Spencer Pratt Critiques L.A. Mayor on Pothole Crisis

Spencer Pratt has criticized Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass for the city’s worsening pothole issues, claiming the administration has dismantled a vital $100 million remediation program.

“City infrastructure should be a primary focus,” Pratt expressed during an interview. “We pay taxes, and that money needs to go towards infrastructure improvements.”

He referred to a federal grant of $100 million that he believes has been redirected from road repairs to various initiatives, including anti-homelessness efforts like the Inside Safe Bus Initiative. If he were to be elected, Pratt noted that he would reallocate those funds back into infrastructure development.

This issue, according to Pratt, reflects a disconnect between City Hall and everyday families, implying that Bass has mismanaged city funds. He criticized the Mayor for sitting on a $400 million Inside Safe account, which wasn’t used when the fire chief required $17 million for public safety. “Infrastructure should receive its fair share of funding to ensure our roads are functional,” he argued.

Bass has attributed the reduced funds for road maintenance to escalating deficits and higher labor costs.

The situation regarding the city’s roads is alarming, with rising complaints about poor conditions. Reports indicate significant pothole damage to vehicles throughout Los Angeles, with a notable spike in pothole complaints—6,707 in January alone, marking a 49% increase from the previous month. Particularly after recent rains, the report highlighted that “years of neglected maintenance have intensified the deterioration of the streets.”

Local truck drivers, who used to transport asphalt and construction materials for city projects, are feeling the pinch. The city’s previous program was halted three years ago, leaving many in jeopardy.

Kenyatta Cole, a truck driver whose family has been in the industry for generations, shared, “We used to work six days a week without fail.” He described how the program kept them busy and provided steady work.

Following the program’s cancellation, nearly 100 families received an email notification about the decision on May 31, 2023. Cole remarked that the news blindsided many, especially as his family had recently invested heavily in new equipment to comply with California’s emissions regulations.

“I put almost $300,000 into my business, and just six months later, I learned we wouldn’t have any work,” he lamented. Many workers had made similar investments, using their homes as collateral to finance new trucks, believing their jobs were secure.

Today, potholes plague many busy roads, highlighting ongoing concerns about the aging infrastructure. Multigenerational trucking families report that job losses have shattered long-standing businesses and careers.

“When I heard about how it all played out, it made sense why our streets are in this state, and why our vehicles are suffering,” Pratt said.

With the program, as many as 500 to 800 miles of city streets were rehabilitated annually; however, only 346 miles were addressed in the year following its termination.

The truck drivers faced considerable frustration trying to get responses from the city after the program ended, including multiple attempts to meet with Mayor Bass. “I never got a chance to meet with her,” Cole added.

“I lost my truck; I almost lost my house,” Devon Blankenship shared. Meanwhile, Pratt emphasized that generations of Angelenos, who invested in their vehicles and businesses, are now facing uncertainty.

For Anneli Rico, the program represents more than just a job—it’s family heritage. “My husband, father, brother, and stepfather all worked in the program,” she recounted. “This has been a part of my life.”

California currently holds the third worst road conditions in the country, with 28.4% of major roads classified as being in poor shape, contrasting sharply with the national average of 13.1%.

The California Post reached out to Mayor Bass’ office for clarification on the program’s cancellation and the future use of the funds but did not receive a reply.