Los Angeles mayor's pothole stunt stalls after car blocks repair site
Mayor Karen Bass attempted a social-media-styled pothole fix inspired by New York’s mayor, but a parked car prevented crews from repairing the crater until the next day.
Simone Boyce, an Emmy-nominated journalist, posted a video of a deep pothole on Melrose and Gardner Street and invited Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass to emulate New York Mayor Mamdani’s TikTok-driven pothole repair. Bass replied publicly on X, promising a quick fix, and city crews arrived with equipment. Upon arrival they discovered a parked car sitting directly over the defect, which halted any immediate repair work.
Bass posted a short clip explaining that the crew could only place no-parking signs until the vehicle was removed. The car was later relocated, and the pothole was sealed the next day, after which Boyce posted a follow-up thanking the mayor and urging continued public reporting of road hazards. The episode underscores ongoing complaints about Los Angeles’ aging streets and the city’s reliance on spot-treatments amid budget constraints.
Why it matters
It highlights how public pressure and social media can influence city services, while exposing ongoing infrastructure challenges in Los Angeles.
In this story
