At first, we thought it was satire. Surely, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass wasn’t serious when she suggested that residents who lost their homes should stay in LA and rebuild—by navigating twelve different city agencies to get permits.

But no, this is California, and this is LA. There is not one streamlined process, not two or three agencies working together, but twelve.

For a state that prides itself on progressive policies and efficient governance, why does rebuilding after a disaster come with a bureaucratic labyrinth? If anything, the process should be the easiest part of recovery—especially when people are already dealing with the trauma of losing their homes.

The reality is that LA’s regulatory mess isn’t an accident; it’s a feature. A tangled web of agencies, each with its own rules, approvals, and delays, creates a system where the simplest task—like rebuilding after a wildfire or an earthquake—turns into a years-long nightmare.

If city leaders truly want people to stay and rebuild, perhaps they should begin by posing a simple question: Why does this require twelve agencies instead of just one?

You can see the video for yourself here: https://x.com/EndWokeness/status/1890059105370583539