Commentary: Metro Bullies Beverly Hills Over Subway

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Commentary submitted by George Vreeland Hill.

Much has been said and written about the subway fight between Beverly Hills and Metro.

There has been a lot of name calling and finger pointing. A lot of it has been aimed at the residents of Beverly Hills. What many people do not understand is that the . This goes for the City and the BHUSD as well. They just do not want it to go under .

The subway was intended to go under Santa Monica Boulevard. Metro's studies because it is an active fault zone. However, further studies proved that the area along Santa Monica Boulevard has . Metro ignored those studies and continued to press for the tunnel to go under BHHS. They became a bully in the matter. Metro's own reports and studies since they targeted BHHS have been flawed and incomplete. Metro even hired people who are not licensed to perform tasks related to the project. It has even been proven that Metro has real estate interests involving a tunnel under BHHS.

When presented with facts from the City of Beverly Hills about the dangers of putting a tunnel under BHHS, Metro simply did not listen. There is no reason why Metro can't put the tunnel under Santa Monica Boulevard. Metro knows that. Metro has its own agenda and they do not care about the safety of others or what people think. The only studies they will listen to are the ones done by "yes" people.

The people of Beverly Hills have not been dealt a clear and honest hand in this matter. You cannot blame people for wanting answers. It is easy to say that you want the subway to go under a school when it is not your school. It is also easy to say that you want the subway to go here or there when the community in question is not your own. The people of Beverly Hills have a right to defend their school and their interests. If Metro wanted to put a subway under your school, you would not be so quick to say "OK."

This matter will now . Metro will not be able to be a bully in a fair court. Nor will they get away with incomplete reports and studies that were performed by people who were not qualified to do them. Metro will face the truth in a manner that will prove Beverly Hills is and has been right. When all is said and done, the route under Santa Monica Boulevard will prove that Metro was also right in the beginning. Santa Monica Boulevard was always the way to go.

George Vreeland Hill
Beverly Hills Resident

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