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By David Hernandez, April 2, 2014
“Can Los Angeles
be saved?” is a question that transcends the passing of time, politicians and
crisis.
My conclusion is
an astounding yes, but with conditions to first be overcome.
The challenge
facing the city is twofold, each with a long and destructive history. Both have
become institutionalized and, like an evil and corroding thread, the very
fabric of Los Angeles governance has it woven into the mindset of those charged
with the duty to govern.
First is the
“Blighted City Syndrome.” The term “blighted” has long been an official label
assigned to business districts that have fallen into bad states of repair. Kind
of like the “broken windows theory” on steroids except with an agenda to allow
the condition to worsen.
To understand this
syndrome, one must learn the process as it had existed for decades. Once an area is officially deemed blighted, a
Community Redevelopment Agency district was formed. The tax base generated by
the existing blighted area was frozen at the current level. The CRA then began
the process to improve and revitalize the area. Bonds are sold on the bond
market to raise funds to hire developers to purchase the properties and then
build new and improved districts. The CRA was not required to go to the voters
in order to get approval for the bonds. Remember, the City of Los Angeles must
get voter approval in order to sell bonds, but it was not so with the CRA.
The construction
was done by politically-connected contractors chosen by the CRA.
The more blight,
the more money to be made by those involved in the process from selling the bonds
to building the structures.
This process had
been in place for decades and, for the most part, unnoticed by the residents of
Los Angeles.
The additional taxes
coming from the improved projects did not go to provide funding for basic
services such as police, fire, street services, etc. The additional revenue
went to the CRA to service the debt created by the selling of the bonds.
This process
created an incentive to allow the blight to spread and flourish. This program
came to an abrupt halt as a result of the governor and State Assembly passing
legislation to disband the CRA. This has left communities like the Valley Plaza
in North Hollywood looking like a ghost town.
The mindset of
those serving the city must be changed, blight was and is bad for a community
and must be addressed at the onset.
Next is the “Convenience
Store” scenario. After stopping at the 7-Eleven you are approached by an individual
with an oblivious substance abuse problem. The individual asks for money to buy
food. You respond no, and follow by saying they will just use the money for
drugs. The individual responds no, they have money for drugs, they need money
for food.
The City of Los
Angeles seems to have money for their pet projects but wants more of your money
for basic services. Just review the projects funded under the American Recovery
and Reinvestment Act.
Politicians go to
Washington to ask for billions for the L.A. River, but want to increase taxes
to pave our streets.
End the Blighted City Syndrome and the Convenience Store mindset and the City of Los Angeles will be saved.
End the Blighted City Syndrome and the Convenience Store mindset and the City of Los Angeles will be saved.
More about David Hernandez
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Related: The Elder Statement: Report: L.A. in “Crisis” -- 10 Steps to Fix It
Related: The Elder Statement: 10 Steps To Save L.A.-- The 14 + Peter Ueborroth, City Czar
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