Long Beach Mayor, councilman want city representation on transportation board

Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia and Councilman Al Austin plan to visit the state capital Wednesday and lobby for expanding the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s goveing board from 14 to 16 members.

State Sen. Tony Mendoza, D-Artesia, has proposed a bill to do so in order to give Los Angeles County cities — other than Los Angeles itself — more influence in transportation plaing. Metro’s 14-member board is required to include Los Angeles’ mayor, and whoever holds that position also gets to appoint three other board members.

The bill, S.B. 1472, would increase the board’s membership to include two members who are Los Angeles County residents, but who caot live in the same city as any other Metro board members. The Assembly Speaker, currently Paramount Democrat Anthony Rendon, and state Senate Rules Committee would be empowered to select the additional board members.

Garcia and Austin said in a statement that Long Beach, the county’s second most populous city, should have representation on Metro’s board.

The two Long Beach officials plan to travel to Sacramento Wednesday to meet with Mendoza and state Sen. Ricardo Lara, D-Long Beach, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee.

The Appropiations Commitee is scheduled to hold a hearing on the bill on May 23. Mendoza’s bill passed the Senate Transportation Committee on a 6 to 3 vote on April 19.