UN4LA News - February 2024
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.
ED 1 AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS DRAW OPPOSITION
Some housing projects approved under Mayor Bass' controversial Executive Directive 1 (ED1) have met with strong pushback from LA's communities. A recent meeting of the Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council drew a large crowd anxious to discuss the two ED1 projects located at 507 N. Larchmont and 800 S. Lucerne. Many residents expressed support for affordable housing in the area, but there was consistent criticism about the scale and design of these two projects.
But beyond the questions related to specific ED1 projects, there are also questions about the City of LA's inventory and oversight of affordable housing units. A 2021 investigation by Capital & Main found that the City does not have a centralized listing of affordable homes in mixed-income buildings. The investigation also found that many affordable units are not included in the City’s affordable housing registry. This makes it extremely difficult for qualifying tenants to find housing. Without accurate listings and proper oversight, it seems reasonable to ask whether the affordable units approved under ED1 will actually be available to low-income households.
Neighbors Turn Out to Oppose Two Housing Projects
DODGER GONDOLA PROJECT LEFT HANGING
The future of the Dodger Gondola project may be in question now that LA City Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez has filed a motion asking for further study of alternatives before moving forward. Hernandez points out that it's been the over 30 years since a transit access study was done for Dodger Stadium, and that the surrounding area has changed a good deal since then. In her motion, the Councilmember asserts that the Environmental Impact Report prepared for the Dodger Gondola project does not include a serious study of possible alternatives.
LA Metro says the project "would provide safe, zero emission, environmentally friendly and high-capacity transit connectivity in the project area that would reduce greenhouse gas emissions as a result of reduced vehicular congestion in and around Dodger Stadium [....]" But the project also has plenty of critics, including the group Friends of Elysian Park.
If the Dodger Stadium Gondola Is Only the Beginning, What Becomes of Elysian Park?
BEVERLY HILLS AGREES TO ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW OF ROBERTSON TREE REMOVALS
In response to public pressure, the City of Beverly Hills has agreed to prepare an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) to assess issues related to the removal of trees on Roberston Blvd.. An outcry erupted last year when residents saw that ficus trees were being cut down for sidewalk repair. A lawsuit was filed to halt the removals, claiming that the City of Beverly Hills had not conducted necessary environmental review. City Attorney Laurence Wiener said the city agreed to prepare the EIR last fall. A Notice of Preparation has been posted, and the comment period was recently extended to Wednesday, February 28.
Beverly Hills Conducts EIR on Robertson Trees Project
L.A. CITY & COUNTY SEEK INPUT ON URBAN FOREST MANAGEMENT PLANS
Maintaining a healthy urban forest will be key to planning for an equitable, sustainable future. The City and County of LA are holding workshops to seek public input as they develop their Urban Forest Management Plans. While a number of workshops have already been held, there are still more to come. Click on the link to see the schedule of public meetings. Raise your voice for cooler streets and clean air.
Public Workshops on LA City & County Urban Forest Management Plans
TO DEAL WITH BUDGET SHORTFALL, CITY OF L.A. CONTEMPLATES CUTTING POSITIONS
Once again, the City of LA is facing a massive budget deficit. While reduced revenues are part of the problem, the shortfall has been exacerbated by the new contracts negotiated for the LAPD and other city employees. Warning that the financial gap could grow to $400 million, City Administrative Officer Matt Szabo has issued a report recommending that the City prepare a plan to cut all “non-critical” positions that are currently vacant. While the LAPD and LAFD would likely avoid significant cuts, other departments, like Recreation & Parks, Bureau of Street Services, the Department of Aging, Animal Services, Cultural Affairs and the Housing Department could lose a significant number of positions. This would mean departments that are already struggling to provide services to the public could face more or less permanent limits on their ability to function.
Responding to the City's latest financial crisis, LA City Controller Kenneth Mejia posted the following on X:
"To address the looming budget crisis, the City needs to strategically reallocate resources to what matters most to the long-term wellbeing of all Angelenos. Budgets are not just numbers, they are a statement of values. As our city changes, so should our financial priorities."
LA Officials Had Been Hoping to Fill Vacant City Jobs. The New Plan? Eliminate Them
ALLEGATIONS OF CORRUPTION IN WEST HOLLYWOOD
Should a member of the West Hollywood City Council have to file a Public Records Act request to find out the names of the people involved in the hiring of a public employee? Apparently, that's the course of action West Hollywood Councilmember Lauren Meister had to take to learn who served on the hiring panel for Community Development Director Nick Maricich. Why wasn’t this information public already? Some observers allege that favoritism, harassment and bullying have created a toxic work environment at West Hollywood City Hall.
Dear WeHo: I Work in City Hall. Change is Needed.
CONVERSION OF OFFICE TOWER TO HOUSING IN DOWNTOWN L.A.
It's no secret that the market for commercial office space was hammered by the pandemic, and that vacancy rates are high. The conversion of office buildings to apartments has been suggested as a possible solution, and at least one such project is underway. At the end of January, LA City Planning approved the conversion of the 32-story office tower at 1055 W. Seventh St. to multi-family residential. This project could provide up to 700 joint live/work units in Downtown LA.
