Metro’s new Regional Connector, festivities in South L.A., and the V.V’s all get a plug for this one. Pass the word along to your friends and fam, Los Angeles!
J.T.
EPISODE 114 – L.A. CITY COUNCIL MEMBER HARRIS-DAWSON ON KAREN BASS, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND LAPD’S TRAFFIC STOPS
L.A. City Council Member Marqueece Harris-Dawson (@mhdcd8) discusses Karen Bass’ new Inside Safe program, Measure HHH ($1.2 billion dollars for homeless services), affordable housing, Renter’s Rights to Counsel in L.A., getting LAPD off traffic stops in L.A. since it disproportionately affects Black and Brown communities, and more.
I also had a great time going through our lighting round, inspired by the MHD Off the Record Podcast, in which we go over some of the Council Member’s favorite movies and memories through the city.
Also, remember to submit your voicemail to the new J.T. Weather Report!
Here are the four easy steps to take when calling into the hotline:
I. Choose an interesting nickname for yourself to keep your anonymity.
II. Tell me which side of The City (or County) you’re calling from.
III. Tell me how you’re liking the weather, or if you’ve seen anything interesting through it like a downed power line, fallen tree, a pack of opossums, etc.
IV. Keep it under a minute! This helps us tune in to more reports rather than less.
***And if you’d like to keep your number anonymous as well, did you know that pressing *67 before you dial a number keeps your number blocked? That’s right!
Submit your voicemail to the J.T. Weather Report at (213) 458-5042.
For more of these updates and then some, follow J.T. the L.A. Storyteller on Apple or Spotify, then rate and review us!
And if you’d like to tune into the show from elsewhere, please see our RSS feed here: https://jimbotimes.com/category/podcast/feed/
J.T.
December 1st, 2022 L.A. Metro Board Meeting Agenda, Item 50
“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.”
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 71 – ALEX CONTRERAS FIGHTS FREEWAYS IN DOWNEY
In our 71st episode, we chat with Alexandria Contreras (@alexfordowney) (they/them pronouns), a queer, non-binary Latinx freeway-fighter in Downey. Alex and I have a magnetic conversation on the white and exclusionary origins of single-family housing in cities like Downey, and how local laws there continue preventing the construction of affordable housing for a new generation of residents. We also discuss how Alex took their experience growing up in the suburban community to launch a campaign for Downey’s City Council. Alex also describes forming the Happy City Coalition, a coalition of gateway cities in Southeast Los Angeles formed to stop Metro from displacing communities in the interest of more freeways. To keep up with their work, follow Alex on Twitter at @alexfordowney.
J.T.
EPISODE 68 – METRO’S NEXTGEN WITH KENNY UONG
In our 68th episode, we chat with Kenny Uong, a Junior undergraduate student studying Metro and Urban Planning at Cal State Northridge, and one of the most recognizable figures for the urban planning community in Los Angeles today. Kenny and I discuss the roots of his passion for all things Metro, the importance of bus-only lanes for transportation service, Metro’s NextGen rollout, and more. See if you can keep up with Kenny’s various adventures via public transpo on Twitter at @_KennyUong_.
J.T.