Friday, August 10, 2007

City of L.A. to Get Even Bigger?

A reader wrote in that a topic of discussion they'd like bought up is the growth of the City. They write:
"What other cities or unincorporated L.A. county territories would you like to see annexed by the City of L.A.?
(I personally would like to fill in a little bit, you know, Torrance, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Inglewood, and on and on.)"
Now, this is an interesting question, not just because there have been many complaints over the years that the City is too big, but because there is a concerted effort by developer Dan Palmer to add another 555 acres to Los Angeles through his Las Lomas Project. The Las Lomas Project, at the 5 & 14 Interchange, has found some opposition from various sources, as well as some controversy in the City of LA, too. There has also be rumblings that the Universal City development by NBC Universal - most of which is unincorporated LA County territory and not in the City - may want to be annexed to the City of LA, as well.

But the question at hand is: should the City grow via further annexation of unincorporated County area or other Cities? If so, which ones and why?

Our reader thinks we should fill in a little bit - does that make sense in today's political climate or did the City miss it's chance 75 years ago (and as recent as 25 years ago)? Just look at some of the most recent cities to be created in the County: Calabasas(1991), West Hollywood (1984), and Malibu (1991) - all were adjacent to the City of LA but became their own municipalities. And our neighbors to the east in unincorporated East Los Angeles are fighting for their own City, too; and they are also adjacent to the City of LA.

Expanding the City beyond it's limits today doesn't seem to be the trend in this era, but you never know what will happen. Remember, this is Los Angeles!

8 comments:

Militant Angeleno said...

It really depends. Las Lomas means more suburban residential sprawl, while Universal City, mostly commercial land owned by NBC/Universal, would bring some nice revenue to the City and solve some awkward jurisdictional problems (having the LAPD cover the territory rather than the Sheriff).

The big question is - hypothetically assuming that both were annexed - would both of them get their own blue signs?

Anonymous said...

I am gobsmacked that there are cities and unincorporated areas of the county looking around and said, "Wow, of all the city governments I've seen, L.A.'s the best one to have. Let's join!" L.A's 450 sq. mi. isn't just its land area, it's the size of the damage control you'd need for City Hall.

bgfa said...

Yeah, yeah, yeah, bash LA, everyone else does. What are you doing to improve LA?

Anonymous said...

Why would unincorporated areas want to give up perks like patrol by the LASD, freedom from the jurisdiction of the LA Dept of Building and Safety, LA Housing Dept, LA city tax, and all the ridiculous city laws?

Being unincorporated is a plus. I love the Los Angeles area. But I hate the city government of Los Angeles (and a big "f you" to the Cities of Santa Monica and West Hollywood too). Give me Glendale, Burbank, Culver City, Beverly Hills, or let me be unincorporated, please.

Anonymous said...

I would imagine that the bigger issue is all of the little unincorporated County "islands" sprinkled around LA County. It's difficult to provide adequate services for an area when it's comprised of 4 or 5 blocks and sits in the middle of San Pedro or Hawthorne.

Raphael said...

I think LA County is far too balkanized as it is. Rather than being responsive to local interests, they serve more as obstacles to regional planning. Things like energy, water, sewage, transportation, homelessness, health care, etc., can't be effectively addressed by these microfeifdoms.

If I were the absolute dictator of LA County, I would get rid of all municipalities under 500,000. (Leaving LA and Long Beach off the hook, but that's it.) They could join up with LA (or Long Beach), join up with each other, or let the county take control.

But the current system is screwed up. The smallest burgs have way too much power to block major projects essential to the entire region, or to dump their problems on their bigger neighbors.

Anonymous said...

Raphael, you hit the nail on the head. You have my vote for Absolute Dictator (of city/county government reorganization). People pay for all this extra gov't. "Reduce Gov't = Reduce Taxes!"

Anonymous said...

Have any areas been able to separate / secede from the City of LA?