By Dan Bednarski, on July 31st, 2011  First, I would like to extend a warm welcome to Gisela Adams. Gisela will be taking over the Alhambra123.org blog/web site. She has promised to stir the pot well. Here is Gisela in her own words:
First, I want to wish Dan and his family all the best and a safe journey. I also wish Dan much success in his new job. However, I will miss him a lot. It will be tough to follow in his footsteps, but I will do my very best to keep up the good work Dan has started.
I will not let the HSR matter die just because there is no funding at this time for the LA – San Diego section. The issue will come back with a vengence down the road and we need to keep up with the latest and be prepared to fight.
Secondly, I want to share a little of my background. I have been a resident of Alhambra since December 1965 and have raised a son who attended the Alhambra school system. My husband and I have been very happy in this city, but the prospect of having our community destroyed by the HSR has left us quite concerned and upset. Therefore, we have joined other like-minded residents in fighting the HSR being constructed through Alhambra.
Regards, Gisela
Second, as alluded to in the title, I am leaving Alhambra.
I accepted a position in Saipan. I will work as a law clerk for the territorial Supreme Court of the Northern Mariana Islands. My family and I are relocating to the island of Saipan, located 2/3′s of the way between Hawai’i and Manila, Philippines.
Politically, the Northern Mariana Islands, or CNMI, is a U.S. territory similar to Puerto Rico. It was part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific that was set up after World War II by the United Nations and administered by the U.S. In the 1970′s, CNMI chose to become part of the United States while other parts of the Trust Territory of the Pacific decided on independence. Saipan is the capital island of CNMI.
Geographically, Saipan and the rest of the islands that make up CNMI are part of the same archipelago as Guam (about 125 miles from Saipan) and classified as part of Micronesia. Less than 100 miles east of Saipan is the Mariana Trench, which is the deepest known portion of the Pacific Ocean.
Our plan is to return to Alhambra when my two year contract expires. We love living in Alhambra. Not only that but Alhambra is at an exciting cross-roads and we’re sorry to miss out on what looks to be a critical time in the city’s transition. But we’ll be back. I may even pipe up from across the Pacific.
“We must be the change we wish to see in the world”
— Mohandas Gandhi
The goal of this web site is to discuss and help improve the quality of life of Alhambra residents. It started as a place to share information about the high speed rail system, the plans to cut through Alhambra and neighboring cities, and ensure that we are all informed about meetings and when reports are issued. That goal has since broadened to include other related aspects of quality of life. With regard to the high speed rail project, the goal is to analyze statements and information (or lack of information) made available by the Authority so our community may make informed decisions regarding our opposition or support of the high speed rail plan.
By Dan Bednarski, on July 28th, 2011  cpra, publicrecords * Updated July 29, 2011: The City of Alhambra responded to the second part of my CPRA request.
Sunlight is the best disinfectant. — Louis Brandeis
The California Public Records Act (CPRA) is a powerful tool intended to hold our state and local governments accountable. At its most basic level, the CPRA presumes a record created by an agency or its employees is a public record unless exempted by the Legislature, and gives everybody a right to access public records in California.
In adopting the CPRA, the Legislature declared that “access to information concerning the conduct of the people’s business is a fundamental and necessary right of every person in this state.” California Government Code § 6250. In addition, that concept is enshrined in the state Constitution: “The people have the right of access to information concerning the conduct of the people’s business, and therefore, . . . → Continue reading: Making a Request Under the California Public Records Act *updated
Read the rest of this article: Making a Request Under the California Public Records Act *updated
The California High Speed Rail Authority is putting its ambitious project from L.A. Union Station to San Diego into hibernation. The Rail Authority budget for the current fiscal year, beginning July 1, has no funding for any design, outreach, or other efforts to build the L.A. to San Diego line, which would potentially go through Alhambra and other cities in the San Gabriel Valley.
Instead, the Rail Authority has decided to focus completely on the first phase of the high speed rail project from San Francisco to Anaheim (Phase I). All funding that originally had been requested for the L.A. to San Diego line has been redirected to Phase I. The Rail Authority expects to break ground next year on a segment in the Central Valley between Fresno and Bakersfield. Phase I service is scheduled to begin between San Francisco and Anaheim in 2020.
What this means for Alhambra . . . → Continue reading: Transitions – Part 1: California High Speed Rail Project
Read the rest of this article: Transitions – Part 1: California High Speed Rail Project
By Dan Bednarski, on July 9th, 2011 alhambra, bicycle, bike plan, transportation Plan to attend next Wednesday’s Alhambra Transportation Commission meeting in City Hall. The West San Gabriel Valley and L.A. County Bike Coalitions will present to the Transportation Commission about how to make Alhambra bicycle friendly.
From the West San Gabriel Valley Bicycle Coalition:
Alhambra Transportation Commission Presentation – July 13, 7pm
LACBC/WSGVBC will be making a presentation to Alhambra’s Transportation Commission next Wednesday July 13th (7pm). The presentation will cover: Introduction of who we are/what we do * Why being bike friendly matters, inc. benefits to public safety/health, community livability * Vision – imagine a more walk & bike-able Alhambra * Funding sources for making a more walk & bike-able Alhambra * For anyone interested in attending, especially local residents, the meeting will be held in Council Chambers at Alhambra City Hall. Supporters will meet at 6:45pm in the atrium.
By Dan Bednarski, on May 26th, 2011 el monte, high speed rail, hsr Calling volunteers! Help inform El Monte residents that the Rail Authority plans to cut through residential neighborhoods of their city and take a large swath of homes in the process. Residents were notified about meetings but not told why it is important to attend the meetings. The goal is to make sure people can speak up now to voice their concerns while there is time.
Join a small group passing out flyers in the affected neighborhoods this coming Saturday morning. If you want to get involved, call Bruce & Sylvia: (626) 280-7225. If you can’t make it on Saturday, tell folks you know in El Monte and give them the following flyer. It is two sided. One side has information intended to get people to the meetings the second side has a map. (Google Docs)(PDF)
The map in the flyer is a reproduction of the map provided . . . → Continue reading: Calling volunteers! Help inform El Monte.
Read the rest of this article: Calling volunteers! Help inform El Monte.
By Dan Bednarski, on May 16th, 2011 high speed rail, hsr, meeting announcement The California High Speed Rail Authority scheduled 16 community meetings about its high speed rail project over the next 6 weeks throughout the local area. More meetings are scheduled for the Inland Empire and San Diego area.
The Alhambra meeting is scheduled for June 23 but you do not need to wait that long to find out more information about the project. Feel free to attend any of the meetings and ask questions. Meetings will be held in El Monte on May 25, San Gabriel on May 31, in and Downtown LA on June 1.
Note: We will find out on Monday whether the governor’s revised budget provides any funds for the L.A. to San Diego segment of the high speed rail project. If not, we need to expect that these will be the last meetings for a few years. The original state budget contained no money . . . → Continue reading: Meeting Announcements: Several upcoming meetings in Alhambra, San Gabriel, and elsewhere
Read the rest of this article: Meeting Announcements: Several upcoming meetings in Alhambra, San Gabriel, and elsewhere
By Dan Bednarski, on March 1st, 2011 The Rail Authority published the Preliminary Alternatives Report for its proposed L.A. to San Diego line. Previously, it had announced that the report was ready but did not actually post it. I have not read it yet but intend to read it tomorrow and post an analysis on Wednesday. The Rail Authority Board will meet on Thursday in downtown L.A. to discuss and approve the report.
UPDATE: The report says exactly what we already expected. The routes along the I-10 freeway and SR-60 will continue to be studied, while the routes that use and run adjacent to the Union Pacific railroad are withdrawn and will not be studied. See: Routes to be dropped, 75 foot high viaducts, and budget woes
Preliminary Alternatives Analysis Report:
Use the controls to zoom or go to Google Docs to view. The most relevant section to Alhambra and its neighboring cities starts . . . → Continue reading: High Speed Rail Preliminary Alternatives Report for L.A. to San Diego — now available (part 2)
Read the rest of this article: High Speed Rail Preliminary Alternatives Report for L.A. to San Diego — now available (part 2)
By Dan Bednarski, on February 25th, 2011 alternatives analysis, high speed rail, hsr The California High Speed Rail Authority sent out an email tonight announcing to its mailing list that the Preliminary Alternatives Analysis Report is ready. It provided links to the cover letter for the report and executive summary, both embedded below. I will add the report once I get it. The Rail Authority web site currently does not link any of the three documents.
Cover Letter:
Executive Summary:
Use the controls to zoom or go to Google Docs to view.
Announcement Email
——– Forwarded Message ——– From: CA High-Speed Rail: Southern California LA-SD <los.angeles_san.diego@hsr.ca.gov> Reply-to: “CA High-Speed Rail: Southern California LA-SD” <los.angeles_san.diego@hsr.ca.gov> Subject: CA High-Speed Rail: Preliminary Alternatives Analysis Report Available Now! Date: Fri, 25 Feb 2011 21:00:50 -0600
Preliminary Alternatives Analysis Report for the
Los Angeles to San Diego via the Inland Empire Section
Now Available
The California High Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) has . . . → Continue reading: Preliminary Alternatives Analysis Report
Read the rest of this article: Preliminary Alternatives Analysis Report
By Dan Bednarski, on February 20th, 2011 high speed rail, hsr, meeting announcement The California High Speed Rail Authority Board will hold its regular monthly meeting for March in downtown Los Angeles at the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) Headquarters. Metro Headquarters is at the backside of Union Station.
The L.A. to San Diego line is on the agenda (posted below). The contractors responsible for that line will present their preliminary alternatives analysis report. That report is expected to recommend that the Rail Authority board consider only the I-10 freeway and SR-60 freeway routes for the high speed rail project between Union Station and the 605 freeway. It will also recommend the board withdraw routes that use and run adjacent to the Union Pacific right of way. The report is expected to be released a few days before the board meeting.
Public Comments
Public comments are taken at the very beginning of the meeting, at 9 a.m. If you would . . . → Continue reading: Meeting Announcement: Rail Authority Board meeting in downtown L.A. on March 3 @ 9:00 a.m.
Read the rest of this article: Meeting Announcement: Rail Authority Board meeting in downtown L.A. on March 3 @ 9:00 a.m.
By Dan Bednarski, on February 18th, 2011 high speed rail, hsr, letter This post is a follow-up to my posts a few weeks ago:
Recap: Alhambra City Council to send letter opposing high speed rail project through the city More detail: Routes to be dropped, 75 foot high viaducts, and budget woes Letter to the Rail Authority
The City of Alhambra web site provides the City’s latest letter to the Rail Authority. It reminds the Rail Authority that the city opposes an elevated platform (aerial structure) and any project plan that would impact the quality of life of its residents. It also asks the Rail Authority to explore putting the trains in a trench like the Union Pacific trains that traverse the city along Mission or a tunnel like Metro and Caltrans are considering with regard to the 710 extension between Alhambra and Pasadena.
Draft Letters
That letter was chosen from among three letters drafted by city staff. . . . → Continue reading: City of Alhambra’s February 1 letter to the Rail Authority
Read the rest of this article: City of Alhambra’s February 1 letter to the Rail Authority
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