Your city at work *

Pothole graphic Mayor Villaraigosa's photo op du jour was the ceremonial filling of a North Hollywood pothole—reputedly pothole number 80,173 to be repaired since September 24. That would mean an impressive (or incredulous, if you prefer) average of 800 potholes a day, every day, provided the Bureau of Street Services worked on nothing but potholes seven days a week. According to the mayor's press release, however, Operation Pothole was a weekend effort. So let's be generous and say three days of pothole work a week, meaning city crews needed to average 1,908 a day to reach the reported total. Call me skeptical, but OK, if they say so. No matter, It will be all over the news tonight anyway—slow news day. (Actually, in September the city said it would be an every other weekend effort.) Meanwhile, the Bureau of Street Services website does have a useful graphic showing how potholes happen, how they are fixed, street defects that don't qualify as potholes as well as a page of frequently asked questions. Example:

Q. What is the definition of a "pothole"?
A. A "Pothole" is a hole in the street with the bottom of the hole shaped like the bottom of a pot (rounded). When a vehicle drives over a pothole the driver may experience trouble with the steering and damage can occur to the vehicle's tires and suspension. In order to lessen the impact on drivers from potholes, the Bureau will attempt to repair these small defects in the street within 24 hours to mitigate the damage they may cause.

* Wednesday stories: The Daily News notes that Huston Street, site of the photo op in front of a dozen cameras and reporters, is scheduled for full resurfacing next week. But the city defends filling the pothole. Also in the Breeze.

For the mayor's press release, turn the page.

MAYOR VILLARAIGOSA CELEBRATES SUCCESS OF OPERATION POTHOLE
Operation Pothole filled a record 80,173 potholes in 14 weeks,
surpassing the initial goal of 35,000

LOS ANGELES - Working to deliver the basic city services residents
deserve, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, along with Councilmembers Wendy
Greuel and Tom LaBonge celebrated the success of Operation Pothole today
by filling the 80,173rd pothole, using a large sanding machine pounding
the street material into the pothole and leveling the street surface.

"Today, I am here to announce the completion of a successful
"operation" made to the City of Los Angeles. Operation Pothole
has easily outpaced expectations by filling over 80,000 potholes
surpassing the initial goal of 35,000," said Mayor Villaraigosa.

Mayor Villaraigosa also spoke on the importance of state government
fully funding Proposition 42-Transportation Funding

"Thanks in part to Proposition 42, we were able to increase funding
for street paving and repairs for projects such as Operation Pothole, by
$11 million. But in order for Los Angeles to continue to get its fair
share of transportation funding, we are going to need the support of the
Governor and state leaders," said Mayor Villaraigosa.

"One of the biggest lessons we learned from the secession debate is
that Los Angeles residents, Valley residents in particular, expect and
demand that city government deliver the most basic services that improve
our neighborhoods and enhance our quality of life," said Councilmember
Wendy Greuel. "I commend Mayor Villaraigosa for making the delivery of
quality services a priority and the Bureau of Street Services for far
surpassing our expectations for Operation Pothole."

Operation Pothole was a 14-week campaign aimed at repairing city
streets by filling up to 35,000 potholes. Each weekend, the City's
Bureau of Street Services scoured an area of Los Angeles filling each
and every pothole found. Residents of Los Angeles are urged to call
3-1-1 to report potholes in their neighborhoods.

Operation Pothole began in South Los Angeles on Saturday, September 24
and continued in the North San Fernando Valley on October 8; South
Valley on October 22; East Los Angeles on November 5; Central Los
Angeles on November 19; Harbor-San Pedro area on December 3; and ended
in North Hollywood on Tuesday, December 27.

The poor condition of Los Angeles' streets contributes to
commuters' cost of driving, with the average motorist in Los
Angeles spending an additional $671 per year due to driving on roads on
poor condition

A pothole is defined as a hole in the street with its bottom shaped
like the bottom of a pot (rounded). When a vehicle drives over a pothole
the driver may experience trouble with steering and damage may occur to
the vehicle's tires and suspension. To learn more about pothole,
residents may visit the Bureau of Street Services web site at
http://www.lacity.org/BOSS/Resurfacing/potholes.htm