Local Legislation
Eric Garcetti Nomination as Ambassador to India Slowly Advances
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, who was selected by President Joe Biden as envoy to India, is finally expected to undergo nomination by the U.S. Senate. Concerning Los Angeles, this situation raises uncertainty about who would lead the city for the remainder of the year. This comes after Senator Chuck Grassley stated that he would …
Read MoreLos Angeles County Pushes for a Housing First Position on Homelessness
On Tuesday, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors moved to declare the County as supporting a ‘housing first’ approach to the homelessness crisis. According to the motion, a housing first approach is defined as a “model and approach recognizing that an unhoused person or family must …
Read MorePasadena’s Eviction Moratorium to be Lifted
At their April 11th meeting, the Pasadena City Council voted to begin the end of the city’s two-year-long eviction moratorium. The ordinance instructs the city attorney to prepare an ordinance that would sunset the city’s commercial and residential eviction moratoriums. The commercial eviction moratorium would …
Read MoreLA City Moves to Lift Vaccine Mandate
On Wednesday the Los Angeles City Council voted to rescind its longstanding COVID-19 vaccine mandate, signaling a final moment of recovery in the city’s historic struggle against COVID-19. The motion, which will have to be voted on again on March 30th …
Read MoreLA County Lifts Indoor Mask Mandate for Vaccinated Individuals
After COVID-19 and omicron cases have plummeted, Los Angeles County announced last week on Friday that it would officially lift its indoor mask mandate for vaccinated individuals. This comes after nearly two years of mask mandates …
Read MoreNew Real Estate Transfer Tax is Another Misguided Response to the Homelessness Crisis
Among one of the most high-profile election cycles in recent memory, voters could also take up a controversial tax hike, which could cost property owners upwards of $8 billion. The tax would add another real estate transfer tax …
Read MoreICYMI: Amid Another Statewide Order, LA County Requires Workers to Wear Medical Grade Masks
Following a notable surge in COVID-19 cases and the spread of the highly infectious Omicron variant, LA County moved to require a stricter mask mandate for all county employees. This is in tandem with California’s decision to extend its own statewide mask mandate for indoor …
Read More3 Grocery Stores to Shut Down after City Council approves Hazard Pay Ordinance
After the City voted to approve a mandatory $5 hazard pay ordinance for grocery and retail businesses on March 3rd, 3 major LA grocery stores announced that they will be forced to shut down. Councilmember John Lee, who voted to reject the …
Read MoreLA City Rejects Vacancy Tax for Now, But Will Consider it for 2022
Fortunately, during Wednesday’s Special Meeting, the Los Angeles City Council moved to stall consideration of their vacancy tax. Originally, the motion called for placing the vacancy tax on the November 2020 ballot. However, Councilmember Mike Bonin, the main advocate behind the tax, admitted that there …
Read MoreVacancy Taxes are Ineffective and Harmful
The Los Angeles City Council has studied the feasibility of vacancy taxes to reduce empty properties. In effect, this tax would create punishments and taxes despite many owners who are genuinely attempting to sell their space. Though, as seen in other cities, a fee with the intent to punish property owners will have a host of other effects that will undermine the ability for property owners to do business.
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