New Report Rips Los Angeles for Lack of Leadership, Vision

The Los Angeles 2020 Commission, appointed by City Council President Herb Wesson and populated by 13 citizens of high standing in business and policy, has released a report called "A Time for Truth."

David Zahniser reports that the report "[offers] 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" and "lacks a coherent approach to economic development and trails other major cities in job growth."

The report examines several land use and infrastructure cases, including investments at the Port of Los Angeles, Los Angeles International Airport, and a $1 billion development plan sought by the University of Southern California. The report calls the years it took to approve that proposal "Not a sensible way to treat the city's largest private employer."

The report also devotes a section to discussion of the city’s outdated community plans and 1940s zoning code: "As a consequence of poor planning and outdated zoning, almost all projects have to go to City Hall for review and approval and, absent a clear set of ground rules, are subject to the whims of special interests, 'nimbyism' and City Hall insiders."