you can make it happen
Friday, January 11th, 2008
Okay, Angelinos, here’s your chance. There’s been talk of expanding the underground (Metro) to the Pacific, and it looks like a measure will be added to the November ballot for this subway expansion. At the cost of half a cent tax hike, we could finally get the $7 billion addition started and take the train to the ocean. Wouldn’t that be cool?
Admittedly, I don’t ride the Metro that much and never have since I rode it as a kid on opening day, but since moving back from a carless and public transit-fueled existence in San Francisco, the boyfriend and I are trying hard to not be so auto-reliant. It’s a lot harder in LA, though the Metro bus system has improved markedly since my time in SF, and they’re still working on it. It’s no MUNI, but with enough support, it could be. Imagine on a hot day stuck inland, with the freeways clogged and the heat coming up from the miles of twisted concrete in waves, just grabbing a towel and a cooler and jumping on the Metro. Make yourself look a little beach bummy so you won’t get harassed as much, and then you’re there! If you go in a group, you can even fall asleep on the ride back and your friends will watch over you. It’s almost like being a kid again, but if you had to share your parents car with those weirdos on the street that always made you roll up your windows and lock the doors. (Can you tell my last experience on the Metro was less than stellar?) Still, don’t just go on my word. I apparently have one of those “Pick on me!” faces, and the differences between the way female and male passengers are treated are huge.
Anyway, as fun as it sounds, there is still plenty of room for debate here. While half a penny doesn’t sound like much of an increase at all, it would bring LA’s sales tax to 8.75%, tying it with two other counties as the highest in California. Ouch. Having worked at more than my share of tourist’s traps, I know how well other people have it tax-wise, so this really is a matter of “How badly do we want/need this?” Do a bit of thinking, you still have 10 months until you have to vote. But be sure to vote!
To read more about the pros and cons of connecting LA to the Pacific, go here.
