UN4LA News - September 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.
PROPOSED PROJECTS CREATE CONTROVERSIES ACROSS L.A.
State Pressures Beverly Hills to Approve Housing/Hotel Project
The City of Beverly Hills is coming under pressure from the State to approve a 19-story project on Linden Drive. The California Department of Housing & Community Development has sent the city a notice of violation, asserting that it's breaking State law, but the agency doesn't seem concerned about the fact that the developer has reduced the number of residential units and tacked on a 73-room hotel. Is Sacramento really trying to provide the housing that Californian's need? Or are they just trying to make sure that developers get a huge return on their investment?
Beverly Hills Is Dragging Its Heels on a New Building. The Governor Says: Build it
City of Beverly Hills Statement Related to HCD’s Violation Letter
West Hollywood City Council Approved 8850 Sunset Project
In August the West Hollywood City Council narrowly approved the proposed 8850 Sunset project, which is comprised of a 90-room luxury hotel, 78 apartments, and five restaurant/café spaces. Three councilmembers voted in favor, while two voted against. Councilmember John Heilman voted against the project, explaining that he saw it as part of a disturbing development trend. According to Heilman, investors are buying properties at prices that can't be justified by existing zoning, with the expectation that the city will agree to upzone the property in order to make the proposed project financially viable. Numerous West Hollywood residents opposed the mixed-use development, but a majority if the Council believed it would be beneficial.
Divided WeHo Council Greenlights Viper Room Development
LA City Planning Commission to Hear Television City Project
The controversial TVC 2050 project will come before the LA City Planning Commission (CPC) on September 12. Real estate investment company Hackman Capital has been pushing hard for the approval of the proposed TVC 2050 Specific Plan, which would govern the development of the existing Television City studio site at Beverly and Fairfax. Opponents claim that Hackman has failed to actually define what they intend to build. Nine groups have filed appeals. The debate is bound to be intense. Click on the link to view the notice for the September 12 hearing.
LA City Planning Commission Agenda, Thursday, September 12, 8:30 am
"Builder's Remedy" Project Proposed in Santa Monica
Madison Realty Capital has proposed the construction of an 18-story residential building at 1433-1437 Sixth St. in Santa Monica. The structure would be comprised of 172 residential units above a subterranean garage, with 26 units set aside as affordable housing. The project is already deemed approved under a State law that allows developers to build "by-right" in cities which the State has decided have failed to adequately plan for population growth. Madison acquired the property when the previous owner, NMS Properties/WS Communities, was unable to meet its loan obligations.
18-Story Tower Planned at 1437 6th Street in Santa Monica
INGLEWOOD DEPUTY CLERK APPEARS TO VIOLATE THE LAW IN RUNNING FOR TREASURER
Among the candidates running for Inglewood City Treasurer in November is Angela Allen, a current employee of the Inglewood City Clerk's office. Allen appears to be unaware that her run for Treasurer violates the Inglewood Municipal Code, which states:
Nothing in this Article shall be construed to prevent any officer or employee [....] from seeking or accepting election or appointment to public office; provided, however, that a person holding a position in the classified service must resign his position in the classified before seeking election to the office of Mayor, City Councilmember, City Clerk or City Treasurer. (IMC 2-50, Ord. 1569 1-31-61)
Apparently this isn't the first time an Inglewood employee has broken the law by running in an election, but it seems the City Attorney's office is not interested in enforcing this ordinance.
Inglewood Deputy City Clerk to Run for City Treasurer
MAYOR BASS SHOWS ANOTHER COMMISSIONER THE DOOR
Residents of San Pedro and Wilmington were not happy to learn that Mayor Karen Bass had chosen not to re-appoint Diane Middleton to the Harbor Commission. While her stances on certain issues didn't always align with the interests of the powers-that-be, she was a vocal advocate for the interests of the port communities. Bass has instead appointed John Perez, who she has known since her days in the State Assembly.
There seems to be a trend here. Some may remember Helen Leung, formerly of the City Planning Commission, who quietly disappeared after voting against permanent adoption of Bass' Executive Directive 1. And then there was Eric Eisenberg, who Bass removed from the Transportation Commission after he argued for further study of a homeless housing project on the Westside. Mayor Bass seems to be sending a message to her commission appointees: Get behind my agenda, or get lost.
Frustration Builds as Mayor Bass Cuts Local Voices on LA’s Harbor Commission
WHERE ARE L.A. CITY CANDIDATES GETTING THEIR CAMPAIGN CASH FROM?
Do you ever wonder where candidates for elected office are getting their campaign contributions from? Have you ever asked who backed your council rep in the last election cycle? Did you ever think that maybe lobbyists have too much influence at City Hall?
If you've ever asked yourself any of these questions, you may want to visit the LA Ethics Commission web site, where you can get detailed information on campaign contributions and lobbying activity. Just click on the links below to start following the money.
