Is L.A. TOD Purposely Pushing out Low-Income Residents and Local Businesses?

Activists such as Isela Gracian, of East LA Community Corporation, argue that Metro is promoting "corporate-driven projects" adjacent to its rail stations in lower-income communities of South and East Los Angeles, reports Corey Moore.

"Gracian and others contend that the LA County Metropolitan Transportation Authority has focused on promoting major retail chain development on those parcels," writes Moore. "They say the agency has not done enough to protect blacks and Latinos from displacement when – as they put it - Metro 'corporatizes' the land it owns."

"Metro spokesman Marc Littman said that's not true."

"We've done to date, including what's under construction now, 1,222 affordable housing units. And so all these are green projects, we've worked very closely with the community, they've generated a lot of jobs," Littman said.

"Littman added that while the agency has removed some affordable housing, Metro's replaced those units throughout LA County and will continue to do that."