A Good Fix for L.A.'s Sidewalks

by Gary Toebben

We've all heard the childhood superstition "Step on a crack, break your mother's back." The City of Los Angeles is currently grappling with how to repair miles of treacherous sidewalks -- without breaking the bank -- and establish who will be responsible for repairs going forward.

California law requires that "owners of lots ... fronting on any portion of a public street, shall maintain any sidewalk" in usable condition. L.A. followed the state code until 1973 when the City assumed responsibility for sidewalk repair due to federal funding availability. Over the years, federal funding for repairing 11,000 miles of public sidewalks in L.A. evaporated and now 40 percent of the sidewalks have deteriorated. The settlement of Willits v. City of L.A., a class action lawsuit regarding disability access to sidewalks, has forced the City to address the problem.

L.A. City Council, led by Councilmembers Joe Buscaino, Paul Krekorian, Mike Bonin and Nury Martinez, has come up with a sensible plan to fix the sidewalks. They are recommending the City "fix and release" all sidewalks over the next 30 years. For property owners who do not want to wait that long, a 50 percent rebate incentive program will be offered for three years. The City would guarantee the repairs: 20 years for residential properties and five years for commercial and industrial properties.

The City Council has been balanced in addressing the urban forest that keeps neighborhoods beautiful, but tree roots have caused part of the problem. The policy provides for environmentally-friendly material alternatives, which will help with watershed management and decrease the heat effect of concrete.

This plan is vastly superior to the original proposal, which the Chamber opposed because it provided no initial investment by the City to fix sidewalks on commercial and industrial properties. The Chamber also opposes a cap on the number of feet of sidewalk the City will fix per property, which would leave many industrial and commercial property owners with a very expensive initial investment. Setting warranty periods by property type is also a concern for business.

Yes, the City's initial costs for repair will be expensive, but the class action lawsuit demands action. Overall, the City is taking a big step in the right direction to repair a critical part of our infrastructure and then turn future responsibility back to property owners. The Chamber will be there to advocate that all property owners are treated equitably.

And that’s The Business Perspective.