Yearly Archives: 2011

State of the Union: What It Means for Transportation in Los Angeles County

This week I had the pleasure of joining officials from Metro on a trip to Washington, DC to meet with members of Congress, the Senate, FTA, USDOT, and other transportation authorities to help advocate for new Metro projects in the Los Angeles County region. While on the trip, I had the incredible opportunity to attend President Obama’s State of the Union speech. In it, the President called for increased investment in infrastructure throughout the Country.

President Obama is committed to redoubling efforts to fund important infrastructure transportation projects and rebuilding our crumbling infrastructure. In fact we have our own aggressive plan to accelerate our most important projects through our 30/10 Initiative which has us moving projects to completion in this decade.

Metro remains committed to working with both Congress and the Obama administration in the months ahead as Los Angeles County stands poised to deliver vital transportation improvement projects to this region. We couldn’t agree more that projects selected for funding be projects that are best for the economy and job creation.

The voters of Los Angeles County have voted three times in the last three decades to tax themselves in order to improve mobility in the region. Working together, we can embark upon an aggressive transportation infrastructure improvement program to meet those goals.

View some photos of my trip to Washington, DC to advocate for transportation projects in the Los Angeles region.

Despite Boeing Lay-Offs, We Will Continue to Fight for Jobs

The Boeing Company today announced that it would be reducing its workforce by 1100, with 900 of those jobs being eliminated in Long Beach.  The reductions are due to a cut in production of the company’s C-17 aircraft.

I am very disappointed to hear the news from Boeing that they will be laying off 1100 employees, the majority of whom work in the company’s Long Beach facility. Just as we are starting to see a small bounce in employment, sales tax and property tax, it is discouraging to have one of the region’s premier companies lay-off more employees.  For years, I have been lobbying in Washington to protect the C-17 program, which is critical to our national security and our ability to efficiently carry out important missions around the world, and I will continue that effort as well.  Built right here in Long Beach, the construction of these planes provide good jobs for local workers.  In these troubled economic times, the loss of any jobs is particularly painful.

County and City of Long Beach Sign Use Agreement for DeForest Wetlands Project

Supervisor Don Knabe is proud to announce that the City of Long Beach has entered into a Use Agreement with the Los Angeles County Flood Control District for a term of 40 years.

The agreement allows both the County and City to use certain properties along the east side of the Los Angeles River between Osgood and Market Streets in the City for recreational purposes. Long Beach has proposed to develop, construct, operate and maintain open space, parkland, trails and other recreation amenities in connection with the DeForest Wetlands Project.

“This is a great way for Los Angeles County and the City of Long Beach to work together to create new recreational activities in the community,” said Supervisor Knabe. “This will certainly improve the quality of life for the residents of the County of Los Angeles.”

The DeForest Wetlands Restoration Project is part of the Long Beach RiverLink, a plan to create integrated open space with improved habitat and a recreation network along the Los Angeles River that will connect Long Beach and the natural river systems. The DeForest Wetlands Restoration Project will restore 34 acres of wetlands along the lower Los Angeles River and allow native vegetation and animal habitats to thrive again. The project is a joint project between the City of Long Beach and Los Angeles County Department of Public Works.

Hollywood Bowl Shuttles Renewed For 2011 Season

Fans of the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s summer concerts at the Hollywood Bowl can continue to enjoy hassle-free trips to performances during the coming 2011 concert series.

Supervisor Knabe is pleased to announce that the Board of Supervisors renewed the popular Hollywood Bowl Park-and-Ride Express Bus Service Program, which provides bus transportation for patrons to and from 14 outlying lots across Los Angeles County.  Patrons paying cash at the park-and-ride lots pay $8 per person.

“The Hollywood Bowl is an historic venue that has seating capacity for 18,000 but only has parking for 2,800 vehicles,” Supervisor Knabe said. “The express bus service lets LA residents enjoy the Hollywood Bowl experience without the stress of driving in traffic and finding parking.”

This year marks the 38th year of the program that runs during the entire 72-event concert season from June through September.

Park-and-Ride Shuttles in the Fourth District depart from Downey, Lakewood, Rowland Heights, Torrance and Westchester.  The program is made possible in part with funding from the County of Los Angeles and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

Metro Bids Farewell to Last Diesel Bus

At a ceremony this morning, the last diesel bus in Metro’s fleet was retired, making Metro the first major transit agency in the world to operate only alternative clean fueled buses.

“Today is a great day for Metro and the people of L.A. County because it’s an excellent day for our region’s air quality” said Supervisor and Metro Chair Don Knabe. “With today’s retirement, Metro becomes the first major transit system in the world to run entirely on clean alternative fuels.  We’ve been working toward this day since 1993 and now just one look at our sky helps tell the story.  The air is getting cleaner, in part because Metro is getting greener.”

Metro directors in 1993 decided to only order clean air vehicles, an action that paved the way for other transit agencies across the U.S. to opt for greener vehicles. After experimenting with methanol and ethanol buses that proved too corrosive for bus engines, Metro, ultimately, went with compressed natural gas (CNG) engines and today has 2,221 CNG buses.

The clean air bus fleet is just one aspect of Metro’s green program which also includes widespread use of solar panels at bus maintenance facilities and other energy saving devices to cut energy costs, recycling, and building and retrofitting new transit facilities with sustainable materials and practices.

County Pushes For Expanded Subsidized Employment

Los Angeles County will pursue Federal and State funding to create subsidized employment opportunities for people who are welfare eligible and former foster youth, Supervisor Don Knabe announced today. Los Angeles County will also collaborate with local Workforce Investment Boards and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families agencies in an effort to get people back to work.

Last year, Supervisor Knabe’s 10,000 Jobs Program which utilized federal stimulus dollars, created temporary subsidized jobs for 11,000 adults and 15,000 disadvantaged youth. The program became a lifeline for many local companies and prevented people from going on welfare. More than 1,500 people were able to move into permanent, unsubsidized employment because of the 10,000 Jobs Program.

“This was one of the greatest uses of stimulus funding in our nation,” said Knabe. “This program utilized smart spending and used taxpayer money wisely, in the end, saving money. This was not a hand out, but a hand up.”

In addition to pursuing this funding, the County will send a five-signature letter to Governor Jerry Brown, President Barack Obama and the County’s Congressional delegation urging them to utilize Workforce Investment Act discretionary funds to support projects and urging them for support for funding.

What the Proposed State Budget Means for Los Angeles County

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The County is thoroughly reviewing the Governor’s proposed budget to identify how it will impact Los Angeles County services and our own budget. While I absolutely believe that services are provided best when they are closest to the people receiving them, it is imperative that with the power over these programs comes the purse to pay for them.

As such, I was pleased to hear the Governor say that the State would impart the funds for any realigned programs, many of which are the final safety net for people in need.   This must be a long-term commitment on the part of the State.

For years Los Angeles County has been prudently managing our finances and belt-tightening across all of our departments.   Despite these efforts, global economic conditions have us facing our own $310 million shortfall for next year’s budget beginning July 1.

The State, therefore, cannot pass on its budget problems to local counties and cities, many of which are facing similar fiscal crises.  We must approach these budget challenges by working together across all levels of government and party lines to find long-term solutions to funding the critical programs and services government provides

2010 Ends With Two Safe Surrenders

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe is pleased to announce the County’s Safe Surrender Program celebrated another success with the report of a safely surrendered newborn, the seventh in 2010.  This most recent safe surrender occurred on New Years Eve at a hospital in Pasadena.  On Christmas Eve a baby was also safely surrendered at Los Angeles Fire Department Station 46, near the Coliseum.  As is standard practice, both babies are in protective custody and will be placed with families approved for adoption by the Department of Children and Family Services.

“What better way to begin a new year than with the hope of life for two newborns,” said Supervisor Knabe. “As word spreads about the Program, a mother in a desperate situation can make the right choice for her baby, because of Safe Surrender.”

The New Years Eve Safe Surrender was the seventh in Los Angeles County in 2010, and the 83rd since the program began nine years ago. The program was initiated by Supervisor Knabe and approved unanimously by the Board of Supervisors in 2001. It allows someone to surrender an infant that is no more than three days old, as long as the infant shows no signs of abuse.

FTA Gives Go Ahead on Westside Subway Extension and Regional Connector

Metro Chair Don Knabe announced the great news that the Federal Transit Administration has given formal approval for preliminary engineering work to begin on the Westside Subway Extension and the Regional Connector, moving both projects a step closer to actual construction.

The Regional Connector underground light rail like will connect the metro Gold, Blue and future Expo lines, making it easier for passengers to reach their destinations without having to transfer to a bus or another train.

The notification by the FTA means that federal funding for both projects could be included in next year’s federal budget.  The FTA has also given strong indications that they support Metro’s efforts to build more quickly than originally planned. 

The people of this region have, time and again, shown their desire for public transport options – taxing themselves THREE times in the last three decades, desperate for relief from traffic and smog.  The latest was two years ago with Measure R, which will allow Metro to accelerate its transportation plans through the 30/10 initiative, speeding up execution – and allowing projects to get built faster and at a lower cost. 

Competition for federal rail project grants is extremely competitive.  The FTA’s actions underscore their confidence in Metro’s ability to deliver public transit in LA County, on-time and on-budget. 

For more information, go to http://thesource.metro.net/