- Waxman — my congressman — got an important bill passed! The bill repeals a ban on subway tunneling underneath Wilshire Boulevard — helping the subway to the sea project come along.
- A blogger’s been in jail for 171 days and counting for not turning over some videotapes. It appears he would be protected under the Cali shield law — but isn’t under federal laws.
- Jeff Koons speaks at a LACMA event. I saw a buncha his creative output last night — they were incorporated into the Magritte exhibit at LACMA —
- Brattleboro, Vermont, wants to become the 2nd fair trade town in the US!
Yeah, it’s good that Waxman has finally gotten clearance from the lizard people to go forward with westside tunneling.
Comment by don hosek — February 9, 2007 @ 8:47 am
Unfortunately, it was Waxman himself that put the ban in place in 1986…
Comment by David — February 9, 2007 @ 9:10 am
It took 20 years for Waxman to undo the damage he did. He doesn’t even admit he made a horrible mistake with long-lasting consequences for all of us.
What a jerk.
Comment by Rafi — February 9, 2007 @ 10:07 am
Everyone is praising him now..newspapers, NBC…its bad. He’s a real jerk indeed.
Comment by David — February 9, 2007 @ 10:18 am
Absolutely. I’m happy for him that he has discovered this wonderful new thing called Science, but he never should have been allowed through the doors of the Capitol without it (insert snarky remark here).
What I don’t understand is why he had to make tunneling under Wilshire a federal case in the first place.
Comment by meg — February 9, 2007 @ 10:41 am
Honestly I think it was to prevent the “unwanteds” from coming to the westside. At least thats the word on the street…..
Comment by David — February 9, 2007 @ 10:43 am
Yeah, that’s always been my understanding too — methane was just an excuse.
But part of me wonders to what extent the Steal My TV Appeal is a cultural myth. Everywhere I’ve ever witnessed subway opposition (Atlanta, SF, Osaka, here), the proponents have accused the opponents of fearing brown people who will steal their tvs and haul them home on the train. To what extent was that charged based in reality and to what extent was it a low blow? An unresolvable question, but still.
Comment by meg — February 9, 2007 @ 11:50 am
To what extent was that charged based in reality and to what extent was it a low blow? An unresolvable question, but still.
In L.A. it used to be very prevalent, and was used to vote down the transit taxes opposed just a few years after the Watts Riots.
The strongest subway opposition came from Hancock Park, and for that very reason.
Atlanta has been the most notorious about the race angle, but it might just get more play because it’s in the South.
Comment by Wad — February 9, 2007 @ 10:29 pm