Find out where CCA and our President Carol E. Schatz are making headlines.
Click any of the links below to learn more.
L.A. city retirements threaten a deep and lasting legacy
by David Zahniser, latimes.com
The exodus of employees approved to ease budget problems will drain the workforce of many experienced people and leave Los Angeles officials hampered in hiring replacements until 2024. Read entire article
Redevelopment Agency to Leave Historic Core
by Anna Scott, Los Angeles Downtown News
The Community Redevelopment Agency's long history of being headquartered in the heart of Downtown is coming to an end.
The CRA Board of Commissioners today approved a plan for the agency to leave its nearly 30-year home at the Banco Popular Center on Spring Street for the Garland Center, a largely city government-occupied building in City West. Read entire article
What's Next for Parker Center?
by Ryan Vaillancourt, Los Angeles Downtown News
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES - The Civic Center has a new gem in the $440 million police headquarters building on First between Main and Spring streets. But as the Los Angeles Police Department preps for the Oct. 24 opening of the new digs, questions remain over what to do with its old home, Parker Center. Read entire article
Businesses Fear 'Landmark' Decision
by Howard Fine, Los Angeles Business Journal Staff
Scores or possibly hundreds of buildings in the city of Los Angeles could be declared historic landmarks in the next few years, and that means big obstacles loom any time one of those buildings is to be renovated. So business groups, developers and even film studio executives are scrambling to get restrictions eased for historic structures. Read entire article
Staples Center 10th anniversary
by Todd Longwell, The Hollywood Reporter
Unless people worked here or they were attending a performance at the Music Center, they just never bothered to come downtown," says Carol E. Schatz, president and CEO of the Central City Association of Los Angeles, an advocacy group for local businesses. Read entire article
Stopping Detroit's brain drain
by Steve Hargreaves, CNNMoney.com
The city is pushing for new businesses, arts and a revitalized downtown to keep young people in this hard-hit town. Read entire article
New Police Unit Focuses on Downtown Graffiti
by Ryan Vaillancourt, Los Angeles Downtown News
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES - Graffiti is one of the oldest, most ubiquitous forms of urban blight, but until William Bratton came to town seven years ago with an emphasis on stopping small quality-of-life crimes, it was not high on the Los Angeles Police Department's priority list. Read entire article
Updated: Chamber Makes Council Endorsement
by Howard Fine, Los Angeles Business Journal
The Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce announced Wednesday the endorsement of Los Angeles school board member Tamar Galatzan in the Los Angeles City Council district race to replace newly elected city Controller Wendy Greuel. Read entire article
Chrysalis Appoints New CEO
by Anna Scott, Los Angeles Downtown News
The Downtown social services agency Chrysalis has appointed Mark Loranger as its new CEO and president, the organization announced Tuesday. Loranger previously served for two years as vice president of Chrysalis Enterprises, a division of Chrysalis that provides transitional jobs for clients with employment barriers. Read entire article
LAPD Chief William Bratton Leaving in October
by Eric Richardson, blogdowntown
LAPD Chief William Bratton will step down from his post at the end of October, leaving to head the newly formed Altegrity Security Consulting. The firm will provide consulting services to police departments around the world. Read entire article
Rating R: Experts Find That $40 Billion Transit Tax May Not Pay for All They Hoped
by Ryan Vaillancourt, Los Angeles Downtown News
When Los Angeles County voters passed Measure R last November, approving a half-cent sales tax to raise $40 billion for transportation projects, many saw it as a sign that the public was desperate to ease congestion. Read entire article
Showdown Over Historic Buildings Goes to Vote
by Anna Scott, Los Angeles Downtown News
Sparks are expected to fly at Thursday's City Planning Commission meeting, where the panel will vote on a proposal to strengthen the city's historic preservation law. The debate over the city's Cultural Heritage Ordinance has been ongoing for months. Read entire article
Major revisions proposed for Los Angeles' preservation ordinance
by Martha Groves, Los Angeles Times
A proposed overhaul of the city's historic preservation ordinance would grant the Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Commission the authority to bar demolition of designated monuments, a power it now lacks. The ability to deny demolition permits to property owners is among several proposed revisions the Planning Commission is to consider Thursday. Read entire article
Ordinance brings new life into downtown L.A.'s Main Street
by Cara Mia DiMassa, Los Angeles Times
A decade ago, the stretch of downtown L.A.'s Main Street between 4th and 6th streets was a desolate collection of empty buildings and homeless encampments, an area where drug dealing was conducted in the open, and the only longtime residents lived in residential hotels. These days, that stretch resembles a bustling small-town main street. Read entire article
Non-profit group hopes to get a line on history by returning trolleys to downtown Los Angeles.
by David Haldane, Los Angeles Business Journal
A group of property owners, developers, and civic and political leaders has been quietly pushing to revive a scaled-down version of L.A.'s famed Red Cars in the downtown area. Read entire article
City Controller Wendy Greuel blows the whistle on delinquent taxpayers
by Rick Orlov, dailynews.com
Five months after the public disclosure of tax scofflaws generated $2.8 million for city coffers, City Controller Wendy Greuel released an updated list of 126 firms Wednesday that owe more than $107 million in taxes. Read entire article
Developers, Building Owners Could See Fees Increase
by Richard Guzmn and Anna Scott, Los Angeles Downtown News
As city departments continue to tighten their belts amid a $530 million budget deficit, officials this month will vote on raising two kinds of developmentrelated fees. Each could add thousands of dollars to the costs of owning or constructing a building. Read entire article
L.A. ethics officials vote to tighten lobbying rules
Los Angeles Times
After more than a year of deliberations, the Los Angeles City Ethics Commission voted today for a plan aimed at making it easier for the city to enforce its lobbying rules. Read entire article
Business Gets L.A. to Back Down on Planning Fees
by Howard Fine, Los Angeles Business Journal
Developers and business groups have made some headway in pushing to head off steep increases in L.A. city planning fees. Read entire article
Gloves off on cost of Michael Jackson's services
by Maeve Reston and Ari B. Bloomekatz, Los Angeles Times
Hours after the last eulogy to Michael Jackson bounced off the rafters of Staples Center, discussion in Los Angeles civic circles turned to more down-to-earth matters: Were the pop star's death and memorial a net fiscal loss or gain to the city, and should taxpayers get stuck with the tab? Read entire article
It's Still Not Easy Being Green
by Anna Scott, Los Angeles Downtown News
One year after creating strict new environmental standards for large development projects, city officials are raising the bar again. The effort, spurred by the Community Redevelopment Agency, is generating concern from some housing developers, including nonprofit organizations. Read entire article
Lofty Dreams of Downtown Living
By Jia-Rui Chong, The Los Angeles Times
David Stokes, 48, said he has always dreamed of living in downtown Los Angeles in an apartment with a city view. The architect imagined riding a scooter to his office east of Little Tokyo. Read entire article
City OKs Hotel Subsidy Deal
By Patrick McGreevy, The Los Angeles Times
Council approves up to $177 million in aid for high-rise in bid to revive convention trade. Competitors, taxpayer groups attack plan. Read entire article
The New Plate Tectonics
By Julie Tamaki, The Los Angeles Times
Mid-priced restaurant chains are opening locations in downtown Los Angeles, in a shift considered crucial to attracting residents. Read entire article
County Task Force to Debate Plan on Homeless Services
By Carla Rivera, The Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles County would sharply refashion homeless services over the next decade, adding 7,000 emergency shelter beds, 40,000 units of affordable housing and setting up a regionwide housing trust fund under a plan scheduled to be debated by area civic leaders today. Read entire article
L.A. Looking Into Return of Downtown Trolley Line
By Patrick McGreevy, The Los Angeles Times
More than 40 years after the last Pacific Electric Red Car clanged to a stop in Los Angeles, city leaders are weighing a proposal to resurrect the trolley system with a five-mile loop that would connect downtown landmarks from Chinatown to Staples Center. Read entire article
Anschutz Buys Fox's Interest in Staples Center
By Vincent and Sallie Hofmeister, The Los Angeles Times
The deal paves the way for a $1-billion project around the arena that could include a theater and hotels. Read entire article
by David Zahniser, latimes.com
The exodus of employees approved to ease budget problems will drain the workforce of many experienced people and leave Los Angeles officials hampered in hiring replacements until 2024. Read entire article
Redevelopment Agency to Leave Historic Core
by Anna Scott, Los Angeles Downtown News
The Community Redevelopment Agency's long history of being headquartered in the heart of Downtown is coming to an end.
The CRA Board of Commissioners today approved a plan for the agency to leave its nearly 30-year home at the Banco Popular Center on Spring Street for the Garland Center, a largely city government-occupied building in City West. Read entire article
What's Next for Parker Center?
by Ryan Vaillancourt, Los Angeles Downtown News
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES - The Civic Center has a new gem in the $440 million police headquarters building on First between Main and Spring streets. But as the Los Angeles Police Department preps for the Oct. 24 opening of the new digs, questions remain over what to do with its old home, Parker Center. Read entire article
Businesses Fear 'Landmark' Decision
by Howard Fine, Los Angeles Business Journal Staff
Scores or possibly hundreds of buildings in the city of Los Angeles could be declared historic landmarks in the next few years, and that means big obstacles loom any time one of those buildings is to be renovated. So business groups, developers and even film studio executives are scrambling to get restrictions eased for historic structures. Read entire article
Staples Center 10th anniversary
by Todd Longwell, The Hollywood Reporter
Unless people worked here or they were attending a performance at the Music Center, they just never bothered to come downtown," says Carol E. Schatz, president and CEO of the Central City Association of Los Angeles, an advocacy group for local businesses. Read entire article
Stopping Detroit's brain drain
by Steve Hargreaves, CNNMoney.com
The city is pushing for new businesses, arts and a revitalized downtown to keep young people in this hard-hit town. Read entire article
New Police Unit Focuses on Downtown Graffiti
by Ryan Vaillancourt, Los Angeles Downtown News
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES - Graffiti is one of the oldest, most ubiquitous forms of urban blight, but until William Bratton came to town seven years ago with an emphasis on stopping small quality-of-life crimes, it was not high on the Los Angeles Police Department's priority list. Read entire article
Updated: Chamber Makes Council Endorsement
by Howard Fine, Los Angeles Business Journal
The Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce announced Wednesday the endorsement of Los Angeles school board member Tamar Galatzan in the Los Angeles City Council district race to replace newly elected city Controller Wendy Greuel. Read entire article
Chrysalis Appoints New CEO
by Anna Scott, Los Angeles Downtown News
The Downtown social services agency Chrysalis has appointed Mark Loranger as its new CEO and president, the organization announced Tuesday. Loranger previously served for two years as vice president of Chrysalis Enterprises, a division of Chrysalis that provides transitional jobs for clients with employment barriers. Read entire article
LAPD Chief William Bratton Leaving in October
by Eric Richardson, blogdowntown
LAPD Chief William Bratton will step down from his post at the end of October, leaving to head the newly formed Altegrity Security Consulting. The firm will provide consulting services to police departments around the world. Read entire article
Rating R: Experts Find That $40 Billion Transit Tax May Not Pay for All They Hoped
by Ryan Vaillancourt, Los Angeles Downtown News
When Los Angeles County voters passed Measure R last November, approving a half-cent sales tax to raise $40 billion for transportation projects, many saw it as a sign that the public was desperate to ease congestion. Read entire article
Showdown Over Historic Buildings Goes to Vote
by Anna Scott, Los Angeles Downtown News
Sparks are expected to fly at Thursday's City Planning Commission meeting, where the panel will vote on a proposal to strengthen the city's historic preservation law. The debate over the city's Cultural Heritage Ordinance has been ongoing for months. Read entire article
Major revisions proposed for Los Angeles' preservation ordinance
by Martha Groves, Los Angeles Times
A proposed overhaul of the city's historic preservation ordinance would grant the Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Commission the authority to bar demolition of designated monuments, a power it now lacks. The ability to deny demolition permits to property owners is among several proposed revisions the Planning Commission is to consider Thursday. Read entire article
Ordinance brings new life into downtown L.A.'s Main Street
by Cara Mia DiMassa, Los Angeles Times
A decade ago, the stretch of downtown L.A.'s Main Street between 4th and 6th streets was a desolate collection of empty buildings and homeless encampments, an area where drug dealing was conducted in the open, and the only longtime residents lived in residential hotels. These days, that stretch resembles a bustling small-town main street. Read entire article
Non-profit group hopes to get a line on history by returning trolleys to downtown Los Angeles.
by David Haldane, Los Angeles Business Journal
A group of property owners, developers, and civic and political leaders has been quietly pushing to revive a scaled-down version of L.A.'s famed Red Cars in the downtown area. Read entire article
City Controller Wendy Greuel blows the whistle on delinquent taxpayers
by Rick Orlov, dailynews.com
Five months after the public disclosure of tax scofflaws generated $2.8 million for city coffers, City Controller Wendy Greuel released an updated list of 126 firms Wednesday that owe more than $107 million in taxes. Read entire article
Developers, Building Owners Could See Fees Increase
by Richard Guzmn and Anna Scott, Los Angeles Downtown News
As city departments continue to tighten their belts amid a $530 million budget deficit, officials this month will vote on raising two kinds of developmentrelated fees. Each could add thousands of dollars to the costs of owning or constructing a building. Read entire article
L.A. ethics officials vote to tighten lobbying rules
Los Angeles Times
After more than a year of deliberations, the Los Angeles City Ethics Commission voted today for a plan aimed at making it easier for the city to enforce its lobbying rules. Read entire article
Business Gets L.A. to Back Down on Planning Fees
by Howard Fine, Los Angeles Business Journal
Developers and business groups have made some headway in pushing to head off steep increases in L.A. city planning fees. Read entire article
Gloves off on cost of Michael Jackson's services
by Maeve Reston and Ari B. Bloomekatz, Los Angeles Times
Hours after the last eulogy to Michael Jackson bounced off the rafters of Staples Center, discussion in Los Angeles civic circles turned to more down-to-earth matters: Were the pop star's death and memorial a net fiscal loss or gain to the city, and should taxpayers get stuck with the tab? Read entire article
It's Still Not Easy Being Green
by Anna Scott, Los Angeles Downtown News
One year after creating strict new environmental standards for large development projects, city officials are raising the bar again. The effort, spurred by the Community Redevelopment Agency, is generating concern from some housing developers, including nonprofit organizations. Read entire article
Lofty Dreams of Downtown Living
By Jia-Rui Chong, The Los Angeles Times
David Stokes, 48, said he has always dreamed of living in downtown Los Angeles in an apartment with a city view. The architect imagined riding a scooter to his office east of Little Tokyo. Read entire article
City OKs Hotel Subsidy Deal
By Patrick McGreevy, The Los Angeles Times
Council approves up to $177 million in aid for high-rise in bid to revive convention trade. Competitors, taxpayer groups attack plan. Read entire article
The New Plate Tectonics
By Julie Tamaki, The Los Angeles Times
Mid-priced restaurant chains are opening locations in downtown Los Angeles, in a shift considered crucial to attracting residents. Read entire article
County Task Force to Debate Plan on Homeless Services
By Carla Rivera, The Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles County would sharply refashion homeless services over the next decade, adding 7,000 emergency shelter beds, 40,000 units of affordable housing and setting up a regionwide housing trust fund under a plan scheduled to be debated by area civic leaders today. Read entire article
L.A. Looking Into Return of Downtown Trolley Line
By Patrick McGreevy, The Los Angeles Times
More than 40 years after the last Pacific Electric Red Car clanged to a stop in Los Angeles, city leaders are weighing a proposal to resurrect the trolley system with a five-mile loop that would connect downtown landmarks from Chinatown to Staples Center. Read entire article
Anschutz Buys Fox's Interest in Staples Center
By Vincent and Sallie Hofmeister, The Los Angeles Times
The deal paves the way for a $1-billion project around the arena that could include a theater and hotels. Read entire article
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