One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
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.
Golf Cart Rentals Prove People's Distrust of City Government
Photo by nimishgogri via Flickr
Who knew golf carts were such a hot bed of controversy, as well as a microcosm for the perils of local government? After 40 years of operation by J.H. Kishi Co., the golf cart rental biz on municipal golf courses in Los Angeles is now being run by the City, and things are getting off to a rocky start, according to the Daily News. On day one, "the electric carts at all of the municipal courses had been left unplugged and had to be recharged, forcing golfers to walk the courses," according to the Director of Golf Operations, James Ward.
Who left them unplugged? Ward said his department doesn't know, but their staff of temporary city-employed workers--given the gig because they had their regular work hours reduced elsewhere--had to recharge their fleets before they were able to rent them out to golfers.
The City took over the cart operations as a way "to boost revenue and keep city employees working." Golfers at the Encino-Balboa, Woodley Lakes, Hansen Dam, Griffith Park and Rancho Park courses will now be helping fill the city's gaping coffers with each cart rental. The city is working as though this was a permanent plan, even in the face of a lawsuit by Ready Golf, the company poised to take over the rental operations in 2007. Ready Golf notes in their suit that the city's actions are "a poster child for why the public so distrusts city government."
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
