A new way for LA

When Los Angeles elected officials don't share transit directions to events, I tend to go pretty hard on them. These are the supposed leaders of a city that's investing billions in infrastructure. Their constituents make up the second-highest public transportation ridership in the country. We're hosting a car-free/transit-first/no parking/transportation demand management games in less than two years. They can't pretend to care about all that stuff and then pretend transit riders don't exist out in the real world.

So when the confirmations went out from the two mayoral campaigns for their Election Night parties on Tuesday, of course I was carefully dissecting the language each campaign used to tell their biggest supporters how to get there.

Nithya Raman definitely picked the less transit-adjacent venue, although the Greek Theatre in Griffith Park was good for other reasons: a city-owned property, a public space in a public park, the way the deodars framing the stage scented the canyon air as the sun set. But Raman's campaign included transit directions that were accurate and quite pleasant; I rode a mint green-striped electric DASH bus (free, for Election Day) from the B line (free, for Election Day) in Los Feliz, stopping to vote along the way, and the whole experience was seamless. I would have appreciated some biking/bike share/bike parking information, too, but there were serviceable new racks.

Karen Bass, the current mayor of the city, as well as the current chair of the Metro board, did not include any transit directions whatsoever to her party at the Loews Hollywood Hotel. A venue that is literally built on top of the Hollywood and Highland subway station.

Bass recently said, "Los Angeles is a public transit city, and we’re proving it every day," but her campaign, mayorship, and Metro board tenure have not, in fact, proved that she believes that sentiment herself. You don't get to call LA a public transit city and completely ignore the mandate from voters who endorsed more multimodal options. You don't get to call LA a public transit city and then actively intervene to stop already-approved protected bike lanes. You don't get to call LA a public transit city and then oppose denser housing around bus stops. Public transit is an ecosystem, and you either support choosing alternatives to cars and mitigating all their negative externalities, or you don't.

Providing transit directions as part of a public event (or megaevent) is truly the floor when it comes to officials demonstrating they actually care about the people who rely on transit, many of whom are likely staffing said event. The city in general is so bad at this that a municipal ordinance had to be introduced requiring that transit directions be included in all information about city events. But it's something this mayoral administration has had particular trouble with, even for official gatherings associated with the Olympics and Paralympics.

But Alissa, someone messaged me, it wasn't really Bass's campaign party. Okay, technically, you're right: this was the official Los Angeles County Democratic Party party featuring Mayor Karen Bass. But that's even worse? Because now it's not a failure of a few campaign staffers to consider LA's nondrivers — one-third of the population! — it's a galvanized decision emblematic of a system dominated by Democratic party leaders who are increasingly out of touch with the demands of LA's electorate. The very same party hyping up a Blue Wave didn't even remember there was a Red (B) line running below their feet. The very same party claims to prioritize climate and affordability as they tout a $65 valet service that Bass fans could enjoy for the low price of $25. Not just inducing driving! Subsidizing parking costs!

Much has been written about the generational gap in LA's mayoral race. Bass, 73, tried to paint Raman, 45, as inexperienced; "not ready for prime time." When Raman takes office — and statistically, it's looking more like a blowout — LA will have a mayor, city attorney, and city controller with an average age of 38. Younger voters, who turned out in big numbers this election, care deeply about transit and were overwhelmingly supporting Raman. But the gap is about more than just age and transportation habits. The complacency of car dependency is what's propping up the establishment Democrats; it's the same reason corporations and tech companies are spending big on them to keep us from the city that we deserve. Even the LA County Republican Party, bless their heart, was boosting Bass in the final days.

On Election Night, perhaps unsurprisingly, Bass's speech had no mention of transportation at all.

While Raman, in her speech, talked about the importance of crosswalks and "a public transit system worthy of the people of this city," and got the biggest cheer of maybe the entire night when she said three words: "protected bike lanes." She described an LA "where children can walk safely to school. And there is shade at a bus stop. Where our streets are alive with neighbors and music and good food."

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A post shared by Nithya Raman (@nithyaforthecity)

On Election Day Eve, Raman rode the B line from Koreatown to North Hollywood with about 50 transit advocates, passing right beneath where Bass would deliver what will now be known as a concession speech less than 24 hours later. "I am so passionate about building out a real public transit system here in Los Angeles that is fast, that is safe, that is really connecting people from where they live and where they need to go," Raman said, her arm looped around the pole of a subway car. "And if you get out there and vote, we can have a city where you don't need to own a car to get around. I have that dream. And it is completely possible to do that in LA."

On Tuesday, Angelenos chose that direction. 🔥

A few other races to watch

It was an expensive night for Airbnb which may only emerge victorious in one of the LA city races it spent more than $7 million on. In addition to Raman winning mayor, Marissa Roy, our new 34-year-old city attorney, claimed victory with a stunning 66% of votes just after polls closed. Barri Worth Girvan seems poised to win in Council District 3. Just Council District 9 is still too close to call, although, once again, super high turnout among young voters might nudge Estuardo Mazariegos on top.

Our parks will be (slightly more) funded thanks to the passage of Measure PRK, mobilized by a huge coalition led by the indefatigable Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust. This is another major city issue that Bass really neglected — I never saw her campaign for PRK — and truly overhauling LA's park system will require a lot of energy and attention from Raman, especially ahead of 2028.

C-I-P! C-I-P! C-I-P! The passage of Measure LA means our long-awaited Capital Infrastructure Program and a reformed public works department are on the way, plus a lot more good stuff. Congratulations to Investing in Place for making a decade-long vision reality.

James Butts might not be forever-mayor of Inglewood as Councilmember Gloria Gray is currently leading that race. Due to the way Inglewood runs its elections, the top two will go to a runoff if no candidate reaches 50% — not sure why this didn't happen on the typical June/November schedule but maybe that's due to Butts being forever-mayor. Don't miss this wild interview with Butts

Big changes are on deck for the Metro board with Raman's win — and even bigger changes if Butts doesn't win as well. Raman has four appointees to the board, including herself, and she could put people in there who really care about (and ride) transit. Nick Andert has a lovely thread with all the possibilities

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