Building codes and zoning regulations are an integral part of urban development, designed to ensure the safety, functionality, and aesthetics of our cities. However, in recent years, there has been growing concern that the enforcement of these codes has been hijacked by city officials with inflated egos and community members with their own agendas. This article contends that proactive enforcement through plan checks, permits, and inspections has, to some extent, become a contrivance used by builders and contractors to mitigate risk, but it has also been exploited by cities as a means of generating revenue. We propose a balanced approach that emphasizes builders' responsibility while maintaining safety standards and streamlining the process.

Engineering, traditionally seen as the backbone of infrastructure development, has evolved significantly over the years. While the essence of engineering remains rooted in innovation and problem-solving, the motivations behind it have transformed. Today, engineering is not just about making a building work; it is increasingly driven by financial considerations and a relentless pursuit of “getting things done” with regards to the red tape established by city “planchecks”. However, this shift in focus is not necessarily benefiting society as intended, especially when it comes to engineering for structures. This article explores how engineering for structures has changed and why our current system, involving plan checks by city officials and reviews by city inspectors, is failing to ensure building efficiency.

Los Angeles, the city of sunshine and dreams, is at the forefront of the electric vehicle (EV) revolution, with a commitment to reducing its carbon footprint. However, a significant roadblock stands in the way of its electric future: delays in approving electrical infrastructure and load modifications by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP). These bureaucratic bottlenecks, stemming from allegations of corruption and incompetence, threaten to hinder the city's transition to an electrified future, which is crucial for the next generation that will rely heavily on electricity.