The Design Advocate: America Fast Forward

Dear AIA|LA POC: On behalf of LA Biz Fed, I am writing to encourage you and your firm to submit letters of support to your local representatives for the America Fast Forward campaign. Attached, you will find helpful resources provided by Biz Fed's CEO, Tracy Rafter. As you all may be aware, AIA|LA joined Biz Fed three years ago and we've been an active participant in a vast array of their advocacy and outreach efforts.

I'm also going to work with Nicci Solomons to make certain that we are able to submit letters of support on behalf of AIA|LA, as well.

Feel free to touch base with me if you have any questions or concerns.

Truly yours,

Will Wright

Director, Government & Public Affairs

AIA Los Angeles

As you may know, the "30/10" effort to fast-track funds approved by LA County voters under Measure R has been extended to a NATIONAL CAMPAIGN called America Fast Forward.

It’s not often that our California congressional delegation ever works TOGETHER to deliver the goods to LA. But we have a moment in time where that may be occurring.

The Business community must stand up and add fuel to that positive fire and send letters of support next week.

ACTION STEPS:

· BizFed’s letter is attached here. Feel free to use it as is. Or a more generic template also attached.

· Edit however you choose. Put it on your letterhead to call out your own efforts.

· Every single organization or individual company name adds to the impact.

· Attached is the contact list for our congressional members AND each one notes how many BizFed businesses are in their district which helps strengthen the voice to which they listen

· Send us a copy for the record of collective impact

We cannot let up on this effort that has significant and broad regional and national implications for transit & highway improvements and expansion, which results in massive job creation and gridlock reduction.

(And in case you missed it, here are some highlights from news last week of the national effort...)

Wednesday (March 30)
· Breakthrough for Villaraigosa’s Transit Funding
It was billed as an event of “Biblical proportions” – Democrats and Republicans, labor and the Chamber of Commerce all backing a creative transit funding proposal from Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who's been pushing this plan for more than two years. Villaraigosa wants to start building LA County transit projects now, not 30 years down the road when a voter-approved .5 cent sales tax can pay for it. He’s convinced more than 100 mayors to back his “America Fast Forward” proposal for federal loans and credit guarantees.

· America Fast Forward: Innovating Transportation
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa visited Washington, D.C. yesterday to garner support for a national expansion of his 30/10 transportation initiative, called America Fast Forward.

· Villaraigosa and Boxer are Joined by GOP and business leaders in call for more federal transportation money (LA Times)

· What LA’s 30/10 Plan Could Mean for Transit Funding Nationwide

Even the AFL-CIO is blogging its support about the plan – read it here.
MoveLA was also at the press conference; read their blog here.
Read highlights of the America Fast Forward plan, developed by Metro, here.
Check out the America Fast Forward website here.