Pothole of the week

This week's winner comes from Willis Avenue in Van Nuys and was nominated by Jeff and Suzanne Symonds. They even put together this most excellent photo montage showing the state of Willis Avenue, which they say hasn't been repaved since the neighborhood was developed 57 years ago.

I spoke to Jeff Symonds on Wednesday and he said that he had just heard one day earlier that the street had been put on the list of streets to be reconstructed by the city. But his enthusiasm was tempered by the fact that Willis had been on the list before.

"In 2006 when we got the letter [about being put on the list] we were jumping up and down," Symonds said. "Then six weeks later we got a letter from the Bureau of Street Services that you're off the list."

The problem: city of Los Angeles budget cuts.

Another item of interest here is that the 5600 to 5800 blocks of Willis fall in the district of Los Angeles Councilwoman Wendy Greuel, at right, who often refers to herself as the "Pothole Queen." So I rang up her office Wednesday and politely suggested that they may want to quash an asphalt rebellion on one road in the queen's kingdom.

Greuel deputy Ben Golombek said he would look into the matter. And he did. Golombek e-mailed today that a city crew was dispatched to Willis on Wednesday and they found the following:

"5600 Block
The street has some recent asphalt repairs and the emergency truck just performed some more.  We couldn't find potholes or holes but there were a lot of parked cars so we will go back in the morning to check the street when the cars move in case there are  potholes under the cars. 
 
"5700, 5800  Blocks
The street doesn't have any major  potholes. Instead, there is massive alligator cracking that can only be erased (not eliminated) by applying a skin patch over it.  Unfortunately it would only be a temporary solution and the cracking will come back soon."

Golombek also sent a statement from Greuel:
 
"As the pothole queen in the City of Los Angeles, I take this problem very seriously.  I'm proud that we've increased funding and will be able to repave 25% more roads in my district this year than last year and that we're repaving 50% more roads now than when I took office.  This stretch of Willis Ave. has been in poor condition for too long and unfortunately needs to be completely rebuilt.  After working with my constituents, I instructed the Bureau of Street Services that this was a priority to fix back in 2006, but unfortunately due to budget cuts it was not able to be repaired.  I reiterated to the Bureau this year that this was a top priority for my district and the Bureau has assured me that it will be repaired this fiscal year." 

In short, it looks like Willis has a shot. But we'll follow-up later to see if the work gets done.

But there's something else worth discussing.

A little while back -- during a press conference on the city budget -- Greuel called her colleague Dennis Zine by the name of his alter ego, Denise Zine. This wasn't a slip. As it happens, Councilman Zine has a habit of occasionally dressing in drag, particularly when attending charitable events. It also happens that Greuel is running for city controller next year and she's unopposed. If she leaves the council next July, someone will have to assume the mantle of Pothole Queen, even if it's a very unbecoming title.

Could Denise Zine be the one? And, if anyone out there has a photo of Denise, could you please e-mail it to me? Just for posterity's sake, you know.

--Steve Hymon

Photo credit: Residents of Willis Avenue