Phoenix is a much more open city than the streets of LA and thus they have more space to maneuver. I've been to Phoenix and the city is definitely more wide and open terrain than the streets of LA.
If you think a tower ladder or any straight truck will fit through some of the streets in former Battalion 7 area, then I'm all for it. Some of those streets are narrow that a regular engine has clearance of just a few inches on both sides. While you may argue that FDNY encounters similar issues, they have used since the 60's so it's been a part of their operations.
I really can't speak for LA City but LA County has gone through a chief and so far no ladder towers or platforms have resurfaced. The dept did get a few back in the late 80's/90's and I believe they may have 1 left in reserve. If you have noticed, dver the years, all the straight ladders/quints/tillers have been slowly replaced by tiller quints.
LA City has gone over 43 years since the Crown Snorkels and they have not gotten another one aside from those 2 85' Snorkels. LAFD did try to buy a Seagrave Eagle platform back in 1964 but that was rejected. Unless the next fire chief is the FD equivalent of former LAPD Chief Bratton, but I'd doubt the next chief would rock the boat.
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