Pothole potboiler

The epic quest of a West Hills neighborhood to get a pipe leak and large pothole repaired has some questioning the mayor's vow to repairing 300,000 potholes in the city. Turns out, the DN says, that there is a big backlog:

Street Services Director Bill Robertson estimated there is a 90-day backlog on street repairs. "We don't have the ability to hire any more workers, but we shift people around to deal with the most serious problems," he said. Robertson's bureau has an annual budget of $23 million and spends about $3 million of that on pothole repairs. Robertson said claims for pothole damage are summarized with other liability payouts, which total about $6.7 million a year.

Do you think the city is serious about filling potholes? Hit the COMMENT button and speak out!

Comments

[Benjamin Brown]

It is my understanding that most subterranean laboratories are deep hardened facilities whereas there are many which are converted fallout shelters that are much less deep. These places utilize psycho-subliminal wavelength and frequency technologies to abduct and control individuals and macro-populations. I support the effort to end the reign of terror of these facilities.

[Peter McFerrin]

Cahwyguy, I don't think the city gives preference to "Metropolitan" Los Angeles over the Valley. It does determine repair order based on which roads are busiest, though, and most of those are on the south side of "The Hill."

As for whether the city privileges wealthier neighborhoods over poorer ones, that I can't say for sure. I have a feeling that it has more to do with how responsive a given area's City Council member is to his/her constituents. It's not a good sign that in my district (CD11), the main drag through the well-to-do portion of Mar Vista where Councilman Bill Rosendahl lives has a number of car-swallowing potholes on it.

[Cahwyguy - Daniel]

The city seems to repair bad streets and fill potholes on a whim an a lark.

A few examples. In a community in Northridge that I drive through regularly (a nicer neighborhood), the streets were recently resurfaced. They really didn't need it, being quite smooth, but it was done anyway.

In another neighborhood on our van route, this time in North Hills (specifically on Tupper between Hayvenhurst and Woodley), the street is so bad as to be really jarring. I've been driving that stretch for over 10 years. Nary a resurface.

It makes one wonder:
(a) Does the city give precedence to the "city" proper, as opposed to the valley? Do they only pay attention to the valley when we threaten to secede and take our money away?
(b) Does the city give precedence to neighborhoods with weathier residences, vs. the more middle class or poorer neighborhoods, when doing public works projects such as road resurfacing or sidewalk repair?