I know it seems as though this election has been going on forever, but the end is in sight. A week from Tuesday, America will vote on a new president, California will vote on a new Senator and Los Angeles County will decide the fate of Measure M.

But today, #DamienTalks with South Pasadena Mayor Diana Mahmud about the proposal. South Pasadena, its newspapers and many of its loudest activists either opposed or stayed neutral on Metro sales tax proposals in 2008 and 2012. But this time, the newspapers and City Council are unanimous in their support for Measure M.

In this podcast, we basically ask Mahmud, “why?”

I’ll be honest with you, the conversation took a turn I didn’t expect. Mahmud talked openly about the privilege South Pasadena has as one of Southern California’s first cities to have a rail station. She then pivoted to the need for the city to “pay it forward” by supporting a tax to help other cities in Los Angeles County experience the benefits of having a rail station at the center of town.

Maybe I’ve been covering the ugly fight over development in Santa Monica for too long, but to hear someone argue that it was their duty to help everyone achieve the privilege that they have was refreshing.

#DamienTalks is supported by Foothill Transit, offering car-free travel throughout the San Gabriel Valley with connections to the new Gold Line Stations across the Foothills and Commuter Express lines traveling into the heart of downtown L.A. To plan your trip, visit foothilltransit.org. “Foothill Transit. Going Good Places.”