In a contentious climate where there are so many cliques that even the bus riders are organized, Mr. Ruben belongs to a group that seems pleased with the outcome.
A Compromise
“It was a foregone conclusion,” he said today, “that some kind of increase was needed to address the MTA’s structural deficit. Our organization, the Southern California Transit Advocates, opposed the MTA’s original proposal because it would have raised fares too fast.
“Transit Advocates supported incremental hikes, pretty close to the plan by (County Supervisor) Gloria Molina that eventually passed.”
Lofty Status
It is at least arguable, if not scientifically provable, that Mr. Ruben knows more about the internal and external politics and niceties of the rate increase better than MTA chief executive Roger Snoble and his hundreds of minions.
Should Mr. Ruben’s unequivocating validation of the controversial price changes that will take effect on July 1 quell the citywide dispute?
There probably is not a layman in Southern California who understands transportation as a concept, mass transit, the MTA, light rail and the Culver City bus system better than Mr. Ruben.
Inside the Transit Culture
Within the last year alone, he may have logged more miles on Los Angeles streets than any fulltime bus driver.
In recognition of his authentic status as a non-professional maven, Mr. Ruben is the Metro Westside Sector representative of the long established Southern California Transit Advocates group, organized in the late 1980s.
He rivals City Councilperson Carol Gross in competing for the blue ribbon for attending — and participating — in the most civic-oriented meetings on an annual basis.
View from the Top
Dana Gabbard, Executive Secretary of the SoCal Transit Advocates — not to be confused in formation or purpose with the newer, more narrowly based Bus Riders Union — concurred with Mr. Ruben while lambasting the route to the decision.
“As a political process,” he said, “it was as ugly as sausage-making.” As one who held a substantial stake in the outcome, Mr. Gabbard was amused by the bitterly theatrical by-play between Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa of Los Angeles, advocating for the “poor and minority community,” and County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavasky.
Both the Supervisor and the Mayor are high-profile members of the 13-member MTA board that voted 9 to 4 to boost prices — following 60 seconds of testimony by each of more than 300 persons.
Financial Times
On July 1, rates will increase in 11 of 12 categories:
Weekly pass: From $14 to $17.
Monthly pass: From $52 to $62.
EZ monthly pass: From $58 to $70.
Senior/Disabled/Medicare (SDM) cash fare: From 45 cents to 55 cents.
SDM off-peak fare, applicable only for seniors 65 and older: From 25 cents to 30 cents.
SDM monthly pass: From $12 to $14.
K-12 monthly pass: From $20 to $24.
While thick legal opposition to the raises is expected from political allies of Mr. Villaraigosa, the new prices, as of today, remain on schedule for implementation in 32 days.
Good news may lie ahead, according to the leader of the 100-member Transit Advocates group. Mr. Gabbard said the structure of the rate hike potentially may change in three to six months if the MTA obtains state funding that presently is questionable.
