Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has appointed City Councilmember José Huizar to the L.A. County Metro Board of Directors. He replaces Councilman Bernard Parks, who resigned from the position after being on the board since 2005. Huizar currently oversees the 14 District of Boyle Heights, a hot spot for freight train crossings and where a new valley bridge linking San Gabriel and downtown LA was recently approved via his efforts.
"When you look at Los Angeles county, it's a mammoth of a region and transportation has long been a challenge here in Southern California," said Rick Coca, Director of Communications for Huizar. "[The Board] facilitates a lot of the transportation issues here. For someone like councilman Huizar it's a really good fit. He's a really good big picture guy."
Huizar earned a master's degree in urban planning at Princeton University as well as a law degree at UCLA. The Councilman returned to Boyle Heights, where he grew up, after obtaining his multiple degrees.
"He really wants to act on behalf on all Angelinos, especially ones who come from poorer areas," said Coca. "He's the perfect combination for any politician who needs to make decisions [affecting the county]."
The hottest issue currently on the Board is Measure R, a voter-passed initiative that provides the city with an estimated $40 billion in new funding for transportation. True to Villaraigosa's Green L.A. plan, the majority of the money will go towards the betterment and extension of the county's public transit systems, including light rails and buses. Proposals for high speed and light rails have been popping up all over the country. President Barack Obama on April 16 said that $8 billion in stimulus funds would be put towards high-speed rails. Only 35 percent of the Measure R funds will be put towards improving and expanding highways and roads. The measure will be paid for through taxpayers, a portion of which is expected to come from the one-percent increase in sales tax that went into effect on April 1, 2009.
For Huizar, cultivation of a viable public transportation system is more about providing society an important service. "He grew up in Boyle heights and relied on non-profits and public servants his whole life," explained Coca, who also mentioned that Huizar and his parents came over as immigrants from Mexico early in his childhood. "He's not only considering getting more services running, but always keeps in mind people who absolutely depend on public transportation and giving them options that make their already challenging lives easier."
The
soon to open Eastside Extension of the Metro Gold Line will connect Boyle Heights to Downtown, near Broadway, a historic street, a historic street in downtown Los Angeles that Huizar and other city officials are working to revitalize and remodel, including the reintroduction of the electric streetcar. "The goal is to expand in a smart and multi-modal way, where you incorporate smart pedestrian zones that link people to transportation options that make sense," said Coca. "Los Angeles is really focused on creating a world class light rail and bus system that serves all."
Huizar is able to stay on the Board as long as he maintains his position as City Councilman and if the succeeding Mayor of Los Angeles appoints him.
