Posted on 11/04/2023
ONE BIG THING: LEGISLATIVE UPDATES
We had a packed week at City Council, with big moves on a lot of our top policy priorities. So for today’s Special Newsletter Edition, we’re breaking it ALL down.
Preventing a Catastrophic Rent Increase
Last week, we talked about how rents for rent-stabilized units in LA are currently scheduled to increase by 7% to 9% this February, and how we introduced a motion to delay that rent hike by six months so City Council can craft a system that meets the needs of our current crisis.
On Wednesday, the Housing and Homelessness Committee amended our motion to:
- Remove our proposal to freeze rents for an additional 6 months.
- Lower the maximum allowable rent increase on February 1 from 7-9% to 4-6%.
Chipping away at the catastrophic rent increase to bring it down from 7-9% to 4-6% will make a huge difference in the lives of millions of renters across the city, but we may have an opportunity to lower it even more.
This fight isn't over. Be ready to make your voice heard when this is heard at full City Council on Wednesday, November 8 at 10am.
Legal Defense for Immigrants Facing Deportation
RepresentLA, a program that provides critical legal services to immigrants across the city, was officially approved by City Council this week!
In total, this is a $14 million initiative to keep families together and support Angelenos facing deportation.
Previously, there were carve-outs that left asylum seekers, refugees fleeing genocide, and kids who missed the cutoff for DACA out in the cold if they were facing deportation. This revamped program makes sure that everyone is included, regardless of background.
Cutting Red Tape to Build Affordable Housing on Public Land
For years, affordable housing projects on public land have been forced to jump through more hoops than some private developments. This week, our motion to change that was approved by council.
Public land has special zoning called “Public Facilities Zones.” And because of our current laws, affordable housing is one of the hardest things to build in this type of zoning.
There are vacant and underutilized public lots all over the city where we can be, and should be, building affordable housing. This motion puts us on track to make that vision a reality.
Reforming LA’s Housing Inspection Program
This week, City Council approved our motions with Councilmember Nithya Raman to start reforming how LA conducts housing inspections.
Right now, thousands of tenants across the city are forced to live in unsafe conditions and our local government often fails to follow through and make sure that landlords are doing the maintenance and repairs that they are required to do.
This current approach is deeply flawed, so we’re eager to start this process of simplifying our policies and better supporting renters.
First Step to Implement Measure ULA
Council took the first big step this week to implement Measure ULA, which is the “mansion tax” that voters overwhelmingly approved last November. It has the chance to be one of the most transformational policies in LA’s history when it comes to our housing and homelessness crisis.
Unsurprisingly, Wall St. lobbyists and special interest groups quickly stepped in to try to strike down Measure ULA in the courts, like they do for every progressive policy we pass in LA. But just last week, a judge denied every single one of their appeals! Fresh off that big win, we’re looking forward to pushing ahead on Measure ULA and moving money as quickly as possible to build more affordable housing and keep families in their homes and off of the streets.
Allowing Neighborhood Councils to Have Hybrid/Virtual Meetings
During the pandemic, we learned just how much we can increase public participation in the political process when we can expand accessibility.
We worked with lawmakers at the state level and here in LA over this past year to allow Neighborhood Councils to meet virtually or have hybrid meetings if they choose. It’s a no-brainer that brings Angelenos closer to their local government. We were proud to help with this effort and bring these options to our Neighborhood Councils in LA.
Motion Calling for Robotaxi Regulations Passes Transportation Committee
Our motion calling for stronger regulations on self-driving vehicles passed through council’s Transportation Committee this week!
We’ve heard overwhelming support in the last week from Angelenos who want common-sense regulations on this technology before it’s unleashed in our city, so we are looking forward to seeing our motion go through the Public Works Committee and then come back to the full City Council for a final vote.
First Step Toward Dismantling No-Street-Vending Zone on Hollywood Blvd Passes Civil Rights Committee
For years, a No-Street-Vending Zone on Hollywood Boulevard has targeted immigrant entrepreneurs who are just trying to provide for their families.
This week, we took another step toward dismantling this racist relic as our motion passed through the Civil Rights Committee!
If our motion passes, street vendors, local businesses and community organizations will take the next 18-24 months to collaborate with the city on a first-of-its-kind "special vending zone" on Hollywood Blvd, which will inform a citywide framework for improving our street vending policies.
Next, our motion will be heard in the Public Works Committee before coming to the full City Council for a vote.