Meanwhile, in Karen Bass’ Los Angeles…
A plan to rebuild the historic Griffith Park Pool is drawing backlash after city officials revealed a projected $40 million price tag — up sharply from an earlier estimate of $28 million.
The proposal includes a new competition pool, a recreational pool, and a renovated pool house featuring gender-neutral changing areas, according to reporting by the Los Angeles Times.
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The project is currently slated for completion by mid-2029.
Originally built in 1927, the pool has been closed since 2020. Officials say attempts to reopen it after pandemic restrictions failed when crews discovered the structure could no longer hold water.
“The pool is being completely replaced. It leaks like a sieve,” said Stephanie Kingsnorth of architecture firm Perkins Eastman, which is designing the project alongside the city’s Bureau of Engineering.
City officials attribute the rising cost to site challenges, including proximity to a freeway and the Los Angeles River.
Still, the price increase has sparked criticism from local residents and political figures.
“Could private industry tell me how much it would ACTUALLY cost to redo this pool, versus how much Karen Bass is wasting on nonsense to do her union friends a favor using our taxpayer money?” Los Angeles mayoral candidate and reality TV star Spencer Pratt asked on X, questioning whether taxpayer funds are being spent efficiently.
The project fuels ongoing concerns among critics about rising costs and oversight of major public works in deep-blue cities.
The jump from $28M to $40M highlights a familiar issue – government projects coming in over budget — and taxpayers footing the bill
The inclusion of gender-neutral facilities means Democrats continue to take the losing side of an 80-20 issue.
For critics, it’s another example of spending priorities being questioned amid ongoing challenges like homelessness and infrastructure strain..
Others online blasted the project as excessive, with some calling it a “sick joke” and questioning the cost relative to other city priorities.
In addition to the price tag, the inclusion of gender-neutral facilities has become a point of debate. Project designers say the feature reflects the city’s emphasis on accessibility and inclusion.
“This is something that’s more common for equity and inclusion,” Kingsnorth said.
More over at The New York Post:
Bonkers LA plan to upgrade Griffith Park Pool for $40M includes gender-neutral dressing rooms https://t.co/va0uRnDtKG pic.twitter.com/Hu3Py0Eo1g
— New York Post (@nypost) March 23, 2026
