Live data from Hacker News

Why isn't LA repaving streets?

lapublicpress.org

31–40 of 327 posts

Re: Why isn't LA repaving streets?

#32
post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

California doesn't have the highest sales tax: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sales_taxes_in_the_United_Stat...

You seem to be confused. Your own link shows that California state sales tax is the highest in the country. Look at the blue bars.

Whoops. If we're just comparing state sales tax, CA does seem to be the highest. However it's not dramatically higher than many other states, and when you throw in local taxes the combined rate seems to be just in the top ten or so.

Re: Why isn't LA repaving streets?

#34

So the city can't afford to comply with its own regulations, and instead of fixing the regulation, they find loopholes. I wonder if there's a lesson to be learned, here.

It can easily afford it. What the city can't seem to do is rid itself of corrupt employees and corrupt practices. These people talk a big game, but when it comes to basic office management, they're less than worthless. I wish I could vote to leave the offices empty. I honestly think that would improve things.

I do wonder if a little part of this is, they talk a big game, get into office and then see the details of full picture and realise they over promised.

It is a nice theory but then they bring out the same rhetoric when seeking re-election. So yeah, corruption may be abound.

Re: Why isn't LA repaving streets?

#35
We do the same here in Indianapolis and my read is that it's about cost containment. Our tax base here really doesn't fully support city services. And then more people move to the high-tax-base suburbs for better services, and the cycle repeats and gets worse.

Re: Why isn't LA repaving streets?

#37

US cities over the past decade seem to be in a competition to see who can be the least competently run.

A lot of city governments no longer really focus on the day-to-day living experience in their city. Instead, they focus on property value and the discovery of increasingly palatable ways to limit or justify raising property taxes in order to stay in power.

Re: Why isn't LA repaving streets?

#39

Because it'll rain out next week and they'll fall apart again. Same problem in San Diego. Southern CA didn't really choose a great aggregate mixture for the winder rain we've gotten the past few years.

My experience is that once you get north of the city limits of San Diego, into either neighboring cities or unincorporated areas, the roads get a lot better.

Re: Why isn't LA repaving streets?

#40
The amount we pay just to settle the liability claims for police misconduct is almost as much as our entire street services budget.

LA government is an enormous corrupt police department with a few measly services slowly decaying as their funding gets cut.

Post reply on HN