L.A. tax hike popular in South L.A., unpopular many other places

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So why did Proposition A, the half-cent sales tax on the March ballot in Los Angeles, fail?

There has been much debate about the question at City Hall and beyond.

Times Data Editor Ben Welsh analyzed voting patterns and produced a map that shows how the different neighborhoods of L.A. voted.

He discussed the map in a Google + Hangout Thursday. He noted that support for the tax was strongest in Central and South L.A. and weakest in parts of the West Valley and Westside, among several more affluent places.

Here’s how the tax did in central Hollywood versus several nearby hillside communities:

Here is a breakdown of the western part of downtown L.A. versus the eastern part:

The sales tax was seen as a last-ditch attempt to help balance the city’s budget without more reductions, which already have included slashing 5,300 positions and scaling back services ranging from sidewalk repairs to 911 rescue operations.

Now, more cuts are coming.

‘Everything has to be put back on the table, from the size of the police force to the restoration of fire services to the paving of our streets,’ said the city’s chief administrative officer, Miguel Santana.

Explore the voting map here.