Sidewalks, Yes; Prop. JJ, No

Sidewalks in Los Angeles are a mess. A stroll along some residential streets--particularly those lined by big shade trees--can feel like navigating an obstacle course. The city pays out $3 million each year to settle claims stemming from sidewalk accidents.

Proposition JJ would seem to be the answer: Levy an annual tax to fix every broken sidewalk in the city and make every improvement required by the Americans With Disabilities Act. But although Proposition JJ is a good idea, it’s too expensive and too vaguely written.

The measure would raise $769.4 million over 20 years by levying a special property tax. The annual tax would be $1.74 for each 100 square feet of building. Owners of a 1,200-square-foot home, for instance, would pay about $21 a year. In addition to fixing sidewalks uprooted by trees, the money would pay for improvements--from curb ramps to pedestrian bridges--required by the disability act. An oversight committee would monitor spending.

Before the tax cuts of Proposition 13, Los Angeles fixed sidewalks. It then experimented with billing homeowners for repair work, but that program died after residents complained. Now, property owners are responsible for the sidewalks in front of their houses or businesses and must pay for repairs, but there is no way to enforce that responsibility.

Clearly city sidewalks need attention, and fixing them takes money--public money. But does it take nearly $770 million? City officials could not show The Times how they arrived at that figure. Taxpayers are supposed to take it on faith. The same goes for the work plan and the method for prioritizing repairs. In true bureaucratic fashion, the money would be ladled like political gravy among the 15 council districts.

Paying for sidewalks is an urgent public responsibility, and The Times encourages city officials to work up a spending plan that makes sense and can be justified. In the meantime, vote no on Proposition JJ.

For other Times endorsements, go to the Internet site https://www.latimes.com/endorsements.