Karen Bass highlights aging infrastructure after a century-old water main break floods West Hollywood streets.

Karen Bass, the Los Angeles mayor, cited a massive water main break as evidence of the need for a comprehensive infrastructure plan. The rupture occurred early Thursday morning in West Hollywood, where a 36-inch riveted steel pipe dating back to 1916 burst. The leak sent a torrent of water onto Sunset Boulevard and Holloway Drive, creating a sinkhole and swamping nearby streets, apartment garages, and a Metro bus yard. While the flooding caused significant traffic delays and damaged local businesses like Dialog Cafe, water services remained functional for nearly all customers. LADWP officials noted that the break occurred during the night when water pressure typically surges. Karen Bass emphasized that the city's old infrastructure requires a coordinated approach, noting that she recently rolled out a plan to be put before voters this November. Crews are currently assessing the damage to determine the complexity of the repairs needed to restore the area to normal conditions.

Sources