BILL ANALYSIS
SENATE TRANSPORTATION & HOUSING COMMITTEE BILL NO: SCR 107
SENATOR ALAN LOWENTHAL, CHAIRMAN AUTHOR: wright
VERSION: 6/9/10
Analysis by: Carrie Cornwell FISCAL: yes
Hearing date: June 15, 2010
SUBJECT:
Rudolph B. Davila Memorial Interchange
DESCRIPTION:
This resolution names the interchange of State Highway Route
(SR) 110 and SR 91 in Los Angeles as the "Rudolph B. Davila
Memorial Interchange."
ANALYSIS:
The committee has adopted a policy regarding the naming of state
highways or structures. Under the policy, the committee will
consider only those resolutions that meet all of the following
criteria:
The person being honored must have provided extraordinary
public service or some exemplary contribution to the public
good and have a connection to the community where the highway
is located.
The person being honored must be deceased.
The naming must be done without cost to the state. Costs for
signs and plaques must be paid by local or private sources.
The author or co-author of the resolution must represent the
district in which the facility is located and the resolution
must identify the specific highway segment or structure being
named.
The segment of highway being named must not exceed five miles
in length.
SCR 107 (WRIGHT) Page 2
The proposed designation must reflect a community consensus
and be without local opposition.
The proposed designation may not supersede an existing
designation unless the sponsor can document that a good faith
effort has uncovered no opposition to rescinding the prior
designation.
This resolution designates the intersection of the SR 110 and
the SR 91 freeways in the City of Los Angeles as the Rudolph B.
Davila Memorial Interchange. The resolution further requests
that the Department of Transportation erect appropriate signs
upon receiving donations from non-state sources to cover the
costs.
COMMENTS:
1.Purpose . The author introduced this resolution to recognize
the heroism and courage demonstrated by Rudolph B. Davila
during World War II.
2.Background on Mr. Davila . Rudolph B. Davila was born in El
Paso, Texas and raised in Watts, California. During the Great
Depression, he worked as part of the Civilian Conservation
Corps to restore the California Missions. Mr. Davila served in
the United States Army as a staff sergeant stationed in Europe
during World War II. His service included heroic acts that
prevented a 130-man American rifle company from being
slaughtered in a German ambush in Italy. Fifty-six years
later, Mr. Davila, who was of Filipino and Spanish descent,
received the Medal of Honor for his bravery during that battle
from President Bill Clinton at a Whitehouse ceremony in which
21 other Asian Americans also received this highest
commendation.
Mr. Davila was badly injured in a later battle in France in
1944, and he received a Purple Heart. Over the next six years,
he underwent 13 operations to address those injuries, though
his right arm was never fully restored. He met his wife,
Harriet, at a military hospital in California during those
treatments.
Mr. Davila went on to earn both a bachelor's degree and a
master's degree in sociology from the University of Southern
California. He then spent 30 years as a teacher and counselor
in the Los Angeles city schools.
SCR 107 (WRIGHT) Page 3
Mr. Davila died in 2002 in Vista, California and is survived
by his five children. He is buried in Arlington National
Cemetery.
3.Consistent with committee's policy . This resolution is
consistent with all of the provisions of the committee's
policy on highway designations. While the intersection that
the resolution is naming is not in the author's district,
Assemblymember Furutani is a coauthor and the intersection is
within his Assembly district.
POSITIONS: (Communicated to the Committee before noon on
Wednesday,
June 9, 2010)
SUPPORT: None received.
OPPOSED: None received.