COUNCIL PAVES OVER DISPUTE : IMPROVEMENTS WILL BE CITYWIDE.Byline: Patrick McGreevy Daily News Staff Writer Gridlocked grid·lock n. 1. A traffic jam in which no vehicular movement is possible, especially one caused by the blockage of key intersections within a grid of streets. 2. two days ago by a proposal to spend $573,000 to pave over 37 unused rail crossings in the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. , the City Council found unanimity Friday by coming up with $1.6 million for similar projects in the rest of the city. Councilman Marvin Braude Marvin Braude (August 11, 1920—December 7, 2005)served as Los Angeles City Councilman for the 11th district from 1965 to 1997. At various times Mr. Braude (pronounced BROW-dee) served as chair of the Finance and Revenue Committee, the Environmental Quality and Waste , who represents a swing district that crosses the Santa Monica Mountains The Santa Monica Mountains are a low transverse range in southern California in the United States. Geography They run for approximately 40 mi (64 km) east-west from the Hollywood Hills in Los Angeles to Point Mugu in Ventura County. , said the acrimony ac·ri·mo·ny n. Bitter, sharp animosity, especially as exhibited in speech or behavior. [Latin  crim over funding projects in the Valley showed just how low relations had sunk in the City Council. But Valley Councilwoman Laura Chick and Councilman Mike Hernandez, who represents an inner-city district, put aside their bitter personal clash and called the trade-off in funding projects citywide a positive step toward better relations in the council. ``I think the most important lesson is that we are one city at this point in time, and that what the work of the City Council has to be about is to make sure that the important needs of the entire city are met,'' said Chick. Added Hernandez: ``My complaint was why are we doing it in one area and not in another. This way we did something that benefits the whole city.'' The action was taken with little discussion and a pledge by council members to try to be more collegial col·le·gi·al adj. 1. a. Characterized by or having power and authority vested equally among colleagues: "He . . . . But the chain of events left several council members shaking their heads over the increasing lack of comity Courtesy; respect; a disposition to perform some official act out of goodwill and tradition rather than obligation or law. The acceptance or Adoption of decisions or laws by a court of another jurisdiction, either foreign or domestic, based on public policy rather than legal in a council fractured by parochialism. ``The relations are worse than they have been in a long time,'' said Braude. ``I am hopeful that reason will prevail and civility will be restored.'' The railway crossing issue was only the latest point of contention in an ongoing debate at City Hall over whether the Valley gets more or less than its fair share of city services. Hernandez, who had opposed the Valley projects Wednesday, said he got what he wanted Friday - which was for the entire city's transportation needs to be addressed, not just those of one part of the city. Chick said she was glad a compromise could be worked out, saying it will improve the quality of life for Valley residents who have faced traffic hazards, car damage and congestion The condition of a network when there is not enough bandwidth to support the current traffic load. congestion - When the offered load of a data communication path exceeds the capacity. because of deteriorating rail crossings that are no longer used. ``It means that we will now have smooth sailing over what was once very bumpy roadway,'' Chick said. Under the Valley program, which is getting 80 percent of its funding from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the city will remove 37 unused rail lines that cross east-west over major streets and will pave over the lines to improve traffic and safety. Non-Valley council members complained that the proposal bypassed their districts, which also needed to remove unused rail crossings. The solution was to move onto the Friday agenda the approval of $1.6 million already awarded the city by the MTA (1) (Message Transfer Agent or Mail Transfer Agent) The store and forward part of a messaging system. See messaging system. (2) See M Technology Association. 1. (messaging) MTA - Message Transfer Agent. to remove rail crossings in east and central Los Angeles, including along the Pasadena Rail Line. Chick said the conflict could have been avoided if non-Valley council members had worked with their colleagues to look for ways to expedite funding for central and east Los Angeles East Los Angeles, uninc. city (1990 pop. 126,379), Los Angeles co., S Calif., a residential suburb of Los Angeles, in an industrial area. It has a large Mexican-American population. There is a performing arts center and a cultural center. A junior college is there. . ``Today is what should have happened on Wednesday,'' Chick said. The councilwoman said some council members did not understand that the Valley projects were just the first phase of a program that would eventually serve the whole city. Chick suggested that emotions were raised by distrust that has lingered from past geographic disputes. Such disputes seemed to escalate two years ago during the fight over the Valley receiving the bulk of recovery funds after the Northridge Earthquake. ``It's an example of distrust and rancorous ran·cor n. Bitter, long-lasting resentment; deep-seated ill will. See Synonyms at enmity. [Middle English, from Old French, from Late Latin, rancid smell, from Latin feelings preventing people from seeing issues as they really are,'' Chick said. ``One lesson to be learned is not to let some lingering bad feelings from other issues cloud our rational thinking and our ability to get the facts and information straight in advance.'' Hernandez said he will continue to object when he believes one portion of the city is unfairly getting resources not provided to other parts of the city. ``To me, if it looks totally one-sided it's going to be questioned, especially if members have similar needs in their districts,'' Hernandez said. |
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