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Post by rajacobs on Apr 15, 2010 10:13:27 GMT -8
Sometimes I think that what's at stake here is "lifestyle" ...fear that's associated with adapting to something new and different ...walking(!) and becoming an integral part of the city we live in rather than passing through it high above the madding crowd in our isolated bubble inventions we call SUVs, intended to isolate and insulate us. The train is a threat, a terrible awesome threat to having our lives "neatly" packed into the umpteen cargo feet of personal transports we pack our kids into, our artifacts for every activity known, our over-sized meals and over-stuffed bellies. Though I've never been down to the train tunnel underneath the Santa Monica Freeway, I have this vision of the Cheviot Hills homeless living there (or are they the Rancho Park homeless, or Palms ), eeking out their lives off the leftovers from McDonalds or our garbage cans. They are the embodiment of the paradox of poverty in the midst of plenty which makes Cheviot Hills living appear utterly irrational and bogus. (Has anyone noticed that one of these homeless--her name is Georgia, took several days to clean up the trash and dirt underneath the Palms/Exposition/National freeway/train underpass? I was shocked. I asked her why. She said simply, "I can't stand all the trash and dirt and the city hasn't cleaned it up!") A light rail train relinking this upper middle class ghetto with the rest of the city is a first step. But what I'm looking for and hope will emerge is the kind of leadership from that currently irrelevant community that will add value to future generations of Angelenos--both the poor and those lacking real opportunity and the rich and privileged. We can't just live for ourselves. And a train changes our lifestyle and does all this? Well, it does hold the promise of changing our lifestyle. Most of all, it's a beginning.
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Post by metrocenter on Apr 15, 2010 10:41:42 GMT -8
For people like me, Expo represents a huge opportunity. Think of how many destinations Expo will serve. And how many people from diverse backgrounds will take this line.
The Blue and Green Lines are pretty straightforward: many poor and working-class folks, mostly black and brown, plus some white-collar commuters mixed in, with most everybody heading to work in Downtown LA.
Expo is different. It will cross many neighborhoods, from low-income to wealthy, from suburban to megadense, with people of all colors traveling in both directions, for work, school, shopping and the beach. More than any other existing line (except maybe the Red Line), Expo will represent a fundamental shift in the way people use transit in L.A.
So yeah, clearly this is penetrating these people's bubble. Too bad...they can deal with it.
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Post by Gokhan on Apr 15, 2010 11:36:18 GMT -8
Gokhan, I have no clue where Tippit and Heller live! Ms. Terri Tippit and Ms. Colleen Mason Heller are the presidents of West of Westwood and Cheviot Hills HOAs, respectively. The former lives about 700 ft and the latter about 1,200 ft from the tracks in their respective neighborhoods. As a result neither will be impacted by the Expo Line. Also, Ms. Heller's husband Mr. Larry Heller is the attorney for NFSR for the CPUC Farmdale protests. I think there is a reason why the NIMBY NFSR lawn signs aren't posted. Because they are so embarrassingly dumb (Ohhh! Expo will kill babies!...) that no reasonable person wants to post these dumb- signs on their lawn.
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Post by rajacobs on Apr 15, 2010 12:01:30 GMT -8
...And I live ohhh, about 600 steps from the tracks--guess that's about 1200, too, and can't wait for the line to start service!
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Post by Gokhan on Apr 15, 2010 12:29:29 GMT -8
OK, then, I hold the record here at 240 ft from the Phase 2 tracks.
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Post by darrell on Apr 15, 2010 13:45:32 GMT -8
Though I've never been down to the train tunnel underneath the Santa Monica Freeway ... Here's a view from the south end, taken in 9/2006:
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Post by Gokhan on Apr 15, 2010 14:47:01 GMT -8
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Post by rajacobs on Apr 15, 2010 16:18:11 GMT -8
Fascinating. ...Can't help but wonder about the homeless--whether the Palms Overhead is a regular shelter and how they are impacted there by crime and gangs.
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Post by Gokhan on Apr 15, 2010 17:07:53 GMT -8
Northwest portal of the Palms Overhead and close-ups. Note that the wind walls at the portal will be rebuilt: Note that to the left of the portal in this picture is the access to the "restricted-use easement," which will accommodate the bike path. Here are the parcel maps of the area. Click on the images to enlarge and pay special notice to the restricted-use easement:
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Post by transitfan on Apr 16, 2010 9:23:37 GMT -8
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Adrian Auer-Hudson
Junior Member
Supporter of "Expo Light Rail - Enabler for the Digital Coast".
Posts: 65
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Post by Adrian Auer-Hudson on Apr 16, 2010 12:49:19 GMT -8
My first two years in LA were mostly spent one street over from you, on Canfield Ave. My apartment was in the second building from the RoW. I could look over my Neighbor's roof to the RoW ( , and I10 (really not so .
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Post by bobdavis on Apr 18, 2010 21:40:50 GMT -8
When it comes to distance from tracks, my childhood is rather hard to beat--we had the Pacific Electric Monrovia line on the other side of a rather rickety fence. From our front porch, it was closer to the westbound PE 5th Avenue stop than it was to our garage. And this was jointed rail with heavy interurban cars and a daily gravel train. So to all you NIMBY's: Kwitcherbellyachin'!
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Post by transitfan on Apr 19, 2010 7:28:01 GMT -8
My first two years in LA were mostly spent one street over from you, on Canfield Ave. My apartment was in the second building from the RoW. I could look over my Neighbor's roof to the RoW ( , and I10 (really not so . Cool! When were you there? I lived there from September 1976 to August 1977.
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Adrian Auer-Hudson
Junior Member
Supporter of "Expo Light Rail - Enabler for the Digital Coast".
Posts: 65
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Post by Adrian Auer-Hudson on Apr 19, 2010 7:56:10 GMT -8
Cool! When were you there? I lived there from September 1976 to August 1977. From June of 1994 thru May of 1996. At first I hated that apartment. I heard the roar of traffic from I10 continually, even thru the night. But, in time, I came to love my corner of LA. My apartment was # 7 at 3718 Canfield Ave. Which was yours?
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Post by Alexis Kasperavičius on Apr 19, 2010 11:38:41 GMT -8
...and the silliness continues... smarterrail.orgHas anyone seen these posters anywhere? AK
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Post by rajacobs on Apr 19, 2010 13:44:34 GMT -8
Ahhhh, posters: Zigzagging north of the ROW, west of Overland and east of Military, I counted only 15, with a heavy profusion around Veteran and Exposition (the ROW). Additionally, I spied several across the street from Overland Elementary School and then less than a handful south down Manning and looking into adjacent streets. Also less than a handful were exhibited along Northvale adjacent to the ROW. This was all seen while walking, so I missed nothing. The majority of the signs were "Trains and kids don't mix." and Expo will lead to traffic congestion. There were no "Smarter Rail signs." I am opposed to misleading, attention-getting signs like the one noted above from Smarterrail.org because the literal message creates resentment. Sure, it makes fun of "muck-raking" or sensationalism, but the poster offers no solution other than "Learn the facts." If I would already be fearful of the train, this message would anger me further and make me want to reject Expo out of hand. Far from a contest to grab headlines, this point in time is a serious turning point in LA's history, a milestone when we either realize that dependency on the car has to begin to go, or we doom ourselves to a gridlocked future (in more ways than one). The public disputation should not have the verbal trappings of the National Enquirer. It is said that "truth is the first casualty of war." Yet speaking truth to the citizens of Los Angeles is probably the best way to cut through the noise generated by the emotional assertions of Expo's opposition. One last point, I was really saddened to see signs so close to where the station itself will be. Those middle-class homeowners will receive the greatest benefit from the train! In time many of them will take advantage of the train for work or an evening in Santa Monica or Culver & Main Street, or the Philharmonic. And the argument regarding chidren makes me shake my head. None of us wanted to play anywhere near the tracks when we were little. Trains were scary. ...And even when we were older and learned that the wheels could crush stones into dust ...well you didn't want anyone to see you near the tracks after leaving a stone there. You got out of there ...fast! Regarding the ROW west of Overland ...I walked it again. It's big and wide, plenty of room for a berm and sound walls and sight lines. I think it'll be beautiful. ...And the traffic. Well, the calculations have to be right and then well-publicized.
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Post by rajacobs on Apr 19, 2010 13:58:03 GMT -8
Referring to Gokhan's plot maps above, I found it interesting that the "restricted use easement" touched by Walavista and by Northvale is, in some measure, used by the homeowners. I noticed that the owner of plot 82 at the corner of Northvale and Exposition has put in some nice landscaping (and has added an Expo opposition sign in his yard). I wonder if others have "pitched tents" in the restricted use areas adjacnet to their properties.
Additionally two additional home-owners, one adjacent to the ROW had signs.
At the end of Walavista is a large, un-friendly dog that barks incessantly at anyone coming within 100 feet of the easement. Yes it's behind a chainlink fence, but I wasn't about to get any closer!
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Post by Gokhan on Apr 19, 2010 15:43:26 GMT -8
... with a heavy profusion around Veteran and Exposition (the ROW). Not surprising, as Ms. Terri Tippit lives directly north of this location. Referring to Gokhan's plot maps above, I found it interesting that the "restricted use easement" touched by Walavista and by Northvale is, in some measure, used by the homeowners. I noticed that the owner of plot 82 at the corner of Northvale and Exposition has put in some nice landscaping (and has added an Expo opposition sign in his yard). I wonder if others have "pitched tents" in the restricted use areas adjacnet to their properties. Additionally two additional home-owners, one adjacent to the ROW had signs. At the end of Walavista is a large, un-friendly dog that barks incessantly at anyone coming within 100 feet of the easement. Yes it's behind a chainlink fence, but I wasn't about to get any closer! I'm familiar with that vicious dog. They also have bad dogs at the house on "Little" Motor Avenue (see the map for location). I'm not sure how or if those owners who extended their garages got the permission or bought the easement.
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Post by metrocenter on Apr 19, 2010 16:08:41 GMT -8
I am opposed to misleading, attention-getting signs like the one noted above from Smarterrail.org because the literal message creates resentment. Sure, it makes fun of "muck-raking" or sensationalism, but the poster offers no solution other than "Learn the facts." If I would already be fearful of the train, this message would anger me further and make me want to reject Expo out of hand. Far from a contest to grab headlines, this point in time is a serious turning point in LA's history, a milestone when we either realize that dependency on the car has to begin to go, or we doom ourselves to a gridlocked future (in more ways than one). The public disputation should not have the verbal trappings of the National Enquirer. It is said that "truth is the first casualty of war." Yet speaking truth to the citizens of Los Angeles is probably the best way to cut through the noise generated by the emotional assertions of Expo's opposition. I agree. The first signs to come from smarterrail.org were clever. These new signs are smart-assed -- a slight but important distinction. For fence-sitters, this type of sign could make the group look snarky and irresponsible, and thus push them the wrong way. Bottom line: the only purpose for PR at this point is fundraising. That's what the signs by NFSR (the NIMBY group) are about. It is counterproductive to give this fringe group any extra publicity. More important at this point is that Metro and Expo have good lawyers, and the judge has the good sense to throw this out.
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Post by transitfan on Apr 20, 2010 7:20:39 GMT -8
My apartment was # 7 at 3718 Canfield Ave. Which was yours? 3700 Bagley (at the foot of Regent St). If you look at Google Maps Street View, my apt was the last on the 3rd floor on the south side of the building (closest to the street). The last balcony was ours, the window on the south side closest to the street was my mother's room, and the one next to it was mine. I wouldn't have minded living there longer, but my mom had to return to NY (she took a year's leave to get me settled in since I was only 17 when we arrived), and I moved to an efficiency in what is now Koreatown.
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Post by Gokhan on May 14, 2010 14:53:03 GMT -8
In recent dialogues between the NFSR members and the Expo supporters, it's now become clear that NFSR is against any kind of rail, whether it's to be underground, elevated, or at-grade. They have been taking advantage of the people who live by the line and have concerns. Their goal has now been clear, as we've always suspected, to use the underground card as usual and make the project too expensive by forcing it underground and possibly create environmental justice concerns as well so that Phase 2 can be delayed to the point the Wilshire subway gets built first and in that way Phase 2 is killed in favor of the extension of the subway to the sea.
Unortunately, Ms. Terri Tippit et al. are extremists who want to preserve their neighborhood exactly the way it is and against any kind of development, transit, or people from other neighborhoods anywhere near their neighborhood. And they act in this way with no respect or consideration to the rest of the city. As typical for such people, it's always them and no one else matters. They don't care about LA in general as a whole.
It looks like the lawsuit is going to take about a year. It's now in the federal court because they also sued the FTA. Once it's dismissed by the federal court, it will go back to the superior court.
During the course of the lawsuit, the contractor will be free to design the line. It will be up to Expo to let the construction start as well, but there is a possibility that the construction can be stopped as in the Orange Line.
We will see how this stupidity will go on but at least everyone is realizing now that NFSR shouldn't be taken at their face value. They are just fanatics who are manipulating democracy by misrepresenting themselves (We want a subway) so that they can achieve their real goal (Go away Expo and everybody stay out of our neighborhood). People with such negative energy bring unhappiness to the larger community at the best and wars at the worst, as historically known.
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Post by rajacobs on May 14, 2010 19:20:16 GMT -8
What you say, Gokhan, needs to be packaged in a straight-forward, honest manner and delivered into the hands of the NFSR sign-posters and their cohorts. ...Fear and propaganda are things that requires the antidote of wisdom and a vision of what LA is becoming, a vision that does not have to threaten.
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Post by jeisenbe on May 14, 2010 23:33:23 GMT -8
"It will be up to Expo to let the construction start as well, but there is a possibility that the construction can be stopped as in the Orange Line."
Could construction begin on the section west of Sepulveda to Santa Monica, since that area is not covered by the lawsuit?
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Post by rajacobs on May 14, 2010 23:57:13 GMT -8
..Or alternatively, erect the bridge across Venice and at least take the line to Palms & National to serve that densely populated area.
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Post by Gokhan on May 15, 2010 1:51:16 GMT -8
Well, if you go back and read the lawsuit at this thread, you will see that they are contesting everything in the EIR, not just what is proposed in their neighborhood. In fact they are even contesting the separation of the project into Phase 1 and Phase 2, role of FTA, etc., etc.
It's expected that the federal part of the lawsuit will be dismissed in a couple of months by the federal judge. Then it's up to the superior-court judge to dismiss the rest of the lawsuit. In case of the Orange Line, after the lawsuit was dismissed, it went to the appeals court and that's where they stopped the construction and sent it back to the superior court. Superior court simply dismissed it again.
In any case I don't expect the lawsuit to be a huge issue. It will probably be resolved by the Summer 2011 latest. Considering that the contract won't be awarded until February 2011 or so and it takes quite a while to get started on the construction, it should have minimal impact on the project if any.
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Post by redwings105th on May 20, 2010 20:19:57 GMT -8
It looks like they want to get one of the "good" lawyers out there by selling their used stuff and (probably) crappy food. Think this'll make any difference in the lawsuit if they raise more money? www.smartrail.org/smartrail.org/Page_9.html
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Post by rajacobs on May 20, 2010 22:40:44 GMT -8
...Community organizing is about befriending the potential troops and then enlisting them--garage sales, bake sales, getting folks to invite other folks into their homes to discuss the "situation," Publishing the "facts," growing used to the new "community." I don't know about making a difference in the money raised, but their efforts can sure turn some unaware heads!
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Post by metrocenter on Jun 2, 2010 8:47:03 GMT -8
I think the following sign merits some analysis. - The cars are piled up, touching, they look like they've crashed. Some cars have gone off the road...maybe they are on the sidewalk and even on people's private property?
- Expo is a huge double fence. It is black and out-of-place looking - and non-permeable. Pico Boulevard, on the other hand, isn't blocking any traffic. It is clearly not the problem. This is how we know NFSR is living in fantasy land.
- The cars are black and white and gray, all jammed together. Maybe I'm reading too much into this, but it seems to me this image is playing on certain people's unease about being shoulder-to-shoulder with people of different colors, as people are when riding public transit. Forced integration, anyone?
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Post by metrocenter on Jun 2, 2010 8:53:32 GMT -8
At this point, most of the homes on Westwood Blvd near Exposition have signs on their lawns.
My favorite one reads "Don't let EXPO BLOCK access to the FREEWAY!!!" Oh, our beloved freeway!
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Post by rajacobs on Jun 2, 2010 12:09:15 GMT -8
Metrocenter, you motivated me to look at the NFSR site, ...page 8 in particular caught my attention. They're really triying to reach out into the community to stop this thing--talk to the businesses along the ROW, to Fox studios, to all the neighbors--not just signs, but emails and doorbell ringing. It seems as if Dorsey and the Farmdale crossing is their litmus test to see what can be achieved, how well they can muster the newly enlisted troops and apply them.
The little old lady at the back calling out "It's gonna kill the kids!" ...annoying but induces a little fear. And then, pointing out all the different ways that something could happen. Gosh, if it was all underground, I could sure make the case that the underground is a gang-accident waiting to happen. Truly the safest would have been a pedestrian flyover and a blocked off Farmdale!
I'm writing on the FEIR topic, because all the arguments will be reused at Overland. Only this time, instead of the arguments being applied in an area where the rail opposition has few roots, they will have prepared the ground and attempt to overwhelm and stop rail progress, "for real."
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