L&I: TOO MUCH WITH TOO LITTLE?

By Ben Waxman

The Department of Licenses and Inspections, commonly called L&I, is not a particularly well-liked part of city government. Slow, bureaucratic, and inconsistent are just the beginning of a long list of complaints. That is why it wasn't surprising to see members of City Council grill the department during it's budget hearing on Monday.

I watched the two hour exchange, but I have to admit that I still don't exactly know what should be done about L&I. The department clearly needs to change. However, the agency is responsible for so many things that it's hard to know where to start.

In theory, L&I is supposed to be in charge of enforcing the City's code requirements. The only problem? This is such an incredibly large set of rules that it's impossible to enforce them all. L&I sort of tries and winds up just doing a bunch of things without enough resources.

L&I's annual operating budget is just over $50 million. To put that number into perspective, that's only $5 million more than what the health department spends on a single program: the district health centers. In many ways, the simplicity of the health centers mission-- they serve the people who come through the door-- underscores the complexity of L&I's.

Most people probably associate L&I with zoning and building permits. Zoning is the set of rules that keeps a factory from being built next to your house. Building codes determine how you can build structures. L&I is the place to go when you want to do either. Long lines and inconsistent rulings have soured many on the process. However, there is more to the department than a depressing waiting room at the Municipal Services Building.

The staff of L&I is also charged with enforcing the City codes. In theory, that means the agency should be checking every single house and building to make sure they are in compliance with city codes. Can you imagine trying to do that with a $50 million budget?

Instead, L&I only generally only inspects two categories. First, the agency performs inspections that are mandatory. Usually, these inspections are required by law. Second, the agency responds to complaints from city residents. That means a landlord can get away with renting an unsafe property if a tenant doesn't know to call L&I.

It goes beyond zoning and building. For example: L&I is responsible for checking gas stations to make sure you get a full gallon for your $4.00. That's done by the Weights and Measures Unit of L&I. This unit is also responsible for-- I kid you not-- making sure that you get a pound of meat at the deli and a lot of other stuff. How many staff work for this important piece of L&I?

Thirteen people.

Think about that. The unit responsible for checking to make sure all of the gas pumps in the entire city are regulation has thirteen people. Given the outrageous profits that the oil companies are making, I thought there might be more people checking to make sure that consumers aren't being ripped off.

The reality is that there is no way L&I can actually do everything it is supposed to do. The agency simply does not have the resources. As a result, the focus of the department shifts with the political winds. Former Mayor John Street felt strongly about abandoned houses. Under his administration, L&I spent a lot of time identifying unsafe properties and demolishing them.

You can tell that L&I is sprawling mess by just looking at the flow chart included in the proposed operating budget for the department. There are four different divisions-- business regulatory, neighborhood services, building services, and administrative services. There are 24 subdivisions of those four divisions. Are you dizzy yet?

Most city departments, no matter how large or complex, have a pretty clear area of responsibility. Everyone knows what the Fire Department is in charge of. L&I is not one of those departments. I can't help but wonder if this is why L&I seems to have so many problems. It is an unwieldy organization that must be impossible to focus.

At the very least, L&I needs fewer responsibilities while the agency is retooled. City Council should avoid passing laws require the involvement of L&I. We've got figure out how other departments can pitch in. If there are new laws that can only be enforced by L&I, city officials need to make sure that these additional responsibilities are accompanied by more resources.

Crumbling infrastructure-- like the crack in I-95-- has been in the news lately. That only underscores how important the enforcement responsibilities of L&I really are. We need to figure out a way to spend more money to make sure that our structures are safe. The dysfunction of L&I is not just irritating-- it puts the safety of our residents in jeopardy.

Ben Waxman covers budget issues for It's Our Money, a partnership between the Daily News and WHYY funded by the William Penn Foundation. To contact Ben with your thoughts on L&I or any other taxpayer funded entity, email him at waxmanb (at) phillynews.com.

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