Hetz

And as Mr. Hetz will surely have noticed, having lived here for a number of years, universities are increasingly becoming year-round hubs of activity, not to mention the UCLA Medical Center, which knows no breaks between semesters.

John Mirisch: "My Metro, Right or Wrong": Metro's Greatest Hetz John Mirisch 2011

How can Hetz possibly know that ridership on Wilshire and Westwood would be greater than it would be on, say, Westwood and Le Conte, which to me seems to be the logical location for a UCLA/Westwood station?

John Mirisch: "My Metro, Right or Wrong": Metro's Greatest Hetz John Mirisch 2011

And if Hetz truly cares about getting the best transit system possible for taxpayer dollars, then he won't give a squat about the why or wherefore of the idea being proposed, but he will look at the suggestions and view them on their merits alone.

John Mirisch: "My Metro, Right or Wrong": Metro's Greatest Hetz John Mirisch 2011

In making his statements, Hetz purports to know that the need for a subway to serve the office buildings in Westwood is greater than serving the 55,000 people a figure mentioned at a recent cityLAB event who make their way to UCLA on a daily basis during the school year.

John Mirisch: "My Metro, Right or Wrong": Metro's Greatest Hetz John Mirisch 2011

In fact, in writing off my suggestions as a "diversion," Hetz happens to be doing the exact same thing he accuses me of.

John Mirisch: "My Metro, Right or Wrong": Metro's Greatest Hetz John Mirisch 2011

Sorry, I can't resist at least pointing out that a Constellation station would not be closer to the mall than the Santa Monica station, as Mr. Hetz suggests.

John Mirisch: "My Metro, Right or Wrong": Metro's Greatest Hetz John Mirisch 2011

On the day of UCLA's embarrassing 48-12 drubbing at the hands of Arizona, transit advocate Matthew Hetz in a Citywatch article tries to smack down the university's hopes of a "UCLA/Westwood" subway station which actually would be deserving of the name.

John Mirisch: "My Metro, Right or Wrong": Metro's Greatest Hetz John Mirisch 2011

Hetz notes the similarities between Westwood and Century City.

John Mirisch: "My Metro, Right or Wrong": Metro's Greatest Hetz John Mirisch 2011

Mr. Hetz spends a lot of time speculating as to my motivations in taking up the cause for a UCLA-friendly subway station in Westwood.

John Mirisch: "My Metro, Right or Wrong": Metro's Greatest Hetz John Mirisch 2011

The first mistake in Hetz's attack on my position is a fairly elementary one: he tries to address specific suggestions I haven't even made.

John Mirisch: "My Metro, Right or Wrong": Metro's Greatest Hetz John Mirisch 2011