Professor Marc Dunkelman is one of many academics who have recently written about our country's difficulty in building the critical infrastructure that we need to compete economically. The United States, Dunkelman notes in his new book, Why Nothing Works – Who Killed Progress and How to Bring It Back, used to pride itself on our world-scale infrastructure projects. "Think about the Golden Gate Bridge, Hoover Dam, the Tennessee Valley Authority," Dunkelman says. "They were all critical projects that resulted in public benefit, and they were completed in a very efficient way." Not so today. Dunkelman, who is a Fellow at the Watson School of International and Public Affairs at Brown University, recently sat down with Jon Switalski of Rebuild SoCal Partnership to talk about the reforms that are needed to enable California and the country to build the roads, bridges, water, and transportation systems that are crucial for a thriving economy.

This video follows Supervisor Lindsey Horvath and Rebuild SoCal Partnership Executive Director, Jon Switalski as they met in the Palisades to discuss how Horvath responded to the devastating wildfires in her district. Supervisor Horvath has taken a hands-on approach to recovery, removing barriers to reconstruction and ensuring no community is left behind. In this On the Ground in LA episode, Horvath reflects on the months-long rebuilding process and why, as she says, “coming together at scale is critical.” From streamlining permits to fostering partnerships with labor, contractors, and residents, she shares how community action turns loss into momentum and restores hope for the future.