Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
City Drops $3B Bond Idea for Street Repairs
Photo by Deborah Fitchett via Flickr
()
Sorry, Angelenos. Looks like our miles and miles of damaged and decrepit city streets are not going to get a big ol' $3 billion bandage anytime soon. Today the L.A. City Council dropped their plan to get a bond measure on the May ballot that would put the money towards fixing our streets.
The Council has opted instead to consider the proposed bond "in a future election year," according to L.A. Now.
The proposal was recently put forth by councilmen Mitchell Englander and Joe Buscaino. The proposed bond would have paid for an inventory of every city street and would include comprehensive online displays of what streets are being fixed and when. The funds would have come from an increase in property taxes.
L.A. has an estimated 8,700 lane-miles of damaged streets.
Support for LAist comes from
The bond, however, had not provided for any funds to go towards fixing L.A.'s broken and damaged sidewalks, which are themselves a $1 billion problem.
Englander and Buscaino say they intend to keep working on the bond proposal, and reach out to the public more on the matter before rushing it onto a ballot for a vote.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
Wasteland Weekend is all about souped-up rust buckets, spikey costumes and an ‘ideal apocalypse.’ -
The Shadow the Scientists initiative at UC Santa Cruz strives to demystify astronomical research. -
Some submissions to the Pasadena Humane Society were made by extremely talented artists. The others … tried their best. -
Isolated showers can still hit the L.A. area until Friday as remnants from the tropical storm move out. -
First aspiring spectators must register online, then later in 2026 there will be a series of drawings. -
It's thanks to Tropical Storm Mario, so also be ready for heat and humidity, and possibly thunder and lightning.
Best of LAist