The Santa Monica City Council has approved a new self-certification permitting program that will allow certain commercial tenant improvement projects to receive building permits in as little as one day. For commercial real estate professionals, where construction timelines often determine when a tenant can open and start paying full rent, this change could directly affect leasing activity, vacancy periods, and project planning.
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Los Angeles County has approved significant cuts to homeless services as it works to close a major budget deficit, reducing funding for outreach, temporary housing, and encampment response programs. These decisions matter for BOMA/GLA members because changes in how homelessness is addressed at the county level directly affect conditions around commercial properties, public safety, and coordination with local agencies.
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Our upcoming educational workshop breaks down how service provider selection actually works in real-world operations. The conversation will focus on how selection processes can be fair, inclusive, and transparent without compromising results.
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A new executive order from President Trump directs federal agencies to bypass certain state and local permitting steps for rebuilding after the Palisades and Eaton fires, citing delays in recovery. The move underscores how complex permitting can be in LA.
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Congress has approved $33 million in funding for ENERGY STAR, securing the future of a tool that is foundational to energy management and compliance across commercial real estate. This bipartisan action matters because ENERGY STAR underpins how buildings measure performance, control operating costs, and meet a growing list of local sustainability requirements—including here in Los Angeles.
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Los Angeles City Planning has launched a new Development Services Bureau, bringing several planning and zoning functions under one umbrella. While the announcement sounds big, much of this is a reorganization of existing offices—with one important change for commercial real estate.
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BOMA/GLA secured an important advocacy win at Los Angeles City Hall: the proposed increase to the Parking Occupancy Tax (POT) will not move forward to the June 2026 ballot.
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After months of budget negotiations, the Los Angeles City Council has approved a plan to hire hundreds of new police officers—an issue closely tied to public safety, economic recovery, and the operation of commercial properties across Los Angeles.
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Common Area Maintenance (CAM) reconciliations are one of the fundamental responsibilities for commercial property teams — and yet many newer professionals find the process confusing, time-consuming, or overwhelming. What exactly goes into CAM reconciliations? How does lease language impact recoveries? Where do common mistakes happen, and how can you avoid them? If you’ve ever asked these questions, then the CAMS Intro Course on Thursday, January 29, 2026 is an event you won’t want to miss.
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BOMA/GLA’s Political Action Committee (PAC) is starting the year by interviewing candidates running for the Los Angeles City Council—early in the election cycle, when conversations can still shape priorities. These interviews help ensure decision-makers understand how their policies affect commercial real estate, jobs, and the economic health of Los Angeles.
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Opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the positions of BOMA Greater Los Angeles. For media inquiries and questions about BOMA/GLA's policy positions, please email [email protected]. You can also find additional information about our policy positions on our website.