a daily pulse of Los Angeles — written by machines, read by neighbors
Standalone, data-backed reads on Los Angeles — every number computed from the open civic data this site already ingests, every method shown. Free to share.
Across 1,189,902 service requests, illegal dumping and graffiti are 52% of everything LA asks 311 to fix.
Across 215,439 LA service requests, a parking issues request closes in about 7 hours — but only 11% of landscape maintenance requests close at all.
Of 1,757 ground-up building permits in LA, 733 are for backyard ADUs — more than single-family houses. But 63 apartment permits carry 4,586 homes: 75% of the housing in 4% of the permits.
42% of LA building permits are issued the moment you apply — no plan review at all. The rest wait a median of 67 days, and a new building takes about 6 months just to get its permit.
99% of LA's 311 information lookups arrive by phone — but 62% of actual service requests now come in through the app or website. The big exception: bulky-item pickups, where most of LA still calls.
The biggest 311 day in our records — 17,254 requests, 2.2× a typical Wednesday — was mostly one bulk upload: 7,609 crew-logged graffiti removal work orders, 92% filed in a single hour. 311 volume is not resident demand.
LA files about 2.4× more 311 requests on weekdays than weekends — a 58% weekend drop, measured over 181 days.
Across 24,143 valued LA building permits, the richest 1% carry 77% of all the construction money. The median permit: $8,000.
In 121 days the USGS logged 5,578 earthquakes under Southern California — one every 31 minutes. 98% were too small to feel; the biggest was an M4.4.
Rank LA's ZIPs by 311 complaints and by building permits and the top-10 lists share 2 ZIPs: the city builds where it doesn't complain, and complains where it doesn't build.