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2017 Pasadena CD5 Endorsement: Krystal Padley

Primary Election day: Tuesday, March 7, 7am-8pm
Find your Pasadena Council District: http://www.cityofpasadena.net/map/
Find your polling place: http://lavote.net/locator

Pasadena’s Council District 5 is one of the City’s most diverse, and home to many residents who rely on active and public transportation. Unfortunately, the streets of District 5 are also among the most dangerous in Pasadena, with higher than average rates of collisions involving people on foot and on bikes.

Krystal Padley is an exciting and promising candidate to represent the District who has clearly communicated that the status quo of dangerous streets is not acceptable. She has made Vision Zero a key element of her platform, focusing on improving the safety of Pasadena streets, while also working to increase the mode share of active transportation to improve Pasadena’s air quality.

Over the past decade the District has been represented by incumbent Victor Gordo. Gordo has supported some Complete Street improvements, including the City’s first bicycle traffic signal and bicycle boulevard on Marengo Avenue. Overall, however, safer street design simply hasn’t been a priority for Gordo. His decision to leave an appointment to the City’s Transportation Commission vacant for over three years is emblematic of his neglect of transportation issues within District 5.

Padley, on the other hand, clearly sees mobility and infrastructure as top issues. Padley’s responses to Bike The Vote’s questions show that she knows from experience what it’s like to walk or bike to school or work, and understands the safety challenges that need to be overcome. We welcome her call to create more dedicated bikeways in District 5, and agree with her that simply painting sharrows in traffic lanes is not enough. Her commitment to “100% prioritize implementing the Vision Zero plan to reduce traffic deaths and promote alternative transportation options” is exactly the statement that more elected officials across all of Los Angeles County should be making.

Padley’s vision for a safer and more equitable Pasadena is not limited to her embrace of safe streets. She keenly notes that law enforcement alone cannot bear the full burden of improving safety and reducing crime; that increased policing will not rebuild trust between community members and law enforcement, or create job opportunities and youth programming. As a thoughtful community advocate with a first-hand understanding of the importance of making Pasadena’s streets safe for the most vulnerable users, Krystal Padley earns Bike The Vote L.A.’s endorsement for Pasadena City Council District 5.

(See below for Krystal Padley’s response to Bike The Vote L.A.’s Candidate Questionnaire)

 

1. What future do you see for active mobility and public transit in the daily lives of those who live, work, and go to school in Pasadena?

Given the limits of street parking, active mobility and public transit needs to be emphasized as Pasadena grows. Along with public transit, we need to emphasize local consumerism and support the growth of small businesses who have found the permit process in Pasadena extremely tedious.

2. Pasadena’s traffic is compounded by the reality that many parents and workers don’t feel safe commuting even short distances or performing school drop-offs on foot or by bike. What would you do as Councilmember to improve active transportation options around schools, public transit, and in commercial districts to provide better transportation options for District 5 residents?

We need dedicated bikeways and safer crosswalks in District 5. Painting sharrows (ie, Mountain St) and crosswalk bars (ie, Boylston, across Lake) is insufficient. We need educational campaigns so that drivers understand to share the road. And we need practical solutions: flashing lights on crosswalks, longer crossing times, light delays, sensored speed limit postings, and reduced street parking (a controversial topic in its own right).

3. If elected, what would you do to reduce preventable, serious and fatal traffic collisions in the City of Pasadena? Would you support the implementation of a local Vision Zero policy?

District 5 experiences the most severe and frequent traffic collisions in Pasadena. I will 100% prioritize implementing the Vision Zero plan to reduce traffic deaths and promote alternative transportation options. It’s unacceptable that we have the three most dangerous intersections in Pasadena and Madison Elementary was named one of the most dangerous in California based on a disproportionate number of traffic collisions around the school.

4. Over the past 3 years, Pasadena Playhouse District members, City staff, and local residents have worked on planning the Playhouse Parklets Pilot (www.playhouseparklets.org/). In the coming few months, a final decision will be made by the Council whether to move forward with implementing the pilot project, which would install the city’s first parklets, add reverse angled parking to the district, calm traffic, and improve street safety. Do you support implementation of the Colorado Blvd parklets pilot in the Playhouse District? Why or why not?

I support the parklet design in theory, and would like to see a similar model north of the 210. However, I would need to work with the three other District council people representing Old Pasadena, with the downtown residents and businesses to determine the overall economic and safety impact.

5. Bike share systems have started to be installed across Los Angeles County and are slated to expand to Pasadena, but as systems expand, experts foresee three major obstacles: stations that are discontinuous/too far apart, stations with unsafe walking conditions that limit access, and systems that are out of reach for low-income residents. What areas would you like to see bike share expanded to in and around Pasadena, and what should the City be doing to make these systems more accessible, affordable, and useful to all Pasadena residents?

Bike shares should exist in current business centers along North Lake, Orange Grove and Washington Blvds, in Washington Park and Villa Parke, and on Fair Oaks. Many of the residents in District 5 work in the service industries and bike to and from work on Colorado Blvd and Lake Ave. Having safe and reliable modes of transportation for these residents are a priority.

6. Pasadena’s local transit provider, Pasadena Transit, suffers from limited service, especially on weekends and evenings. Do you support improving Pasadena Transit headways and service to provide local residents with more viable transit options in the City? What methods can the City employ to fund better service?

I do support the expansion of Pasadena Transit. The city can look at earmarking TOT dollars for increased service.