LA City Council Advances Housing Crisis Plan as Homelessness Reaches New Peak This Week

Los Angeles city leaders took decisive action this week on the homelessness crisis, approving a sweeping zoning ordinance that would allow mixed-income residential projects to move through permitting 40 percent faster across Downtown, Mid-City, and parts of Koreatown. The unanimous vote Tuesday represents the most aggressive housing acceleration measure passed since Mayor Bass took office, coming as newly released county data showed the unhoused population has surged to 75,000—a 12 percent increase from last year.

The ordinance, which cleared the Planning and Land Use Management Committee on Monday before full council approval, eliminates parking minimums for qualifying projects within half a mile of Metro transit stations and streamlines environmental review for developments under 150 units. Officials project the changes could add 8,000 units to the pipeline within 36 months, though housing advocates remain skeptical about timeline realities.

"We're removing bureaucratic barriers that have choked this city's ability to build," said the council president during Thursday's public comment period, where over 200 residents testified. Opposition centered on Grand Avenue near the Broad Museum and parts of Silver Lake, where neighborhood groups worry about density impacts and construction disruption. The council ultimately rejected a proposed amendment that would have carved out residential-only neighborhoods from the new rules.

Meanwhile, the Police Commission announced a community listening tour beginning next month, with six planned sessions across Van Nuys, Watts, Echo Park, Boyle Heights, and the San Fernando Valley. The meetings follow months of contentious budget discussions over the department's $1.8 billion allocation—roughly 8 percent of the city's general fund—and renewed calls for reallocation following three officer-involved shootings in the past month.

On transit infrastructure, the Los Angeles Department of Transportation reported completion of the Figueroa Corridor safety project, installing 47 new traffic signals and widening bike lanes on the stretch connecting downtown to South Los Angeles. The $28 million project, funded through a combination of federal grants and Proposition M sales tax revenue, aims to reduce traffic deaths that have climbed 18 percent citywide since 2020.

Budget deliberations resume in July, with the city facing a projected $250 million shortfall. Council members are divided on whether to implement hiring freezes, reduce library hours, or pursue commercial tax increases. The final budget is expected August 1.

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