I guess I have to stop with the "soak the rich" rhetoric I've been slinging at Beverly Hills for blocking expansion of the Red Line. Don't get me wrong, it's been fun to thumb my nose at the ten car garage set, but perhaps it's time to reach out to those who dwell west of La Cienega.

Why, you ask?

It seems that Beverly Hills officials have taken a meeting (at their request!) with Councilmember Tom LaBonge, in order to discuss his plan to lift Rep. Waxman's and Supervisor Yaroslavsky's respective bans on extending the Red Line.

Does Tom LaBonge have the juice to take on two of the Southland's heaviest political hitters and push his plan through? It's questionable, since he's term-limited and they are not. All they've got to do is fend him off for another four years or so.

Of course, having Bev Hills money on board helps.
  ¶ 7:19 PM