MoveLA

MoveLA MoveLA is an advocacy organization based in Los Angeles that focuses on transportation planning, land use, and equitable mobility in Los Angeles County, California. Founded in the wake of regional debates over transit funding and infrastructure, the group engages in policy advocacy, public education, and coalition-building with labor, environmental, and community organizations. Its work intersects with major regional initiatives, ballot measures, and agencies shaping mobility across the Southland and the broader United States transportation policy landscape.

History

MoveLA formed in 2013 amid rising public attention to projects such as the Los Angeles Metro Rail expansion, the 2016 Los Angeles County Measure M, and statewide discussions following the passage of California Senate Bill 1 (2017). The organization grew alongside local coalitions that included members from Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, Sierra Club Angeles Chapter, LAANE, and neighborhood groups affected by projects like the Crenshaw/LAX Line and the Regional Connector Transit Project. Its emergence paralleled civic campaigns connected to the administrations of Eric Garcetti and later Karen Bass, as well as planning efforts by the Southern California Association of Governments and the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

Mission and Programs

MoveLA's stated mission centers on promoting transportation investments that advance equity, climate goals, and access to jobs and services. Programmatic efforts target transit funding, active transportation infrastructure, and housing–transportation coordination, engaging with stakeholders such as California Air Resources Board, Metropolitan Transportation Commission (California), and local community development entities. Initiatives have included research and reports that cite data from sources like the U.S. Census Bureau, project analysis referencing the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro), and partnerships with academic institutions such as University of Southern California and University of California, Los Angeles. Educational campaigns have involved coalition work with unions like the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and environmental organizations including 350.org and Natural Resources Defense Council.

Governance and Funding

MoveLA operates as a nonprofit entity governed by a board of directors drawn from urban planners, community leaders, and advocates with ties to institutions such as Prevailing Wage advocacy networks and philanthropic organizations. Funding streams have included grants from foundations active in urban policy like the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and the California Endowment, contributions from labor-affiliated groups including the AFL–CIO, and project-based support tied to research contracts with regional agencies such as Metro. The organization has engaged consulting firms and legal counsel with experience in matters before bodies like the California Public Utilities Commission and municipal planning commissions.

Campaigns and Impact

MoveLA has been prominent in campaigns around countywide ballot measures and transit funding initiatives, working on measures that intersect with Measure R (Los Angeles County), Measure M (Los Angeles County), and related local tax propositions. The group has advocated for transit-first allocations that influence projects such as the Purple Line (Los Angeles Metro) and the East San Fernando Valley Transit Corridor, and has lobbied for policies connected to the California Climate Action Plan and Senate Bill 375. Partnerships with organizations including Transform and the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition have advanced active transportation projects and mobility hubs, while collaborations with community organizations in neighborhoods like South Los Angeles and San Gabriel Valley have focused on access to jobs at nodes like Los Angeles International Airport and regional employment centers. Analyses produced by MoveLA have been cited in discussions at forums such as hearings of the Los Angeles City Council and presentations to the Southern California Association of Governments.

Controversies and Criticism

MoveLA has faced criticism from various quarters, including opponents who argue its policy stances favor transit spending over road maintenance, drawing responses from groups associated with the California Trucking Association and suburban advocacy organizations. Debates have involved labor disputes tied to construction projects overseen by entities like Skanska USA and discussions over displacement and housing policy in relation to transit-oriented development promoted in areas such as Hollywood and the Wilshire Corridor. Some community groups have contested MoveLA's positions on project prioritization compared with advocacy by organizations like Save LA Streets and neighborhood coalitions in San Fernando Valley. Critics have also scrutinized funding relationships with foundations and labor organizations, invoking broader controversies tied to philanthropic influence on urban policy seen in cases involving the Kresge Foundation and other funders.

Category:Organizations based in Los Angeles Category:Transportation advocacy groups in the United States