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REGULAR BOARD MEETING
MARCH 23, 2023
Preamble
Motion by:
DIRECTORS SOLIS, MITCHELL, BARGER, HAHN, HORVATH, AND BASS
Dedicating East LA Civic Center Station in Honor of Former Los Angeles County Supervisor Gloria Molina Motion
On March 15, 2023, Los Angeles County Supervisor and Metro Board Director Gloria Molina publicly announced her anticipated transition after a three-year battle with terminal cancer.
Gloria Molina has had a trailblazing and distinguished career in public and community service. She is the eldest daughter of ten children born to a Mexican American father and Mexican mother. She attended public schools in her hometown and attended Rio Hondo College, East Los Angeles College, and California State University, Los Angeles. While attending college, she worked full-time as a legal secretary. Then, she became certified as an adult education instructor and taught clerical skills at the East Los Angeles Skills Center. She served in President Jimmy Carter’s administration as a Deputy for Presidential Personnel, and after leaving the White House, served in San Francisco as a Deputy Director for the Department of Health and Human Services.
She was first elected to office in 1982 as State Assemblywoman. In 1987, she was elected to the Los Angeles City Council where she served as the Councilwoman of the First District until 1991. In February 1991, she was elected to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, representing the First Supervisorial District. Molina is the first Chicana in history to be elected to the California State Legislature, the Los Angeles City Council, and the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.
During her 23 years serving the Los Angeles Metro Board, Gloria Molina became known as a champion for equitable transit and multi-modal investments, fiscal watchdog committed to sustainable operational budget, and providing high quality transit for the millions of residents living in unincorporated areas. One of her significant achievements was advocating and bringing to fruition the Eastside Transit Corridor is a light rail line extension that currently connects Downtown Los Angeles with East Los Angeles.
Today, the Metro L Line (also known as the Gold Line) provides light rail service southeast from Union Station to Atlantic station in East Los Angeles, connecting Angelenos to the Countywide transit network through stations designed to celebrate local art, culture, and history. Metro is now merging the portion of the L Line east of Downtown Los Angeles to the E Line through the Regional Connector to soon offer even more integrated service.
Her vision of creating public transit that connects people to opportunities for wealth building as well as monuments to local arts and culture was realized at the East LA Civic Center Station, where transit riders can enjoy nearby access to a variety of County services, arts, and recreation at the East Los Angeles Civic Center. Her constant perseverance to construct this transit-oriented civic and cultural hub has cemented a community benefit for generations to come.
A vibrantly colored and adorned transit node, East LA Civic Center station represents a connection to local governmental and social activity for local and regional transit riders alike. A destination for hundreds of daily riders and visitors, East LA Civic Center is host to a variety of government services, community events, cultural experiences, holiday celebrations, and many other activities. To honor Gloria Molina’s work in creating this transit-oriented civic and cultural hub for the East Los Angeles community, and her service to Angelenos throughout her life, it is fitting that we dedicate the station in her honor.
In accordance with the Property Naming Policy, the Board of Directors should dedicate East LA Civic Center station to Gloria Molina in honor of her contributions to Los Angeles’ transit system and her inspiring career as a public servant, selfless devotion to her constituents, and peerless advocacy for the people of Los Angeles County.
Subject
SUBJECT: DEDICATING EAST LA CIVIC CENTER STATION IN HONOR OF FORMER LOS ANGELES COUNTY SUPERVISOR GLORIA MOLINA MOTION
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RECOMMENDATION
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APPROVE Motion by Directors Solis, Mitchell, Barger, Hahn, Horvath, and Bass that the Board direct the CEO to:
A. Prepare a plan dedicating the L (Gold) Line East LA Civic Center station in honor of the trailblazer Los Angeles County Supervisor and Metro Board Director Gloria Molina; and
B. Report back on the above at the June 2023 Executive Management Committee meeting.