Date: Mon, 30 Jun 2008 23:13:43 -0700 (PDT) From: Francisco Martinez <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: URGENT: CITIZENS' CAMPAIGN TO FIX THE EXPO RAIL LINE
CITIZENS' CAMPAIGN TO FIX THE EXPO RAIL LINE Led by Save Leimert, Expo Communities United & Baldwin Hills/Crenshaw Homeowners' Coalition, <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />P.O. Box 781267 Â Los Angeles, CA 90016 Â Phone & Fax: (323) 761-6435 Â www.FixExpo.org THE SOUTH LA COMMUNITYâS ISSUES WITH PHASE 1 OF THE EXPO RAIL LINE On the currently abandoned railroad tracks on Exposition Blvd, the MTA is attempting to build a 225-ton train, like the Blue Line, from Downtown LA to Culver City (Phase 1) & eventually to Santa Monica (Phase 2). It will run primarily at street-level in South LA, at 35 & 55 mph, including 55 mph just 10 feet from Dorsey HS where students cross the tracks 1800 times per day. It will travel within 50 feet of 7 schools, including Foshay, and within walking distance of over a dozen other schools & parks. The train is planned to operate 22 hours a day, crossing an intersection every 2 mins during rush hour! For the safety of our children & sake of our community tell MTA if they want to build the Expo Line they need to build it correctly through South LA: UNDERGROUND! SAFETY - We will NOT negotiate the safety of our children. Our children face enough safety risks walking to school. Forcing them to cross 2 sets of tracks with a high-speed, frequently running train is not acceptable. The train is designed like the Blue Line, which at 91 deaths & over 817 accidents is the deadliest most accident-prone light rail line in the US! Among the deaths and injuries are over a dozen children and young adults, like the 14-year old young boy, who in 2007 was killed by a Blue Line train that was carrying his closest sister. The LAUSD, United Teachers Los Angeles, & Parent Collaborative have made formal objections to the unsafe design of the line, as over a 20,000 â 30,000 youths are within walking distance of the tracks. Of particular concern are Dorsey & Foshay (Western Ave). Western, like Crenshaw, Vermont & Normandie has no crossing gates. The many safety hazards at the intersections should have resulted in âgrade separationsâ (an underpass or overpass) but did not. A deadly calculation has been made to not invest in grade separations in South LA. ENVIRONMENTAL RACISM If Culver City children won't have to walk across tracks, why should ours? MTA is building an underpass at Figueroa at Expo Park, and Culver City negotiated overpasses at their streets. This is the exact opposite of how the Expo Line will impact South LA. In the 1 mile west of La Cienega no train horn will ever be blown, no streets will be closed, and no car & no child will ever have to cross the tracks with 225-ton trains coming 35-55 mph. In fact MTA is spending more money in the 1 MILE from La Cienega to Robertson than they are in THE ENTIRE 4 MILES in South LA from Vermont to La Brea! Plus, the one street in South LA with grade separation is La Brea - an overpass that will cause blight & noise on the residential community. MTA expects South LA to accept less investment, greater negative impacts and deaths, while not expecting it west of La Cienega to Robertson. ITâS ABOUT PRIORITIES NOT MONEY If MTA can spend the monney in Culver City and at USC they can spend the money in South LA! MTA has the money to build the Expo Line underground in South LA. In July â07, when the state legislature took $314 million from their budget, it took MTA just 2 WEEKS to lobby the money from other sources. California passed Prop 1B in Nov. â06, which has $4-6 billion for rail. The Fix Expo Campaign has requested MTA go after Prop 1B money to put the Expo Line underground in our community, only to see $218 million of the bond be allocated for the Expo Line for everything except grade separations in South LA. This issue is about political priorities, not money. Elected officials don't consider the safety of South LA children and preservation of our communities a priority. TRAFFIC CONGESTION Transportation projects arenât suppossed to make traffic worse! The closure of over a dozen side streets, elimination of left turns, and placement of crossing gates (e.g. Arlington) will increase traffic on our already clogged streets & cut off emergency services access up to 25 mins of every hour. NOISE POLLUTION Every time the 240-3300 trains per day pass an intersection at street level they must blow their horns or ring itâs bell. 1000 train horns per day will be heard at some South LA intersections, which are in the middle of residential areas, and next to learning environments and places of worship. WE NEED YOUR HELP WEâRE TAKING MTA TO COURT TO FIGHT THIS UNSAFE, ILLEGAL, AND DISCRIMINATORY DESIGN! For the last 60 days a high-profile law firm has represented us. The judge who is going to rule on whether the MTA will build the line at street level, underground or elevated through our community will have an opportunity for the public to comment on Wednesday. We need you, your family, friends and neighbors there to demand MTA build the Expo Line correctly and safely through the South Los Angeles community: UNDERGROUND. WE MUST FILL FOSHAY AUDITORIUM OR SURRENDER OUR HOMES, OUR COMMUNITY, OUR PEOPLE AND THE LIVES OF OUR CHILDREN. WEDNESDAY, JULY 2, 2008 AT 6:30 P.M. FOSHAY LEARNING CENTER AUDITORIUM 3751 HARVARD AVE., LOS ANGELES, CA., 90018 (NEAR WESTERN/ EXPOSITIOIN BLVD.) For more information call: 323-761 5435 or www.FixExpo.org DONATE: We need your financial assistance to continue delivering the facts about the Expo Line and to bring our community together to win this epic struggle. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation online at www.FixExpo.org or sending a contribution to: âFix Expo c/o UCAâ (mail to: P. O. Box 781267 Los Angeles, CA 90016) GET INVOLVED: The Fix Expo Campaign is an all-volunteer effort that meets monthly in the community. For our next meeting date, time and location call our hotline at (323) 761-6435 or visit us on the web at www.FixExpo.org. ### ------------------------------------ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- LAAMN: Los Angeles Alternative Media Network --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Unsubscribe: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Digest: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Help: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Archive1: <http://www.egroups.com/messages/laamn> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Archive2: <http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yahoo! 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