By Preserve LA

Note:  The Venice Neighborhood Council voted in favor of SB50 at their last meeting.

February 28, 2019 – Los Angeles, CA – Los Angeles City Councilman Paul Koretz (CD5), introduced a resolution yesterday in formal opposition of California State Senate Bill 50 (Wiener) that ostensibly seeks to require upzoning in cities throughout California to increase affordable housing and density along transit corridors regardless of local jurisdiction’s zoning laws.

The resolution points out that SB 50 would allow construction of higher density multi-family housing developments near major transit stops that are out-of-compliance with local land use regulations and procedures and requests that the City of Los Angeles oppose the bill in its 2019-20 State Legislative Program, unless the bill is amended to exclude the City of Los Angeles from its provisions. Los Angeles already has its own increased density mechanisms that are being tailored to better fit the city’s many unique neighborhoods.

“While we all agree that we need to build more affordable housing, particularly near transit, SB 50 focuses mainly on the creation of market-rate housing and takes away planning oversight from local jurisdictions,” said  Koretz. “Furthermore, Los Angeles is more progressive than many California cities in that it already incentivizes multifamily development through Measure JJJ and the Transit Oriented Community program – both of which could be set back if SB 50 becomes law.  State control of local zoning undermines not only the integrity of cities and counties, but strips residents of their ability to engage in a meaningful planning and community building process.”
 

By Preserve LA

The Los Angeles City Ethics Commission today unanimously approved the most dramatic anti-corruption reforms in L.A. in this century, aimed at reducing developer influence over the City Council and Mayor Eric Garcetti.

The reforms, approved against the backdrop of an FBI corruption probe and a series of ugly headlines on City Hall’s unseemly “pay-to-play” culture, must still be approved by the long-resistant City Council.

Councilman David Ryu has tried but failed to pass moderate reforms, while City Council President Herb Wesson has stood in his way. L.A. is rated by The New York Times as one of the two most-corrupt cities in the U.S., the other being Chicago.

Strong testimony was offered Tuesday by Unrig LA, California Clean Money Campaign, Represent Us L.A.-San Gabriel Valley, League of Women Voters, Coalition to Preserve L.A., Common Cause, Ground Game LA, LA Forward, and others.

The Ethics Commission received loud applause as it voted unanimously, multiple times, for reform. Coalition to Preserve LA commends the Commission for its professionalism and courage. The reforms include:

• Ban on campaign donations by developers to elected officials, starting the day a developer files an application for a project that seeks favors from the city, and lasting one year after the project (if approved) is constructed.

Same ban on donations from a developer’s entire “project team,” such as architects, attorneys, consultants, engineers, lobbyists and property owners.

Ban on “behested” donations — a loophole abused by Garcetti, who built up $35 million in unregulated money that he alone controls. Developers poured $26 million into the “Mayors Fund” and other behest funds in just five years. (The ban on “behest” donations includes four exemptions such as raising donated funds for legitimate emergencies.)
In addition, the City Ethics Commission approved new campaign matching fund rules that cut, nearly in half, the amount of money candidates for City Council and mayor must raise to qualify for public matching money.

Lowering the amount that candidates must raise is seen as a way to bring women back into the mix at male-run City Hall. Women have been all but stamped out, with only two left on the 15-member City Council.

Will the City Council water down these reforms, leaving Ryu and a few others fighting for half-measures? It could be up to you.

We urge residents to contact City Council members (phone numbers below) and urge them to back the Ethics Commission reforms in their entirety. This chance may not come again. To Call Los Angeles City Councilmembers:
Gil Cedillo (213) 473-7001
Paul Krekorian (213) 473-7002
Bob Blumenfield (213) 473-7003
David Ryu (213) 473-7004
Paul Koretz (213) 473-7005
Nury Martinez (213) 473-7006
Monica Rodriguez (213) 473-7007
Marqueece Harris-Dawson (213) 473-7008
Curren Price (213) 473-7009
Herb Wesson (213) 473-7010
Mike Bonin (213) 473-7011
Greig Smith (213) 473-7012 (temporarily appointed to replace Mitch Englander, who left office to become a consultant)
Mitch O’Farrell (213) 473-7013
Jose Huizar (213) 473-7014
Joe Buscaino (213) 473-7105

By Preserve LA

What: Press Conf., South Lawn Los Angeles City Hall
When: Friday, Feb. 15, 9 am
Who: Housing is a Human Right/Coalition to Preserve LA

You can take your selfie with a giant 20 foot tall inflated RAT that will tower over the street! Send a message to city leaders telling them how you really feel.

Joining us will be several attorneys suing the city over corrupt development deals, bad land use practices and pay-to-play schemes.

We will call for an expanded investigation of corruption in Los Angeles City Hall. We did not elect developers, we MEANT to elect people who represent the residents of Los Angeles and think for themselves.

The Coalition to Preserve LA recently submitted a complaint to the Los Angeles Civil Grand Jury asking for an investigation into the corrupt practices of city officials.

Speakers will be available for Spanish, Korean and Mandarin media.

Cheap parking available at 101 Judge John Aiso Street Parking.