Caption: Jessica Lall, President & CEO of CCA, share remarks at CCA's Winter Cocktail Hour in 2021.
This year was unpredictable as the pandemic continued to throw curveballs, making it difficult for daily life to stabilize, along with the state of our city growing more distressed under the weight of public safety and homelessness concerns. We will continue to respond to these challenges boldly and thoughtfully in the new year. We remain encouraged by our members who continue to support a more vibrant Downtown and work to increase opportunity in Los Angeles.
In 2021, we focused heavily on DTLA's recovery from the pandemic through civic engagement, coalition-building on critical issues and showcasing the expertise and innovation of our members through panel discussions and convenings. These efforts propelled us to impactful policy achievements and reinforced our role as the leading visionary on Downtown's future.
Redistricting: Ensured a Unified DTLA
We delivered on our commitment to keep DTLA intact during the redistricting process this year, and it remains within Council District 14 -- consistent with today's boundaries. We successfully organized DTLA community members to express our shared goal of treating Downtown as the distinct community it is. We thank Councilmember De León for his leadership and for standing for a united city center.
DTLA 2040 Community Plan: Guiding the Future of DTLA
We remained laser-focused on the DTLA 2040 Community Plan, the blueprint for DTLA's future growth and development, as it underwent City Planning Commission hearings this year. We advocated for increased consistency in the planning approval process, and more opportunities for by-right developments to reduce political involvement, save time and conserve resources. Our robust coalition will continue to voice the importance of a timely, streamlined plan that creates inclusive, sustainable neighborhoods.
Proactive Thought Leadership: Solving Our Housing & Homelessness Crises
We developed proactive policy proposals that account for the pandemic's compounded impact on the housing and homelessness crises. In March, we released a white paper with recommendations for spurring the next generation of adaptive reuse development across Los Angeles. We know that DTLA is the city's laboratory for innovation and continue to consider how adaptive reuse can be tested in DTLA and expanded to serve the region.
Through our involvement on the City's Housing Element Task Force, we elevated the importance of planning for our City's significant housing production goal of almost 500,000 units by 2029. We championed accuracy, transparency and equitable growth as the foundation of the Housing Element process.
We also published a white paper exploring how structural reforms to the City of Los Angeles' public health service delivery could improve health outcomes for Angelenos, especially the unhoused and those suffering from mental health and addiction illnesses. We are increasingly seeing the need for systems-level reform, a topic that we will further embrace in the coming year.
Pandemic Recovery: Elevating Your Membership
We elevated and promoted our members' accomplishments during another trying year of the pandemic. We pushed proactive messaging with media, our community, elected officials and government entities about how DTLA can recover with the necessary policies and supports. We also envisioned a more equitable return to the workplace for women through a convening that generated key organizational and public policy recommendations.
As we continue to expand our reach and influence, CCA's sister organization Downtown Works hit exciting milestones this year, announcing its expanded board of directors and hosting a vigorous conversation on economic development and recovery in Downtown.
Despite another year of difficulties, I am inspired by CCA members' accomplishments and shared commitment to a more resilient Los Angeles. I'm grateful for your continued partnership and look forward to seeing you at next year's events and working closely with you to deliver results for Downtown and the City of Los Angeles. We wish you a happy, safe and healthy holiday season and a bright new year!
With gratitude,
Jessica Lall
President & CEO