UN4LA News - December 2023
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.
INDEPENDENT REDISTRICTING MEASURE WILL APPEAR ON 2024 BALLOT
As a result of public outcry over the City of LA's redistricting process, on November 29 the LA City Council approved a plan for an independent redistricting commission which will appear on the 2024 ballot. Citizens had complained for years that the current system was rigged, and the release of an October 2021 recording in which some councilmembers talked about how they could manipulate the process resulted in yet another City Hall scandal. The ballot measure has broad support from activists and community groups.
LA Will Switch to Independent Redistricting if Voters Approve in 2024 Election
L.A. CITY PLANNING COMMISSION SUPPORTS STREAMLINING APPROVALS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING
An ordinance which would accelerate approval of affordable housing projects was given a thumbs-up by the LA City Planning Commission in November. The ordinance, which must still be approved by the LA City Council, would mandate a streamlined 60-day review period for all 100% affordable housing projects.
Affordable Housing Streamlining Ordinance Clears City Planning Commission
CALABASAS DEVELOPER SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR TAX EVASION
A federal judge has sentenced developer Mark Handel to over three years in prison for failing to report millions of dollars in income. A former resident of Calabasas, Handel built projects in the city and at one time served on the Calabasas Architectural Review Panel, which makes recommendations to the city’s Planning Commission. The developer filed for bankruptcy in 2015, without disclosing over $2 million in earnings, and filed tax returns where he failed to report income of almost $7 million. US District Judge Otis Wright II sentenced Handel to 41 months in prison, fined him $20,000, and ordered him to forfeit over $3 million from the sale of real estate in Alameda County.
Former Calabasas Official Slammed by IRS
CONTROVERSIAL HARVARD-WESTLAKE PROJECT APPROVED
The controversial project proposed by Harvard-Westlake School for the former Weddington Golf Course was approved by the LA City Council on November 14. The Council rejected appeals filed by community groups concerned about the environmental impacts of the 17-acre project, which includes two athletic fields with bleacher seating, a two-story gymnasium, a 52-meter swimming pool, eight tennis courts with seating, and two levels of parking.
LA City Council Denies Appeal and OKs Harvard Westlake Sports Facility
L.A. COUNTY ADOPTS FIRST WATER PLAN
In response to the challenge of dealing with the region's declining water resources, the Board of Supervisors has adopted the first-ever water plan for the County of Los Angeles. In an introductory message, LA County Director of Public Works Mark Pestrella cites a number of factors that are cause for concern, including polluted groundwater basins, aging infrastructure, and the lack of access to safe, affordable water in some communities. There are over 200 different water agencies in LA County, and the plan stresses the need for better communication and stronger collaboration in planning for the future.
LA County Aims to Collect Billions More Gallons of Local Water by 2045
LAWSUIT ALLEGES HARASSMENT, CORRUPTION AT L.A.D.W.P.
Current and former LADWP employees have filed a lawsuit alleging harassment and corruption at the troubled agency. In the complaint the employees offer detailed descriptions of sexual harassment, and claim that when they made reports to their superiors they were subjected to retaliation. The lawsuit also alleges that LADWP Board President Cynthia McClain-Hill improperly attempted to steer a contract to a company run by friends of hers.
In the last two years, former LADWP General Manager David Wright and former Chief Information Security Officer David Alexander both agreed to enter guilty pleas in connection with corruption investigations.
Department of Water and Power Employees Allege Sexual Harassment and Retaliation
