MTA Board Meeting on North Cities Seat
Najarian will seek a new nomination
http://www.ci.glendale.ca.us/mgmt-svcs/press_release.aspx?AnnouncementID=1032
On December 6, 2012 the League of California Cities, Los Angeles
Division City Selection Committee held its regular meeting to, among
other things, confirm the nomination of Ara Najarian to the seat on the
Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board of Directors.
Such confirmations have historically been pro forma ratifications. The
Najarian nomination came from the North County Cities Sector at meeting
held this past October. North County Cities represent one-million
residents.
The MTA Board includes one representative from the San Gabriel Valley
Cities, West Side Cities, Gateway Cities, and North County Cities.
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority is unique
among the nation’s transportation agencies. It serves as transportation
planner and coordinator, designer, builder, and operator for one of the
country’s largest, most populous counties. More than 9.6 million people –
nearly one-third of California’s residents – live, work, and play
within its 1,433-square-mile service area. Ara Najarian has
consistently worked with communities to ensure an efficient and
effective transportation system for the greater Los Angeles area.
Najarian has been active in seeking an alternative to the construction
of a 5 mile, 10 billion dollar tunnel extending the 710 Freeway that
impacts North County Cities.
Stung by his effective organizing and vocal opposition to the tunnel,
many San Gabriel Valley Cities did not vote to confirm Najarian’s
selection from his regional cities of Glendale, Burbank, La Canada, San
Fernando, Malibu, Calabasas, Agoura Hills, Hidden Hills, Santa Clarita,
Lancaster, and Palmdale. Although Najarian received a majority of
numerical city votes, he fell short of the majority for the population
weighted vote.
Ironically, Najarian has been a leading supporter of the San Gabriel
Valley’s most important transportation project, the Gold Line light
rail. It was during his term as MTA Chairman that the Gold Line was
unanimously included in the MTA Long Range Transportation Plan and
significant funding obtained for its construction.
Through the established process, Ara Najarian will work with the North
County / San Fernando Valley Sector to convene a meeting, receive
another nomination to the seat and be successful in a vote to confirm
his selection.
Although Ara Najarian continues his efforts to identify an alternative
to the construction of a 5 mile, 10 billion dollar tunnel extending the
710 Freeway that impacts North County Cities, we believe that these
efforts also bring to light the importance of strong representation on
the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board of Directors. Ara
Najarian has consistently proven that he works to improve an efficient
and effective transportation system not only for the North County Cities
but for the communities throughout Los Angeles County.