Published by Los Angeles Downtown News on August 22, 2022
By Jessica Lall, President & CEO, CCA
In fewer than 100 days, Angelenos will vote on matters ranging from women’s bodily autonomy to parks to homelessness, which is on many of our minds.
Voters will also get to elect new citywide leaders to address these top issues, including the LA city attorney who, perhaps surprisingly, has extensive authority over the long-term solution to homelessness — housing. If our next city attorney embraces and prioritizes housing solutions, they could move the needle on our housing and homelessness crises, leaving a meaningful legacy of progress on two of our most intractable and interrelated issues.
The LA city attorney’s role is often known for advising the mayor and city council, writing the city’s ordinances, prosecuting misdemeanors and representing LA city government in lawsuits. Yet, they also have vast authority and resources to bring new housing for all income levels online faster and more cost effectively; to improve tenants’ rights while balancing housing providers’ needs; and to make the city a better place to build through timely, clear and consistent implementation of regulations.
The city’s top lawyer is responsible for critical projects that are unlikely to grab headlines, including helping LA implement its housing element and advising on the department of city planning’s long range and community planning documents. The city attorney’s office also reviews affordable housing covenants for deed-restricted affordable housing units and drafts development and community benefit agreements for qualifying development projects. Importantly, they will guide the department of city planning and Los Angeles Housing Department on the local implementation of new state housing laws like Senate bills 9 and 10, which carefully allow for more density in single-family zoned areas.
Digging ourselves out of the housing crisis will require every tool in the toolbox and then some. Voters must know how the city attorney will better position every city department to become pro-housing and that they will be committed to implementing state laws that spur housing production across all income levels and types. We need a city attorney who can work with the mayor and city council to lead city departments in a coordinated manner toward the common goal of increasing our housing supply.
The current city council, mayor and city departments have made important inroads in embracing this goal with accessory dwelling units, transit-oriented development, adopting a housing element that captures the existing and future need for housing, plus making progress on updating community plans and a new zoning code. Yet, bringing these items over the finish line will take continued focus, expertise and engagement from LA’s leaders, especially from our next city attorney, who could build a legacy solving our housing crisis unlike any of their predecessors.
Jessica Lall, President & CEO, Central City Association of Los Angeles (CCA). CCA is a premier advocacy organization working to enhance Downtown Los Angeles’ vibrancy and increase opportunity in the region.