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LA WATCHDOG - In 2012, the “community of South Los Angeles welcomed the South Los Angeles Wetlands Park, a $26 million Proposition O funded project that transformed an underutilized Metropolitan Transit Authority bus yard into a nine-acre wetland park that simultaneously improves water quality in Los Angeles and creates an urban oasis in the heart of South Los Angeles.”
Unfortunately, this park in South LA, an under resourced and park poor area of the City, has been neglected by the Department of Recreation and Parks. The irrigation equipment has been vandalized, the fountains for the two-acre lake are not operational, basic maintenance for the open area and trees is a thing of the past, and the 80,000 square foot maintenance facility is a trash bin, scared with graffiti, vandalized, and reeking of urine. And the porta-potties are not suitable for children or women.
Ninth District Councilman Curren Price has made efforts to address the problems: increased security, closing the park form 10 pm to 6 am, increased maintenance, and improved lighting. But these are stop gap measures that do not address the long-term needs of park and the local community. Yes, there is talk about a “Master Plan,” but so far, it is only talk.
The underlying problem is the lack of funding for the Department of Recreation and Parks as a result of the “full cost recovery” program that was implemented in 2010 to close the City’s budget deficit caused by decreased revenues resulting from the recession and the ever-increasing compensation demands from the bosses of the public sector labor unions.
Under the City Charter, Rec and Parks is allocated funds based on a percentage of the assessed value of property in the City. This year, it is $278 million. However, unlike any other City department, $125 million, representing 45% of its allocation, is kicked back to the General Fund to pay for pensions, healthcare benefits, utilities, and even trash collection.
Since the implementation of the “full cost recovery” program, Rec and Parks has been defunded by over $1 billion.
No wonder our parks are poorly maintained. Even more so, the restrooms in our parks are a disgrace.
If Councilman Price is serious about addressing the problems of the South Los Angeles Wetlands Park, he would introduce legislation to either end the disastrous “full cost recovery” program or place a measure on the ballot to increase the charter mandated funding for Rec & Parks.
Mayor Bass should also support these efforts because she represented South LA when she was in Congress and understands the plight of the local community.
Will Price and Bass step up to the challenge? Or will they continue to ignore the needs of our park poor residents who live in under resourced neighborhoods. And is this the picture they want to show the world during the 28 Olympics?
(Jack Humphreville writes LA Watchdog for CityWatch. He is the President of the DWP Advocacy Committee, the Budget and DWP representative for the Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council, and a Neighborhood Council Budget Advocate. He can be reached at: [email protected].)
