Streetsblog Questionaire for CD5 City Council Candidates

Streetsblog » Help Edit the Streetsblog Questionaire for CD5 City Council Candidates

Help Edit the Streetsblog Questionaire for CD5 City Council Candidates

by Damien Newton on April 14, 2009

4_14_09_vahedi.jpg4_14_09_koretz_jewish_journal.jpgPhoto of Vahedi from Campaign. Photo of Koretz via Jewish Journal
By the time the runoff election for City Attorney and 5th District City Council are held next month, Paul Koretz and David Vahedi may be the most well vetted City Council candidates, when it comes to transportation, in the history of L.A. politics.

The Bottleneck Blog asked all six of the original candidates their views on the Expo Line and development in more general terms. Biking in LA asked all the candidates about bike issues. Vahedi responded. Koretz didn't. We also know how they both feel about the city's Pico-Olympic plan: they hate it. On top of that, the Bruins for Traffic Relief are hosting a forum next week focusing solely on transportation issues for the candidates.

That being said, here at Streetsblog we're going to do our part to get you the information you need before election day. Below are my draft questions for the candidates, feel free to comment:

1. We know that you are opposed to the city's Pico-Olympic plan for traffic relief because of parking concerns. What would you like to see the city do to improve east-west mobility in the short and long term?

2. The city ran into a public relations firestorm after it raised the cost of on-street parking after little public notice and without building any public support. What role do you see parking reform taking in providing a long-term solution to the city's transportation policy and funding?

3. DASH Service is in for drastic cuts and fare hikes in the coming years. What, if anything, do you think the city should do to avert these cuts?

4. This year is shaping up to be a particularly deadly one for pedestrians in Los Angeles. What can the City Council do to reduce or eliminate pedestrian crashes and fatalities?

5. If you could waive a magic wand and change one thing about transportation in and around the City of Los Angeles, what would it be?

Because we're so late in the election cycle, I'm hoping to turn around the questionaire and get it to the campaigns by Thursday evening so get your comments in quickly.

Incidently, there has been no word back yet from either of the City Attorney Candidates.