Metro Expo Line final planning meeting: Phase 2 video simulation

What does it take to build rail transit through an affluent neighborhood in Los Angeles? Watch this an-hour-long series of video clips shot at the final planning meeting for the Metro Expo Line, a light-rail line to be built on the old abandoned Pacific Electric Santa Monica Air Line railroad right-of-way, which will connect Downtown Los Angeles to the Westside of Los Angeles and Pacific Ocean at Santa Monica. The group Neighbors for Smart Rail (NFSR) lead by the affluent Cheviot Hills Homeowners' Association and other affluent Westside homeowners' associations joins forces with Fix Expo, a special-interest group from a minority neighborhood in South Los Angeles, through which the abandoned railroad right-of-way cuts as well, and they vow for lawsuits. Such opposition by the affluent and special-interest groups has prevented the use of this old abandoned railroad right-of-way for decades, but the Expo Light-Rail Line is finally becoming a reality. The series of clips starts with the very instructive presentation about the project, continues with a video simulation of Phase 2, and then public comments from Fix Expo and Neighbors for Smart Rail leaders as well as individuals follow.

The video is a true classic of NIMBYs and NIMBYism in America. The meeting was held in Cheviot Hills, Los Angeles, California, at 6:30 PM on October 5, 2009. The affluent neighborhood of Cheviot Hills has long been the epicenter of the opposition to the Expo Line.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Metro
• Expo
• Line
• LACMTA
• light-rail
• light
• rail
• public
• transit
• transport
• NIMBY
• abandoned
• railroad
• railway
• Exposition
• Boulevard
• Blvd
• Los
• Angeles
• County
• Metropolitan
• Transportation
• Authority
• city
• LA
• Santa
• Monica
• California
• CA
• Cheviot
• Hills
• Palms
• support
• opposition
• evironmental
• study
• meeting
• comment
• right-of-way
• Pacific
• Electric
• Air
• Fix
• Neighbors
• for
• Smart
• Rail
• NFSR
• homewoners
• association
• Westside

[stvlndhrrs]

somebody should shut those snickering yuppies up in the background!

[districtdirt]

Every time a new rail project is built- not just in LA but in any city, the NIMBYs come out of the woodwork. Always with the same line "We LOVE rail, but not here! Its to dangerous! Its too loud!" Every group thinks their cause is unique, but its just the same old message: "Our own well being is more important than the greater good!"

Snore.