SB-2017-18-011: Resolution in Response to Councilmember Englander's Action Against California State University, Northridge, Associated Students, Inc., and Limebike

Senate Bill No.: SB-2017-18-011

Date: March 7, 2018

Authored by: Adam Labrie, Chair of Legislative Affairs

Senator Paulina Silva, College of Business and Economics

Referred to: External Affairs Committee

Committee Rec: March 14, 2018 ( )

Senate Action: March 26, 2018 (19-0-0)

Title: Resolution in Response to Councilmember Englander’s Action Against California State University Northridge, Associated Students, Inc., and LimeBike

1. WHEREAS: The Associated Students, Inc. (AS) is the official voice of 40,000 students at California State University Northridge; and

2. WHEREAS: AS is the primary advocate for students at CSUN and provides excellent, meaningful programs and services designed to create and enhance a spirited, learning focused campus environment; and

3. WHEREAS: AS has a responsibility to all students to promote and enhance student life on the campus; and

4. WHEREAS: AS recognizes that Councilmember Englander represents over twenty thousand CSUN students that live within his district; and

5. WHEREAS: Councilmember Englander submitted a motion to the City Council which contained inflammatory information and would have essentially shut down LimeBike without attempting to communicate with AS, the student organization that brought LimeBike to the area; and

6. WHEREAS: When AS attempted to communicate with the office of Councilmember Englander after he had submitted a motion and threatened legal action we were turned away; and

7. WHEREAS: An agreement to meet was reached only after the office of Councilmember Englander received a draft copy of this resolution; and

8. WHEREAS: LimeBike has provided numerous benefits to the community including; taking cars off the streets by encouraging students to bike, making it easier for students to bike to and support local restaurants and businesses, and creating a new piece of transportation infrastructure accessible to everyone; and

9. WHEREAS: AS recognizes that as LimeBike has grown in popularity it has caused some concerns in the area and AS along with the University has been working with the community and LimeBike to address these issues; and

10. WHEREAS: AS has found through town hall events and student surveys that LimeBike’s greatest contribution to the community has allowed students, especially female and LGBTQ students, to feel safer when traveling on campus and in the surrounding area at night; and

1. RESOLVED: AS condemns the recent actions of Councilmember Englander surrounding LimeBike such as his decision to ignore his student constituents, and his decision to submit a motion regarding CSUN without meeting with students; and let it be further

2. RESOLVED: AS calls on Councilmember Englander to withdraw his motion until he has taken the time to speak with the students that benefit from this program; and let it be further

3. RESOLVED: AS calls on Councilmember Englander to regularly communicate and meet with the students he represents on the issue of LimeBike and all issues that affect CSUN and the student community; and let it be further

4. RESOLVED: AS calls on the entire City Council to approve LimeBike at CSUN as part of the pilot program for dockless bike shares in the City of Los Angeles; and let it be further

5. RESOLVED: AS calls on the entire City Council to meet with students when proposing, discussing, and voting on issues that affect the students in their district; and let it be finally

6. RESOLVED: That copies of this resolution be distributed widely, including but not limited to the following:

• Eric Garcetti, Mayor of Los Angeles
• Herb J. Wesson Jr., City Council President
• Mitchell Englander, City Council Member
• Gilbert Cedillo, City Council Member
• Paul Krekorian, City Council Member
• Bob Blumenfield, City Council Member
• David E. Ryu, City Council Member
• Paul Koretz, City Council Member
• Nury Martinez, City Council Member
• Monica Rodriguez, City Council Member
• Marqueece Harris-Dawson, City Council Member
• Curren D. Price Jr., City Council Member
• Mike Bonin, City Council Member
• Mitch O’Farrell, City Council Member
• Jose Huizar, City Council Member
• Joe Buscaino, City Council Member
• Los Angeles Department of Transportation
• Council File 17-11-25
• Dianne Harrison, CSUN President
• Dr.William Watkins, Vice President of Student Affairs
• The Sundial
• CSUN Today
• The Daily Sundial
• Los Angeles Daily News