PROP. A FOES STAGE RALLY TO SAVE SUBWAY CONSTRUCTION TO EASTSIDE TRANSIT OPTION CONSIDERED ESSENTIAL TO HIGHLY CONGESTED AREAS.

Byline: Douglas Haberman Daily News Staff Writer

Opponents of Proposition A on Tuesday's ballot, mainly from East Los Angeles, gathered outside MTA headquarters Thursday to urge voters to keep the subway projects alive.

If county voters approve the ballot measure, it would end the use of transportation sales-tax revenues for more subway construction, except for completion of the Metro Red Line to North Hollywood.

Rep. Xavier Becerra, D-Los Angeles, said the subway might be the best transit option despite its high cost in some heavily populated areas of the city. He said it's a mistake to rule out subways simply because of MTA cost overruns and other problems.

``Blame the practitioner, not the policy,'' Becerra said after the rally, which was attended by about 60 Eastside residents wearing shirts with the slogan ``Broken promises'' and carrying signs urging voters to turn down Proposition A.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Gloria Molina said voter approval of the measure would deprive the Eastside and other areas of a project that could be an economic stimulant and that they paid sales taxes to build.

Among the other officials present were Rep. Julian Dixon, D-Los Angeles; state Sen. Hilda Solis, D-El Monte; and City Council members Jackie Goldberg, Mike Hernandez and Nate Holden.

The leading proponent of the ballot measure, county Superintendent Zev Yaroslavsky, said in an interview that opponents of Proposition A represent ``the last remnants of subway supporters in Los Angeles. They are totally oblivious to the impact a $300 million-a-mile project has on the city and taxpayers, including their own constituents.''

The subway has made debt the largest single line item in the MTA's operating budget, he said.

``This project is going to bankrupt the MTA if it's kept alive,'' Yaroslavsky said.