The MTA's sales-tax boondoggle

Led by L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who penned an article recently in The Times, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority is proposing a raid on transit riders and taxpayers to fund a network of rail projects and highway expansions. In doing so, the MTA will gut its most successful and cost-effective transit project -- the bus system. The MTA needs two-thirds of voters in November to approve a half-cent sales tax increase on L.A. County residents.

By Eric Mann and Manuel Criollo

July 31, 2008