VOICES-(Re CityWatch column “High Time to Hold Metro to One Person, One Vote”) Proportional representation has long been a strongly emotional catch phrase in Anglo-American politics. But the proportions are often not related to sheer population.
If only population were to be used, then there should be about 4 seats for LA City, 5 seats for all of the other cities (and best of luck allocating them "fairly"), and 1 seat for the many populated areas that are not part of any city, such as Marina Del Rey, South Whittier, Willowbrook, Florence-Graham, Altadena, East LA (which has more people than all but 9 incorporated cities), and Rowland Hts.
But why should the seats be apportioned by the number of persons living there. Transit is primarily used by commuters. Wouldn't it make as much sense to allocate seats based on the location of the labor force? Or the location of the jobs they commute to? Or should the number of transit users be taken into account?
Surely there should be some recognition of the proportional contribution to the Metro budget? About 45% of the Metro budget is derived from Sales Tax revenues. Shouldn't the areas that contribute those funds be proportionally represented?
Then there is the fact that some cities operate their own transit systems, while others depend entirely upon Metro buses for the needs of their residents and workers. How should these differences be represented?
Finally, some cities are actively working to bring additional public transit service to their residents and workers, while others are resisting or even rejecting public transit access. Should anti-transit jurisdictions who do not want service enhancements and seek to end existing service be represented equally with those actively supporting transit expansion?
I am sure Mayor Butts will represent his city, and the residents and riders of other smaller cities, well. As construction progresses along the Crenshaw/LAX LRT line, which will bring both disruption and new opportunity to Inglewood, his voice will be important, just as Mayor O'Connor's was during the Expo Line planning and development stages.
(Tim O’Connell is a community activist and lives in the Westchester area.)
-cw
CityWatch
Vol 13 Issue 2
Pub: Jan 6, 2015
