...note that the problem started with the closing of a steel mill and then aerospace manufacturing. I've worked in both industries in California - they were destroyed by liberal state & federal policies, which also prevented new industries from replacing them. It didn't matter what party ran the city politics.
“It didn’t matter what party ran the city politics.”
That’s my point exactly. I live in Los Angeles — it’s been run by libs for forty years now. But that doesn’t matter — even their stupid anti-business policies haven’t bankrupted us — people still work and pay taxes.
What’s bankrupting the city are government salaries and pensions. Not one politician, liberal or conservative, can say “no” to the unions and get reelected. Or so they think.