Developer Pins Los Angeles' Infrastructure Problems on Bureaucratic Bloat

According to developer and consultant Michael P. Russell, the city of Los Angeles has a chronic shortage of funds for infrastructure due to a bloated bureaucracy, small district city council elections, and term limits.

1 minute read

September 15, 2014, 1:00 PM PDT

By melaniecj

"There is no question that LA’s infrastructure is cracked, if not broken. LA is a house of cards. If you do not have money, you cannot fix your infrastructure and do good planning. If you have higher fees and taxes than your competitive cities, you cannot attract higher paying jobs. Without higher paying jobs, a city’s economy goes into decline," writes developer and consultant Michael P. Russell.

To get the needed work done, residents need to demand efficiency, push for a change in how council members represent constituents, and call for the use of private contractors for infrastructure projects, Russell opines.

“Los Angeles has come to a crossroads. They can either try to increase the taxes on a rapidly declining number of people that can afford to pay them. Or, they can make the radical changes that are necessary to become more efficient, more service oriented, more timely in the rebuilding of the city, and more aggressive in attracting quality businesses back to the city.”

FULL STORY: In LA, There is Never Enough Money for…………

Saturday, September 13, 2014 in UrbDeZine

Infrastructure California Los Angeles Infrastructure Budget Los Angeles City Council Development Pensions Urban Renewal Urbanism View More

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