UN4LA News - May 2022
A monthly newsletter published by United Neighborhoods for Los Angeles.
UN4LA's mission is to bring communities together to plan for a sustainable future. Growth must be shaped by community engagement, not developer dollars.
METROPOLITAN WATER DISTRICT DECLARES WATER SHORTAGE EMERGENCY
The Metropolitan Water District (MWD) has declared that a Water Shortage Emergency in areas that depend on the State Water Project (SWP), including much of Los Angeles County. This shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone, given the extremely low annual rainfall in recent years. The State Department of Water Resources (DWR) has reduced the MWD's allocation from the SWP to five percent of expected deliveries. The upshot is that affected areas are going to have to drastically reduce water use, and the MWD is giving them two ways to do it.
Beginning June 1, a local water agency can either restrict outdoor watering to one day a week, or the agency can choose to comply with monthly allocation limits. There will be penalties for agencies that don't comply. MWD General Manager Adel Hagekhalil has made it clear that we're facing a new reality. The water resources that the LA area depends on have been declining for years, and there’s no reason to believe that trend will change in the foreseeable future.
But while Angelenos will need to cut back on watering their lawns, the MWD has recognized the importance of maintaining the urban forest and will allow hand-watering of trees and other perennials. Tree canopy is crucial to capturing stormwater and keeping temperatures down. A decline in the health of the urban forest would only further compromise LA's hydrology.
Amid Unprecedented Drought, Officials Cut Water Use For 6 Million
CALIFORNIA MUST STOP PROMISING TO DEILVER MORE WATER THAN IT HAS
There are a lot of reasons why the future of our water resources is so uncertain right now, but one of the biggest problems is that the State and local government agencies have consistently promised far more water than they can actually deliver. A recent study by UC Davis concluded that “appropriative water rights filed for consumptive uses are approximately five times greater than estimated surface water withdrawals.” In other words, we're making commitments to deliver five times more water than what is actually available. In this article Carolee Krieger, Executive Director of California Water Impact Network, explains why we need to start confronting this reality, and stop making promises we can’t keep.
Here Is the First Step to a Sustainable Water Policy
UN4LA ASKS THE CANDIDATES TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT THE FUTURE OF L.A.
As the 2022 elections approach, the City of Los Angeles is facing major challenges in many areas. In order to help the public gain a better understanding of how the candidates would address these challenges, UN4LA has invited them to answer questions on a range of issues, including the environment, housing, health and the budget. Some candidates have already sent their responses. Click on the link below to see what they have to say. We'll update the page each week as more responses come in.
UN4LA Questions for Candidates
LINCOLN HEIGHTS COMMUNITY CONCERNED ABOUT PROJECT PROPOSED FOR FORMER TOXIC DUMP SITE
The City of LA has approved plans to build a 468-unit apartment building, including 66 affordable units, on the site of a former industrial complex at 141 Avenue 34 in Lincoln Heights. But activists have learned that the site was formerly used as an illegal dumping ground for toxic waste, and have raised questions about whether a previous clean-up was adequate to address health concerns. Recent tests done at the site showed concentrations of volatile organic compounds that were 4,000 times the level considered acceptable. The developer's plan to remove toxic waste from the site has been approved by the Department of Toxic Substances Control, but some area residents believe the plan falls short of what's needed to protect the community's health.
A Long-Forgotten Toxic Dump Site Is Raising New Worries for this Los Angeles Neighborhood
PASADENA MAYOR GORDO PUSHES BACK AGAINST A.G. BONTA'S THREATS RE SB 9
Pasadena has been in the news lately, as State Attorney General Rob Bonta lashed out at the city, accusing it of violating California law. Last year Gov. Newsom signed SB 9, which allows the construction of four or more units on parcels zoned for single family housing. Bonta claims that the ordinance Pasadena approved to implement SB 9 does not comply with the law because it exempts properties in "Landmark Districts".
This is odd, because SB 9 includes a number of requirements that must be met for a proposed housing development to qualify, one of them specifically stating that the project cannot be located “[W]ithin a site that is designated or listed as a city or county landmark or historic property or district pursuant to a city or county ordinance." Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo points out that since 1983 the city has been authorized by the National Park Service and the State of California to designate neighborhoods with historic value as landmark districts. Kind of makes you wonder whether the Attorney General bothered to read the law before he launched his attack on Pasadena.
Pasadena Mayor Gordo Speaks Out Against SB 9
WOULD YOU BUY A GONDOLA PROJECT FROM THIS MAN?
Many LA residents recall the name Frank McCourt, and it's probably safe to say that, for most Angelenos, the name is not associated with happy memories. During the period that McCourt owned the Dodgers, the franchise racked up so much debt that it filed for bankruptcy protection. MLB Commissioner Bud Selig found it necessary to appoint a trustee to take over the team's operations.
But apparently none of this raised any red flags for the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro), which recently approved a deal with McCourt Global to build a multi-million dollar aerial gondola project linking Union Station and Dodger Stadium. There are many reasons to question the proposal, ranging from whether the gondolas can actually move the number of people its backers are promising, to who will actually end up paying for the construction and operation of the project. The California Endowment has filed a lawsuit to shut it down. Click on the link below to view the petition.
California Endowment Petition for Writ of Mandate Re Dodger Gondola Project
SLAUSON CORRIDOR TRANSIT NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN: CITY PLANNING STAFF AVAILABLE DURING "OFFICE HOURS"
LA City Planning has been working on the Slauson Corridor Transit Neighborhood Plan, which they claim will: Activate Metro’s future Rail-to-Rail Active Transportation Corridor bike path; Support emerging and green, sustainable industries that encourage local workforce development; And meet community needs for jobs and housing.
This all sounds great, but what they don't say is that the TNP will allow developers to build bigger with fewer restrictions. It's the same game the City has been playing for years. They offer incentives like increased height and floor area ratio (FAR) to spur development, which inevitably results in a whole lot of expensive new housing, with a few affordable units tacked on to make it look like the community's getting something. You can get a clearer picture of what this means by following the link below and going to the section titled Expanding Affordable Housing Opportunities. Click on Table 3 to view the details.
The Slauson Corridor TNP team is hosting virtual office hours from May 2 through May 5. City Planning staff will be available for 20-minute appointments with stakeholders, via virtual chat or phone. Please RSVP at least four hours in advance of the time you're available.
Slauson Corridor TNP - Virtual Office Hours
GOOD OR BAD NEWS OF HIGH-PROFILE HOMELESS LAWSUIT?
Two years ago, the LA Alliance for Human Rights filed an ambitious lawsuit in federal court in an effort to force the City of LA and the County of LA to take meaningful action to address the homeless crisis. In 2021 it looked like something might actually happen when Judge David Carter issued a sweeping order which would have mandated the provision of shelter and services for thousands of unhoused persons. However, that order was overturned on appeal, which seemed to put everything back at square one. Now the City of LA has signed a settlement with the LA Alliance, but critics warn that it basically allows the City to continue with the status quo. The County will continue to fight the suit in court.
Tentative ‘Settlement’ in Lawsuit Over Homelessness Leaves Many Questions
