Caught! Los Angeles transit boss clams up when asked about his Hummer
Everyone knows that commuting around Los Angeles can be largely a matter of hurry up and wait thanks to the insane number of vehicles on the road. So you might think that the man responsible for mass transit and traffic in LA would set an example by driving something bit smaller and more efficient. But NOOOO!! Jaime de la Vega, Los Angeles' transportation chief, gets around in a Hummer H3. Admittedly, the H3 is smaller than the H1 and H2, but at almost 2 1/2 tons, this thing is hardly a responsible choice. When Los Angeles Times writer Steve Lopez tried to question de la Vega about the issue, he just sat there and clammed up like a little kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar. Read all about in the LA Times at the Read link.
[Source: Los Angeles Times via a tip from Darin]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jimmy 6:36PM (1/22/2007)
"I'll be happy to drive his tank back to the dealer and trade it in on a nice Honda or something"
I'm sure if he traded his 17mpg H3 for a 19mpg Honda Pilot it would make traffic so much better. Steve Lopez is really being a jerk in this article.
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1985 Gripen 7:35PM (1/22/2007)
It startles me to see that a guy so irresponsible would be given this job. How does one become the Transportation Chief in the 2nd most-populous city in the U.S., one known for its traffic and air quality challenges, and still not be bright enough to buy a sensible vehicle? Is it a blatant disregard for public image? I would think the Transportation Chief would set an example and use public transportation to commute to and from work. At the very least get one of the city's EV RAV4s and charge it with wind power bought from the GreenLA program. Was this guy a Villaraigosa appointee?
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J 7:46PM (1/22/2007)
"sensible vehicle" is relative. Perhaps he does have to take his car off road. And the H3 claims a EPA MPG of 20 (and can deliver close to it, not way under like some cars *caugh*HYBRIDS*cuagh*).
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1985 Gripen 10:51PM (1/22/2007)
J, I live in Los Angeles. There is nowhere he could possibly need to take his car off-road. The only "off road" places in this city are County-owned fire roads closed to the public. I've lived here for my whole life and I've never "needed" a vehicle capable of driving off road. Of course I'm not a City government bureaucrat either.
Is that 20 mpg highway? Wow. That's pathetic. How about the guy ride the public transportation his job mandates he advocate? Or drive one of the thousands of alternative fuel vehicles the City already owns:
http://www.ci.la.ca.us/EAD/EADWeb-AQD/afvehicles.htm
I wonder what kind of looks he gets when people see him out driving his Hummer and learn what his job title is.
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Dave Schmetterer 3:04PM (1/23/2007)
This is too strong a reaction to a snapshot. Maybe he takes the train most days. Maybe he only drives a few miles. Maybe he skis, or maybe he actually off-roads.
My point is, we don't have any info on this guy's driving habits, only his car. Maybe he drives 2 other people to work.
And while you might say he could do all that in a Civic - this is America. He can drive what he wants, and there are far worse choices than an H3.
I feel like every time someone criticizes a Hummer driver, they turn someone off to the cause. People get it together!
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George Krpan 9:27PM (1/23/2007)
That will give you an idea of the sincerity of Los Angelenos.
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MikeW 12:36PM (1/24/2007)
It wouldn't be that bad if GM had put a 6 speed automatic into it, but come on it has an obsolete 4 speed automatic.
For that, someone should slap him 'upside' the head
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Manu Sharma 4:36PM (1/24/2007)
"Maybe he takes the train most days. Maybe he only drives a few miles. [...] we don't have any info on this guy's driving habits, only his car."
He was given the opportunity to explain it, wasn't he? He had no explanation to offer.
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bill vestal 11:56AM (1/31/2007)
Is Mr. de la Vega still drinking at the public trough? Why? Maybe if the Mayor would stay in town a few days he could take the time to fire this jerk!
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