METRO: Important message from Fred Rosen, Chairperson of the BAA Metro Committee

Dear Bel-Air Residents:

There is no joy in writing an email like this--but, in this writer's opinion, when a public agency displays no sense of integrity, candidness or forthrightness then it deserves the opprobrium of the citizens it serves. The world changed when Kellyanne Conway on Meet The Press said, "That's an alternative fact"-- and to be absolutely clear -- METRO lives in that world.

METRO is an organization that suffers from little to no oversight and accountability. The Board it ostensibly reports to is primarily political -- not business driven -- which is why -- pardon the pun --it is so off the rails. Any oversight it has is primarily cursory. With little to no oversight, METRO has been left to its own reality -- with the following results:

1. Little to no fiscal accountability.

Every current major project is over budget and behind schedule -- their operating philosophy is "it's not our money and there's more where this came from" (Measure M sales tax). How many projects over the last 10 years have been over budget -- something we plan to find out in our California Public Records Act Request. Which of us can say with a straight face -- or with the prospect of being fired on the spot -- that costs are not factored into the evaluation of proposed concepts -- and that actual knowledge of costs would prejudice the final determination. Peter Carter, B.I. (see glossary below for explanation of initials), METRO's Project Manager on the Sepulveda Transit Corridor Project actually said that as an answer to a question posed to him at METRO's most recent public meeting. Peter is METRO"s version of Alfred E. Neuman (Mad Magazine) whose motto was, "What me worry?” Peter has no reason to worry because no one at the Agency will hold his feet to the fire or hold him accountable. The Sepulveda project is a perfect storm of idiocy and fiscal irresponsibility. It's one thing when the project costs and time to build are comparable -- which in this project, they are clearly not. METRO's proposed subway tunnels will cost more than 3 times the cost of monorail along the 405 and will take 2 to 3 times as long to build -- and that is without the litigation that will certainly ensue from that decision -- METRO does not seem to take that course of action seriously -- simply put, THEY ARE WRONG. Everyone knows that costs in construction below ground vs. above ground are significantly more expensive and time consuming -- and with the attendant litigation -- which will definitely occur if this option is chosen -- it will take 20 to 25 years to build and cost north of $20 Billion Dollars -- money Metro does not currently have and will not get. As a simple matter of truth, no tunnel should ever be constructed in Los Angeles going forward. Jody F. Litvak, B.I. said in this recent public meeting when asked how can you proceed with this option when you don't have the money -- and I quote, "We hope to get the funds." Since when is hope a financial solution or an answer? Peter and Jody are quite the pair -- they remind me of the old Rodney Dangerfield joke -- one is water the other is earth -- and together they make mud -- which is in line with METRO’S view of transparency.

2. METRO'S representatives have no compunction about lying to the public.

In the last Scoping Meeting (see their communication below), Peter Carter, B.I. did that and smiled while doing it -- an insult to our collective intelligence. When asked if either solution could be ready for the 2028 Olympics, he would not even answer that directly or honestly. There is an outside possibility for the monorail if METRO actually got their act together -- although probably very difficult. There is absolutely zero chance for any of the tunnel options -- pigs will fly first -- it’s that obvious -- but he would not say it.

3. In all my communications, METRO has never disputed or responded to any of the facts I have enumerated (except as to one minor procedural issue).

They know I'm correct -- but they really have no interest in the views of our community or any others -- will elucidate more on that later. They have been non-responsive in every meeting we have had with them. They sit in meetings -- unanimated -- never respond directly to any question asked -- and in one meeting -- one of their representatives actually said the only information we were entitled to have is what they told us. That's the absolute truth. I have talked to more than 100 people in this city and not one individual has a good word to say about METRO. One other point -- they do not want either of the Sepulveda Pass proposes contractors engaging with any of the communities directly impacted by this project. What are they afraid of? I have gotten permission to engage with both bidders -- but they are guarded in their conversations -- because they do not want upset METRO -- and have it impact METRO's bidding process. Transparency is not their goal -- but obfuscation and fear is. METRO has no interest in anyone's opinion but their own. Look at their behavior over the last 10 years.

4. METRO'S understanding of community relations is disgraceful.

They pay lip service to it but there are really no meaningful discussions. Jody F. Litvak, B.I. is LA METRO's Executive Officer (Interim), Community Relations (actual title).

The word Interim should be replaced with the word "former or fired.” She smiles and says nothing of substance in her responses. METRO'S specialty is not responding directly and honestly to the questions that are asked. She opined in the latest meeting on the safety of tunnels. Why is she even speaking on this serious topic? She's not qualified. She's a paid mouthpiece -- in charge of METRO's propaganda. Why would the public believe anything she has to say? She has no credibility...but it's in line with METRO's continuing assault on both the truth and lack of respect for the communities it is supposed to serve.

Let's look at a few examples:

(a) METRO announces the gondola project -- which is a constructing a gondola from the train station downtown to Dodger Stadium -- (and full disclosure -- it's being paid for by McCourt) -- only problem -- the project was never discussed before the announcement with the Chinatown community who it directly impacts -- amazing -- needless to say litigation has commenced.

(b) The Eagle Rock Colorado Boulevard Proposed Bus Rapid Transit Project -- where Metro did not respond to any of the stakeholders or respond to any of the petitions that were submitted to them. METRO's Communication Manager confirmed that none of the approximately 4,100 names on 3 separate Petitions objecting to their solution were added to METRO's database -- to quote that community -- it's "a shocking act of disrespect in a democracy that should require the firing of all concerned." Sound familiar..?

(c) Sherman Oaks and Bel Air -- neither community's opinion was sought or consulted in preparing the alternative routes for the Sepulveda Transit Corridor Project -- furthermore, it was an outside consulting firm who selected those proposed routes -- and now some of the same people who worked on that proposal, are working for another firm which is evaluating the bidder's proposals — conflict of interest? METRO seems happily oblivious.

(d) The West Santa Ana Project -- starting soon but there's not enough money to finish it -- they have $4B but need a total of $12-15B to complete the project -- and that money is not currently available -- and no one is sure if it ever will be.

METRO has clearly lost their way -- delusional from the continuing supply of money from Measure M (although its never enough and they are always asking/begging for more) and from a serious lack of oversight. For those of you who think I'm too tough or mean with my emails, take 5 minutes and watch the following the video clip in the following email of Peter Carter, B.I. answering a question. His response is a mixture of tortured logic, rambling incoherence and semi-lingual. Based on that answer, I would not give him money to go food shopping and expect change -- and he's in charge of this project that involves billions of dollars.

There's an election this fall -- the City of Los Angeles will have a new Mayor — full disclosure -- I'm for Rick Caruso -- because, in my opinion the City desperately needs someone with executive ability to address the issues the City we love is facing -- can anyone actually say the quality of life is better now than it was 8 years ago? Hardly -- but that issue is for another email) -- and new County Supervisors who will become METRO Board members. Hopefully they will bring more supervision and acumen to this agency -- which desperately needs it. In the absence of that, an investigation by an independent third party needs to occur and all the existing management needs to be replaced with professional business ones. METRO's culture is rancid and toxic for Los Angeles, its communities and its citizens. It needs to be completely overhauled because it has no idea how to engage properly and be a sentinel for public funds. The goal of the agency should be to provide public transportation to as many people as possible with the funds it actually has available -- it's not the full employment act for engineers who are lost in the past and have no ability to face the future.

Fredric D. Rosen

Glossary---B.I.--Blithering Idiot

Video of Cost Question from Metro, June 2022 Public Meeting on Sepulveda Transit Corridor Project (approximately 4 minutes):