Los Angeles’ legislative delegation is asking Gov. Gavin Newsom and Democratic leaders to dedicate $3.3 billion annually for the region’s transit agencies, ratcheting up the fight over revenue generated by the state’s trading program for greenhouse gases.
What happened: Fourteen members of the state Assembly and Senate joined a Tuesday letter to Newsom (D), Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas (D) and Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire (D), arguing that state officials have overlooked Southern California transit in favor of high-speed rail and Bay Area systems.
“In light of previous investments in the Bay Area and Central Valley transportation, and the current proposal to appropriate $1 billion annually for high-speed rail, fairness and climate science require that $3.3 billion annually be invested in Los Angeles County transit,” the letter reads.
Why it matters: The move comes as negotiations over how to distribute the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, which disperses cap-and-trade revenues, have intensified in recent days.
