When people think of the proper role of city government, they usually think police, roads, and schools. The City of Los Angeles ranks near the bottom in all three (not to mention having the worst homeless problem in the country). Perhaps this is because the city seems more intent on engaging in social experiments than fixing roads, fighting crime, and improving schools. The latest example is its new “BIG:LEAP” basic income program, designed to “transform the role of local government.” While defunding the police and giving free money to people are considered fringe ideas in most places, in Los Angeles...