Active reporting by Korean Americans is critical to preventing pothole-related damage in LA Koreatown, as Los Angeles determines road repair priorities based on resident complaint data, officials said.
At a news conference held on January 15th, the LA Korean American Federation, the Los Angeles Board of Public Works, and the office of Heather Hutt, Los Angeles City Council member for District 10, emphasized that an increase in reports could speed improvements to road conditions in Koreatown.
Steve Kang, president of the Los Angeles Board of Public Works, said the Bureau of Street Services has shifted to a seven-day workweek to focus on pothole repairs. However, he said that without submitted reports, it is difficult for the city to accurately identify problem areas.
According to Kang, from December 24th through January 14th, the city received 4,178 pothole reports. Including additional potholes discovered during site visits, total repairs reached 4,239. Of those, 379 reports were filed in District 10, which includes Koreatown.
Kang said that only about 2% of filed claims result in compensation, largely due to incomplete documentation. He added that he understands improvements to the claims process are being reviewed to enable faster handling.
Robert Ahn, president of the LA Korean American Federation, said sustained reporting is necessary for the city government to recognize Koreatown issues more seriously. He added that the rate of service requests from Koreatown is about 20% to 25% lower than in other areas within District 10.
The city accepts pothole repair requests through its MyLA311 service via its website, mobile app, and the 311 call center, all of which offer Korean-language support. If a vehicle is damaged due to road conditions not caused by the driver, residents may file a repair cost claim within six months of the incident through the Los Angeles City Clerk’s Office website at clerk.lacity.gov. The LA Korean American Federation said it plans to assist with pothole reports and vehicle damage claims through its own service and to work with the city government on faster response measures.
BY KYEONGJUN KIM [kim.kyeongjun1@koreadaily.com]
