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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.
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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
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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