Los Angeles is at a crossroads. Just four months after embracing transit as an aspect of a more urban Los Angeles, a major ballot initiative and a number of candidates are targeting how we’ll grow as a city.
Will we be a sustainable urban oasis that supports the safety of all residents, regardless of transportation mode or ability? Or will we stagnate as a sprawling city defined by its congestion, wary of newcomers, and exclusive to all but the wealthy?
Bike The Vote L.A. embraces a more equitable and livable Los Angeles, and endorses those candidates who will help lead us there.
2017 Los Angeles Primary Election day: Tuesday, March 7, 7am-8pm
2017 Mayoral Candidate Grades: http://bit.ly/btv2017mayor
Find your L.A. City Council District: http://neighborhoodinfo.lacity.org/
Find your polling place: http://lavote.net/locator
List of candidate forums: http://bit.ly/btv2017db
UPDATED 4/28/2017: NO ENDORSEMENT IN L.A. COUNCIL DISTRICT 1
For the past decade, Joe Bray-Ali has been a fixture across Los Angeles, pedaling his bakfiets cargo bike from Northeast Los Angeles to the Westside, advocating for safer streets and better access for children to schools and parks. He led the first community group meeting to bring awareness to the pedestrian and bicycle safety needs of North Figueroa Street (later called “Figueroa for All”) at his bike shop Flying Pigeon in 2009. Since then, he has been a tireless spokesman for livable streets, voicing his concerns at City Hall and in various public forums, as well as organizing countless all-ages bike rides to encourage Angelenos to enjoy the benefits of traveling by two wheels. Now a candidate for City Council, Bray-Ali offers an approach informed not only by his organizing, but also by a focus on the importance of safe streets as a backbone for strong and connected communities.
As Los Angeles moves forward as a leader on immigrant rights and as a defiant sanctuary city under a racist Trump administration, the need to work together to protect and improve the lives of all residents – especially immigrants – becomes that much more critical. We appreciate Bray-Ali’s commitment to elevate community voices as a necessary change from the norm. Knowing that his hands-on approach will lead to supporting a stronger community, Bike The Vote L.A. endorses Joe Bray-Ali for City Council District 1.
[ Click HERE for Bike The Vote L.A.’s original CD1 endorsement ]
[ Click HERE for Bike The Vote L.A.’s statement on this race ]
ENDORSEMENT: BOB BLUMENFIELD FOR L.A. CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 3
Running unopposed for his second term as L.A. City Councilmember, Bob Blumenfield has been a consistent advocate for walking and biking in Council District 3. Councilmember Blumenfield hosts an annual “Bike with Bob” ride to highlight bike infrastructure and improvements, now in its fourth year. As a strong ally in advocating for active transportation in City Council, Bike the Vote gladly endorses Bob Blumenfield for CD3.
ENDORSEMENT: JESSE CREED FOR L.A. CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 5
Jesse Creed has been a breath of fresh air for the 5th District, having articulated a strong vision for making it safe for Angelenos of all ages, abilities, and travel modes to get around, recently expanded on in a December 2016 op-ed for the L.A. Daily News. In his response to our questionnaire, Creed showed an impressive commitment to the safety of the most vulnerable users of L.A.’s streets, calling attention specifically to the challenges facing seniors and youth.
We are excited to see Creed emerge as a prominent challenger in the Council District 5 race, and we look forward to seeing him provide the leadership needed to work toward safer and more sustainable transportation alternatives for all of the district’s residents. We endorse Jesse Creed as an outstanding leader who will help Council District 5 to realize its full potential.
ENDORSEMENTS: MONICA RODRIGUEZ, FRED FLORES & JOSÉ CASTILLO FOR L.A. CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 7
With 20 contenders vying to represent the 7th District, the race is destined to continue into a May runoff. Rodriguez, Flores, and Castillo each offer their own unique strengths and commitments to improve the quality of life for residents of the San Fernando Valley. Bike The Vote L.A. endorses Monica Rodriguez, Fred Flores, and José Castillo for City Council District 7 in the March primary.
ENDORSEMENTS: JORGE NUÑO & ADRIANA CABRERA FOR L.A. CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 9
Two home-grown community advocates offer a cause of optimism for South LA: Jorge Nuño and Adriana Cabrera. Each candidate offers a thoughtful and bold vision for transportation in the 9th District and beyond, and each recognizes the importance of active transportation as a component of household economics for those without access to cars.
ENDORSEMENT: MIKE BONIN FOR L.A. CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 11
Representing Los Angeles’ Westside, Councilmember Mike Bonin has been a stalwart leader on moving Los Angeles toward becoming a more multi-modal City; and in ensuring quality and safe infrastructure for those who get around by bike, on foot, and by using public transit. Bike The Vote L.A. is honored to endorse Mike Bonin for re-election to the City Council in District 11.
ENDORSEMENT: MITCH O’FARRELL FOR L.A. CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 13
In his response to a 2013 questionnaire from the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition, then-candidate O’Farrell explained that, “We need to dream big” in order for “LA to become known for biking the way Berlin, Germany is.” We have appreciated O’Farrell’s leadership – both as a Councilmember and, prior to 2013, a staffer for then-Councilmember Eric Garcetti – in getting Mobility Plan 2035 adopted and implementing bike lanes in Virgil Village and on Fletcher Drive in Glassell Park, in addition to an all-directions scramble crosswalk at Hollywood and Highland. Nevertheless, if we are to dream big, we would like to see more from him over the next 5½ years to prioritize safety and promote active transportation.
As a candidate who has demonstrated an understanding of the benefits of a more walkable and bikeable City, Bike The Vote L.A. continues to see great potential in O’Farrell. With the hope that he will foster an atmosphere over the next council term in which safety drives decision making, Bike The Vote L.A. endorses Mitch O’Farrell for City Council District 13.
ENDORSEMENT: JOE BUSCAINO FOR L.A. CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 15
Buscaino’s commitment to prioritizing safe streets and encouraging sustainable alternatives to driving has been strong and nearly unwavering. In 2013, Los Angeles Streetsblog asked, “Is Joe Buscaino the Next Bill Rosendahl?” After Buscaino co-authored a series of bills aimed at L.A.’s hit and run epidemic, including a yellow alert system and standing rewards to help identify those responsible, Streetsblog answered their own question by awarding him a Streetsie as 2015 Elected Official of the Year.
With this outstanding track record, Buscaino is the right choice to lead continued efforts on neighborhood safety, livability and vitality. Bike The Vote L.A. is proud to endorse Joe Buscaino for Council District 15.
ENDORSEMENT: NO ON MEASURE S
As a group that cares about the overall livability, accessibility, and equity of our city, we see smart and sustainable development as something to be welcomed and harnessed to ensure that it benefits and protects existing residents and sustainably accommodates newcomers. Like another recent anti-growth ballot measure in Santa Monica that we opposed, we believe Measure S – with its draconian restrictions – will only make housing prices, traffic congestion, and social inequity worse. Bike The Vote L.A. urges a “NO” vote on Measure S.
[Click HERE for Bike The Vote L.A.’s full statement in opposition to Measure S]
ENDORSEMENT: KRYSTAL PADLEY FOR PASADENA CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 5
Krystal Padley is an exciting and promising candidate to represent the District who has clearly communicated that the status quo of dangerous streets is not acceptable. She has made Vision Zero a key element of her platform, focusing on improving the safety of Pasadena streets, while also working to increase the mode share of active transportation to improve Pasadena’s air quality.
[Click HERE for Bike The Vote L.A.’s full Pasadena CD5 endorsement]
ENDORSEMENT: ANDY WILSON FOR PASADENA CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 7
Andy Wilson is the only candidate with an established track record on safe streets issues in Pasadena’s District 7. Andy Wilson has the potential to become a champion for safer, more vibrant and multi-modal streets in the City of Pasadena, and has deservedly earned Bike the Vote’s endorsement for Pasadena District 7.
[Click HERE for Bike The Vote L.A.’s full Pasadena CD7 endorsement]