Los Angeles in Decline? City commission seems to think so

[dennis1]

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/l...#axzz2pq3kxtWw
Los Angeles is a city in decline, strangled by traffic, weighed down by poverty and suffering from "a crisis of leadership and direction," according to a report released Wednesday by a 13-member citizen panel.

The Los Angeles 2020 Commission, convened by City Council President Herb Wesson to examine the city's economic woes, offered a harsh assessment of civic decision-making, warning that Los Angeles is heading to a future where local government can no longer afford to provide public services.

The panel, chaired by former U.S. Commerce Secretary Mickey Kantor, said Los Angeles lacks a coherent approach to economic development and trails other major cities in job growth. City government spending is growing faster than revenue and the pension benefits of city employees are at risk, said the report, titled "A Time For Truth."

Rest at the source

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I don't agree with this point blank.

[The Illusive Man]

Definitely not. There are more jobs now, plenty of construction and planned projects, more rail lines being added, and people continue to move here. These things don't happen in a declining city.

Plus, with our weather, topography, and great higher ed schools in the area, we'll keep bringing in people.

[MonkeyRonin]

Experiencing problems (particularly when many of them are the result of other successes) does not equate to being in decline.

[Steely Dan]

attention-seeking hyperbole.

does LA have problems? of course it does. what large american city doesn't?

is it in actual decline a la detroit? that seems preposterous to me.

[Buckeye Native 001]

There are about 4 or 5 cities this forum focuses on (for better or for worse, usually worse), on a month to month basis. I guess L.A. is that city for the month of January. Who gets February: Houston? Atlanta? Phoenix? Miami?

I guess its all moot. Discussion threads usually end with Toronto, regardless whatever city was the initial topic of discussion.

[Rail Claimore]

LA has reached its mid-life crisis, it seems.

[antinimby]

It needs a boob job and botox injection.

[Quixote]

Originally Posted by Rail Claimore

LA has reached its mid-life crisis, it seems.

LA just went through a messy, bitter divorce. Other cities already went through theirs, fell madly in love again, and are now happily married.

[Rail Claimore]

Originally Posted by Quixote

LA just went through a messy, bitter divorce. Other cities already went through theirs, fell madly in love again, and are now happily married.

I wonder what kind of car LA will buy to compensate?

[edluva]

it already drives a prius. maybe a tesla S?

[Rail Claimore]

Originally Posted by edluva

it already drives a prius. maybe a tesla S?

LA wouldn't be caught dead driving what Seattle or San Francisco drive.

[animatedmartian]

A more accurate term instead of "decline" would probably be "unwise decisions". But of course, that's not something unique to LA or even that uncommon to any city in general.

[LosAngelesSportsFan]

well,this was a study designed to find problems so its no shocker to me that they found issues.

I wholeheartedly disagree with the study however. LA's future has never looked brighter for all the reasons stated above and that has been discussed on this website.

[Crawford]

Originally Posted by edluva

it already drives a prius. maybe a tesla S?

Tesla retail outlets are always in malls, right?. Something about that symbiotic relationship make it a perfect car for an LA mid-life crisis.

[Centropolis]

Originally Posted by Rail Claimore

LA wouldn't be caught dead driving what Seattle or San Francisco drive.

this is the los angeles that i "grew up with" on the tele, haha:


http://offroadaction.ca

[MolsonExport]

any shopping mall crises in LA? How are the artisanal olive oil shops holding up?

[caligrad]

By a "13 citizen member panel".......... yeah they are all stupid or ill informed... L.A. is everything but in a decline. Yes there is traffic. what major city doesn't have traffic. yes there is homelessness, what major city doesn't have homeless issues. The only huge problem I see facing L.A. is a lack of water and rain. other than that... with all the developments happening in L.A.s city centers, downtown, Hollywood, Wilshire, Century City, santa monica, Long Beach and so on.....Mass transit literally in the process of doubling......L.A. is doing just fine at the moment... not to mention the news broke last night that L.A. is planning on hiring 2500 new teachers if not more, and more cops. yeah we are good at the moment. the only thing holding us back is not having a football team or stadium, UGH ! the millions that alone would bring in.

[caligrad]

^^^^^^^^ And the kind of car L.A is going to get in this bitter divorce?? yeah you guys give it to much credit as being the "green" city... I totally see L.A. driving a Chevy Tahoe Hybrid or BMW/Mercedes HAHAHA

[Eightball]

Originally Posted by Buckeye Native 001

There are about 4 or 5 cities this forum focuses on (for better or for worse, usually worse), on a month to month basis. I guess L.A. is that city for the month of January. Who gets February: Houston? Atlanta? Phoenix? Miami?

I guess its all moot. Discussion threads usually end with Toronto, regardless whatever city was the initial topic of discussion.

Don't forget the extraordinary amount of attention given to dc!

[edluva]

Originally Posted by Crawford

Tesla retail outlets are always in malls, right?. Something about that symbiotic relationship make it a perfect car for an LA mid-life crisis.

not always. of the five showrooms in LA county, three are standalone. would've have made for a zinger if that weren't the case though wouldn't it