CCA has made advocating for development reform and strategic land use planning a top priority, and is considered the business community leader on these issues. CCA champions land use policies that encourage critical investment in the city, and defends against damaging legislation that stifle economic development in Los Angeles. CCA's many members in the real estate development community can also testify to our long-standing commitment to reducing bureaucratic layers that impede growth and revitalization. With a focus on local government, CCA leads the business community effort to improve Los Angeles' byzantine development review process and implement more effective strategies and processes. CCA's Development Reform Subcommittee concentrates on this important issue (open to Business Advocacy members and above).

• Development & Zoning Code Reform
  CCA is an integral partner in the city's efforts to simplify the complicated development approval process and update the zoning code. In order to build a project in Los Angeles, developers must navigate through up to 17 different city departments and also contend with a zoning code that has not been comprehensively revised since 1946. These are often cited as tremendous obstacles to bringing additional investment to Los Angeles.
• Sign Ordinance
  CCA led a coalition of sign business interests in fighting against a proposed citywide ordinance that would have reduced on-site signage rights by up to 75 percent. Instead of limiting on-site signage, which is the most cost-effective and efficient form of advertising for businesses, CCA was part of a coalition that proposed an alternative -- the Sign Code Administration Program. CCA continues to work for a practical sign ordinance that will ensure that developers are able to incorporate appropriate signage into real estate projects.
• CEQA Reform
  CCA is also focused on supporting state and local reform of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). CEQA has become an unacceptable barrier to development, blocking projects that would otherwise stimulate economic growth and revitalization. CCA's reform strategy would phase out duplicative regulation, streamline the review process, and improve local implementation.
• Low Impact Development
  CCA led the business community's opposition to a costly ordinance that would have required all new development and redevelopment projects to manage, capture, and treat all stormwater runoff on-site. The initial proposal went above and beyond what neighboring municipalities required. After more than a year of negotiation, CCA successfully advocated for many key amendments, which made the ordinance more clear, balanced, and workable for the business community. CCA's advocacy on this important issue saved millions of dollars for developers and investors.
• Inclusionary Zoning
  CCA spearheaded the fight against the city's inclusionary zoning proposal, which would have required the inclusion of affordable units in virtually all new housing developments. CCA's advocacy prevented a vote by the City Council and provided the real estate community with time to draft a reasonable alternative proposal that included a housing bond measure, entitled “Housing for All: Fair Share Program.”
• Publications
  
  • Affordable Housing: Making It Happen
  • Industrial Land: Policy Recommendations
  • Housing for All: Fair Share Program
  • L.A.'s Housing Supply Crisis: A Plan to Increase Housing Production in Los Angeles
  • Build It: We are Already Here- A Business and Development Position Paper on Housing

Improved mobility for people and goods is critical to attracting business and investment dollars to Los Angeles. Committed to easing traffic congestion in Downtown, enhancing mobility, and shortening commute times, CCA is leading the Downtown Los Angeles Mobility Partnership (DLAMP), a transportation initiative that focuses on acquiring Caltrans funding for a few short-term freeway and arterial street improvements that will drastically improve mobility in and out of Downtown.

• Downtown Los Angeles Mobility Partnership
  CCA continues to spearhead the Downtown Los Angeles Mobility Partnership, a transportation initiative that focuses on acquiring Caltrans funding for a number of short-term freeway and arterial street improvements that will drastically improve mobility into and out of Downtown. The initiative is moving forward with Phase One, aimed at adding a lane to the northbound 101 freeway at the four-level interchange. Due to CCA's leadership, we are now in the process of transitioning scoping work to Caltrans and will help draft a funding strategy for Caltrans to fully fund and deliver the project.
• Regional Connector
  CCA is a strong supporter of the Regional Connector, a light rail transit link that will seamlessly connect the Metro Red, Gold, Blue, and Expo Lines through Downtown. Despite Metro's decision to delete the 5th & Flower station from the plan due to a funding shortfall, CCA continues to be a strong advocate for providing better transit access to the Financial District.

CCA believes that business knows what's best for securing its own competitive advantage and enabling healthy growth. Businesses must have the autonomy and flexibility to make decisions about internal practices relating to labor relations, without unnecessarily burdensome government interference. From the hotel and entertainment industry to banking and finance, CCA is leading the charge against increasingly burdensome local regulations that impede a vibrant economy and competitive workforce.

• Restaurant & Hospitality Express
  CCA initiated the creation of a special city/county inter-departmental program aimed at streamlining the lengthy permitting process for restaurant and food service venues. Prior to this program, restaurants, bars, catering facilities, and other food service establishments were routinely given the runaround, some to the point that they never even opened their doors. Entitled “Restaurant & Hospitality Express,” the program has reduced permitting time by 50% and assisted over 100 new businesses in opening their doors throughout the city of Los Angeles.
• "Responsible Banking" Ordinance
  CCA has led the business community in opposing an ordinance that would impose onerous administrative burdens on companies seeking to provide banking services to the city of Los Angeles. CCA is working at both the state and local level to ensure that the effort does not serve as a model for municipalities nationwide, which would result in ineffective, burdensome and conflicting regulations for companies that do business on a national scale.
• Hotel Worker Retention Ordinance
  CCA led a successful effort to require the city to conduct a legal and economic impact analysis before moving forward with an ordinance requiring hotels to retain employees for ninety days when there is a change in hotel ownership.

CCA, in conjunction with the Downtown Center Business Improvement District (DCBID), has led the Downtown Los Angeles renaissance since its inception, advocating for legislative initiatives that promote development and investment in the city center. CCA's advocacy in favor of the adaptive reuse of Downtown's historic buildings sparked the revitalization of our city center. The result has been the creation of thousands of new housing units and a tripling of Downtown's population in the past decade. Together, CCA and the DCBID have successfully transformed Downtown's once-forgotten streets into a 24-hour neighborhood that boasts top cultural and entertainment destinations, culinary hotspots and a dynamic residential community.

• Adaptive Reuse Ordinance
  CCA created and sponsored the Adaptive Reuse Ordinance (ARO), making it easier and less costly for property owners to convert underutilized commercial buildings into new residential and live/work spaces in the greater Downtown area. The ARO catalyzed the Downtown renaissance, resulting in the infusion of tens of thousands of new residents, workers and visitors to Los Angeles' urban core.
• Downtown Center Business Improvement District
  Created in 1998, the Downtown Center Business Improvement District (DCBID) is a coalition of nearly 480 property owners united in their commitment to enhance the quality of life in Downtown Los Angeles. The organization helps the 65-block central business district achieve its full potential as a great place to live, work and play. The DCBID funds the clean and safe team known as the Purple Patrol, as well as business retention and recruitment programs, and acts as a housing resource to potential investors, developers, and residents. Marketing programs include special events, promotional offers, advertising campaigns and public relations efforts.
• Farmers Field, L.A. Live & Staples Center
  CCA played a major role in the development of Staples Center and L.A. Live, a one-of-a-kind sports and entertainment campus adjacent to the Los Angeles Convention Center. CCA's advocacy galvanized community and political support for the project, which now boasts more than ten million annual visitors and generates more than $10 billion in economic impact.
• Transfer of Floor Area Ratio
  CCA was instrumental in advocating for implementation of a revised Transfer of Floor Area Ratio (TFAR) ordinance, enabling taller buildings in specific locations through the reallocation of density. The revised ordinance now allows developers to purchase and transfer density from one Downtown site to another in a cost-effective and efficient manner.
• Downtown Housing Ordinances
  CCA championed a new package of incentives for Downtown developers that eliminates setbacks, allows for greater density, changes design guidelines, and provides a density bonus for inclusion of affordable housing.

CCA is proud to be a leading advocate for the motion picture industry on local issues ranging from business taxes and credits to signage and advertising. With Downtown being one of the most filmed locations in the world, CCA also works hard to maintain production Downtown and build cooperative and productive relationships between the entertainment industry, Downtown businesses and the growing residential community

• Bringing Back Broadway
  Since 2008, CCA has been a member of the Board of Trustees for the Bringing Back Broadway initiative, which seeks to revitalize Broadway's historic heart between 2nd Street and Olympic Boulevard. The goals of Bringing Back Broadway are to restore and put into use all of the twelve theaters in the corridor; improve streetscape and infrastructure to rehabilitate the street and enhance the pedestrian experience; reactivate unused upper-floor space; and return the Streetcar to Downtown Los Angeles. The combined effect of all of these projects will encourage economic development and continue the revitalization of Downtown. Due in part to CCA's strong partnership, several of these goals were accomplished in the first year, including the completion of the Broadway Streetscape Master Plan and the Broadway Entertainment Overlay Zone & Design Guide.

Downtown Los Angeles still suffers under the burden of being the de facto center of the region's homelessness crisis. CCA has worked tirelessly to make this issue a priority with the media and elected officials, advocating in Sacramento, at the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and the City Council in support of a more regional solution to homelessness and an end to the criminal activity of those who prey on the homeless population.

• ACLU/City of Los Angeles Settlement Agreement
  CCA worked closely with City Council President Pro Tempore Jan Perry to mobilize strong community opposition to Jones v. The City of Los Angeles. A settlement was reached, requiring the city to build 1,250 new permanent supportive housing units, 50 percent of which must be located in Skid Row, in order to enforce an ordinance that prevents street encampments. CCA is monitoring the progress of the new housing units, and will work with the city and community to ensure a balanced approach to any new housing in Downtown.
• California Senate Bill 2
  CCA worked in partnership with State Senator Gil Cedillo to craft and introduce SB 2, a bill signed into law in 2007 that requires every municipality in California to assess the number of homeless persons in their community and identify zones where emergency shelters and transitional and supportive housing can locate without the need for conditional use or discretionary permits. CCA is working closely with the city to ensure that “Fair Share Zoning” is implemented in each Community Plan to allow for the fair distribution of the burdens and benefits of sitting facilities to address the challenging, complex issue.
• Safer Cities Initiative
  CCA is a strong supporter of the Safer Cities Initiative (SCI), a crime-reduction program established in Downtown Los Angeles in 2006 under former Chief of Police Bill Bratton. The program has added 50 additional patrol officers to target narcotics-related crime and misdemeanor offenses such as illegal vending, littering, dumping, and vandalism. CCA credits the SCI for dramatically reducing crime and blight in the area.
• Publications
  Downtown's Human Tragedy: It's Not Acceptable Anymore- A public health and safety plan

CCA is also the business community's water and power ratepayer watchdog, advocating for reliable and affordable water and power while being mindful of state regulations and the environment. As an environmental steward, CCA is working in collaboration with other business, governmental, and educational organizations to expand the clean tech sector in Los Angeles, producing new technology and jobs and leading the way to economic recovery.

• Los Angeles Department of Water & Power (LADWP) Electricity Rate Increases
  CCA was the business community's voice in the fight to protect ratepayers from a set of substantial rate hikes by LADWP, which would have cost some CCA member businesses up to an additional $1 million per year in increased electricity bills. As a result of our leadership, and with the support of other business organizations, a more modest rate increase was passed in order to preserve the utility's bond rating and take a more measured approach to expanding the utility's renewable energy portfolio.
• Once-Through Cooling
  CCA lobbied the California State Water Resources Control Board in support of an amendment aimed at giving the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power a more flexible set of deadlines to convert its seawater-cooled power plants to more environmentally-friendly processes. As a result, the Water Board re-engaged the LADWP to strike a compromise, heading-off a six percent annual increase to Los Angeles ratepayers.
• CleanTech LA
  CCA is a partner with CleanTech LA, a multi-disciplinary collaboration of business, government, and academia to grow the cleantech sector in Los Angeles. CCA has been instrumental in changing economic development policies to expand business incentives, developing marketing and membership materials to influence the investment and location decisions of cleantech companies in favor of Los Angeles, and serving as a liaison to the business community.