'Operation Pothole' crews will try to plug more than 10,000 holes in L.A. streets
Los Angeles Times
December 29, 2010

Angelenos tired of bumping and jarring atop city roads may soon get a smoother ride as part of "Operation Pothole." City Council President Eric Garcetti, the Board of Public Works and the Bureau of Street Services are joining forces for a major push on the weekend of Jan. 8-9 to plug up cracks, ruts and crevices on roadways damaged by recent storms.

About 50 crews -- two to three times the normal number -- will be deployed each day to fill an estimated 10,000 to 15,000 potholes around the city, according to Guy Lipa, a legislative deputy in Garcetti's office. Anyone who spots a pothole is urged to call 311 now so the Bureau of Street Services can organize a list of needed repairs, he said.

"The more potholes that we can identify, the more potholes we can fill," Garcetti said in a statement. "Please don't assume that the city will magically know about the pothole near your house or on your way to work." Read the full article.

Tree limb removals fall to city budget ax
Los Angeles Daily News / By Kerry Cavanaugh
October 27, 2010

If a tree branch falls in the city, how long will it lie on the ground before someone removes it?
A lot longer than it used to. Budget cuts, early retirements, layoffs and transfers have slashed the city of Los Angeles' Urban Forestry staff from 230 employees earlier this year to fewer than 100 today.

The result? City tree trimmers are now only able to respond to street tree emergencies. The division used to clean up fallen limbs in 24 to 48 hours. Now it takes as long as two weeks. Each inspector is responsible for some 150,000 trees.
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Robertson Details How Budget Crisis Impacts Street Services
Palisadian-Post / By Danielle Gillespie
October 28, 2010

As a result of the city's budget crisis, the L.A. Bureau of Street Services has lost 349 staff positions and has fewer working days, which will result in a reduction in services, according to William Robertson, the bureau's director.

In fiscal year 2009-10, the department had 1,155 employees, and it now has 806. In addition, 'the bureau uses 220 working days as the base for planning operations, which is now reduced by 26 days for mandatory furloughs,' Robertson told the Pacific Palisades Community Council on October 14.

Robertson said he intends to continue to deliver as many services as possible, but his main focus will be on resurfacing and maintaining streets.
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