July 8, 2022
The Healthy Streets ballot initiative in the city of LA has submitted its signatures in June, and they are feeling optimistic about getting on the ballot this fall!
Now that the City Clerk has received the signatures, they will begin their validation process ensuring that everyone who signed the ballot measure is a legitimate City of LA voter. Once certified, the initiative will go to the city council who will decide whether to adopt the initiative outright or let the voters decide as soon as this year (2022).
Because transportation is the single largest source of climate emissions in California, creating safer alternatives to driving is a top priority of the climate movement.
The ballot measure allows voters to choose: Should the city of LA be required to implement its mobility plan when streets are repaved? The mobility plan is a great plan, developed by the city with extensive stakeholder input. But after 7 years, only 3% of the plan has been implemented -- all too often LA city council members have rejected these improvements when streets in their districts are repaved.
Half of the trips in LA are 3 miles or less. In private cars, those trips generate smog and climate emissions. Safety is the #1 reason why more people don't choose to walk or bike, and this plan invests in safety for all road users.
For reference, here's what the Mobility Plan looks like when it's implemented. Riverside Drive was recently repaved, and councilmember Nithya Raman supported the improvements - read more here.
L.A. City Councilmember Nithya Raman and LADOT General Manager Seleta Reynolds celebrating Riverside Drive's new protected bike lanes. Photos by Joe Linton/Streetsblog L.A.
Initiative homepage: