The Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) launched its La Sombrita prototypes, a “shade and lighting pilot” for its Gender Equity Action Plan. LADOT hired consultants to travel all across the world, from Quito in Ecuador to London and Hamburg in Europe, to best understand how to make the resulting $10,000 bus stop lamps “more gender inclusive.”
Able to be easily attached to existing bus stop poles, La Sombrita units feature roughly pizza-box sized “shade devices.” Because the sun moves throughout the day, and even throughout the year, critics suggest the shade functionality of La Sombrita units is limited at best. Appearing to confirm this suspicion, the La Sombrita unit installed for the press conference face northward, which would give little protection from the sun.
While the contractor responsible for the contract, Kounduey, did not respond to attempts for comment over the phone, the Republican Party of Los Angeles County (LAGOP) was quick to offer a retort.
“Public transit users don’t need $10,000 gender and equity lamps,” said LAGOP Spokeswoman Roxanne Hoge. “They need a safe, clean and reliable public transport system that’s more than a mobile homeless shelter, psychiatric ward, drug den, and armed free-for-all that puts thugs, criminals and the mentally ill ahead of law-abiding citizens.”