"The fountain has none of those things today, and hasn't for years. The marble structure is, however, still a monument of sorts. Graffiti and all, it's a monument to neglect, to failed leadership, and to the sense of surrender that afflicts so many public spaces in Los Angeles."
"A city analysis a couple of years ago cited repair costs as one issue and vandalism prevention as another. But with roughly 50,000 city employees, and the nation's third-largest police department across the street, why is a simple security detail such an impossible challenge?"
"I would like for Mayor Karen Bass, or her successor, to do one of two things: Fix the fountain - perhaps with help from Project Restore L.A., a nonprofit doing good preservation work at City Hall - and arrange for its permanent upkeep."
The Frank Putnam Flint fountain at Los Angeles City Hall has been neglected for years, lacking water, a likeness of the senator, and a service plaque. It stands as a monument to the city's failure in maintaining public spaces. Despite past restorations, the fountain has been non-operational for decades. A city analysis cited repair costs and vandalism as issues, questioning the city's ability to manage its properties. There are calls for either restoring the fountain or removing it entirely to address the ongoing neglect.
Read at Los Angeles Times
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