Mike Feuer moves forward bill to increase sales tax in LA County to pay for subway

by Dante Atkins (hekebolos) [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

Last week the Assembly passed AB2321, which would put before Los Angeles County voters a ballot proposition for an increase in the sales tax in Los Angeles County from 8.25% to 8.75% (an increase of only 50 cents per $100 spent) to pay for subway expansion projects, including expanding the purple line to Santa Monica and the green line to LAX.

The bill was passed by my Assemblymember, Mike Feuer, and I'm really proud of him for pushing it through.  Nevertheless, there are a couple of hurdles, beyond the fact that it will require a 2/3 majority of L.A. County voters to pass (not inconceivable, but still not easy).  Most notably:

1. Feuer's office still must find a way to ensure that the bill applies to this year's election. An urgency clause that would have done that was dropped from the bill because of a lack of Republican support. The word "tax" makes GOP lawmakers nervous, particularly in an election year.

2. The MTA Board will vote at its June 26 meeting whether to ask the Board of Supervisors to vote to put the sales tax hike on the November ballot -- in other words, they're assuming the bill will eventually pass the Legislature. Confusing? Think of it this way: The five supes have a lot of juice on this issue because they're also members of the MTA Board!

Here's what I would do: Contact the MTA and ask them to ask the Supes to put this before the voters of L.A. County.

I gotta tell you--I would pay a lot more than 50 cents per every $100 if it meant I could get a subway to UCLA, Santa Monica, and especially LAX.  It's finally time for Metro to help us mid-city and Westside LA dwellers get our cars on the road only when we need them.

P.S. need any evidence that we can get a 2/3 majority here?  Just look at this poll result from LA Curbed.