Soboroff, Wachs Oppose Transit Workers Bill

In an aggressive vetting of mayoral candidates, a San Fernando Valley business group reported Monday that only two--businessman Steve Soboroff and Los Angeles City Councilman Joel Wachs--oppose pending legislation that could kill a proposed separate Valley transit agency.

The influential Valley Industry and Commerce Assn. has opposed the pending legislation, which backers say protects transit workers’ wages and benefits. VICA maintains the bill would force costs up too high to make a local district feasible. Two other candidates--Congressman Xavier Becerra (D-Los Angeles) and Assembly Speaker Antonio Villaraigosa (D-Los Angeles) told VICA they will continue to back the labor union-supported bill.

VICA said it did not receive responses from City Atty. James Hahn and state Controller Kathleen Connell, who has not declared her candidacy.

Officially, VICA said it does not endorse candidates and has not taken a position on secession, but the group does support studying the possible municipal split that could break the Valley away from the rest of Los Angeles.

But VICA is fighting the Senate bill, sponsored by state Sen. Kevin Murray (D-Culver City), that requires any new operator of a bus service to pay wages and benefits consistent with those received by workers with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

“I don’t think it is a secession issue,” said Richard Katz, co-chairman of the VICA Ground Transportation Committee and a former assemblyman. “It is a totally Valley issue.”

Although Villaraigosa, a co-author of the bill in question, and Becerra are strong backers, Katz praised them for responding to the VICA letter.

“It’s easier to duck than to say something that will make people unhappy,” Katz said, chastising Hahn and Connell, who didn’t respond to the organization. Neither Hahn nor Connell returned calls for comment Monday.

In his letter to VICA, Villaraigosa said he believes new regional transit zones can be more efficient and cost effective “without jeopardizing the pensions, wages and collective bargaining right of bus drivers and mechanics.”

Villaraigosa said he thinks a Valley transit agency could save money while also honoring all union contracts.

Becerra also supports the Senate bill but could not be reached for comment.

Wachs and Soboroff foresee that a new transit zone would be crippled by the labor costs protected by the pending state Senate bill, which is currently on the Assembly floor.

“It can’t achieve the savings, which is the whole reason for having it,” Wachs said.

Transportation, like education, is a key issue for Valley residents who want improvements, he said. “They know it could get better and they get cynical,” Wachs said. “And they say the only way things can get better is if we have our own.”

Soboroff, who is backed by Mayor Richard Riordan, said a separate transit agency would not be a prelude to overall government secession. Riordan has long fought the municipal breakup proposal which has already spurred other parts of the city to start their own efforts.

“I’m not for secession, but I’m for taking the reasons for secession and fixing them. And this is one of the reasons,” Soboroff said. “Why not fix the problems? That’s the way you stop secession.”