Sidebar: City of cracks

Los Angeles is in crisis, facing a staggering $1 billion budget deficit thanks to dwindling tax revenues, rising workforce costs and legal settlements. Judgments against the city have skyrocketed, with payouts nearly quadrupling from $91 million to $320 million in just four years.

While much of this financial burden stems from lawsuits involving the Los Angeles Police Department, housing discrimination and crumbling infrastructure, the city’s broken sidewalks account for a small but growing portion of the pot due to over 4,000 miles of sidewalks in various states of disrepair. Throw in some outdated policies and inadequate tree management as invasive roots of ficus trees contribute to woes, and you have an untenable situation.

Could spending and prioritizing public spaces stave off future liabilities? Find out in our seventh episode this season.

Special guests:

• Attorney Mauro Fiore Jr.
• Attorney Chris Ardalan
• Jessica Meaney, executive director of Investing in Place
• Attorney Paula Pearlman

Sidebar tackles the top stories you need to know from the legal world. Join reporters Hillel Aron, Kirk McDaniel, Amanda Pampuro, Kelsey Reichmann and Josh Russell as they take you in and out of courtrooms in the U.S. and beyond and break down developments to help you understand how they affect your day-to-day life.

This episode was produced by Hillel Aron. Intro music by The Dead Pens.

Editorial staff if Ryan Abbott, Sean Duffy and Jamie Ross.

More news out of LA:

• Judge indecisive on legality of LA schools campus-sharing policy
• Homeless man will stand trial for hacking down 12 trees in LA
• LA’s aerial gondola dream shot down by appeals court