Beverly Hills subway approved after fiery films

ANDREW DALTON Associated Press Published:

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Flames, explosions, sophisticated soundtracks, slapstick comedy with harmonizing hillbillies.




The other, a pro-subway satire called "The Hillfolks' Lament," suggests residents of the 90210 are backward-looking hicks who fear progress.

It was "Armageddon" vs. "The Beverly Hillbillies."




"We're going to exercise all of our rights," said Brian Goldberg, president of the Beverly Hills school board and a leader of subway opposition.


A video made by members of the Beverly Hills Parent Teacher Association titled "No Subway Under BHHS" takes a different view, to say the least.

It begins with ominous music and a sober narrator saying: "Methane gas, toxic chemicals and teenagers don't mix, but this dangerous combination is on the verge of exploding at Beverly Hills High, turning the school into a mega-disaster."

The line, spoken over images of students walking into the school, gives way to a huge blast that has drawn comparisons to images in "The Avengers" movie.


Zev Yaroslavsky, an MTA board member and county supervisor, decried what he called "the hysteria campaign" promoted by the video and similar public statements.

"Buildings aren't going to blow up," Yaroslavsky said. "This is not even a high methane zone."

The "Hillfolks' Lament," made in response by an anonymous group calling itself LAontheMove, gives the argument a comic turn, but its mocking tone is just as over-the-top.

It shows a man in overalls, accented with a preppy sweater tied around his shoulders, singing with bluegrass backing in front of Beverly Hills backdrops and featuring choruses such as "M-T-A, no Purple Line, we hill folk wanna stay stuck in 1959," and "don't make us into a tunnel-diggin' school kid-killin' place."



"The Hillfolks' Lament" takes on that proposal too, saying if the train is rerouted "no one'll use it, it'll never get dirty!"


Thursday's meeting included more of the dramatic statements that have marked the long-running debate.


After the testimony, county Supervisor Mike Antonovich, one of two board members who later voted no, called them "so-called experts that will behave like trained seals."

School board member Lisa Korbatov warned the transportation board, "you will not succeed and we will stop you at every turn."



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