Issues

Metro Testing Free School Field Trip Program

Testing began today on the innovative new Metro Student Field Trip Pilot Program for grades 1 through 5. The test will allow L.A. Unified school field trips — students, teachers and chaperones — to travel for free on established Metro trains and bus routes during non-peak hours following authorization by both the school district and Metro. The goal is to help teachers continue to offer enriching educational and cultural experiences, even during these tough economic times for education.

For the test, schools will select from one of 10 L.A. Unified-sanctioned field trip destinations in or near downtown Los Angeles. Destinations include the California Science Center, Chinatown, City Hall, Civic Center, Central Library, the Performing Arts Center, Olvera Street, the Los Angeles Times, the Wells Fargo History Museum and the Museum of Natural History. No custom trips will be offered, nor will trips to sporting events.

“We are pleased to support the efforts of our local schools through this field trip program,” said Metro Board Chair and L.A. County Supervisor Don Knabe. “It’s essential that teachers continue to offer enriching experiences, even when money is tight. We think this program can help make that possible.”

County Accepts Youth Facilities Grant in Effort to Rehabilitate Youth Offenders

The Los Angeles Board of Supervisors approved a joint motion by Supervisors Don Knabe and Zev Yaroslavsky, creating a path towards a more rehabilitative approach to juvenile justice.

The Board accepted a $28 million grant to construct a new 128-bed camp facility  that will replace a large dormitory-style building with small cottage units, allowing for a more interactive approach between staff, youth, families and treatment providers.  The rehabilitative approach includes providing mental health, therapeutic programming and educational intervention during the period juveniles are detained.  This approach is a nationally recognized model which helps facilitate the successful transition of juveniles back into their community.

“I have long advocated for reform in our juvenile justice system and a move towards a more rehabilitative approach to working with young offenders, rather than the punitive environment we have in most of our facilities,” said Supervisor Knabe.  “We owe it to the nearly 3,000 youth we have incarcerated in our camps to provide an atmosphere and resources that give them a chance to turn their lives around and return to their community with a fresh start.”

County Seeks Constitutional Protection in State Budget Discussions

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a joint motion by Supervisors Don Knabe and Mark Ridley-Thomas to pursue a State Constitutional Amendment to secure adequate and permanent funding for any services the State moves under local control.  As part of the State’s efforts to manage its $26 billion budget shortfall, the Governor has proposed shifting responsibilities for certain programs and services to counties and local jurisdictions.

In response, the Board of Supervisors instructed the County’s Chief Executive Officer to continue working with the Brown Administration and the State Legislature to pursue Constitutional Protection that provides:

  • A guarantee of revenue that covers realigned program costs including current and reasonable growth for the first five years of realignment;
  • A guarantee of revenue for the realignment of programs for the sixth year and beyond that is at least as much as the revenue generated each year if the revenue sources from years 1-5 remained in effect, and continues uninterrupted;
  • A guarantee that the full increase in the cost of delivering a realigned program due to any State or Federal mandate, statewide judicial action, or the imposition of Federal penalties, be paid by the State for as long as counties have the responsibility for those realigned programs; and
  • A guarantee that if the State does not provide counties with revenue for realigned programs for the sixth year and beyond that is consistent with item b above, counties would be authorized to withhold that amount in property tax revenues.

“We want to work with the Governor and Legislature, but we cannot do so at any cost,” said Supervisor Knabe.  “The biggest issue is that the State cannot shift these programs to local government without funding.  Most of the services we provide are mandated by the State or Federal government and are the final safety net for people in despair.  The State doesn’t have a good track record and has historically underfunded the County for programs we deliver on their behalf and already owe us millions of dollars for similar realignment efforts. We must have a long-term guaranteed source of funding and we will seek a constitutional amendment to guarantee that protection now and beyond the five years of the Governor’s proposal.”

Metro to Purchase Los Angeles Union Station

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) today announced that it has successfully negotiated the purchase of Los Angeles Union Station from Catellus Operating Limited Partnership for $75 million, a move that sets the stage for future expansion of the “last of the great railway stations” built in North America.

The direct purchase includes 38 acres of land and 5.9 million square-feet of entitlements that provide Metro the right to build on the property and draw lease revenues from both transit operators and businesses. Currently, the station is home to Amtrak, Metrolink, Metro Red and Purple Lines, Metro Gold Line, L.A. FlyAway and numerous Metro and municipal bus lines serving Los Angeles County and beyond. The station is also home to several new retail businesses.

The purchase enables Metro to better meet the station’s current and future transportation needs. Union Station has experienced a boom in the number of transit patrons and others who travel through it on a daily basis. Use of the station is expected to experience strong growth through a combination of factors, including planned construction of the Regional Connector transit project through downtown, the future Metro Silver Line express bus station on Patsaouras Transit Plaza, a growing retail presence and future high speed rail plans for Los Angeles.

“As Southern California’s largest public transportation hub, Los Angeles Union Station is absolutely critical to the current and future mobility of our region,” said  Supervisor Don Knabe, Chairman of the Metro Board of Directors. “Our purchase of this historic station will enable us to make the needed investments to enable this facility to accommodate greater increases in transit ridership resulting from Measure R transit projects and anticipated future arrival of high speed rail. We now have the ability to retain the historic nature of Union Station and prepare it to serve as a world-class 21st century transportation hub.”

Metro’s negotiations with the seller began in November 2010. In the seller’s interest to conduct an expedited sale, Metro will purchase the station independently. The California High Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) has indicated an interest in partial ownership of the station as it continues efforts to bring high speed rail service to the region.

The income generated from the deal supports a substantial portion of the station’s purchase price. Metro already owns Union Station’s East Portal, the adjacent Metro Headquarters building and Patsaouras Transit Plaza. Not included in the purchase agreement are Axis Union Station Apartments, the Metropolitan Water District Headquarters building or the office building in front Union Station on Alameda Street.

Following an expected April 2011 closing, Metro will review the station premises and plan for future transportation and development needs. Metro will evaluate, among others, potential efforts to add and improve pedestrian flow through Union Station, parking, and bus capacity issues on Patsarouas Transit Plaza.

Due to the size of the property and accompanying entitlements, the purchase also presents new opportunities for joint development on the station’s 38 acres, which increases the potential for Metro to generate additional revenues on the developed property.

Built in 1939, Union Station is a nationally registered historic landmark.

For additional information about Metro, visit metro.net

L.A. County Fire Department to Assist in New Zealand Earthquake Search and Rescue

The Los Angeles County Fire Department’s 74-member California Task Force 2 will deploy to New Zealand to assist in the rescue and recovery efforts following yesterday’s reported 6.3 magnitude earthquake, Supervisor Don Knabe announced today.

“The Los Angeles County Fire Department is highly prepared and equipped to deal with a natural disasters,” said Supervisor Knabe. “Given the devastating events that have occurred in the New Zealand, I am proud that Los Angeles County has been called upon to share our expertise in assisting with relief efforts and helping to save lives.”

The task force was requested by the US Agency for International Development and the US Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance. The task force has already begun staging at the Fire Department’s USAR facility in Pacoima, and will be departing for Christchurch, New Zealand this evening.

Go Metro to NBA All-Star Jam This Weekend

Go Metro to meet and collect autographs of your favorite NBA players and legends at the NBA All-Star Jam Session Feb. 18 – 21 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. You’ll save $3 on admission at the same time you save on gas and parking and avoid the traffic hassle of downtown Los Angeles.

The Metro Blue Line Pico/Chick Hearn Station is just one block away from the L.A. Convention Center.

Metro customers will be able to save $3 only on Friday and Monday. To obtain the discount visit ticketmaster.com until Feb. 16 and use the promotional code METROA to save on adult tickets and METROC to save on children’s tickets. The limit is four tickets per transaction while supplies last.

The jam session will feature more than 450,000 square feet of nonstop basketball action for fans to shoot, slam, dribble and drive all day, to compete against their friends in skills, challenges or score game-changing basketball tips from NBA pros.

For complete information on the Metro system schedules and detours visit metro.net and to plan your trip go the Trip Planner or call 323.GO.METRO (323) 466-3876) and enjoy riding on Metro.

Supervisors Appoint Daryl Osby New L.A. County Fire Chief

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors today selected Deputy Fire chief Daryl Osby as the County’s new Fire Chief, succeeding P. Michael Freeman. Chief Osby has moved through the ranks of the Los Angeles County Fire Department, since joining in 1984, most recently serving as Chief Deputy in charge of Business Operations.

Commenting on the appointment, Supervisor Don Knabe said: “Congratulations to Chief Osby on his appointment as the County’s Fire Chief. We have worked together closely for years and I know that he will do an excellent job in his new role. Chief Osby has expertise in all aspects of fire administration and emergency response and his knowledge and professionalism will well serve the over 10 million residents of our County. He is a proven leader who I am confident will build on Los Angeles County’s reputation as the best fire department in the nation.”

County to Explore Public Private Biotechnology Partnerships

Supervisor Don Knabe, in a joint motion with Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, today directed the County’s CEO to conduct a feasibility assessment for developing a countywide public/private biotechnology partnership program.

Through the motion, the County will identify potential biotechnology initiatives that would bring together public and private resources and expertise at each of the five County-owned hospital campuses, similar to the LA BioMed program at the County’s Harbor-UCLA facility.  The Board directed the CEO to identify opportunities, partners  and resources, and to develop a schedule for implementation of partnership programs.

LA County’s Harbor-UCLA Medical Center is the home of LA BioMed, one of the country’s leading nonprofit independent biomedical research institutes.  Through its affiliation with the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, it has more than 150 researchers conducting studies into improved treatments and cures for cancer, inherited diseases, infectious diseases, illnesses caused by environmental factors and more. It also educates young scientists and provides community services, including immunization and childhood nutrition programs.

“We’ve had tremendous success with the LA BioMed program at Harbor-UCLA and we want to see if we can replicate that at our other County facilities,” said Supervisor Knabe.  “For several decades, LA BioMed has been an example of the power of the public and private sectors working together to both solve issues and spur the economy.  Even during recessionary times, the biomedical industry enjoys steady and rapid growth.  As the country looks at reforming healthcare, now is the right time for Los Angeles County to take the lead in public/private biomedical partnerships.”

The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists biomedical engineering as one of the fastest growing occupations in the US for the decade ending in 2018, estimating growth of 72 percent between 2008 and 2018.  Funding for biomedical research has grown rapidly, including $10.4 million in new funding for the National Institutes of Health under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

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.