Los Angeles Building Permits Difficult to Get [semi-satire]

Semi-News/Semi-Satire ^ | 30 March 2025 | John Semmens

[John Semmens]

In January, the Palisades fire in Los Angeles burned 6800 buildings. In the two months since the fire was extinguished the City has issued only four permits to rebuild in the area. Residents who lost their homes are eager to build, but are finding that comedian Adam Carolla's prediction that it would be near to impossible to get a building permit is proving accurate.

Democrat Mayor Karen Bass insists that "it would be foolish to rush things. With a fire of such magnitude we must carefully consider so many factors. I'm reminded by what I was taught growing up that 'haste makes waste' and 'look before you leap.' We want to make sure to, in the immortal words of our former great President Joe Biden, 'build back better.'"

"The first item to consider is whether we should build back at all," the Mayor asserted. "Perhaps the Palisades are just too dangerous a site to build on. During the fire structures uphill often tumbled down onto structures below and set them ablaze. The death of all the vegetation increases the risk of mud slides. I think we may need extensive examination of the suitability of putting so many structures onto potentially unstable ground."

"If we do decide to allow rebuilding we need to consider whether less combustible materials should be required," Bass speculated. "In the story of the 'Three Little Pigs' it was only the house made of brick that survived. Maybe we shouldn't allow structures made of straw or wood to be built in this area."

"On top of these obvious practical considerations there's the less obvious environmental impacts to keep in mind," Bass added. "Remember, the natural state for land is wilderness. Humans intrude upon and defile wilderness wherever they go. Do we dare allow such degradation now that we know better than the aborigines who first moved into the region? Perhaps our dwellings should be constructed from animal skins and other natural materials. My basic point is that we must think carefully about what we do. I'm asking the folks who lost their homes to be patient and accept the possibility that more may be required of them. While they're waiting for our experts to determine the best overall approach we have many tent encampment areas around the city where they can reside."

[sjmjax]

I have family and friends that live in the Tampa Bay area and suffered catastrophic flooding and damage.

Five months later, some are only now receiving permits to repair & rebuild.
All because on bureaucratic red tape and government inertia.

Now the challenge is finding competent contractors and materials.

[iamgalt]

Now the challenge is finding competent contractors and materials.“

Always.

[DPMD]

Don’t know if the quotes attributed to her are authentic, but if so, it amuses me that she thinks she grew up.

[mythenjoseph]

I was in the building trades for over 30 years. IF the federal government AND state agencies had done their jobs and NOT allowed illegal labor to come in droves and undercut Americans crews then you would have had experienced Americans to be able to stay within their chosen trade. The end result of 40 plus years of this non enforcement of law is an individual (American contractor) obtains a contractors license and then has multiple crews of illegals performing the work....everyone has seen 6-8 person crews who can’t speak english just appear and do a roof or frame or brickwork or siding or painting ...This is just like when the manufacturing base was sold and legislated overseas.

[linMcHlp]

bttt

[eyeamok]

It generally takes 4 years to get a building permit in Los Angeles County, and there was a article the other day saying that 40,000 construction jobs left last year

[stylin19a]

Bass sandbagged Pres. Trump...who tried to negate the wait.

[MikelTackNailer]

I have it on good authority that top men are working at speed to correct the problem. Here's an EPA inspector hard at work on site:

"Four. Four building permits! Ah! Ah! A-ah!"

[packrat35]

Something that needs to be shouted from the rooftops so even a caveman can understand.

The reason that almost all construction was done by illegals is the LEGAL Americans were pushed out.

40 years ago, my brother worked construction and did so his whole life, but he passed away 20 years ago. At one time, you used to see whites and blacks working together doing construction.

Cheaper illegal labor drove them out and not being able to speak Spanish kept many Americans from being hired. We keep getting told it is jobs Americans won’t do and that is just bull$hit!

[DownInFlames]

I told you so! Good luck replacing those lost pity tases.