Three Senate hopefuls agree on 710 extension

The proposed 710 Freeway extension figured prominently in a recent candidates’ debate for the 25th state Senate District.

Candidates Katherine Perez-Estolano, former state Assemblyman Anthony Portantino and retired Pasadena Police Lt. Phlunte’ Riddle – the three candidates attending the League of Women Voters forum – each oppose the long-simmering proposal to connect the 710 to both the 134 and 210 freeways.

The project would make traffic in the region worse, they agreed.

“The tunnel is a boondoggle, and there’s not one shovel that’s going to hit the ground,” Portantino said. “It is a travesty that we have spent millions of dollars of taxpayer money on a project that will literally make arterial traffic worse in the region, not better.”

Riddle said she wants more green space and that the state should invest in other ways to alleviate traffic.

Perez-Estolano, who has a background in transportation planning, added that the project is infeasible and should be taken off Caltrans’ project list.

High-speed rail proposal

Views differed on another controversial transportation project: California’s planned high-speed rail system.

Perez-Estolano, who served for two years on the California High Speed Rail Authority board of directors, called the bullet train “a game changer” that attracts highly paid workers.

“I believe that it is going to be the centerpiece of innovation around transportation and mobility,” she said. “We are going to have engineers, scientists and all kinds of people participating in that program. And when Florida and New York figure out that they want high-speed rail, they’re going to come to California and ask, ‘How did you guys do it? How can we learn from you?’”

Riddle opposes the project, saying both the route and funding remain uncertain.

“We need to be sure that before we go into something that expensive, that extensive, that we know exactly what is going on,” she said.

Portantino agreed, adding a “comprehensive financial plan” is necessary “before they move forward with a project of this size.”

Temporary tax debated

In 2012, voters approved Proposition 30, which temporarily raised sales taxes, as well as income taxes on the state’s highest earners.

The levies, which were meant to help schools as the recession ebbed, are set to expire at the end of 2018, but Portantino said they should be extended.

Riddle supports the taxes but wants to see innovative ideas to fund education programs.

Perez-Estolano agrees on the extension, hoping the state can make the first two years of community college free.

The League’s Glendale, Burbank and Pasadena chapters sponsored the forum. Three of the six candidates vying for state Sen. Carol Liu’s seat in the June 7 primary participated. Also in the race are Teddy Choi, Chris Chahinian and Michael D. Antonovich.

Liu (D-La Canada-Flintridge) is termed out.

The 25th District includes Burbank, Glendale and LCF.

The forum can be watched on Burbank’s YouTube page.

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Anthony Clark Carpio, [email protected]

Twitter: @acocarpio