Source: LA Sentinel
On Monday, October 28, METRO held the Metro to Crenshaw Business Opportunity Summit, an event where many local business owners, independent contractors and job seekers came together to discuss the vision for the new railway construction in the Crenshaw district of South Los Angeles. There are currently 13 rail and 15 highway projects that are planned, including the well known Crenshaw to LAX train, which in the past has caused much controversy within the community.
Regardless of the involvement of many well-known community figures, such as Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chairman Mark Ridley-Thomas and Metro Transportation Authority (MTA) CEO Art Leahy, many residents of the Crenshaw district have opposed the construction of the above ground train through Crenshaw Boulevard. Damien Goodmon, the Executive Director of the Crenshaw Subway Coalition, countered supporters by highlighting the negatives of the construction process, “Basically you’re looking at two-and-a-half miles of destructive construction that would decimate the regions last Black business corridor. We can’t let that happen.” In 2009, there was much opposition from residents of the area who were concerned with the safety hazards for high school students. The Crenshaw to LAX train would be routed right through the vicinity of both Crenshaw High School and View Park Prep High School.
The opposition to the Crenshaw to LAX train was derailed by the main argument for the new railway: more jobs and job traffic in the Crenshaw District. The hope for the train system is that it will “Empower [small businesses] and encourage entrepreneurship for all business owners especially minority and women owned businesses. We must harness the economic opportunity that the Crenshaw to LAX transit project will bring to our region,” Chairman Ridley-Thomas said. The train system is seen by most in the community as an opportunity to improve their surroundings.
Eric Bratton, a first year at the University of California, Los Angeles and also a native of the Crenshaw district area, gave his opinion on the construction and what he feels will happen as a result of it. “There’s nothing wrong with the train, I think it’s very beneficial especially if it’s running from Crenshaw to LAX, and it will save a lot of people a hassle. Of course it’s going to be dangerous, but it’s equally as dangerous as cars and other things.” When asked about the measures that have been taken to ensure safety around the trains and in the community holistically he replied, “I think that they’ll construct it in a way that is more safe for the area, but I do think that they should increase security and other safety regulations.”
Overall, politicians and residents welcome the Crenshaw to LAX. There are high hopes for economic and cultural growth in the district, especially with the inclusion of a Leimert Park stop, and more traffic for small and privately owned businesses in the area.
Author: Altagracia Alvarado
Nommo Staff