I lived in L.A. for eight years without a car (and you can too) | The Source

I lived in L.A. for eight years without a car (and you can too) | The Source: " Look, L.A.’s transit system isn’t perfect. But you know what? No transit system is perfect. And in my opinion, the annoyances of riding transit in L.A. are far fewer than the annoyances of driving a car in L.A. Sure, buses can be late and slow and the trains don’t run 24 hours a day. But when you’re in a car, traffic is just an unpredictable as a bus schedule (and likely the cause of the your late bus) and parking in many parts of the area is pretty much guaranteed to be a (pricey) nightmare. Not to mention,  if you’re under 34 a car accident is the most likely way you’ll die. And think about this: most would say that L.A.’s transit system is improving. Very few would say the same of traffic."

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SANDAG sprawl plan to be challenged

Media Availability: Lawsuit Challenges SANDAG’s Flawed Transportation Plan | transitsandiego: "WHY: SANDAG approved its $200 billion transportation plan on Oct. 28. The plan invests primarily in expanding and extending regional freeways, which will promote sprawl and reinforce the region’s dependence on expensive, car-oriented transportation. Plaintiffs cite growing concerns about climate change, an unaddressed need for livable, transit-oriented communities, and declining air quality in the region."

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#occupyla: We need world-class public #transit

https://www.facebook.com/occupyLA

http://occupylosangeles.org/?q=communique

Threatened Occupy LA counters mayor, buys gas masks - National Human Rights | Examiner.com: "GRIEVANCES NOT ADDRESSED"

A moratorium on all foreclosures in the City of Los Angeles. The City of Los Angeles to divest from all major banks, and money to be removed from politics.

A citywide effort undertaken to solve the homelessness problem which has led to 18,000 homeless people sleeping on Skid Row every night. Rehabilitation and housing must be provided for all homeless people.

South Central Farm to be returned to the same LA community from which it was taken, and all other vacant and distressed land be open for the community use, and money to the tune of 1 million dollars – taken from Skid Row and given to the multi million dollar NFL firm – to be returned to Skid Row.

Los Angeles to be declared a sanctuary city for the undocumented, deportations to be discontinued and cooperation with immigration authorities be ended – including the turning in of arrestees’ names to immigration authorities. 

All forms of weaponry used by multiple law enforcement officials – including, but not limited, to rubber bullets, pepper spray, verbal abuse, arrest, foam batons, long-range acoustic devices and more – are not to be used on those exercising their First Amendment Rights to petition our government for redress of grievances. We do not accept interference with freedom of the press and the public to document police actions in public spaces. We will not tolerate brutality.

We assert our right to an open plaza on the South Side of City Hall for people to peacefully assemble, voice grievances, speak freely, hold our General Assembly and come to the people’s consensus 24 hours a day if needed.

The City of Los Angeles to pressure the State to start a convention, as provided for in the Constitution, to remove corporate personhood and money from politics at a national level.

The City of Los Angeles to begin a dialogue at the State and Federal level on the issues of student debt and tuition hikes.

No cutbacks in city services or attacks on the wages, work conditions and pensions of city employees.

A world class transit system which addresses our debilitating traffic problem and restores the quality of life in Los Angeles.

Continue reading on Examiner.com Threatened Occupy LA counters mayor, buys gas masks - National Human Rights | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/human-rights-in-national/threatened-occupy-la-counters-mayor-buys-gas-masks#ixzz1ekB7oIsf

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U.C. Davis - people react to pepper spraying

http://occupywallst.org/article/occupy-uc-davis-calls-nov-28-general-strike-shut-d/

Joel Epstein: California's High-Speed Rail Mistake

Joel Epstein: California's High-Speed Rail Mistake: "This is the piece in which I out myself about California's high-speed rail mistake. Let's face it, now is not the time to be spending a decent size country's GDP on a fast train between Los Angeles and San Francisco. Instead we should be spending that fortune completing much needed regional mass transit systems for Los Angeles, San Diego, Anaheim, Irvine, San Jose, the Bay Area, Bakersfield, Fresno and Sacramento. Given the astronomical estimated cost of the high-speed rail project I doubt I have overpromised California's major population centers on the regional transit construction."

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More bottom-feeding by the 1% - taking advantage of poor public #transit

Los Angeles' Disadvantaged Population Run Over by Lack of Transit Options, Again | Adrian Martinez's Blog | Switchboard, from NRDC: "The LA Times has run a series of provocative articles on “Buy Here, Pay Here” dealerships, which according to the articles can have vicious impacts on consumers, particularly the low-income consumers that tend to use these services.  The articles can be found here, here, and here.  Overall, the stories highlight yet another predatory practice that is targeted towards low-income residents desperate for transportation to get to work or attend school to provide shelter, food, and clothing for their families.  The second story in the series highlights how some on Wall Street have invested into another market betting on people failing to make their payments—this appears eerily reminiscent of housing bets made by our banks."

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Duncan McFetridge ~ Occupy San Diego Teach-In Sunday, Nov. 6! | transitsandiego

Duncan McFetridge ~ Occupy San Diego Teach-In Sunday, Nov. 6! | transitsandiego:

• Banks are not the leaders of corruption in SD. It’s the developers in San Diego who are plundering.
• Freeway-based infrastructure is inherently unsustainable.
• We can’t do transit halfway. ‘Balance’ doesn’t work – you can’t piecemeal transit infrastructure and expect it will work. It needs to be a complete system to function.
• Auto-based society inherently isolates the young and the elderly.
• Transportation moves goods & people. Freeways only move people to sprawl subdivisions. Transit connects community & jobs.
• Bus rapid transit (BRT) is a false choice and “fake transit”: it’s designed only to move those too poor to afford personal vehicles slowly through our county, not efficiently.

Survey Shows SoCal Voters Want Investments in Transit, not Roads | Amanda Eaken's Blog | Switchboard, from NRDC

Survey Shows SoCal Voters Want Investments in Transit, not Roads | Amanda Eaken's Blog | Switchboard, from NRDC:

• Voters think expanding public transportation is the most effective way to reduce traffic congestion and air pollution (64%). Widening roads was the least popular choice (32%).

• Voters understand that smart land use planning – putting more homes closer to jobs and public transportation – is in itself a transportation strategy that is more effective than widening roads at reducing congestion.

• Four of five voters support investing in public transportation.

Transit Civil Rights and Economic Survival in Los Angeles | The Labor Community Strategy Center

Transit Civil Rights and Economic Survival in Los Angeles | The Labor Community Strategy Center: "Multi-racial, multi-sector coalition indicts LA Metro for violating civil rights of LA’s transit riders by slashing service and raising fares."

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