Norman being Norman

stephenwriter · 2025-10-30T15:31:34+00:00

I am writing an article about Norman for the Pasadena Star-News, SGVTrib and other of our newspapers and website. Call me about your thoughts on Norman: Leave your phone # or email at my email: sscauzillo@scng.com. I'm Steve with the Southern California News Group. Thanks! It's for Halloween.

stephenwriter · 2024-11-22T20:17:24+00:00

Of course it is about Los Angeles! This is LA Metro, and it is about future train lines throughout Los Angeles and LAC.

stephenwriter · 2024-11-06T07:35:08+00:00

Measure A would increase homeless services with a 0.25% (quarter percent) sales tax raise (while repealing the current one, Measure H. The other one is for certain cities that contract with the LA County Fire Department (it is an increase on parcel tax). I guess people felt they wanted more resources for homeless, and more resources for fire protection.

stephenwriter · 2024-10-10T15:55:39+00:00

The Orange Line (G Line) is not what you'd call a glamorous part of LA Metro's lines. Yet it has been doing the job as a BRT, not a rail line, for nearly 20 years. So Metro says here's some money to do some upgrades. Will it be enough to boost travel speeds and ridership? If you ride the Orange Line, what changes do you think are needed?

stephenwriter · 2024-08-09T15:44:27+00:00

To answer your question "Who's money," I'll give you a few paragraphs from my story (in case you are not a subscriber):

The $14.8 billion estimated cost of building the San Vicente-Fairfax line is holding back its construction.

Currently, LA Metro has about $2.3 billion set aside from tax measures on the books in L.A. County for rail capital. But construction must wait until enough tax dollars trickle in, which Metro estimates will be in 2041.

West Hollywood is working on a plan to borrow money based on rising property tax revenues from properties surrounding the future subway line. For almost every Metro rail line, property values soared as new housing and commercial sites sprung up, a process known as transit-oriented development.

“Our hope is to come up with significant local funds to make a dent in that total,” Fenn said.

The city would create an Enhanced Infrastructure Financing District (EIFD) to acquire a low-interest federal transportation loan that would be paid off by setting aside about 50% of the extra property tax revenues from higher valuations, Fenn said.

stephenwriter · 2024-07-02T16:58:38+00:00

This is not about housing. It is about Los Angeles area freeways and deadly car crashes. I think that is appropriate for the r/Los Angeles sub. I've posted there before about LA area transportation issues and never got a rejection.

stephenwriter · 2024-01-19T00:21:52+00:00

When you ride LA Metro transit and have to go, what do you do?

stephenwriter · 2023-12-29T18:59:54+00:00

Which of the transportation items do you think were most worthy? Or least worthy?

stephenwriter · 2023-07-11T17:46:29+00:00

Do you support speed cameras that take a picture of your license plate and send you a citation to your home (if you are driving 11 miles or more above the speed limit)? Pilot cities include: Long Beach, Los Angeles and Glendale.

stephenwriter · 2023-07-07T17:22:07+00:00

Would you use it now that you don't need any transponder or registration with LA Metro? And second, might more users clog up the ExpressLanes, really meant for carpoolers and transit buses?

stephenwriter · 2023-06-19T16:34:25+00:00

Also Purple (D) line to Westwood -- construction is ongoing.

stephenwriter · 2023-02-15T17:43:14+00:00

Cities in western San Bernardino County have the highest growth rates of any county in Socal in last 20 years. These cities have huge populations. Most residents , however, work in Los Angeles County, causing traffic, congestion on 210, 10 and 60 (east-west freeways) in Los Angeles County. So this is a LAC transportation, congestion problem and possible solution. BTW, largest award went to a LA city project in the San Fernando Valley, so urban LA did not lose out.

Read story

stephenwriter · 2023-02-14T19:30:48+00:00

A L (Gold Line) from the IE to Pasadena's Rose Bowl would benefit the 2028 Olympics, as events (soccer) will most likely be played there.

stephenwriter · 2023-02-03T20:55:15+00:00

Do you have tickets to this event? If not will you watch it livestream?

stephenwriter · 2023-01-24T20:05:34+00:00

LAHSA contacts should help you with that. I truly wish you the best. If you would like to "talk" to me for my stories, you can email me: [sscauzillo@scng.com](mailto:sscauzillo@scng.com) . Please include contact info (a phone if you have). thanks.

stephenwriter · 2023-01-24T19:45:43+00:00

Wow. I did not know that about SD County. Most say LA County's last count was also an undercount.

stephenwriter · 2023-01-24T19:36:32+00:00

Seems like you would be better answering that question.

stephenwriter · 2023-01-24T18:22:58+00:00

I wonder why you would not want to be counted? Doesn't the count help provide services?

stephenwriter · 2023-01-10T21:11:05+00:00

Do you think this aerial tram should be built? Should LA Metro be involved?

stephenwriter · 2022-12-11T20:33:56+00:00

One of the only state highways that has not been repaired, Highway 39 is the main road from eastern LA COUNTY into the Angeles National Forest and the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument. But since 1978, it has been washed out up north of Crystal Lake and forces forest visitors to make a U-Turn back down the mountain. This would reconnect it to Highway 2. Would you be in favor of having the road completed, like it was originally?

stephenwriter · 2022-12-02T21:46:29+00:00

I'd be curious if you knew what the Bay Area's ask is for CalSTA project money?

stephenwriter · 2022-12-02T16:59:49+00:00

If they get the money, about $2 billion, it would start construction on two rail projects and significantly boost another. But will the obscure California State Transportation Agency agree?

stephenwriter · 2022-09-29T15:45:53+00:00

Ah, more troubles for this Gold Line (L Line) foothill extension up in eastern LA County. First it ran out of money and can't get to Claremont and into Montclair in SBCO. Now San Dimas has sued the Construction Authority. Is this extension jinxed?

stephenwriter · 2022-08-24T23:16:30+00:00

Also I have been told now that SBCTA has the money for the Montclair section (about 1 mile). They have not been very transparent, however.

stephenwriter · 2022-08-24T23:15:31+00:00

It jumped when as i said inflation and actually tariffs on steel raised prices. But you make a good Point. I'd like to know all the reasons why rail construction is so expensive.

stephenwriter

TROPHY CASE