EPISODE 108 – MIKE BONIN ON RACIST LEAKS AND NEVER RETIRING FROM THE WORK

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L.A. City Council Member Bonin and yours truly discuss a range of things: The racist L.A. City Council leaks. The fight against his office’s work to expand transitional housing for unhoused people in Venice beach. The Los Angeles Police Union’s efforts to recall Bonin. The passage of measure ULA (or a tax on transfers of residential and commercial real estate in L.A. valued over $5 million to support renter’s assistance programs; other tools this measure provides the new L.A. City Council. The L.A. City Council’s Transportation Committee and Bonin’s time on the L.A. Metro Board; the path towards fareless transit, the expansion of L.A. City Hall over the next few years and how it might be phased out, and more. Another can’t-miss episode for the people of Los Angeles and a great way to acknowledge Council Member Bonin’s years of service for communities in the city.

J.T.

December 1st, 2022 L.A. Metro Board Meeting Agenda, Item 50

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In Metro’s own words:

“The modified fare restructuring recommendation (Attachment B) includes fare capping, fare pricing changes, and additional fare policy elements to simplify the fare structure and maximize the benefits of fare capping for Metro customers. The final staff recommendation is based on consideration of public input via mail, email, stakeholder outreach, and the public hearing. If these changes are adopted, the result will be a system where no rider ever overpays, and our most frequent riders pay less.”

METRO-12.1.22-FARE-CAPPING-FARE-CHANGEDownload

In the words of Oscar Zarate, Director of Building Equity and Transit for SAJE (Strategic Action for a Just Economy):

“I urge you to reject the fare restructuring proposal and commit to achieving universal fareless transit. During the majority of the pandemic, buses were free to use for all riders, relieving the majority of Metro riders of their second-highest living expense behind the rent…The majority (70%) of Metro’s funding comes from local sales taxes. L.A. County residents, including me, already pay for public transit. Instead of adding to transit riders’ already burdensome cost of living and instead of maintaining an expensive and unjust fare collection and enforcement system, Metro should be universally and permanently fareless for everyone.”

J.T.

EPISODE 106 – OSCAR ZARATE ON CANCELLING L.A. METRO FARE HIKES AND ABOLISHING FARES ALTOGETHER

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Oscar Zarate and I hop on a call to discuss an upcoming L.A. Metro vote on changes to the fare system proposed by the agency, which L.A. Metro board members will vote on at their upcoming meeting on Thursday, December 1st at 10:00 AM. The agency changed its original proposal the very day of this discussion following consideration of various transit advocacy organizations’ input via public comment, including Strategic Action for a Just Economy’s, which is holding a rally for the upcoming vote at 9:00 AM on Thursday, December 1st near Union Station. In order to ensure that Metro’s new proposal passes, riders need to attend the virtual meeting and hold the board members accountable; see the agenda HERE; learn more about Metro ridership HERE, and sign the petition for equitable transit policy HERE. Surprise guest Alissa Walker of LA Podcast also joins us and boosts our chat tons!

J.T.