The ABC's of a New Transportation Tax: Accountability, Big Picture, and CredibilitY

GETTING THERE FROM HERE-Rightfully so, the advocates for a "Measure R-2" are evaluating new methods, ideas and paradigms to getting a 2/3 majority of voters to support a potential 2016 ballot measure that would create yet another sales tax to pay for the transportation projects and betterments that Southern California ignored for decades. 

Such an endeavor almost passed by less than a single percentage point two years ago, and it's hoped that there were "lessons learned" from that failure--which, it should be noted, had over 65% of those voters approving an extension of the Measure R sales tax.  

Voters, taxpayers and commuters are all the same people, and these people are US...and we're sick of tougher commutes, and want more options.  

But the same challenges that existed before persist today:  such a new tax demands that our current and future policies enjoy greater Accountability, embrace a Big Picture to include all residents, and strive for greater Credibility than ever before. 

Accountability is a problem particularly relevant to the City of Los Angeles, where new City Controller Ron Galperin is employing a straightforward but courageous approach to a more transparent and cost-effective city government--and who isn't afraid of taking on "sacred cows" like the DWP and its union, the IBEW. 

Without this accountability, the questions of "where is the money we're spending now?" and "where did the money go that we already allotted to transportation?" will remain unanswered, and it's certain to drag down an electorate that's already pretty tapped out with respect to taxes and personal budgets. 

As both the residents and neighbors of the future Wilshire Subway and Crenshaw/LAX Light Rail Line encounter noise, tree removal and other huge, everyday impacts, it's understandable that efficiency and quality will be demanded. 

Ditto for those transit users who are seeing their fares go up to pay for the operations and service they need to get to work, errands and other destinations on a daily basis. 

The pain and sacrifice will be shared by all, so the benefits must be evident to show it was all worth it. 

Big Picture items such a countywide system of airport/rail linkages must not only include LAX (how many of us are confused that the original Measure R didn't include enough to fund that already?), but also Ontario Airport and Bob Hope (Burbank) Airport.  Furthermore, rail projects must not be the only attractive feature of a new sales tax. 

While the Wilshire Subway is a vital part of the future transportation network of L.A. County, it really sucked too much oxygen out of the room when the inevitable regional fight for funds occurred.  Yes, it helps residents and commuters from both within and outside of the City of Los Angeles, but it also appeared too "L.A.-Centric" when the entire push to the 405 Freeway was perceived to be at the expense of the rest of the county. 

The Foothill Gold Line Authority and the San Gabriel Valley, for examples, loves its new Gold Line as much as Angelenos love their new Expo, Wilshire and Crenshaw Lines, which is why Mayor Garcetti is likely to be better perceived by LA County residents to the east than was his predecessor. 

Ditto with the South Bay--get that big funding to create a REAL LAX/Metro Rail connection, and everyone will want in.  South Bay residents' and elected leaders' pleas to expedite their own light rail linkage to the countywide system and LAX were also pooh-poohed by Mayor Garcetti's predecessor (or at least they weren't properly articulated).  We can't ask the whole county to pay for something they won't believe will benefit them. 

But will motorists--and not all of them choose to drive because they don't want to use alternate forms of transportation--vote for a new sales tax if the freeway and road improvements aren't highlighted enough?  

Will these same motorists vote for another sales tax if the Expo Line and other light rail lines don't have enough parking, thereby preventing their access to the rail lines they paid for? 

There are too many transportation "purists" who view transportation and mobility as a "religion" rather than a shared investment and business where "the customer is always right"...with the customer being the taxpayer, even those taxpayers who don't think and operate the way these "purists" want them to. 

Finally, there's the key issue of Credibility.  

Credibility as in showing we can be innovative by creating a speedy and efficient bus service to whisk commuters over the Sepulveda Pass with the expensive 405 widening project that will (believe it or not) be wrapping up soon. 

Credibility as NOT emulating the "bait and switch" of the California High Speed Rail, the taste of which continues to sour in the mouths of so many voters and taxpayers, including many who voted for it and who--in theory--still favor it. 

Even in a Democratic "blue state" such as California, liberal hopefulness must be better balanced with more pragmatic realities to enjoy support from 2/3 of the taxpayers. 

The creepy megadevelopers and their enabling elected have come from nowhere to trash City laws and precedents, and are transforming neighborhoods along the Expo Line corridor in ways that no one was informed (or would believe) would happen...including those volunteer citizens who fought for the Expo Line and who are now being called "NIMBY's". 

The concerns about decreased mobility from the out-of-nowhere overdevelopment (not just reasonable densification, mind you) must be addressed, or the credibility of more taxpayer support will be dragged down by what would be an otherwise-favorable approach to more transportation spending by hopeful-but-wary-and-betrayed voters.

Credibility is, ultimately, behind the other two key issues (Accountability and Big Picture) of a timely "Measure R-2".  

Mayor Garcetti is reaching out in ways his predecessor didn't to all geographic regions of the county, but he will need to do more--and even APOLOGIZE--for past mistakes made in the interest of mass transit and so-called "transit-oriented development" that was anything BUT transit-oriented. 

Do I believe that Garcetti and the Metro Board can do what it takes to make a "Measure R" become reality? 

Yes...yes I do.  But it'll take courage beyond that of what we've seen before in order for that to happen. 

The City and County of Los Angeles is ready for more transportation spending--but the voters, taxpayers and commuters of our region will NOT be burned again, and without Accountability, Big Picture and Credibility actions taken to address their concerns, enough voters will be forced to sadly shake their heads and vote NO until their elected leaders show the sincerity and thoughtfulness necessary to achieve their trust again. 

(Ken Alpern is a Westside Village Zone Director and Boardmember of the Mar Vista Community Council (MVCC), previously co-chaired its Planning and Outreach Committees, and currently is Co-Chair of its MVCC Transportation/Infrastructure Committee.  He is co-chair of the CD11 Transportation Advisory Committee and chairs the nonprofit Transit Coalition, and can be reached at [email protected].   He also does regular commentary on the Mark Isler Radio Show on AM 870, co-chairs the grassroots Friends of the Green Line at www.fogl.us .  The views expressed in this article are solely those of Mr. Alpern.)

-cw

 

 

 

 

CityWatch

Vol 12 Issue 27

Pub: Apr 1, 2014