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Russ, I don't know if you or any one else has seen this info.
First, I got this message from the LA email.
Urgent Message for all L.A. Marathon Participants and Alumni
When we first announced our new point-to-point course last summer, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa spoke to the significance of transporting participants for free on the Metro on race day. Yesterday, L.A. County Supervisor Gloria Molina, in her capacity as MTA Chair, said in a committee meeting that marathoners should not be provided with free race day transportation and withdrew the agenda item from next week’s MTA board meeting. Mayor Villaraigosa plans to take this matter directly to the MTA board meeting on February 22.
WE STRONGLY URGE YOU TO E-MAIL SUPERVISOR MOLINA TODAY TO EXPRESS YOUR OPINION ABOUT FREE RACE DAY TRANSPORTATION FOR MARATHONERS.
Then I get this message after I emailed Gloria Molina:
Dear L.A. Marathon Participant:
Thank you for participating in the L.A. Marathon. It is a cherished Angeleno tradition that thousands of people participate in annually—with millions more watching on television—and it is a custom that keeps the Los Angeles civic family together.
I received your correspondence regarding my insistence that the L.A. County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) not subsidize the L.A. Marathon—a “for-profit” business—to the tune of over $300,000. I feel compelled to explain plainly the reasoning behind my decision. It is truly unfortunate that a totally avoidable incident is tarnishing this much-anticipated, internationally renowned event.
It is critical to point out that L.A. Marathon organizers never received MTA approval for this subsidy. They promised a free ride to you, the participant, without obtaining the necessary clearance. They lied and they are now feigning outrage when confronted with the truth.
Their action is especially outrageous since the MTA is a publicly funded agency. It is currently facing a nearly one billion dollar deficit over the next five years. To avoid a fiscal disaster, the MTA Board of Directors is seriously considering raising fares. The cost of a day pass may rise from $3.00 to $5.00. Monthly passes
may jump from $52 to $75. Monthly passes for seniors may climb from $12 to $37.50. Student monthly passes for children in grades K-12 may increase from $20 to $45 and monthly passes for college students will jump from $30 to $50. These are increases of between 44 and 212 percent—and they will only cover our first year’s deficit. They might—and, most likely, will—rise even more.
Now the L.A. Marathon—a private entity—is asking these same taxpayers to foot an additional $300,000 because marathon organizers dropped the ball in obtaining a private sponsor. Already, the
L.A. Marathon is charging you up to $105 to participate. That is quite a hefty sum. The lowest cost marathon entry fee, for the record, has grown from $75 in 2004 to $85 in 2007. That’s a 21 percent increase. L.A. Marathon organizers apparently feel this is the cost of civic participation—and now they want to charge the public another $300,000—or you—to subsidize a $1.25 fare per L.A. Marathon participant and their family.
As Chair of the MTA Board of Directors, I refuse to let this happen. Indeed, $300,000 could pay for a great deal of public transportation services, including:
- 25,000 senior monthly passes
- 666,666 senior cash bus fares
- 857,000 senior night bus fares
Public agencies are increasingly asked to provide more services without raising taxes and fees. I strive to achieve this goal to the best of my ability every single day. This means that every penny counts—and those public dollars must go toward paying for public services. I have dedicated my political career to this principle and I will not stop now.
This debacle is unfortunate for everybody. It isn’t fair for you, the L.A. Marathon participant, to be blindsided with this extra cost because
event organizers made false promises they couldn’t keep. But neither should L.A. County taxpayers.
I urge you to contact Bill Burke, the head of the L.A. Marathon, and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa to request that they fulfill their commitment to providing you with free shuttle service. They can be reached using the following contact information:
- Bill Burke: drbburke@..., (310) 444-5544
- Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa: mayor@..., (213) 978-0600
Thank you again for contacting me.
Sincerely,
GLORIA MOLINA
Chair, MTA Board of Directors
So, if anyone can figure out when the drama is over, are we going to be able to use the redline with just our bib numbers or not? Stay tuned to this station, news after the meeting 2/22/07.
I emailed Devine Sports and Villariagoza as directed, and said to pony up. $105 entry fee, and they can't afford the train ride? They changed the route, we didn't.
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