Supervisors opposed MTA sales tax measure

 

 

SUPERVISOR MICHAEL D. ANTONOVICH     Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, 5th District     869 Hahn Hall of Administration ~ 500 West Temple Street ~ Room 869     Los Angeles, CA 90012                                          www.antonovich.com

       

 

PRESS RELEASE

Contact:  Tony Bell, Communications Deputy    Office:  (213) 974-5555   Cell: (213) 215-5176    E-mail:  tbell@bos.lacounty.gov

 

 

August 12, 2008                                                                                              For Immediate Release

 

     BOARD APPROVES ANTONOVICH AND MOLINA MOTION

TO OPPOSE MTA'S ½ CENT SALES TAX MEASURE

 

LOS ANGELES COUNTY – On a 3-2 vote, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a motion by Supervisors Michael D. Antonovich and Gloria Molina to oppose the MTA’s proposed sales tax increase for its failure to distribute transportation dollars equitably. 

 

“Mayor Villaraigosa’s backroom tax scheme is Robin Hood in reverse,” said Antonovich.  “It takes from the poor and gives to the rich.  It forces County cities and unincorporated county taxpayers to fund the multi-billion dollar subway-to-the-sea.  The solution to our regional transportation crisis can only be achieved if developed by all parts of the County and includes vital transit needs.  The San Gabriel Valley and East Los Angeles Gold Lines need to be completed, as does the Green Line to LAX and the EXPO line.  Ignoring the Burbank Media District and a rail line to the Burbank Airport is wrong.  Ignoring the transportation needs of the Antelope, Santa Clarita and San Fernando Valleys is criminal.  Fighting to place the tax increase on the November ballot is a stupid waste of taxpayer money and is doomed to fail.”           

 

Over the 30-year life of this sales tax increase, the Antelope and Santa Clarita Valleys will double in population and make up 11% of the County’s population, yet will receive only 5% of the project funding.  The San Gabriel Valley and Gateway Cities each have nearly 20% of the County’s population, and generate nearly 20% of the County’s sales taxes -- yet both areas were shortchanged hundreds of millions of dollars.  The San Fernando Valley represents over 15% of the County’s population but will only receive 5% of the total project funding -- depriving Valley residents 2/3 of its fair share of funding.”

 

 

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