Friends,

Today I am sending you a wide variety of legislative issues I have been addressing over the past few weeks.

As you may have read in a recent edition of this newsletter, “Nine Bad Bills” are in the State legislature, all aiming to add significant density to Cities around the State by “upzoning” residential single-family neighborhoods.

I’m sure there’s no need for me to tell you that these bills could do lasting harm to Los Angeles.

Many of the bills encourage pricey market-rate housing and ignore the legislature's duty to provide affordable housing.

This week, we are hearing that Governor Gavin Newsom may be unhappy with these various density bills. 

Some of these bills mentioned previously are now dead but SB 1120 and AB 725 remain active and are scheduled to hit the floor for final votes next week. SB 1120 allows for duplexes and by-right subdivision of lots with NO affordable housing (the opposite of what we need in LA).

 In addition, it will allow for reduced setbacks and the removal of protected trees while decimating parking requirements and grading controls, and much more. 

In essence, this will devastate single family neighborhoods and is a clear giveaway to developers. AB 725 is being used as a weapon to force density on communities, force local jurisdictions into costly General Plan revisions and rezoning, and victimizes single-family neighborhoods. 

By inviting rental giants to buy up and demolish single-family homes and build unaffordable rentals, these bills are a direct attack on Californians’ home-ownership opportunities.

Governor Newsom's message systems may be full, but please click on this link to send him a note to thank him for his consideration and encourage him to veto SB 1120 AND AB 725.

In addition, please read on in this legislative edition to learn about several other policy actions that I have been recently addressing in City Council.

Sincerely, Councilmember Paul Koretz, Fifth District