UN4LA NEWS, September 2021
William Mulholland Memorial at the corner of Los Feliz Blvd. and Riverside Dr.
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.
CALIFORNIA'S WATER SHORTAGE IS ALSO CREATING AN ENERGY SHORTAGE
In August the Metropolitan Water District (MWD) declared a Water Supply Alert, calling on citizens and businesses to voluntarily cut back on the amount of water they use. The MWD announced the alert one day after the US Bureau of Reclamation declared a shortage on the Colorado River for the first time since the construction of Hoover Dam. The MWD warns that if the situation does not improve, mandatory restrictions could be necessary in the future.
Metropolitan Declares Water Supply Alert in Response To Severe Drought
And it’s not just water that’s in short supply. Our energy resources are also threatened. As the water level at Lake Mead declines, Hoover Dam's capacity to produce hydroelectric power has already been reduced. Similar scenarios are playing out at other California reservoirs, causing further stress to the power grid that supplies the State's energy.
Drought is Stressing California’s Power Grid
It gets worse. Because hydropower production is declining, the State is being forced to rely more heavily on natural gas and diesel for electricity.
The Dark Side of California's Emergency Grid Rescue Plan
UN4LA FILES LAWSUIT OVER SIDEWALK REPAIR PROGRAM E.I.R.
UN4LA has joined Angelenos for Trees (A4T) in filing a lawsuit challenging the recently approved Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the City of LA's Sidewalk Repair Program (SRP). UN4LA is not opposed to the Program itself, which is necessary for long overdue maintenance of this crucial infrastructure. Unfortunately, the SRP will have significant impacts on LA's street trees. The EIR fails to include mitigation measures necessary to maintain the health of the urban forest, and also fails to consider alternatives to tree removals. Click on the link below to read the petition.
Sidewalk Repair Program: UN4LA Petition for Relief
CRENSHAW MALL SOLD TO DEVELOPER
In late August it was announced that Harridge Development Group had bought Crenshaw Plaza in South LA for over $140 million. The sale of the property was a long and contentious process, as local group Downtown Crenshaw argued that the community should be allowed to purchase the mall. While Harridge claims its plans to renovate Crenshaw Plaza will revitalize the district, many area residents see the sale as a prelude to gentrification and displacement.
Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza Gets a New Owner
The Battle for the Crenshaw Mall Continues
IT'S TIME TO REDRAW L.A.'S DISTRICTS!
With the completion of the 2020 Census, it's now time to redraw city and county districts to reflect updated population numbers. Unfortunately, because the pandemic delayed the release of census data, the process is more rushed than usual and many public hearings have already been held. But there are still opportunities for you to participate. Click on the links below to find out how you can get involved.
Los Angeles City Council Redistricting Commission
Los Angeles County Redistricting Commission
SB 9 & SB 10 APPROVED BY STATE LEGISLATURE
On Monday, August 30, the State Senate approved SB9 and SB10, both of which have sparked heated controversy. SB 9 mandates that California cities allow up to two residential units on a parcel zoned for single-family homes, and also allows developers to obtain a lot split that could raise the number of units to four or more. SB 10 allows a local government to adopt an ordinance to zone any parcel for up to 10 residential units. Many have also expressed concerns over the fact that the bill's language allows municipalities to override restrictions approved through a local ballot initiative. Opponents of the bills are considering legal challenges.
C.P.C. DELAYS CONSIDERATION OF DOWNTOWN COMMUNITY PLAN UPDATE & NEW ZONING CODE
At its meeting on August 26, the City Planning Commission continued consideration of the Downtown Community Plan Update (DCPU) and the New Zoning Code to September 23. The request for a continuance was made by Councilmembers Cedillo, Price and de León, who represent Council Districts 1, 9, and 14, respectively. Councilmember de León, in particular, has expressed reservations about the DCPU. A June 15 letter from his office to the City Planning Commission raised concerns about a number of issues, but his primary focus is housing. Councilmember de León rightly points out that the residential construction boom in Downtown has produced a negligible amount of affordable housing, with the majority of new skyscrapers providing few or no affordable units. The proposed Downtown Plan relies on a "base bonus" incentive system, under which projects would only be required to include affordable housing if the developer requested additional height and/or density. Councilmember de León expresses his preference for inclusionary zoning, which would require affordable units in all projects, regardless of whether or not the developer asks for additional entitlements.
Councilmember de León's Letter to the City Planning Commission
Downtown Community Plan Update
Whatever happens with the DCPU, approval of the New Zoning Code (NZC) will have a much larger impact on the city as a whole. The NZC replaces the existing Code with a Form Based Code, which is a radical departure from the current zoning framework. Among other things, it includes a built-in density bonus system, which offers increased height, reduced setbacks and other entitlements in exchange for "community benefits". This will allow developers to receive approvals for increased density with no public hearings and no possibility of appeal. Initially the NZC will only apply to Downtown, but over time it will replace the existing Code citywide.
