Below is 2017 City Council District 9 endorsement

Jorge Nuño’s full questionnaire response to Bike The Vote L.A.:

1. What role do you see for walking, transit, and biking in the daily lives of Angelenos, particularly those who lack access to cars and rely on these other modes as their primary way of getting around?

It is no secret that the City of Los Angeles leads the world in traffic congestion. It is essential that we build development that encourages pedestrian walkability, that we update our existing transportation infrastructure to make our transportation system more safe and reliable, and that we increase safe bike lanes across the city that is accessible to points of interest, jobs, schools, and community gathering spaces.

2. Disenfranchisement and insecurity in the public space push many youth of color to seek safety and community in gang membership. How will you address these issues so that the area’s youth can play a participatory role in building a community that is safer and stronger for all?

The lack of safe gathering spaces in South Los Angeles was a major factor in the opening of the Big House. I created the Big House so the neighborhood kids could have a safe space from the gang culture that prevails in our neighborhoods, whether they use the space for homework or just to use the wifi. I want to take this model and replicate it throughout our public spaces, we can do this at our recreation centers and we can do this at our local libraries and schools. We can also partner with local business and create private-public partnerships that will maximize and leverage City funds to give our youth access to sorely needed resources.  

3. A longstanding lack of trust between law enforcement and the community has made passage through public space and on city streets rather fraught for many, especially teens and young men of color. What will you do to repair this relationship between law enforcement and the community they serve such that law enforcement can become a broadly trusted partner for CD9 residents?

We need to engage and invest in our youth, expand community policing and empower neighborhood organizations. Body cameras for example, have provided a new level of accountability and transparency between the public and the police. I believe that community policing is a strong tool in mending relationships. The Community Safety Partnership division of the LAPD is a fantastic model of community policing and as Councilmember I will advocate for the expansion of this program throughout CD 9 and South Los Angeles. A CD9 resident on the Police Commission is key in ensuring our concerns are heard.

4. Many residents in South Los Angeles lack access to cars. Of these, a large percentage, especially immigrants, depend on bikes as a way to get to work and school, but lack safe options to commute thanks to a host of factors, including prevalent speeding on city streets. Mobility Plan 2035 established “safety first” as the City’s top priority in transportation decisions. Do you support prioritizing the safety of Los Angeles’ most vulnerable commuters in implementing Mobility Plan 2035, both in CD9 and throughout Los Angeles?

So far the bicycle infrastructure expansion across the City seems to be aimed towards recreational uses, the multi-million dollar L.A. River bike path for example. I applaud the local elected officials that have championed that bike path and I am in support of safe, cycling infrastructure throughout the City but we cannot ignore the communities that use cycling as a main source of transportation to jobs. You are correct in stating that a large percentage of South Los Angeles residents depend on bikes to get to work but the build-out of the infrastructure network currently does not reflect that. A safe cycling network in South Los Angeles must be prioritized not just for recreational purposes but also for economic justice. Unfortunately, we do not have local elected officials in South Los Angeles that fight as hard for those bike lanes as other parts of the City do. I will fight my hardest to ensure that the Mobility Plan is implemented in an equitable and just way for the residents of South L.A.

5. Central Avenue has been the site of an increasing number of tragic fatal crashes over the past month, including Jorge Alvarez on December 19th and another unidentified man on December 7th. Despite high rates of injuries and deaths among people who commute by bike, Central was removed from Mobility Plan 2035’s network of streets designated for bicycle safety improvements, with the suggestion that people commuting by bike be steered towards Avalon Boulevard instead. Given that Central Avenue boasts the highest number of bicycle commuters of any street in Los Angeles, what will you do as Councilmember to ensure that people who currently commute on Central are able to do so safely?

I will introduce a plan to make sure that Central Avenue is placed back into the Mobility plan 2035 and that it is designated as an avenue that requires bicycle safety improvements. But, there is no reason why Avalon and Central cannot both be designated corridors for cycling commuters. These two avenues run through the most densely populated zip code in the country. In fact the only way we are going to ensure our cyclists and pedestrians are safe is to create a network of safe, multi-modal streets through South L.A. Multi-million dollar projects such as the ones proposed for Central Avenue, MyFig and the Slauson Active Transportation Corridor are big wins for the community but we must continue to make sure every street in our network is safe.

6. Los Angeles is beginning to employ bike share as a new transportation option, but many barriers to access remain, particularly the cost of riding and the fact that a credit card is needed to use the system. Some cities have offered subsidies to low-income riders and cash payment options to address these issues. What can the City of Los Angeles do to help as many residents as possible enjoy the benefits that bike share will bring?

Just like the rollout of bicycle lanes, the implementation of bike share in Los Angeles has largely been focused in downtown for recreational purposes. The communities of color can not participate in bike share if there is no station south of Martin Luther King Blvd. Because many of our communities live paycheck to paycheck, we must have subsidies to low-income residents.

Below is 2017 City Council District 9 endorsement Adriana Cabrera’s full questionnaire response to Bike The Vote L.A.:

1. What role do you see for walking, transit, and biking in the daily lives of Angelenos, particularly those who lack access to cars and rely on these other modes as their primary way of getting around?

As a long-time commuter, I understand the importance of reliable public transportation and street safety while biking or walking to get around. We must provide and promote an affordable & environmentally friendly alternative for our stakeholders to commute. Notably, we see that African-American, Latin-American and Asian- Americans are leading the highest growth rate in the nation when it comes to cycling as their preferred method of transportation. Thus any decision made by the City of Los Angeles to create a bike friendly community needs to consider the impact that socioeconomic status has on people who rely on public transportation as a primary mode to get around.

2. Disenfranchisement and insecurity in the public space push many youth of color to seek safety and community in gang membership. How will you address these issues so that the area’s youth can play a participatory role in building a community that is safer and stronger for all?

One of my campaign goals is to empower young people to become confident, committed, and engaged leaders in our city. Currently, 53% of our city’s budget is going towards the LAPD which limits the amount of money spend on public programs for youth. As a councilmember, I will advocate for the reallocation of five percent of LAPD’s funding to our local libraries and after-school programs to create an active environment that promotes community, culture, and places an importance on education. I support the LA For Youth Campaign’s efforts to build the following: an L.A. City Youth Development Department; the establishment of a Youth Leadership Board; and the development of 15,000 youth jobs and paid internships.

3. A longstanding lack of trust between law enforcement and the community has made passage through public space and on city streets rather fraught for many, especially teens and young men of color. What will you do to repair this relationship between law enforcement and the community they serve such that law enforcement can become a broadly trusted partner for CD9 residents?

LAUSD has established a board of education to oversee our school district. Similarly, I propose an all community control over the police elected board which will have hiring and firing power over the police. Community members have lost faith and trust in our local law enforcement due to the several fatal shootings and traumatic violence carried out by officers.

4. Many residents in South Los Angeles lack access to cars. Of these, a large percentage, especially immigrants, depend on bikes as a way to get to work and school, but lack safe options to commute thanks to a host of factors, including prevalent speeding on city streets. Mobility Plan 2035 established “safety first” as the City’s top priority in transportation decisions. Do you support prioritizing the safety of Los Angeles’ most vulnerable commuters in implementing Mobility Plan 2035, both in CD9 and throughout Los Angeles?

We will support the Mobility Plan 2035 under two conditions. First, Central Avenue must be one of the streets designated for bicycle safety improvements. Secondly, enforcement on safety first for the plan must be backed not by police ticketing but by engaging community members about the laws on the road for both cyclists and drivers. A safety first initiative supported by policing will only harm our low-income residents who rely on cycling as a primary means of transportation. Many of our residents in the 9th district are in poverty, and so ticketing is not an option for our community.

5. Central Avenue has been the site of an increasing number of tragic fatal crashes over the past month, including Jorge Alvarez on December 19th and another unidentified man on December 7th. Despite high rates of injuries and deaths among people who commute by bike, Central was removed from Mobility Plan 2035’s network of streets designated for bicycle safety improvements, with the suggestion that people commuting by bike be steered towards Avalon Boulevard instead. Given that Central Avenue boasts the highest number of bicycle commuters of any street in Los Angeles, what will you do as Councilmember to ensure that people who currently commute on Central are able to do so safely?

The current model to increase safety along Central Avenue has been based on enforcement through the LAPD and has failed to bring about any tangible results. We seek to create a model not based on enforcement but trough educational, preventive measures led by community groups in public spaces and schools. As a councilmember, I will seek to educate both cyclists and car drivers about the proper way to share the road. I will work in close collaboration with the Department of Motor Vehicles to ensure that rules such as the 3 feet for safety act (CVC 21600) become normalized as we drive around our city.

6. Los Angeles is beginning to employ bike share as a new transportation option, but many barriers to access remain, particularly the cost of riding and the fact that a credit card is needed to use the system. Some cities have offered subsidies to low-income riders and cash payment options to address these issues. What can the City of Los Angeles do to help as many residents as possible enjoy the benefits that bike share will bring?

If elected I will work with our local bike shops in my district to create their unique bike share program that stores will utilize without the requirement of having a credit card. We are mindful of the effects that Metro’s bike share program may have on small bike businesses across the district. We seek to empower local business owners by stimulating new business ideas that will increase their revenue – this is a win-win situation. As a result, bike shop owners will increase their viability in the community and residents will have access to an affordable means of transportation.

Below is 2017 City Council District 7 Candidate Karo Torossian’s full questionnaire response to Bike The Vote L.A.:

1. What role do you see for walking, transit, and biking in the daily lives of Angelenos, particularly those who lack access to cars and rely on these other modes as their primary way of getting around?

As Councilmember Krekorian’s Director of Planning and the Environment, I deal with this question quite frequently.  We need to make Los Angeles a more sustainable greener city, and that is something I have done for the last 7 years working for Councilmember Krekorian.  I was a major proponent of Measure M, which will start to take a step in the right direction to remedy our inadequate transportation infrastructure.  I am especially concerned about those who lack access to cars and alternate modes of transportation are their lifelines.  Access to transportation is a civil rights issue, and I will continue to fight for that in the City Council – which is why I have been endorsed by so many community leaders and the Sierra Club which trust my vision for this City Council District.

2. A high percentage of people without access to cars in Northeast Los Angeles, especially immigrants, depend on bikes as a way to get to work and school, but lack safe options to commute. Additionally the prevalence of speeding on L.A. streets takes a deadly toll on those who walk and bike, including seniors and children. Mobility Plan 2035 established “safety first” as the priority in transportation decisions, and the City has since adopted the ‘Vision Zero’ program with the goal of eliminating traffic-deaths within 10 years. Do you support prioritizing the safety of Los Angeles’ most vulnerable commuters, both in CD7 on High Injury Network streets like Van Nuys Blvd and Foothill Blvd, and throughout Los Angeles, even when there may be trade-offs in terms of automotive travel time or on-street parking?

Safety has to be the paramount concern when facing these issues.  I was happy after Mayor Garcetti appointed Seleta Reynolds as GM of DOT, because she was going to implement her award winning “Vision Zero” program from SF here to Los Angeles.  Council District 7 has dealt with a rash of speeding related deaths, especially in the longer more deserted stretches of roads.  I will make sure pedestrian safety is a hallmark of my administration, and will continue to fight for more funding like “Safe Routes to Schools.”

3. Los Angeles’ traffic woes are compounded by the reality that many parents and workers don’t feel safe commuting even short distances or performing school drop-offs on foot or by bike. What would you do as Councilmember to improve active transportation options around schools, public transit, and in commercial districts to provide better transportation options for CD7 residents?

We need to do a better job of implementing traffic calming infrastructure around our schools – it’s a no-brainer and it increases safety.  In addition, we need to do a better job with our DASH network, it’s a very underutilized resource and we need to make sure we plan routes that take people where they would want to go – especially centered around commercial corridors.  In addition we need to encourage more active transportation options, which includes more bike racks at schools and at major commercial hubs.  In addition, I would love to see the implementation of LA’s bike share into portions of the 7th that could really take advantage of it.

4. Angelenos recently approved Metro’s transportation funding plan, Measure M, with an impressive mandate of support from over 71% of voters. The East San Fernando Valley Corridor project – a light rail or bus rapid transit line running along Van Nuys Blvd and San Fernando Road – is set to be one of the first projects to be funded under the Measure.  How do you see this project transforming the way that people get around the 7th District; and what role do you see for first and last mile pedestrian, bike, and transit connections in the success of this transit line?

I see the East San Fernando Valley Transit Corridor project as a potential game changer for the NE Valley and the Valley as a whole.   I want to see it as a light rail project especially considering the significant transit options deficit we suffer here in the San Fernando Valley.  I also see this as a key project that will link with the Sepulveda Pass Line and the future conversion of the Orange Line to rail.  Imagine a world where it would take 30 mins to get from Sylmar to Westwood, or 25 mins from Van Nuys to the Burbank Airport.  These projects could usher in more jobs, economic development, TOD and much needed transit infrastructure in formerly blighted communities.  This would be the spine of any Valley transit infrastructure, and I will do whatever is necessary to move this project forward as quickly as possible.

5. The Pacoima Wash Greenway is a multi-modal corridor which links parks, schools, and services to the San Gabriel Mountains. This project has been in the works since 2006 and has broad community support. A portion of this project was recently funded by a state Active Transportation Program (ATP) grant receiving the second highest score; however, the funded portion is entirely within the City of San Fernando. Will you commit to work toward extending the greenway into Sylmar, Pacoima, and eventually to the Los Angeles River as called for in the Pacoima Wash Vision Plan?

Yes I will work to extend the greenway into Sylmar and surrounding areas.  I think we need to work with our neighbors, in this example San Fernando, but in others it could be Burbank or Glendale to find projects that encourage regional unity and serve to positively impact residents of the larger region.  Sometimes the City of LA can be very parochial in its worldview – we need to build partnerships and goals with other entities in the region – its makes state and federal dollars more attainable when there is a diversity of voices.   I have worked on LA River issues for the last decade professionally and this an example where I as an Urban Planner am uniquely situated to make these plans a reality.

6. Los Angeles is beginning to employ bike share as a new transportation option, but many barriers to access remain, particularly the cost of riding and the fact that a credit card is needed to use the system. Some cities have offered subsidies to low-income riders and cash payment options to address these issues. What can the City of Los Angeles do to help as many residents as possible enjoy the benefits that bike share will bring?

I think we should make it easier for resident to enjoy these programs.  I think subsidies to low income, senior and student riders is something we should definitely look at in addition to cash payment options.  I think to really make bike share successful in Los Angeles we must be strategic about where we place them.  I think they must be in areas where active transportation usage is high and in areas that are high trafficked, commercial and economic hubs.  We should also have them compatible with TAP cards to encourage more integration of multi-modal options.