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.
Saving the Budget by Not Filling Potholes Could Hurt the Budget
To Report a Pothole in L.A., Call 3-1-1 | Photo by Non Paratus via LAist Featured Photos on Flickr
()
To Report a Pothole in L.A., Call 3-1-1 | Photo by Non Paratus via LAist Featured Photos on Flickr
That headline could be for anything, though. Cutting at-risk youth programs could lead to more violence and incidents for police to respond to. Cutting parks operations could leave parks unmaintained, making it more expensive later to fix. Cutting street sweepers could mean less days parking enforcement is able to write parking tickets. Nonetheless, the Daily News today explores the effect of potholes not being filled. Mayor Villaraigosa said earlier this year that filling potholes will be on of the services affected by cuts. And with potholes, there's more of a chance there will be more claims filed with the city.
"When motorists suffer vehicle damage from a pothole, the city is generally considered liable only if it was made aware of the pothole and failed to fix it in a timely manner," explains the Daily News. "But the city doesn't pay if the pothole was created due to recent weather or if it was unaware of a hazardous condition."
Claims have cost the city between $20 to $1,500 in the past. Los Angeles has 6,500 miles. 64% of them ranked poor and 28% ranked mediocre, according to a report by American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials and a national organization known as TRIP.
Support for LAist comes from
Previously on Potholes:
- Map of the Day: Pothole Activism at Your Fingertips
- How Many Potholes Can You Fill with No Budget?
- L.A.'s Potholes are Square, Not Circular, Observes Artist
- Photographers Make L.A. Potholes into Temporary Art Pieces
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
-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity. -
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
-
Monarch butterflies are on a path to extinction, but there is a way to support them — and maybe see them in your own yard — by planting milkweed.
-
With California voters facing a decision on redistricting this November, Surf City is poised to join the brewing battle over Congressional voting districts.
-
The drug dealer, the last of five defendants to plead guilty to federal charges linked to the 'Friends' actor’s death, will face a maximum sentence of 65 years in prison.
-
The weather’s been a little different lately, with humidity, isolated rain and wind gusts throughout much of Southern California. What’s causing the late-summer bout of gray?
Best of LAist