UN4LA News - July 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.
CAN L.A. CITY HALL REGAIN THE PUBLIC'S TRUST?
For years now the City of Los Angeles has been reeling from a series of scandals involving elected officials and public employees. Four councilmembers have been indicted, the DWP's General Manager pled guilty to bribery, and a senior staff member at the City Attorney's office acknowledged his involvement in an extortion scheme. And, as if that weren't enough, a leaked recording documented members of the City Council talking about how to rig the redistricting process in a discussion rife with racist language.
Can the City of LA regain the public's trust? The following articles include updates on some of the latest developments, a proposal for governance reform, and some reflections on why trust in City Hall has been so badly damaged.
The LA County DA has charged Councilmember Curren Price with embezzlement and perjury. The LA City Council will consider suspending him in August.
L.A. City Council Taps Brakes on Price Suspension, Holding Off until Late August
Money is at the heart of the corruption plaguing LA City Hall, so it seems worthwhile to look at who was funding the candidates in the special election for CD 6 Councilmember.
What Money Is Fueling the 6th District Special Election?
The LA Governance Reform Project has released recommendations on how to restructure the City of LA’s government so that it will better serve the people.
Draft Recommendations for a Better Governed LA City
Cal Matters offers some thoughts on why ethical standards at LA City Hall have fallen so low.
Decline in Political Integrity Is at the Heart of Los Angeles City Council Scandals
APPEAL COURT SIDES WITH UN4LA, STOPS DEMO OF HOUSING FOR HOTEL
In 2020, the City of LA approved a hotel project involving the destruction of 40 rent-stabilized apartments. UN4LA sued to stop the project and won in the trial court. But the City was apparently determined to let the developer demolish those units, so they appealed. They lost again.
UN4LA Press Release on 1719 Whitley Decision
1719 Whitley Appeal Court Decision
NEW RECEIVER ASSIGNED TO HANDLE SKID ROW HOUSING CRISIS
After some serious missteps and a series of revelations about his previous record, Mark Adams has resigned as the receiver for the troubled Skid Row Housing Trust (SRHT). Receivership Specialists, headed by Kevin Singer, was appointed by Judge Mitchell Beckloff to replace Adams. Since news of the SRHT's impending bankruptcy broke earlier this year, the City of LA has been struggling to protect the low-income housing that the non-profit has provided for decades. Hopefully the switch to a new receiver will put things back on the right track.
Skid Row Housing Receiver Resigns after City Says He Mishandled the Job
MORE PUSHBACK ON L.A. ZOO VISION PLAN
After initial public outcry, the City of LA's Zoo Department has removed some of the more controversial elements of its proposed Vision Plan, which involves a significant expansion of the Zoo’s facilities. While critics see this as a positive step forward, they're still worried about the Plan's potential impacts to native plants and wildlife. Friends of Griffith Park has submitted a letter outlining their concerns.
Letter from Friends of Griffith Park Re LA Zoon Vision Plan
221 LUXURY HOMES THREATEN MOUNTAIN LION HABITAT IN SUNLAND-TUJUNGA
In 2005, the City of LA approved 221 luxury homes in an undeveloped part of the Sunland-Tujunga area. The project, dormant for years, now seems to be moving forward, as the developer has applied for a grading permit to start shaving down the surrounding ridgelines. Environmentalists are outraged, not just by the alteration of the landscape, but because the area serves as habitat for LA's shrinking population of mountain lions.
Locals Say Luxury Homes In Sunland-Tujunga Will Displace Cougars and Destroy Open Space
