Neighborhood Council Opposes Placing City's Street Repair Bond on Ballot

Reiterating the City of Los Angeles should "get back to basics" in spending its current funds toward its infrastructure and maintenance, the Studio City Neighborhood Council approved Sept. 18 to oppose placing the 20-year, $3 billion street repair bond on the May 21, 2014 general municipal election ballot.


The council voted six in favor, three opposed and one abstention. The Los Angeles City Council's proposal notes the work needed for the street repair and safety bond will be performed over a 10-year period.

To start, Government Affairs Committee Chairwoman Rita Villa said she thought the proposed language for the motion was going to state "support" instead of "oppose" when it came before the neighborhood council. Vice Chairman Barry Johnson and the remaining members of the committee differed on the approved motion language.

"It's important we provide the populous of L.A. if they want a bond or not," Villa said, who proposed an amendment to change "oppose" to "support" but it did not receive a second motion.

Councilmember Denise Welvang disagreed with Villa, saying she'd vote with what the committee presented.

"Our government was never set up to provide everyone's pet project to be paid for," Welvang said. "Why don't we get back to basics and pay for what's needed? Police, fire, libraries, roads."

Transportation Committee Chairman Scott Ouellette said he felt putting the bond vote on the ballot gives everyone a voice. He noted he has the lowest effective tax rate on his property within city limits compared to two properties he owns in other jurisdictions.

Council President John Walker sided with Welvang, saying that, after conferring with other neighborhood council presidents, it's always the taxpayers having to bail out the Los Angeles City Council, and added they have not appropriately spent funds that are already available on desperately needed infrastructure needs, like streets.

Earlier in 2013, a coalition of 34 Valley Neighborhood Councils voted in opposition to repair city streets because they were not consulted as an attempt was made to rush the measure through.

What are your thoughts on the Los Angeles City Council's street repair bond proposal?