution to crowded freeways.
catc.ca.gov/-/media/ctc-...

AB 2011 is getting results! And in the coastal zone! 49 new 1-3 BR condo units (including 8 affordable).

Thanks @thewrongalex.bsky.social for the thread, comments, support letter, and engagement on the project! 💪

Statement & Open Letter on Metro Board Vote — South Bay Forward We thank the thousands of South Bay residents and stakeholders and the 15+ organizations representing over 35,000 members in our coalition who joined to support South Bay transit at the LA Metro Board...

Read @southbayforward.bsky.social Open Letter: www.southbayforward.org/blog/stateme...

The Metro Board sided with anti-Metro neighborhood groups over their own staff and a coalition of 15+ grassroots organizations. Hold them accountable to this decision. Demand governance reform.

Local politics completely hijacked this project. I am still recovering and I am not ok. Reform the Metro Board and keep all eyes on the South Bay.

All 3 complete streets projects that the City of LA received funds for, but did not execute, were in flood-prone areas. LA portion of Wilmington is between Lomita Blvd to the N and the Harbor to the South. Several seasonal waterways
bsky.app/profile/awal...

Public hearing now closed, Obagi now speaks to say he was elected on an anti-density platform and cites his work in fighting development and laments state housing mandates. Urges people to push for state reps who will not force “towers” on Redondo. And now moves to grant the appeal.

🙄

Ninth is @thewrongalex.bsky.social. Says he isn’t paid by developers as a planning commissioner had asked him, then encourages city to be a leader in building housing for the future.

I give up

Mayor Light now starting to note his concerns. Worried that units may stay vacant because another new project isn’t full. “High density doesn’t always help house people.” Also worried about impacts on street parking and coastal access “despite what staff and coastal commission says”

Project’s land use attorney (Elisa Paster) now speaks. Notes:
-PC’s denial failed to comply with objective standards required to deny
-Coastal Commission and HCD noted project must be approved
-affordable units are needed in South Redondo
-project is named in city’s recent draft Housing Element

The Redondo Beach Planning Commission composed of “environmentalists” & “transit advocates” denied an AB 2011 project in the coastal zone, near frequent bus lines, in part, bc it did not have enough parking.

The project is being appealed at city council now. Watch: www.youtube.com/live/9v8OW64...

We are at Redondo Beach City Council tonight hearing the applicant’s appeal of the denial of a coastal development permit for this 49-unit project. Staff is introducing the project now. Follow along…

Bass helped Raman win reelection. Now Raman wants to unseat her. Some call it 'a betrayal' Raman’s last-minute run for mayor has shocked the city’s political elite and infuriated Bass' supporters. Some observers called it a betrayal of Shakespearean proportions.

Perfect framing of how LA’s political elite view things: elections aren’t for giving voters an opportunity to choose on the future of their city, county, or district; they’re for rewarding loyalty to the establishment machine.

www.latimes.com/california/s...

From 2017 and onwards (but likely since at least 2009) opposition to ROW grew in the form of homeowners groups: No on ROW, Right of Say. Used every tactic in the book to sow fear, distrust, lies, & deception.

What enabled opposition to breed? Delays, deference to politicians, & patchwork funding.

- 2017 Supplemental Alternatives Analysis
- 2021 NOP for DEIR, again
- 2023 DEIR studies ROW vs Hawthorne
- 2024 Board selects Hybrid ROW as LPA
- 2025 FEIR refines LPA
- 2026 Board overturns staff rec & prior decision to approve Hawthorne for FEIR
- 2028 NEPA & Caltrans review
- 2045? Opening?

South Bay K/C/Green Line Extension to Torrance (4.5 mi light rail):
- 1993 Metro purchases Harbor Sub ROW
- 1995 C Line Redondo station opens
- 2009 Alternatives Analysis project on ROW as priority
- 2010 NOP for DEIR, pauses for lack of funding
- 2016 Measure M passes, includes this project

The added irony here is that state legislators in blue states virtually always have far more policy resources at their disposal than those in red states. But in my experience, they don't produce better policy; they just bureaucratize the process and produce small-c conservative legislation.

I’d heard this was coming. I’m so disappointed and angry. I and others spent hundreds of hours developing project scopes and doing engagement for transformative work. LA needs to get its budget priorities in order so Public Works and DOT can function together the way they should.