UN4LA News - August 2020
A monthly newsletter published by United Neighborhoods for Los Angeles.
UN4LA's mission is to bring communities together to plan for a sustainable future. Growth must be shaped by community engagement, not developer dollars.
UPDATING THE L.A. RIVER MASTER PLAN
Los Angeles County is starting the process of updating the LA River Master Plan, and has issued a Notice of Preparation as the first step in preparing an Environmental Impact Report (EIR). As part of the process, the County invited members of the public to attend an on-line scoping meeting on July 29 so that interested parties could offer input on the scope and content of the EIR.
Even if you missed the scoping meeting, you can still take part in the process. Comments on the NOP are due by August 6, 2020. You can send your comments to:
LARiverCEQA@pw.lacounty.gov
The County will notify the public when the Draft EIR is ready for review and comment.
For more information on the LA River Master Plan, go to:
LA River Master Plan
LA River Master Plan: Program Environmental Impact Report
INGLEWOOD APPROVES CLIPPERS STADIUM
In July the Inglewood City Council approved a controversial arena/sports complex that would serve as the new home of the LA Clippers. The project has faced opposition from community members, and was also the subject of a lawsuit brought by Madison Square Garden Co., owner of the Forum. The lawsuit went away earlier this year when Clippers owner Steve Ballmer bought the Forum for $400 million.
Ballmer plans to begin construction of the project in 2021, with the hope that it will be completed by 2024, when the Clippers' lease at Staples Center expires.
Environmental Report for Clippers Arena Approved by Inglewood City Council
RESTAURANTS MAY GET LIQUOR PERMITS WITH NO PUBLIC HEARINGS
In spite of concerns expressed by communities over health and safety issues, on June 25 the City Planning Commission approved the proposed Restaurant Beverage Program. The ordinance would allow restaurants to receive liquor permits "over the counter", in other words, without any hearings to invite public input. A number of neighborhoods councils and community groups submitted letters opposing the plan, fearing that it will exacerbate crime and put more drunk drivers on the road. The City claims that the plan contains sufficient safeguards to protect LA's communities.
The ordinance now goes to the Comprehensive Job Creation Plan Committee and the Planning & Land Use Management Committee. You can read the recommendation report below.
Restaurant Beverage Program Recommendation Report
SUPERVISORS MOVE TO PUT BUDGET MEASURE ON NOVEMBER BALLOT
On July 21 the LA County Board of Supervisors took the first step toward putting a measure on the November ballot that, if approved by voters, would earmark 10% of the County’s unrestricted general funds for social service and racial justice programs. The County will now prepare a draft of the measure's language, which would have to be approved in subsequent votes by the Supervisors.
Proponents of the measure argue that a greater share of public funds must be set aside for job training, affordable housing and mental health services. Critics assert that the ballot measure could take away needed flexibility in the preparation of the County's budget. LAist offers more details.
LA County Takes Step Towards Asking Voters To Divert More Money To Social Services
UCLA WARNS LOOMING WAVE OF EVICTIONS
As a result of the pandemic, tens of thousands of renters across LA County are now unemployed. While there are currently emergency orders in place to halt evictions, eventually those orders will expire, and a large number of renters will be facing homelessness.
A report issued in May predicts that LA will soon see a tidal wave of evictions caused by the pandemic. Author Gary Blasi, Professor Emeritus of Law, offers two estimates. The first is that members of 36,000 households could become homeless. That's the best case scenario. If sufficient support networks aren't in place to serve those facing eviction, the number could rise to 120,000.
To learn more about Blasi's predictions, including what steps public officials could take to ease the crisis, click on the link below.
New Study Warns of Looming Eviction Crisis in Los Angeles County
