Ask Paul: What About My Sidewalks?

Dear Councilman:

Why is it that the city doesn't seem to have funding for essential projects like sidewalks, but always seems to be able to fund favorite projects like the football stadium, hotel subsidies, etc., etc.??

When they were available, why weren't redevelopment funds used for sidewalks and other infrastructure needs?

Thank you.

Ernest Scarcelli

Dear Ernest,

Thanks for the question. Let me first say that I agree completely with your premise that the city needs to be investing in our infrastructure right now.  The city’s sidewalks, as well as street surfaces, the water system, sewers, the power grid, and many public buildings are aging and in dire need of repair and upgrading in order to meet the needs of our population.  At the same time, these investments would create a tremendous economic engine that will create good jobs and a strong push toward an expedited recovery.

As the new Chair of the Council’s Budget & Finance Committee, however, let me put your question into a larger context.  Because of the collapse in revenues that resulted from the international economic meltdown in 2008 and the ensuing deep recession, the city has made deep cutbacks over the last several years.  Spending in the city is at its lowest point since the 2007-08 budget and has been reduced by more than 2% since the recession hit in 2008 – even as the city’s population has increased.

Meanwhile, the city’s workforce has been slashed as many of the remaining city employees have been required to take furloughs, further reducing their ability to keep up with the demand for services.   In short, this city, like virtually every other city and state government in the U.S. and so many countries around the world, has faced unprecedented and extraordinarily painful budget challenges.  And the challenge is not yet behind us; as we look forward to the coming fiscal year, the city is projecting a shortfall that could be as much as $200 million, requiring further cutbacks in expenditures.  So, if anyone thinks for a moment that the city’s budget crisis is not real, I can assure you -- it is VERY real.

As for your specific examples:  first, let’s be clear that the city is NOT funding a football stadium.  I’ve been a leading critic of the proposal by AEG to bring the NFL back to Los Angeles, and I remain vocally skeptical of the plan.   In part, because of my clear and consistent demand that no public money be used for the proposed stadium, the financial terms of the proposal now provide that any stadium would be 100% privately funded, and that AEG would build a state-of-the art and much needed replacement for the obsolete West Hall of the Convention Center -- at no risk to the taxpayers.   This proposal still has many hurdles to overcome in my view (including addressing its environmental and traffic impacts), but one thing is for sure – if the plan does move forward, it will not include using public money for football. 

As for “hotel subsidies,” the city has from time to time agreed to waive some portion of the transient occupancy tax (“TOT”) in order to make a proposed hotel project economically viable.  This can make economic sense for the city under some circumstances because the city would not realize any TOT revenue if the hotel is not built.  The result has been a bump in much-needed hotel construction in the downtown area, where it is essential to L.A.’s tourism industry, and the creation of many thousands of jobs.   More importantly, it has been a factor in increasing the overall amount of TOT revenue, which is one reason why we were able to turn our $72 million mid-year deficit this financial year into a $4.2 million surplus. The City Administrative Officer recently reported that TOT tax receipts were almost $9 million better than expected, significantly helping to bridge the budget gap.  Tourism -- and the jobs and revenues it produces -- is one of the primary reasons our city is able to continue to provide many of the services we depend upon.

There is no doubt, though, that city services are being cut left and right, forcing us to do more with less. That is why my office has created new and innovative ways to help our community without further straining the city’s General Fund.   For example, I’ve set aside a portion of my own office’s funds to add weekend crews to fill potholes, cut down overgrown branches, sweep dirty streets and dispose of bulky items that blight our street corners – all services that otherwise would have been reduced.  And with specific regard to sidewalks, in fact I did work with the CRA (when it existed) to pay for sidewalk repairs within the redevelopment area (e.g., along Victory Boulevard, near Laurel Plaza).

Together we have a difficult journey ahead of us as we navigate the ongoing economic and budgetary crises.  I continue to believe, however, that if we can muster the collective will to work together to reinvent the way the city does business, we can lay the foundation for a much stronger municipal government for generations to come. 

Paul: Has the city or the Santa Monica Mountain Conservancy done an appraisal of the Weddington Golf Course property to determine how much it will cost the taxpayers to turn Weddington's property into a public park?

--Sean McCarthy

Dear Sean,

To the best of my knowledge, neither the city nor the Conservancy has conducted an appraisal of the Weddington Golf Course property.   Although there has been speculation by some about the possible value of the property, I agree with you that the value certainly must be less now than it was a few years ago as a result of the market decline.

The property is, of course, privately held, and various ideas have been suggested about its future.  I am especially excited about the possibility of transforming it into a natural park that retains some golf and tennis activity but also serves as a model of environmental sustainability and helps to bring new life to this stretch of the Los Angeles River.  I’ve personally called for funding for such a project under Proposition O, which supports water quality and water conservation projects.  It makes great sense to use Prop O money for this project, because it will capture and clean stormwater runoff that would otherwise flow directly into the L.A. River and out to the sea.

No project has ever been funded in the Second Council District using Proposition O funds, and just four sites in entire the San Fernando Valley have received funding under the bond measure.  It’s time for that to change.  Whether or not we will succeed in securing these funds remains to be seen, but my office will continue to work hand in hand with community groups like the Studio City Residents Association, as well as the property owners, to preserve open space in Studio City and throughout the district.

--

I would like you to check on street cleaning of Colfax Ave. on the west side between Moorpark and Ventura Blvd.  It has never been cleaned and the mud, leaf debris and trash that people drop builds up.  Stagnant water is always present in places which promotes mosquito infestation in the summer. Can you do anything about it?

Also people are continually dumping discarded furniture on the sidewalks. Sometimes it is there for weeks until it disappears.  I walk every day and it is a real eyesore.   I am sure you can help us who live on this street?

Thank you in advance,

Caroline Futoran

Dear Caroline,

Thanks for your note.  I have checked with the Bureau of Street Services, which reports that it last swept Colfax Avenue, between Ventura and Moorpark, about three weeks ago, on January 23rd.   

You mentioned stagnant standing water, which is a significant problem.  If you can provide me with more specific locations where there is pooling, we will attempt to determine the source of the problem and address it.  In the meantime, whenever you notice what appears to be a mosquito problem, you should inform our office right away or contact Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District at glacvcd.org.

The problem of illegal dumping is a great frustration throughout the city, and it is especially aggravating because it is entirely preventable.  Instead of illegally dumping a bulky item and facing possible fines, any resident who wishes to dispose of such an item can simply call 311, report it online at www.lacity.org, or request a free pickup by the Department of Sanitation by clicking here. 

When people do act irresponsibly with their discards and cause blight in our neighborhoods, we will do our best to address the problem as quickly as possible.    I have allocated $250,000 in discretionary funds to the BSS for special weekend work to be done exclusively in the Second Council District.  Among other items, these funds have paid for weekly sweeps since October by a bulky item crew from the city. They’ve scooped up discarded Christmas trees, old mattresses, furniture and other cast-offs, cleaning up unsightly messes throughout our neighborhoods. 

I’ve added this area to our watch list, but I would also ask that if you or any Studio City residents see a problem, please contact Geoff Yazzetta in my North Hollywood field office.  Geoff’s email is Geoffrey.yazzetta@lacity.org and you can also call him at (818) 755- 7676.  You can also take a picture of the issue and report it to us using our smart phone apps for your Android or iPhone [available for free by clicking here]. 

We’re here to help!

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