http://www.signalscv.com/section/36/article/112256/
January 11, 2014
LOS ANGELES COUNTY — A recent
poll costing over $35,000, commissioned by the Metropolitan
Transportation Authority, failed to accurately gauge public opinion on a
proposed transportation measure, announced Supervisor Michael D.
Antonovich.
“This poll failed to comply with the MTA Board directive to ask
voters whether they would support new regional transportation projects
in their neighborhoods including rail connections to the five airports
that serve Los Angeles County. Instead, the poll was stuck in a time
warp, asking voters whether they would support the failed Measure J
proposal focused on accelerating subways.”
The poll was done without input from MTA Board Members. This is a
deliberate distortion as the questions were poorly written and flat out
wrong. Also the poll is a misuse of public funds as Metro approved the
questions to further its own agenda – a ½ cent extension to grow their
bureaucracy.
“With incomplete and erroneous questions, the poll that failed to ask
voters directly about the importance of creating a truly regional
transportation system with new local transportation solutions and rail
connections to our regional airports -- instead questions focused on
subways,” said Antonovich. “A new poll should be taken with questions
that will effectively and accurately gauge public opinion on projects
derived from local consensus.”
“Unlike Measure J, the new proposed transit measure will be with a
ground-up, local perspective on how to invest in our future,” he added.
“A new poll should reflect these priorities and not be a continuation
of the failed effort to pass Measure J."
“MTA has no excuse for rushing this poll forward without first
consulting with its Board of Directors. With polls taking only a few
days to complete, vetting the questions with the elected officials on
the Board first to gain their input before going to the public that they
serve should have been the appropriate course of action. Failure to do
so has rendered this poll meaningless,” said Antonovich.
Purpose
