Mayor Karen Bass further restricts where affordable housing can be streamlined in LA

Los Angeles Mayor Introduces New Limits to Affordable Housing Program

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has implemented new restrictions to the city’s affordable housing program, further limiting the areas where low-income apartments can be fast-tracked. These changes come at a time when rents are becoming increasingly unaffordable for many residents. The aim of these changes, according to Bass, is to provide additional protections for existing tenants and ensure the preservation of historic resources. However, critics argue that these changes are a significant setback for a program that has been successful in promoting much-needed development.

New Restrictions on Fast-Tracking Affordable Housing

The updated restrictions include a ban on fast-tracking affordable housing in designated historic districts and on properties that already contain rent-controlled apartment buildings with 12 or more units. These changes were proposed in response to concerns raised by City Councilmember Katy Yaroslavksy and homeowners in pricey Windsor Village.

Impact on Affordable Housing Plans

Housing policy experts believe that these new changes will likely hinder the development of new affordable housing, particularly for private developers who have utilized the mayor’s streamlining initiative to propose thousands of low-income apartments without public funding. Jason Ward, an economist and co-director of the RAND Center on Housing and Homelessness, states that these changes are turning a remarkable program into just another status quo tool, which will not effectively address the housing production needs of the city.

Background of the Program

The program in question, Executive Directive One (ED1), was signed by Mayor Bass during her first week in office. It aimed to expedite city approvals for new 100% affordable housing developments, reducing the time required from months or years to just a few weeks. While housing advocates have generally viewed the program as successful, it has faced opposition from homeowners and neighborhood groups who feel that it limits their ability to influence or oppose projects that they believe will negatively impact their communities.

Response from Neighborhood Groups

Maria Pavlou Kalban, a founder of the group United Neighbors, which advocates for neighborhood protection and local control, applauds the changes made by Mayor Bass. Kalban believes that many of the concerns raised by her group have been addressed in the revisions. She supports the limitations on waivers and incentives for developers and suggests that there is still ample opportunity for new housing along commercial corridors.

Criticism and Future Outlook

Some housing policy experts argue that these changes cater to the demands of wealthy homeowners in exclusionary neighborhoods, rather than addressing the pressing need for affordable housing. Scott Epstein, the director of policy and research for Abundant Housing L.A., criticizes the exclusion of historic districts from the program, stating that many parcels within these districts are not historically significant. Jason Ward emphasizes the need for leadership that is willing to make difficult decisions to increase housing affordability in Los Angeles.

Take Action for Local Housing Affordability

If you are concerned about local housing affordability, it is important to engage with your local government. Attend public meetings for your city council or local boards to stay informed and voice your opinions. Familiarize yourself with meeting schedules, agendas, and procedures for giving public comment. By actively participating in local government processes, you can contribute to shaping policies that address housing affordability in your community.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. No Poverty

• Target 1.4: By 2030, ensure that all men and women, in particular the poor and the vulnerable, have equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to basic services, ownership, and control over land and other forms of property, inheritance, natural resources, appropriate new technology, and financial services including microfinance.
• Indicator 1.4.2: Proportion of total adult population with secure tenure rights to land, with legally recognized documentation and who perceive their rights to land as secure, by sex and by type of tenure.

5. Gender Equality

• Target 5.a: Undertake reforms to give women equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to ownership and control over land and other forms of property, financial services, inheritance, and natural resources, in accordance with national laws.
• Indicator 5.a.1: (a) Proportion of total agricultural population with ownership or secure rights over agricultural land, by sex; and (b) share of women among owners or rights-bearers of agricultural land, by type of tenure.

11. Sustainable Cities and Communities

• Target 11.1: By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe, and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums.
• Indicator 11.1.1: Proportion of urban population living in slums, informal settlements, or inadequate housing.

17. Partnerships for the Goals

• Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private, and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships.
• Indicator 17.17.1: Amount of United States dollars committed to public-private partnerships (PPPs).

Analysis

1. The SDGs addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article are No Poverty (SDG 1), Gender Equality (SDG 5), Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11), and Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17).

2. Specific targets under those SDGs based on the article’s content are:
– Target 1.4: Ensuring equal rights to economic resources and access to basic services.
– Target 5.a: Reforms to give women equal rights to economic resources and access to ownership and control over land and other forms of property.
– Target 11.1: Ensuring access for all to adequate, safe, and affordable housing and basic services.
– Target 17.17: Encouraging effective public-private and civil society partnerships.

3. The indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets are:
– Indicator 1.4.2: Proportion of total adult population with secure tenure rights to land.
– Indicator 5.a.1: Proportion of total agricultural population with ownership or secure rights over agricultural land.
– Indicator 11.1.1: Proportion of urban population living in slums, informal settlements, or inadequate housing.
– Indicator 17.17.1: Amount of United States dollars committed to public-private partnerships.

4. Table presenting the findings:

| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|———————————–|————————————————————————————————–|———————————————————|
| 1. No Poverty | Target 1.4: By 2030, ensure that all men and women have equal rights to economic resources | Indicator 1.4.2: Proportion of total adult population… |
| 5. Gender Equality | Target 5.a: Undertake reforms to give women equal rights to economic resources | Indicator 5.a.1: Proportion of total agricultural po… |
| 11. Sustainable Cities and Communities | Target 11.1: By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe, and affordable housing and basic services | Indicator 11.1.1: Proportion of urban population liv… |
| 17. Partnerships for the Goals | Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public-private and civil society partnerships | Indicator 17.17.1: Amount of United States dollars c… |

Source: laist.com