Enemies Mark Ridley-Thomas, Bernard Parks Unite Over Metro Light-Rail Funding Along Crenshaw/LAX Route

By Dennis Romero Mon., May 23 2011 at 11:40 AM

Mark Ridley-Thomas wants Crenshaw/LAX elements worth $400 million.

Metro has the cash to build two crucial elements of its Crenshaw/LAX light-rail line, even though there's been some foot-dragging about going forward on the MTA board.

The cash can be found, according a Metro analysis released last week. In fact, $2 billion dollars has been identified for only $400 million worth of work.

A rare alliance of local African American leaders, including political rivals Mark Ridley-Thomas of the county Board of Supervisors and city Councilman Bernard Parks, as well as U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters, U.S. Rep. Karen Bass and L.A. Councilwoman Jan Perry, have signed on to a campaign to get the elements built. Some of them were scheduled to meet with Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa at noon today.

Villaraigosa controls four votes on the MTA board, enough, ostensibly, to get these things built -- or not.

The features include a stop at Leimert Park Village, which would cost $131 million, and an 11-block, underground tunnel along Crenshaw Boulevard for $269 million, according to Ridley-Thomas' office.

An MTA board vote on the funding proposal, brought forward by Ridley-Thomas, was scheduled for Thursday.

The MTA cash that could be raided includes "$585 million in low-priority improvements to existing subway stations," according to Ridley-Thomas' office.

An ad in the Los Angeles 'Sentinel' newspaper.

"The need for a Leimert Park Village Station is obvious - a Crenshaw Corridor rail line must include the most prominent cultural center on its route," Ridley-Thomas said. "... Not making these investments also has a great cost to the cultural and economic life of both the immediate community and greater Los Angeles."

Other supporters of the Crenshaw/MTA features include Bishop Charles Blake, activist Damien Goodmon, Rev. William Smart, state Sen. Curren Price, state Assemblywoman Holly Mitchell, and state Assemblyman Mike Davis.

Tags:

Bernard Parks, Crenshaw, light rail, Mark Ridley-Thomas, Metro, MTA, Villaraigosa

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Michael Figueiredo

I just want the line to be built already! It will be great to take a train from West LA (via the Expo line) to the Crenshaw line to LAX.http://struxtravel.com

Bob L.

The Stealing of My Tax Dollars. Here we go again with our politicians wanting to STEAL money away from other projects that we, over 68% of the voters who approved Prop R from all regions of Los Angeles Counted who voted to improve all modes of transportation for ALL OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY. This half-mile section and station are not needed, especially since the extra funds are not there. We have to realize that we are not denying the area of rail, not the quarter of a billion dollars it will cost when the line is finally constructed. The money can be used for other projects, hopefully ones that will help me out as I grow even older. The proposed ridership for this line is way less than the lowest light rail line in Los Angeles. Yet we don’t want to improve the dingy existing subway stations that would benefit the approximate 100,000 subway riders for the 22,500 projected riders on the Crenshaw line. Why when there are no valid arguments the argument becomes a race issue. Will the community itself pay for the extra cost or do I suffer by not getting any improvements that will help me? Where are the facts and figures to support their unjustifiable arguments? Remember, a house divided against itself will not stand, we are seeing this daily as the U.S. is becoming a third world nation with all our special interest requirements that has driven us, the USA to the poorhouse. Just because the money is there does not mean it has to be used for this project. Should we save it for a rainy day? Lets look at the whole transportation issue and not micro-manage every little projects, like we see some Metro and Expo Board members do. We don’t need a BMW when a Ford will still get us around. This is an example why California is in the financial problem it is in today, politicians that don’t look at the bottom line and at the expense of others, they show their selfishness and carelessness when spending limited tax dollars for their own self-interest.

AKW

I am surprised that the Black Panthers are not supporting this unecessary station andblocks of subway. Since it will be underground no one know it is there. Ridership will be poor on this line. This will be the first Politicialy Correct line that MTA has built. And I might add the most expensive Light Rail Line in California and perhaps the U.S.

akw

Gee

Title for the First Politically Correct line goes to the Green Line, which was built for destorying all the neighborhoods the 105 replaced.

Bob L.

Was it the Green Line that destroyed the neighborhoods? Was it I-105 as such? Or was it the neighborhood itself with I-105 and/or the Green Line taking the blame? But what does the Green Line or I-105 have to do with the Crenshaw Line in Leimert Park anyway. Take a look at Metro's "The Source"http://tinyurl.com/art2markSee both sides of the story and why it is legally impossible for this "I don't care about anyone else but me" to get get the funds transferred. Bob L.