When you look at a city’s sidewalks, streets, and parks (the collective backbone of every community), it will tell you a lot about how that city is governed. Right now, Los Angeles has a clear pattern of neglect, inefficiency, and missed opportunities. However, a five-year comprehensive Capital Infrastructure Plan (CIP) could help the City deliver well-maintained, accessible public spaces across Los Angeles.
The Problem: A Broken System Leading to Deterioration
As Los Angeles enters the 2025-26 fiscal year, a $1 billion budget deficit is accelerating the decline of critical infrastructure and exposing deep structural issues.
One of those structural issues is the City’s lack of a long-term financial plan to guide tough decisions, assess infrastructure needs, and establish shared priorities. City staff are left without clear direction and a multi-year funding strategy, making it impossible to work efficiently or measure success. Instead, Los Angeles continues to operate reactively, allocating funds without the ability to scale projects strategically based on budget realities.
A Capital Infrastructure Plan (CIP) is a budget and policy tool that defines the City’s vision for public space and lists the specific projects, including funding sources and timelines, to help the City realize that vision. Los Angeles remains the only major U.S. city without one, perpetuating a broken system of inefficiencies and missed opportunities. Read more about why LA must act now in our latest update.
