Link the coming Sunset and La Cienega Bus Rapid Transit corridors.

Here is a Metro Los Angeles map of potential transit corridors for possible upgrade to Bus Rapid Transit.   

Metro  recently released it's top five priorities for Bus Rapid Transit corridors.

The La Cienega BRT Line would run from Slauson to Santa Monica Blvd.  Why not link this BRT Line  to the new proposed Sunset - Cesar Chavez BRT Line via Santa Monica Blvd. and/or Sunset Blvd.?

That map may off on scale, but a BRT Line between the ocean - Venice - La Cienega - San Vicente - Santa Monica - Sunset - Cesar Chavez - Union Station sounds pretty cool, doesn't it?

Actually that alignment works really well as a streetcar/tram too.

What do you think?

The Next Steps Toward Universal Health Care in America

Much was discussed about health care in this past election, but with narrow Congressional majorities coming in 2021, it remains to be seen what will actually change federally.  The Affordable Care Act ("ACA") was meant to be a first important step in health care reform -- a step to be built upon over time until we achieve universal access to health care.  

If the whole topic of health insurance and health care is a mystery to you, I highly recommend watching  Knowing Better's excellent and entertaining video explaining America's health care system, Healthcare | The Complete Moderate's Guide.  He will clearly explain premiums, deductibles, co-pays, Medicare, Medicaid, and the V.A. System.

I am going to assume from this point forward that you know what a premium is, what a deductible is, and what a co-pay is.  If you don't, then please watch the above video.

New York Times columnist and Nobel Prize Winner Paul Krugman has written about universal health care as requiring three basic components:

1. Everybody In (either through taxation or a mandate to buy comprehensive health insurance);
2. Nobody left out (no one can be denied health care or coverage due to pre-existing medical conditions or medical history);
3. Government Subsidies (to help make health care accessible to all.)

The United States could learn a lot from what is already working around the world.  Universal health care is provided and financed by a variety of methods around the globe, some of which Healthcare Triage has done brief video descriptions:

• In Switzerland, people are required to buy private health insurance on tightly regulated markets -- much more regulated than the ACA is currently. People buy voluntary supplementary insurance to cover co-pays.
   
• The world's top rated system is in France,  Everyone must pay for mandatory health insurance.  Voluntary health insurance provides supplemental policies.  Providers are both public and private. Co-pays are lower in France and quality is high.
  
  
• It wouldn't take much for the ACA to evolve into a system similar to Germany's.  Health insurance is mandatory, tightly-regulated, and non-profit.  Long-term care insurance is mandatory too.  Hospitals are both public and private.
  
  
• Australia's public "Medicare" system operates alongside a private system. About half the people have private insurance.
  
  
• Singapore has an interesting model.  Great outcomes with low percentage of GDP spent on healthcare.  Singapore has a mixture of public and private health care spending and public and private health care delivery systems.  There are also five tiers of service you can pay for.  What makes it unique is its reliance on mandatory Health Savings Accounts.  Workers are required to put aside 20% of their income into savings for various usages, including for health care expenses such as insurance. There is also an additional inexpensive catastrophic illness program that 90% of the population participates in.
  
  
• In Canada they have "single-payer health care" which they call "Medicare", which is similar to our Medicare program for senior citizens.  Interestingly, single-payer started in one Canadian province and spread nationwide province by province.  If the Federal government gave statutory permission for states to use Federal Medicaid money to help create single-payer systems in their states the same thing could happen here.
  
  
• In the United Kingdom, taxpayers pay for a publicly-owned and operated health care system that directly provides service through the National Heath Service.  The closest equivalent to this in America is our Veterans Affairs system.
  
  
• Taiwan has proven that you make a major leap from a system of private insurance to a single-payer model in one swoop. 

President-Elect Biden ran on a platform with a credible health care plan that included adding a robust public health insurance option open to everyone, as well as overcoming red-state, holdout resistance to the ACA's Medicaid expansion, and strengthening Medicare.

Unfortunately for my fellow progressives, a direct Taiwan-esqe leap from what we have now to Medicare-for-All is likely not on the cards.  It couldn't pass the Senate.  Even getting any kind of federal public option or Medicare-Buy-In through a narrowly divided Senate with a legislative filibuster will be extremely tough.

As a backup plan, I would encourage Congress to pass a law that gives states statutory ability to use their Medicaid funding to establish public options open to all and/or single-payer systems within their states.  A few blue states could start a nationwide trend similar to what happened in Canada in how their "Medicare-for-all" system started in one province and went national.

One of the ways I would improve the existing ACA is to add adult dental, vision, and hearing benefits to the available plans for purchase on the exchanges.  Currently, those benefits are available those benefits are available to children on ACA "Bronze", "Silver", "Gold", and "Platinum" plans.  Let's add "Diamond- level plans which also include adult dental, vision, and hearing benefits too.  Yes, people could go purchase those benefits separately if they want them, but we want to make peoples' lives simpler and easier, not more complicated.  One-stop shopping would be helpful and worth it to many people.

Social Security and Medicare were first established as limited programs and then gradually built upon over time into the universal programs as we know them today.  Let's keep moving forward in health care until we have universal access to insurance and care.  Let's not get stuck though on assuming that only one specific model of universal health care is acceptable.  The world offers us lots of examples of he we could move forward, and all of them are an improvement.  If we remain flexible in approach, we will get there sooner rather than later.  The ACA offers federal and state flexibility to compromise and do just that if we will allow it.

Revitalizing West Hollywood After the Pandemic

I've been doing a lot of walking around West Hollywood to get my 10,000 steps in daily and I am distressed by the number of closed and vacant storefronts I see on my routes.  Not just stores, but bars and other entertainment venues are shutting down.  This is causing great concern among people who love this city.

"And the Band Played On" in the Micky's photo s an ominous reference to the last pandemic which is not over, by the way.  HIV/AIDS is still a thing.  (Please check out Randy Shilt's amazing book and the Emmy-winning TV movie if you have never read or seen either.)

When this new pandemic hit it was unknown if we were going to be able to bounceback rapidly from shutting down as we hoped.  It is now clear that this is not the case.  Much of this has been beyond the City of West Hollywood's control.  We have a incompetent and corrupt President who treated Coronavirus like a "hoax" and failed to take the necessary actions to control the virus, which meant the economy could not recover quickly.  Re-opening a country too soon that did not shut down properly, not only did not spur the economy, it spurred the virus.  We also have a giant chunk of seemingly delusional people who treat COVID-19 as if it were simply overblown media hype or think that mask-wearing and social distancing shouldn't apply to them because they are special or infringes on their "freedumb" to infect other people.

So, lacking the leadership and social solidarity of countries like New Zealand, South Korea, Germany, and Japan, America is in for a long slog where over 200,000 will likely perish from COVID-19 by November and the American economy continues its spiral into its worst downturn since the Great Depression.

Many people who live in or love West Hollywood are asking themselves, 'What kind of city will we come back to when we finally emerge out of this pandemic and the resulting economic catastrophe?"  In particular, there is concern that West Hollywood's two great entertainment zones, the Rainbow District and the Sunset Trip, will lose their unique characters and become generic and no longer representative of their respective histories.  

Some businesses are making the best of this situation.

At Block Party WeHo, it is "Pride All Year Long", and they have begun setting up shop outdoors.

Even Yogurt Stop is getting into the act.  

I am all for this adaptation.  Hopefully, businesses like these will be able to survive and that indoor shopping will return before the rain starts.

Many restaurants who are lucky enough to have outside seating are able to use that to serve customers.  Some which have not had outside seating before have converted parking lots seating.  Hamburger Mary's has recreated its fun atmosphere outside.  It was fun enjoying the music at atmosphere.  Hey, I'm open to drag bingo outdoors at night.

The Sunset Strip has been quiet during the shutdown, but Carney's is still serving a great chili dog.

However, if it is going to be several months or a couple of years before a vaccine, and even longer before the economy bounces back, what is going to happen to the Rainbow District and Sunset Strip, particularly to its empty storefronts and shuttered nightlife?  Will it be generic chains that slap a rainbow flag or guitar sticker on the door that come in and we simply call it a day?  What about the small businesses that made this city great?   What can the City of West Hollywood do about this?

Of course, the Federal government has certain powers, our state governments have certain powers, and local governments are given certain powers by our states in our federal system in America.  The City of West Hollywood cannot control the overall national economy, nor can we tell a private property or business owner what to do with their asset, but we can try to encourage and influence how we want our entertainment districts to revive with how we design our public spaces and approve planning and permits.

I don't have all the answers for revitalizing our entertainment districts, nor should any one person determine how this is to happen.  But here are my suggestions for moving forward and at least getting the process started:

(1) I suggest the City establish an official Rainbow District Task Force and a Sunset Strip Task Force asked to coming up with a series of recommendations and action items on how to economically revitalize while still maintaining the historical character of these two entertainment zones.  These Task Forces are not about creating new administrative layers, but about engaging the community.  The revitalization of the Sunset Strip and Rainbow District after the pandemic should include input from all its stakeholders. Excite the community by involving the community.  An excited community leads to prosperous local businesses too.  

(2) I suggest expanding the mandate of the Arts & Cultural Affairs Commission to the "Arts, Cultural and Entertainment Affairs Commission" so there is a standing body in the City to review fun, creative public nightlife events for the City to help things along.  Perhaps we could allow street buskers on Sunset Strip and drag queens to perform for the public in the Rainbow District, as examples.

(3) I suggest the City establish an Affordable Housing Task Force that will be asked to recommend methods of creating more affordable housing for artistic and creative people who are currently priced out of living in West Hollywood.  For example, there may be non-traditional types of housing such as loft spaces, communal spaces, converted empty commercial spaces, SRO's, that we designate for people in the arts and entertainment industry. 

(4) I suggest establishing a Public Banking Commission.  California passed a new law authorizing municipalities to establish public banks which can use their funds to reinvest in their communities.  West Hollywood should jump on this new opportunity.

(5) I recommend The Pick Up Line entertainment shuttle be rerouted so the western turnaround takes people up to the Sunset Strip as seen below, and perhaps join with the City of Los Angeles for a "Super Entertainment Shuttle" (see previous blog post) that includes Hollywood and Theatre Row.

Proposed new Pickup Line alignment

 

Proposed Entertainment Supershuttle alignment

Revitalizing the Sunset Strip and Rainbow District isn't only about preserving the character and culture of West Hollywood, as important as that is in itself.  It's also about preserving the tax base that pays for our quality services.  At my last glance, the city's hotel tax is its largest revenue source, and if we want people to lodge in our hotels, we need to give them incentive to spend the night in our fun, creative city.

Here is some good news.  There will always be change.  Businesses and people come and go in life.  Here is one that opened in mid-city area.  I can recommend the coffee at gget ("Go Get 'Em Tiger").  Don't lose heart.  Happy Days will someday be here again.

There is an election in November.  I'm not running for anything, but I invite all the candidates who are running to share with us their ideas for revitalizing the Rainbow District and Sunset Strip when we finally emerge from this horrible pandemic and resulting economic devestation.

What do you think?

A Super Entertainment Shuttle Proposal for Hollywood and West Hollywood

In West Hollywood, pre-pandemic, West Hollywood had two free entertainment shuttles which ran Friday and Saturday nights, the Pick Up Line and the Sunset Trip.  (The Pick Up line also ran on "Sunday fundays" and certain holidays.).

The advantages of a free shuttle service serving nightlife are obvious.  It reduces the amount of traffic in the area, reduces drunk driving, reduces the demands on parking, and provides more customers to businesses in these districts.  These free shuttles ran old trolley cars and played hip music and have a fun atmosphere too them.  You can see their respective routes below:

Eventually, whenever things re-open again at some point in the future, and nightlife returns again, West Hollywood can bring back entertainment shuttle service.  Unfortunately, post-pandemic, there are not funds to operate both shuttles.  The Pick Up Line will return first when things re-open again in the future.  

A proposal I have is to modify the Pick Up route, so the western turn around also serves a part of Sunset Blvd.  This will take people up the hill to part of the western Sunset Strip and provide shuttle service to places like the Roxy, the Whisky-a-Go-Go, the Rainbow Room, and the Viper Room, among others, as seen below;

For future planning, I want to propose something bigger and grander involving both Hollywood and West Hollywood.  A "Super Entertainment Shuttle" if you will.  It would serve the Rainbow District, the Sunset Trip, and currently unserved "Theatre Row", as well as taking people to clubs in Hollywood and the "B Line" ("Red Line") Subway.  I envision both a clockwise and a counterclockwise loop.  Please see below.

Two notes:  (1)  I'm currently envisioning the entertainment shuttle heading north from Sunset to Highland rather than LaBrea, because Hollywood Blvd. is often a standstill between Highland and LaBrea on Friday/Saturday nights;  (2) Also, those numbered blue dots are mileage markers, not proposed stops.  The whole loop is slightly under ten miles.   

Granted, this shuttle would require cooperation between both the Cities of Los Angeles and West Hollywood, and it will be months before all of these types of businesses re-open.  But we plan for the future today.  

Imagine someone taking the Red Line to Hollywood, to then catch the shuttle to see a play on Theatre Row or a set at The Comedy Store; and then heading for a drink at The Rainbow Room, or Mickey's; and then head back to the subway, having left the car at home.

What do you think?

Enough. 150,000 are dead. Shut it down. Start over.

‪Enough. 150,000 people are dead. Shut everything down nationwide for 60 days and start over.

No more state-by-state chaos. If one state outbreaks it travels everywhere else. Mandate masks and physical distancing nationwide.

Shut down all non-essential businesses and pay everyone universal basic income. Freeze all rent/mortgages.

Use the Defense Production Act to manufacture enough Personal Protective Equipment, enough COVID-19 testing, and a contact tracing program.

Start over.

States will then have 60 days to plan to take over knowing that the virus will finally be under control; that there will be enough test and PPE available, and can plan accordingly. America never shut down properly so any re-opening plan was doomed to fail.

The economy will bounce back but only after the virus has been contained. Your freedom will come back after the virus has been contained.

An adult admits they have made a mistake and can course correct. And as billionaires, corporations, and Wall Street received bailouts in the trillions, we can afford to spend money on universal basic income, PPE, testing, health care, and retrofitting for the future.

The thing about a pandemic is that we are all in this together and we can only come out of it together. It is like an escape room where squabbling survivors finally realize, "Oh, we were supposed to work together this whole time."

So let's reset and start again, because what are doing is not working.

What do you think?

"Transit is Essential" - Recommendations from the California Transit Association

The California Transit Association, which represents over 85 local transit agencies in California, released a report from its COVID-19 Transit Crisis Relief Task Force with a series of recommendations in its report:  "Transit is Essential:  Recommendations for the Future of Transit".

Transit is Essential: Recommendations for the Future of Transit

Here is a list of their recommendations:

Operations Recommendations:   

1. Direct riders to wear face coverings.

2. Support installation of protective barriers for operators, where feasible.

3. Update ventilation systems or improve air flow in transit vehicles.

4. Adopt and publicize enhanced cleaning methods.

5. Prioritize service restoration in high ridership corridors.

6. Restore more frequent service.

7. Engage major employers and other stakeholders to develop policies to expand staggered work hours and smooth peak demand.

Technology Recommendations:

8. Introduce digital ticketing and contactless payment system

9. Expand new mobility options where more cost-effective than restoring traditional transit service.

Land Use Recommendations:

10. Work with local and regional partners to implement dedicated bus lanes.

11. Work with local and regional partners to institute traffic signal prioritization.

Funding and Policy Recommendations:

12. Provide emergency funding to transit agencies.

13. Institute new local government funding options to support transit and infrastructure near transit.

14. Expedite transit project delivery.

15. Increase funding for zero-emission buses and charging/refueling infrastructure.

16. Authorize operation of transit buses on highway shoulders.

17. Continue to move projects through capital investment grant pipeline, establish capacity for new projects.

Please click here to read the full report which includes justifications for each of the recommendations and examples from around the state.  This is a lot of good practical information.

At the same time a coalition of transit, cycling, and safe street advocates have released their own recommendations which Streetsblog California has uploaded and I encourage you to read here.

My favorite recommendation is this one: 

Establish a statewide, user-centered transit fare payment system: Promote state efforts to provide statewide transit eligibility verification, streamlined payment, and ensure access to reliable and accurate real time transit information. A statewide system offers great potential to save local transit agencies millions of dollars and more easily allow vulnerable populations to receive discounted or free fares.

That's a really great idea.  They also remind us to think of the first mile / last mile issue with all transportation planning:

Better align state transportation funding to ensure that people can easily take transit, walk, and bicycle: When people are riding the bus or taking the train, typically their journey does not end at the station. State transportation dollars should fund excellent pedestrian, bicycle, and other pollution-free transportation options that seamlessly connect public transit to communities and destinations, and support door-to door trips that don’t require a car.

My experience of riding transit is that buses and trains are filling up again, so we absolutely need to find a way to preserve service through this crisis and move on to Metro's Long Range Transportation Plan and its NextGen Bus Plan.

What do you think?

Metro Los Angeles' NextGen Bus Plan

Metro Los Angeles is undergoing a once every few decades overhaul of its bus network called the NextGen Bus Plan.  The basic strategy of this plan is to merge the Rapid and Limited lines with their respective Local lines, while increasing space between stops to create new, more frequent bus lines.  This approach has proven successful in other regions.  Here is some examples of upcoming changes:

Rapid 704 and Local 4 are combined into new frequent Line 4:

Rapid 705 and Local 105 are combined into new frequent Line 105:

For my friends in Malibu, Line 534 turns into Line 134 with more frequent weekend service:

A fascinating change is combining of Rapid 780 with Locals 180, 181, and 217 to create a new powerhouse frequent Line 180 running between the La Cienega / Jefferson station of Metro's E-Line and Pasadena City College via Fairfax - Hollywood - Los Feliz - Colorado.  In my thinking, the only way this line will work operationally is if bus lanes are installed on Hollywood Blvd.  And why not?  So many lines start and finish at Hollywood Blvd. from every direction.  Hollywood Blvd. is already being eyed for a redesign.  Now would be the time.  

To look at all of the systemwide changes, please click here.

What do you think?