ANTONOVICH GOING TO WASHINGTON TO MEET ON REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION & ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION

 

 

 

       

 

PRESS RELEASE

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

   April 30, 2010                                                                                                     For Immediate Release

 

ANTONOVICH GOING TO WASHINGTON D.C. TO MEET WITH FEDERAL OFFICIALS ON REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION & ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION

 

LOS ANGELES COUNTY -- Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich will be in Washington D.C. next week to advocate for a newly revised 30/10 initiative to accelerate regional highways, transit projects, and public-private partnerships funded by Measure R.

 

Last Thursday, an amendment by Supervisors Antonovich and Ridley-Thomas was unanimously approved by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Board of Directors adding highway construction and improvements, and regional transportation solutions to the 30/10 plan.  According to the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation, Measure R highway projects will generate 341,500 jobs, $46.3 billion in economic output and $15.1 billion in earnings.

 

Antonovich will also push for measures to reduce the devastating impact of illegal immigration on local government including the adoption of a bonded-guest-worker program, cooperative medical clinics, and electronic identification verification.

 

The annual cost of illegal immigration to Los Angeles County taxpayers exceeds a $1.5 billion, which includes between $350 and $500 million for public safety, $500 million for healthcare, and $550 million in welfare and food stamp allocations.  Roughly 25% of Los Angeles County’s jail population is illegal, and 24% percent of the County’s total allotment of welfare and food stamp benefits goes directly to the U.S.-born children of illegal aliens.

 

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