Recent Streetsblog LA posts about Transit Advocacy

Transit Passes a Smart Choice for Youth, Economy, Climate

By Ryan Wiggins | Nov 20, 2013 | 7 Comments

(The following op/ed appeared in the San Diego Union Tribune earlier this month in support of a new program that will provide free transit passes for students using Cap and Trade funds. While the piece has a lot of San Diego particular information, the overall message is a good one for any city. We are […]

Metro Explores Ways to Make Commute More Comfortable for the Physically Disabled

By Brian Addison | Sep 23, 2013 | 1 Comment

If you’ve ever spoken to someone who is physically disabled—any one of the 650 million who are estimated to be living with disabilities on Earth—though resilient, there is still something a bit disconcerting about boarding a public bus. Even in a transit system that is as efficient and progressive as Long Beach Transit. And as […]

Is CEQA Reform Truly on Its Way? If It Is, Should We Be Happy or Worried?

By Damien Newton | Sep 5, 2013 | 3 Comments

California Forward released this video last November making the case for CEQA reform on transportation issues. There are nine days left in the legislative session in Sacramento, and there is still no vote scheduled in the Assembly on SB 731, Senator Darrell Steinberg’s efforts to “reform” California’s landmark environmental protection law, the California Environmental Quality […]

In Battle Over Pensions, Federal Government Lets Unions Hold Transit Hostage

By Damien Newton | Aug 15, 2013 | 9 Comments

Labor unions weren’t happy when Governor Jerry Brown signed the Public Employees Pension Reform Act of 2012. The law, which applies to government workers across the state, allows government agencies more flexibility in extending the retirement age, increase employee contribution, and halt the practice of “pension spiking” for new employees. A full summary of the […]

Dana Gabbard’s rules of transit advocacy (2000 version)

By Dana Gabbard | May 31, 2013 | 1 Comment

In 2000 the industry group for public transit agencies in California, the California Transit Association, held its Fall Conference and Expo at the Westin Hotel near LAX. I was invited to participate in a panel discussion about transit activists and our relationship with agencies, the legislature, regulatory entities etc. As a bonus I presented a […]

Memories of Julian Burke

By Dana Gabbard | Apr 3, 2013 | 1 Comment

Kudos to the Los Angeles Times for its excellent obituary memorializing former Metro CEO Julian Burke. His tenure was during the period when I actually attended Metro Board meetings. These days I figure between Steve Hymon of The Source, Laura Nelson of the Los Angeles Times and our own Damien Newton you don’t have to […]

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