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Infrastructure Advocates, a group of concerned community members throughout Los Angeles, seeks to ensure growth in the City does not outpace the infrastructure to support it. When City leaders blatantly ignored key planning requirements mandated by law, Infrastructure Advocates filed a lawsuit in 2008 (case number L.A.S.C. BS115435) to ask these key planning requirements be enforced. Rampant development without the sufficient infrastructure to support it has resulted in a severe degradation of public services including furloughed firefighters; gridlocked traffic; cash-strapped schools; water rationing; deteriorating water pipes, sidewalks and streets, and decreased park and library access.
A General Plan is the City's land use "constitution" and is the plan by which a City's growth is guided in ways to maintain its livability and prosperity. It is required by California law. Los Angeles' General Plan has crucial planning mandate called the Annual Report on Growth and Infrastructure (ARGI). That law says the infrastructure must be measured and monitored and reported annually. The purpose of the ARGI is to tell decision makers if development is outpacing the infrastructure, and if so, then the city must either slow down development or make infrastructure improvements to sufficiently support the new development. Los Angeles has not produced an ARGI since 2000 (based upon 1998 data).
Only proper planning, monitoring, and action on the part of the City can ensure the public receives adequate services and a livable City. By refusing to prepare and utilize the ARGI as required, the Planning Department, Planning Commission, City Council and Mayor have betrayed the public trust and put its citizenry in harm’s way. The Infrastructure lawsuit seeks to remedy those inactions and refusals and the deteriorating quality of life factors in our city. Our lawsuit seeks to compel city officials to implement what is required by law and fulfill its mandatory duties. Our lawsuit is supported by a far-reaching and diverse group of partners and neighborhood councils. Click here to see our list of supporters.
Superior Court Judge John Torribio ruled the City of Los Angeles need not follow mandatory duties and mitigation measures by producing an ARGI. An appeal requesting review of the decision was filed April 14, 2011 in the Second District Court, Division 5 by our groups’ attorneys, Venskus & Associates, PC, represented by Sabrina Venskus and Emilee Moeller.
By refusing to prepare and utilize the Annual Report on Growth and Infrastructure (ARGI) as required, the City of Los Angeles Planning Department, Planning Commission, City Council and Mayor have betrayed the public trust and put its citizenry in harm's way.
Click here to download our one page information sheet.
Click here to read our full position paper.
BREAKING NEWS!
April 26, 2012 Pressure Changes Find The Weaknesses In DWP Pipes
The Fairfax District water main break during the first week of April, 2012 raised numerous questions about the state of water infrastructure in L.A. DWP claims that the nearly 6 leaks and other pipe “breaks” that caused over a few hundred thousand gallons of water to rush out over the streets in the area of Fairfax and Third was due to a routine maintenance practice of inspecting a tank that feeds the system.
Failing infrastructure has resulted in a rash of water main breaks throughout Los Angeles.
