All individuals concerned about the future of Wilshire-area communities should be aware of an important transportation decision that will be made in the coming weeks. The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority is in the process of studying transportation alternatives for Wilshire Boulevard that will pick up where the subway leaves off at Western. This decision is one that will have impacts for generations to come.
On Friday, Feb. 4, consultants hired by the MTA issued their recommendations to the MTA board for alternatives to undergo further study. Their recommendations, they claim, came from months of meeting with community organizations and receiving input on, as they put it, “locally preferred alternatives.”
What they recommended was more a justification for the MTA’s pet project, a dedicated Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, than a true representation of the community’s wishes. In fact, nowhere in the report was reflected the Wilshire community’s input.
The Wilshire Advocates Coalition is an organization made up of the key business, residential and community groups stretching from Wilshire Center to Miracle Mile. Not one person among us, nor among other Wilshire Community groups, supports this bus line. We know what it will do to our communities that we have spent millions of dollars and hundreds of hours improving and beautifying.
The report issued to the MTA outlines the environmental issues associated with the BRT, citing: 1) Traffic diversion loss of two lanes (one lane each direction); 2) Access and circulation significant loss of left-turn lanes; 3) Parking loss of on-street parking; 4) Impact to north/south traffic; and 5) Impaired access to local businesses.
In addition, the engineer who delivered the report to the MTA board said that the BRT would mean they would have to “effectively rebuild the middle of Wilshire Boulevard.” This is not an option we can or will live with.
The Wilshire Advocates Coalition, in numerous meetings with MTA representatives, asked that a monorail be studied as a transportation solution for Wilshire Boulevard. Monorails are proving themselves to be fast, clean and cost-efficient transportation options in cities around the world. The MTA has completely ruled out even studying this alternative.
If community input is not going to be taken into consideration in the MTA’s final decision, then we have one final piece of input: Please take your funding and put your dedicated bus elsewhere. It doesn’t belong on Wilshire Boulevard!
GARY RUSSELL
Executive Director
Wilshire Center Business
Improvement Corp.
Physicians’ Pay
Although physicians’ salaries may not be what they used to be (“L.A. Physicians’ Plight,” Jan. 17), they still far exceed the compensation paid to teachers, who still for some reason remain one of the lowest-paid professionals.
I would like to believe that physicians chose medicine for the same reason that teachers still choose education; not merely for compensation but because of a passion and dedication to their profession.
As the proud parent of an elementary school child who is part of the public school system, I am continually in awe of the dedication and passion of so many of the teachers who provide one of the most important services to our society and provide the beginning education for some of our future physicans.
Physicians’ salaries still afford them a very decent lifestyle in comparison to the ridiculous compensation paid to those who are guiding our most precious resources. Thank God we still have wonderful teachers who continue to teach without being compensated what they are worth, which is priceless.
FRANCYNE FARAONE
Santa Monica
Rampart Editorial Hit Target
Bravo. Your editorial on Rampart, “Is Anyone Outraged” (Feb. 21) was right on target. After weeks of asking the same question, I began to think that I was the only person in Los Angeles who had any visceral response to the situation. I was particularly upset by Mayor Riordan when I heard him respond to a television reporter’s question about the scandal. He stated that the Rampart scandal would have no “material” effect on how the LAPD is run. Hello! If lawlessness and cruelty on the scale of Rampart is not sufficient to cause some alarm, what would merit a “material” change in policy?
There have been a few surprises. I note that former Chief Gates expressed indignation about the events, but virtually every element of the community has been silent. I applaud the Business Journal for its recognition of the true nature of the problem. If it can happen to “them,” what protection do the rest of us have from police abuse?
JONATHAN GREENSPAN
Attorney
Agoura Hills
