Board of Ed to Oppose Mike Feuer Transit Bill
The legislation would weaken the Beverly Hills Unified School District's ability to fight the Westside Subway Extension.
The school board is opposing a bill that would weaken the district's ability to fight the Westside Subway Extension.
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The Board of Education will vote at its next meeting to oppose a bill that seeks to streamline the approval process of new public rail transit projects, such as the Westside Subway Extension, by granting them special legal protection from state environmental review challenges.
Assemblyman Mike Feuer (D-Los Angeles) introduced AB1444 in early January. The board believes that if the the bill is passed, the Beverly Hills Unified School District cannot file a timely California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) challenge against the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to stop it from routing the Westside Subway Extension under Beverly Hills High School.
“The timing of this legislation is suspicious,” board member Lisa Korbatov said at the Jan. 24 school board meeting. “This legislation speaks to us right now as we are the only ones who could soon make a CEQA challenge.”
The panel voted 4-0 (board member Jake Manaster was not at the meeting) to request that Superintendent Gary Woods draft a resolution opposing AB1444. Woods was asked to bring the measure to the board’s next meeting for a vote.
The board will also consider hiring a lobbyist in Sacramento to help defeat the bill.
Board President Brian Goldberg instructed BHUSD staff to “work with legal counsel to prepare proposals to hire a lobbying firm to oppose this legislation.” It is not clear if the proposals will be ready by the next board meeting, which is scheduled for Feb. 14.
The board already spends $15,000 a month on Venable LLP, a Washington, D.C. lobbying firm hired last year to persuade lawmakers to withhold federal funding for the Westside Subway Extension should Metro choose a route that goes under BHHS. Board members voted unanimously last month to extend the Venable contract until March 31.
In introducing AB1444, Feuer said the bill would encourage job growth and give people alternatives to commuting by car.
“This bill would create thousands of desperately needed jobs, and give commuters and residents environmentally sound transit options as alternatives to sitting in stopped traffic,” Feuer said in a Jan. 4 statement.
As part of the 42nd Assembly District, Beverly Hills is represented by Feuer. However, the city is joining the new 50th Assembly District for the November 2012 election.
Editor's Note: This article originally stated that BHUSD cannot file a California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) to challenge the Westside Subway Extension. It has been changed to reflect that the district can file such an act.
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Do you think the BHUSD should hire a lobbyist in Sacramento?
Tell us in the comments.
Chris Loos
11:44 am on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
“The timing of this legislation is suspicious,” board member Lisa Korbatov said at the Jan. 24 school board meeting. “This legislation speaks to us right now as we are the only ones who could soon make a CEQA challenge.”
BHUSD, contrary to what you seem to think, its not "all about you". You're playing the part of the NIMBY with the frivolous CEQA lawsuit this time, but there's one like you on every project- just ask Damien Goodmon. All the more reason that this bill needs to pass. The people of Los Angeles county are sick of NIMBYs wasting our time and money, and delaying rail projects that should have been built 40 years ago.
Brian David Goldberg, PhD
3:10 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
For example, if MTA needs to do a new draft EIR because the feds say so, then they could petition the governor to deem the subway a "leadership project" which, if approved by the Gov, could result in streamlining. Based on the data we are finding that is a real possibility, meaning the Feds saying a new draft EIR