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Saturday, April 28, 2007

CIty Encourages More MTA Use, While MTA Proposes Fare Hikes That Will Discourage Use Among Those Who Need It Most

*****SATURDAY EVENING UPDATE******

CAPTAIN JACK SPARROW: READ MY COMMENTS FROM 7:40pm-on. The info is flying in like a NYSE ticker scroll...it's like an IM of info-dump..So check the comment section of this thread for "ZD's data dump of meaningless info. Batman Voice: (Distressed, gasping)...NEED -- MORE -- CHRONIC...to help decode...avalanche...of names, and numbers.

MTA: First of all, before the MTA rate hike info, a Zuma Dogg fan in her twenties, working at a coffee house, who takes the bus, already heard Board of Superdumassadvisors wants to turn Olympic (and other roads) into one way streets. At first when the chick complained to Big Z, I pulled out the Deming talk and reminded her, that it would improve systematic efficiency.

HOWEVER, SHE reminded ME, that if a bus is only going one way down Olympic...if you need to be dropped off from the OTHER way, you will have to take a PICO bus from the other direction, then walk the HUGE distance between Olympic and Pico -- and THAT, my friend is a bigger deal breaker than a fare hike. That is WAY too long of a distance to expect someone to add to their walk to and from the bus stop.

THANKS TO THE MAYOR SAM READER WHO CLARIFIED THIS POINT: Zuma, both Pico and Olympic would have 2 "contraflow" lanes to allow for two-way bus traffic at all times. [Yeah, yeah...that means Zuma Dogg SUPPORTS the idea of this poor man's subway to the sea!]

AND NOW, onto the MTA fare increase:

Today's LA Times reports that after a decade of being largely restricted from raising bus fares by a federal judge, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority is proposing a sweeping series of fare hikes that some experts worry will discourage commuters from using mass transit. [WHY, DO OTHER EXPERTS SAY THE FARE HIKE WILL ENCOURAGE "MORE" USE?]



The hikes would establish some of the highest bus fares in the country. The basic fare would rise to $2 from $1.25. About 87% of all MTA passengers use some form of bus or rail pass, which would see larger price increases of up to 400% over the next 20 months. [NO PROBLEM, MOST PEOPLE CAN EASILY AFFORD THAT...BUT THOSE PEOPLE DON'T TAKE THE BUS. THE PEOPLE WHO 'DO' TAKE THE BUS CAN'T REALLY AFFORD IT.]

MTA officials say that the hike is needed to help cover rising operating costs and that they have already cut 500 jobs. Without the higher fares, they say the agency would have to slash service. [OH MY GOODNESS -- THE CITY IS PLANNING IT'S ENTIRE HOUSING EFFORT AROUND THE USE OF MTA, AND THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT SLASHING SERVICE?!?!?]

But there are growing questions among transportation experts about whether steep fare increases make sense at a time when L.A.'s roads are more clogged than ever. [OF COURSE IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.]

The proposed MTA fare hike comes as San Francisco examines a radical reduction in fares to encourage more use of mass transit.

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom last month ordered a study of eliminating bus and streetcar fares to determine whether free fares would get more commuters out of their cars.

Some urban planners as well as the L.A. Bus Riders Union have proposed that the MTA sharply reduce fares — to 50 cents — or make them even free.

They argue that lower fares would encourage more people to use mass transit, reducing traffic and pollution.

NEWSOME FOR CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR!

"It really puts all the burden on the poorest, who are really relying on the bus," Anastasia Loukaitou-Sideris, chairwoman of the UCLA Department of Urban Planning, said of the fare hike.

But others worry the higher fares are most likely to drive away more affluent riders who take the Gold Line, Orange Line and Red Line into downtown from the suburbs.

A rider who has a car may react to a fare hike by saying, "Oh, forget it. I got the car. I've paid the insurance," said Brian Taylor, director of UCLA's Institute of Transportation Studies.

But without a fare increase, bus service would need to be cut by one-third, said Marc Littman, an MTA spokesman.

[THEN GOVERNOR ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER BETTER GET INVOLVED BECAUSE THE REGION IS ALREADY BURDENED WITH EXTRA TRAFFIC AND POLLUTION AS THE CONNECTOR ROAD BETWEEN THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY (OVERSEAS) AND THE REST OF AMERICA (PORTS) -- AND SCAG IS REQUIRING THE REGION TO BUILD HIGH DESNSITY HOUSING ACCOMODATIONS FOR THE SCORES OF PEOPLE FLOCKING TO THIS GREAT AREA -- AND NOW YOU WANT TO DISCOURAGE MTA USE???]

You are gonna slow down the passage of new X-Box units to Wal-Mart in Boise, Idaho and that's gonna piss off George Bush...so get some Federal help too. Because the pollution level in that 710 area is a national crisis.

THE WHOLE F*CKING CITY IS BUILDING ALL THESE HIGH DENSITY HOUSING PROJECTS BASED ON THE FACT THAT EVERYONE IS GONNA STOP DRIVING AND START TAKING THE BUS, AND NOW YOU ARE EITHER GONNA RAISE THE PRICE OR CUT THE SERVICE? Which came first in this City...the head or the ass? It's hard to tell, one is so far up the other.

37 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said:

HOWEVER, SHE reminded ME, that if a bus is only going one way down Olympic...if you need to be dropped off from the OTHER way, you will have to take a PICO bus from the other direction, then walk the HUGE distance between Olympic and Pico -- and THAT, my friend is a bigger deal breaker than a fare hike. That is WAY too long of a distance to expect someone to add to their walk to and from the bus stop.

Zuma, if you want to be a journalist, why not do some research? We all know you have nothing else to do.

If you took the time to read Zev's Report, you would know that both Pico and Olympic would have 2 "contraflow" lanes to allow for two-way bus traffic at all times.

If you want any credibility, you have to RESEARCH. It's not hard, Zuma.

April 28, 2007 11:12 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

ZUMA DOGG IS GAY??????

April 28, 2007 1:34 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Somebody, grab ZD's keyboard for a while; he's got diarrhea of the blog...

April 28, 2007 1:57 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

A gay with disrrhea?

Looks like no sex for matt this weekend...

April 28, 2007 2:17 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

No need to worry about a hot summer this year.

Our Galactic Representative, ZD (himself) has labeled every elected offical "shady", so it will be cool in LA.

How lucky are we, anyway?

This guy can trtack obscure lawsuits that no one cares about and give us play by plays.

Me. I want to see Phil Spector get a gun in his ass from the D.A.

Well, at least it keeps him off the boardwalk, and out of the City Council where he can't waste our time.

Keep up the research. ZD.

You are DA MAN!!!

April 28, 2007 3:06 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

You are a huge waste of time; why don't you go get an honest job?

April 28, 2007 3:19 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Why is city council asking for this idiot's survey? Fernando Guerra is a moron and we all know pads his surveys.
dailynews.com

...At the same time residents are concerned about gangs, however, the survey found that 75 percent also believe the LAPD is doing a good or excellent job...
"When you ask people whether soldiers in Iraq are doing a good job, you'll get a high mark," Guerra said. "When you ask if we are winning the war, you'll get very low scores.

IDIOT IDIOT IDIOT

April 28, 2007 5:53 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Antonio is raising trash fee from $22 to $26, city depts. are being cut drastically yet Antonio has more deputy mayors and staff then ever and more money was spent on his LAUSD take over and now comes the MTA. What a bullshit city we live in.

Dumb Dumb Dumb Jose. More tax dollars for illegals.
CD 14 MOTION (HUIZAR - ALARCON) relative to declaring the Youth March - Legalize My Parents
Event on April 29, 2007 a Special Event (fees and costs absorbed by the City = $10,036).

April 28, 2007 6:11 PM  

Blogger Zuma Dogg said:

11:12am,

FAN-F*CKING-TASTIC. Glad to hear it, and then I SUPPORT this fantastic idea! And thanks for the input. You don't have to be so angry about it. This is a blog, not the New York Times, give me a f-ing break! But it IS a real treat to have some actual valuable input from someone here! Gonna update the thread!

April 28, 2007 7:11 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Legalize My Parents

ENOUGH OF THIS CRAP! You ARE legal, just not here. Play by the f@#king rules, like we do in your country!

Huizar is nothing but a pandering weasel, and Alarcon is Marxist scum at its worst.

April 28, 2007 7:12 PM  

Blogger Zuma Dogg said:

6:11pm

yeah, ZD is on to the new special event fee waiver abuse scam. they took off the commercial stuff, now come up with these "community events" that funnel money into all the wrong places. SORRY CITY COUNCIL..all ZD had to do was thank council for cleaning up the "event fee abuse", and someone hits me up with the new scam. You'll see. Most of you already know.

April 28, 2007 7:20 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Way to go ZD; stick to those know nothings.

You are bringing them to their knees.

We've needed this for along time and you are the man.

Ignore the taunts; keep your eye on the ball.

They should give you a medal or something.

April 28, 2007 7:28 PM  

Blogger Zuma Dogg said:

As some of you know, I'm looking for a place to live...anyone know much about ESTRADA COURTS? I hear they are very affordable and are run by a terrific residential management company, that does a lot of good charity work in the community. I

April 28, 2007 7:40 PM  

Blogger Zuma Dogg said:

WHO SAYS THE CITY DOESN'T ACT ON PUBLIC INPUT: (Part 1 of 2)

April 25, 2007
Los Angeles City Council
City of Los Angeles Room
395, City Hall Los Angeles, CA 90012

Attention: Planning and Land Use Management Committee Honorable City Council:

The Chairman of the Planning and Land Use Management (PLUM) Committee, Council Member Ed P. Reyes, has requested that the Department of City Planning, Los Angeles Housing Department and City Attorney provide regular status update reports to the Committee on the ongoing development of policies and land-use issues related to condominium conversions, demolitions, tenant protections and related matters.

In addition, on April 11,2007, the City Council adopted various instructions (pursuant to Council File 06-1325) requesting reports to the PLUM and Housing, Community Economic Development (HCED) Committees on a varety of policy and implementation issues.

The Offce of the City Clerk has requested that a formal Council File be assigned so that any future written communications or public comments may be submitted to the offcial record. In response to City Clerk's request,

I am requesting that a regular item be scheduled on the PLUM Committee agenda in order to facilitate a weekly status report, ifneeded, and presentation of reports in response to the Council instructions of April 11, 2007, contained in Council File No. 06-1325.

Sincerely,
GAIL GOLDBERG,
AICP Director of Plaring Department of City Plaring

cc: Rocky Delgadillo, City Attorney Mercedes Marquez, LAHD Frank Martinez, City Clerk Barbara Greaves, Legislative Assistant

April 28, 2007 8:11 PM  

Blogger Zuma Dogg said:

MORE ZD TOLD YOUR ASS/THANKS FOR LISTENING (Part 2/2)

ATTACHMENT
City Council Instrctions Relative to Condominium Conversions and Related Matters

Adopted on April 11, 2007
Council File No. 06-1325 1.

Instruct the Planning Department and LAHD to utilize the ACTUAL cost of replacing a unit and other key factors as a basis for formulating a revised Rental Housing Production Fee Increase as part of a nexus study, including a report on the anticipated impact of the fees and analysis on what other cities have done;

2. Instruct the Planning Department, Advisory Agency, to adopt a new department procedure for implementation relative to the Findings on VACANCY RATE and CUMULATIVE IMPACTS, pursuant to LAMC Section 12.95.2 (f) and revised application procedures for residential condominium conversions; report back on its plan to enforce the new procedure.

3. Instruct the Planning Department, Advisory Agency, to report back on recommendations from the economic study for implementation of a long-term approach, pursuant to LAMC Section 12.95.2(f) with respect to condominium conversions and demolition / new condominium construction cases.

4. Instruct the Planning Department to organize a presentation by an expert panel (comprising other jurisdictions which have enacted an annual cap on the number of permissible condominium conversions) to attend a joint session of the City Plaring Commission and PLUM Committee.

5. Instruct the Plaring Department, LAHD, and City Attorney to report on the status of a previous August, 2006, request on the feasibility of amending the LAMC to require applicants to provide long-term lease guarantees.

6. Instruct the Planning Department, LAHD and City Attorney to summarize the various policy directives related to addressing condominium conversions, demolitions and new construction, and milestones and timelines; and to provide weekly status updates to the PLUM Committee.

Weeeeeeeeeeeee,

ARE THE CHAMPIONS, my fri-end!

And yoooooour shady condos, come to end....

April 28, 2007 8:16 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

And, it was all ZD. Forget the tenants and the lawyers tha have been working on this issue for mnnths!!

Just ZD went down there and told them to change, ...and they did!

If you believe this, I have a bridge in Brooklyn I'd like to sell you...

April 28, 2007 8:24 PM  

Blogger Zuma Dogg said:

Ever hear of Mt. Washington? ZD knows how important it is to make better use of "underutilized" land in this City. Perhaps there is some to be developed in Mt. Washington?

Here's a little history:

Mt. Washington is SPLIT AMONG SEVERAL U.S. Census TRACTS (HEY, ZD KNOWS THAT WORD!) that INCLUDE PORTIONS OF OTHER DISTRICTS, making an exact population and which CM to contribute to difficult to determine.

The Metro Gold Line light rail line passes through the district and has a station near the Southwest Museum. The Pasadena Freeway (CA-110) runs along the district's southeastern edge, adjacent to the Arroyo Seco.

Mt. Washington was founded in 1909 as a luxurious suburb of Los Angeles. Wealthy Angelenos quickly snapped up its luxurious Mediterranean Revival mansions, which enjoy splendid views of both the Los Angeles Basin and the western San Gabriel Valley.

As the hilltops were far too steep for the construction of proper roads in the pre-automobile era, the new district instead was served by a funicular railway up the hill, which had its lower terminus at a Pacific Electric Railroad "Red Car" stop. Mt. Washington was eventually absorbed into the city proper as Los Angeles grew toward Pasadena.

Like most of the East Side, the district became unfashionable to whites as Mid-Wilshire and the West Side flowered in the 1930s, and especially after the construction of the Arroyo Seco Parkway.

After World War II, it became a hot destination for middle-class Mexican Americans, who are the area's dominant population to this day.

In the 1950s and 1960s, some affluent whites also built Modernist homes in the district, similar to those found in the Hollywood Hills or Brentwood.

There are homes by Nuetra and Schindler. The district is generally considered the most affluent area of the East Side, and also contains the region's largest concentration of non-Latino whites.

In recent years, the area's excellent public schools have combined with the gentrification of Silver Lake and Eagle Rock to make the area a hot destination for those wishing to capture some of the flavor of pre-freeway-era Los Angeles.

Today, the population is mainly professional class with some involved in the arts.

As of 2000, ethnic/racial breakdown is roughly 30% non-hispanic White, 53% Hispanic or Latino of any race, 4% African-American, 11% Asian or Pacific Islander, and 2% of two or more races. Moreover, median household income was estimated at roughly $50,000 and $21,000 per capita income. Home prices range from about $500,000 to around $1,500,000

Landmarks:
Southwest Museum

Notable residents:
Antonio Villaraigosa, mayor of Los Angeles (2005-2009)
Gloria Molina, Los Angeles County Supervisor
Ed Reyes, Los Angeles City Councilman for council district 1

MAN, SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT PLACE...ANY UNDEVELOPED LAND TO BUILD ON? I WOULD MOVE THERE IN A SECOND!

April 28, 2007 8:39 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Is everyone who makes an honest buck "shady"??

I guess if you are living in a van and looking for handouts, it is natural to criticize every successful business person. Nut really, who do you think pays the freight around here?

All the bucks you want to spend for all the programs and the cops the firemen comes from the PROFITS of honest, taxpaying business people.

Not the scum that sell tee shirts and crap on the streets and pay no taxes, but the taxpaying public. The people making money (all of whom are "shady").

The creation of wealth in our society is integral to the support of social programs.

Stop looking under rocks for the shady deals, Bozo, it's just called "business".

April 28, 2007 8:56 PM  

Blogger Zuma Dogg said:

8:56pm,

Common man...you know I'm right...YOUR boss is part of it. And I think 2pac is WAY over-rated, y'all..ZD has better resonance, lyrics and overall flow. But Pac is a-ight!

April 28, 2007 9:01 PM  

Blogger Zuma Dogg said:

And evey time you, "SAY WHAT AGAIN!" -- I release another name of a community leader:

McCormack: For being a pioneer in housing development!

NOW SAY WHAT AGAIN!

April 28, 2007 9:22 PM  

Blogger Zuma Dogg said:

As some of you may know, ZD has extra time on his hands since he doesn't have a job...I'm looking for a good non-profit to go to work for as a volunteer...how's this one"

Estrada Courts
MISSION AND PROGRAMS

Mission
TO PROVIDE COMMUNITY SERVICES TO EAST LOS ANGELES RESIDENTS

Programs
COMPLETED LOW INCOME HOUSING UNDER AGREEMENT WITH COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES NOW LOOKING FOR SIMILAR NEW PROJECTS TO BEGIN.

April 28, 2007 9:31 PM  

Blogger Zuma Dogg said:

I HOPE THEY NEED ANOTHER HOME DEPOT IN THE VALLEY -- BECAUSE THEY ARE GETTING ONE!

April 28, 2007 9:35 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

The thing I dont understand is how these companies; Estrada Court and other are listed as "non-profit" businesses? That means, they pay no taxes and all of the money goes to the "poor people" who need homes, food, education; etc. Who makes a salary? How much are they paid? And if the companies dont pay taxes does that mean they dont pay to the City of Los Angeles, the Stae of California and the Federal government?

Where can I get one of those compnies?

April 28, 2007 10:18 PM  

Blogger Zuma Dogg said:

hey, was just reading about the "Taylor Yard Project." SOUNDS FANTASTIC!!! Wish I was in the construction buisness. I would love to be involved with THAT one!

April 28, 2007 10:26 PM  

Blogger Zuma Dogg said:

i heard Don Lippman's a pretty good guy!

April 28, 2007 11:04 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Vote ZUMA DOGG 4 Mayor '09. I'll say no to shady casinos that rob the soul of nearby eastside communities. I'll open a museum for the community instead.

Plus, as Mayor of Los Angeles, I will say, "NO" to the new (and possibly un-announced), HOME DEPOT project in the Valley. I hope I was allowed to say that?

April 28, 2007 11:43 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

I was looking over Connie Rice's Advancement Project, since CM Hahn's response to the report was, "Enough studies, it's time for action." And I came across their mission statement:

Mission

Help resolve conflicts by crafting public policy solutions.

So I was wondering, for all the money spent on the studies, did they accomplish the mission? (RESOLVING CONFLICTS?) If so, where? Otherwise, can we withold payment until time such services are rendered?

Oh no...ZD has ANOTHER question...

Connie Rice's Advancement Project said..."We are equity advocates with a strong civil rights bent. In the Los Angeles office, we focus on making big public systems—mostly in Los Angeles County but statewide as needed—do a better job for low income residents, especially low income children and youth. We have played major roles in shifting several billion dollars of public resources toward low income families."

EXCUSE ME...NO OFFENSE...ZD IS FOR ALL OF THE SAME THINGS...BUT I DON'T THINK A PERSON BEING PAID TO DO A REPORT FOR THE CITY SHOULD BE WALKING IN WITH A "BENT" Y'ALL...WHEN THE CITY PAYS FOR A COMPANIES ASSESSMENT OF A SITUATION, I WOULD PREFER IF THEY WERE NOT AGENDIZED/"FOR" ANY SIDE...

YIKES, IS THE CITY A SUCKER...Way to hustle the hustlas...that's big pimpin' on the realest, dough. The ink and paper you used for the report didn't cost but $5 at Office Depot. And you charged HOW much?

Huh...huh...huh..I gotta get me a W99, y'all!

April 29, 2007 12:19 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

CM Zuma Dogg said...And now, I'd like to call up for the start of out third hour of presentations, THE LOS ANGELES & SAN GABRIEL RIVERS WATERSHED COUNCIL to recognize them for their outstanding accomplishments at Taylor Yard.

April 29, 2007 12:32 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

OMG has Zuma Dogg done an amoebic split?

One was bad enough, now we have multiple ZD's running aroung with diarrhea of the blog?

Look for an overload breakdown of the Internet soon...

April 29, 2007 5:54 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

I wish someone in this city had the balls to go after all the non profits who get tons of money saying they help the community. We know that a lot of them are corrupt. They have executive directors who are pad $60-$70,000 drive nice cars and don't use the money they get for the people. Estrada Courts is a corrupt organization. So are a lot of non profits in the area. Laura Chick N Shit has been asked many times to audit all the 501.3's non profits but is yet to do it. People would be shocked to learn the corruption with all the tax payer money. Many have donated to politicial campaigns.

April 29, 2007 7:33 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Big community meetings in South LA to discuss problems.....Villaraigosa left the forum after his remarks to attend a tree-planting for Big Sunday, a citywide volunteer effort, missing most of the discussion. One of the panelists, actor and author Hill Harper, suggested the mayor should have stayed.

"It's wonderful to plant trees," he said, "but I believe the discussion we're having here is more important than going to plant trees."

Yup, Antonio doesn't have a clue what his priorities should be. By leaving early he showed total lack of respect for the people in South LA>

April 29, 2007 7:35 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

He had promised to attend the tree planting; if he had not attended, would he have "dissed" them?

C'mon, guys, give the guy a break; he works from 6:00 A.M. every morning to late each evening first in his office then attending functions and doing his job as mayor.

Now some punk is going to decide his priorities for him?

Funny, he only has an 86% approval rating in South Central LA, and a 14% dispproval. I guess the poster is in the 14%.

Question: Well, poor Antonio, how does he expect to get re-elected with those numbers?

Answer: Easily.

April 29, 2007 8:11 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

^
Yup, he's like a little hamster on a wheel; he runs really fast but goes nowhere and accomplishes nothing.

April 29, 2007 10:06 AM  

Blogger calwatch said:

Zuma and everyone else, please go to one of these meetings and speak out about the fare increase. I know that Tuesday morning is going to be tough for everyone, so please try to show up to the evening meetings held in the local communities. We need everyone's support on this.

April 29, 2007 7:28 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Isn't it fun tha Mike Trujillo spends so much time on here spinning for our Mexi-Midget Mayor?

April 29, 2007 8:33 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

ZUMA DOGG IS GAY????

HE DATES MIKE TRUJILLO

THEY LIKE TO PUMP EACH OTHER!

April 30, 2007 7:16 PM  

Blogger Stivel Velasquez said:

Jack Sparrow is a fictional character in the Pirates of the Caribbean universe. He was introduced in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) and appeared in the back-to-back sequels, Dead Man's Chest (2006) and At World's End (2007), where he was portrayed by Johnny Depp.sportsbook He is also the subject of a self-titled children's book series chronicling his adolescent years, and his character's image was introduced into the revamped theme park ride that inspired the films, both in 2006. The character has also appeared in numerous video games.
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October 18, 2007 1:01 PM  

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