PLANNING WATCH / PLAN-IT LOS ANGELES

LA’s corrupt, market-oriented planning process could be reinvented to promote economic and racial justice . By Dick Platkin* https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php/cw/los-angeles/19950-la-s-corrupt-market-oriented-planning-process-could-be-reinvented-to-promote-economic-and-racial-justice     Planning Watch : To much of the public “Department of City Planning” brings up images of widespread gentrification, a former Director of Planning paying a $281,000 fine for lobbying his former colleagues on behalf of real estate developers, and hundreds of eyes averted from FBI investigations and indictments of their bosses accepting bribes to approve major projects.  But, despite this dirty linen, in a soaring statement LA’s Department of City Planning publicly staked out its commitment to racial equality.  “ We pledge to intentionally and authentically deepen our efforts to serve all  communities of Los Angeles in a manner that promotes equity and inclu...

After Mayor Eric Garcetti feels our pain, what will permanently change at LA's City Hall? By Dick Platkin* https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php/cw/los-angeles/19912-after-eric-garcetti-feels-our-pain-what-will-permanently-change-at-city-hall Planning Watch:   Like Woodie Allen’s imaginary character, Zelig , who could change his physical appearance to ingratiate himself to those around him, Eric Garcetti skillfully changes his political exterior to placate those who contest his policies.   Therefore, Angelinos wonder what will happen when the Mayor is done feeling our pain, telling us he hopes we can all get along, and taking a knee with Black Lives Matter demonstrators (i.e., a counter-insurgency technique employed by the United States military in Iraq and Afghanistan )?   Will anything permanently change in the City of LA’s budget, ordinances and regulations, and departmental work programs?   The answer is time will tell, bu...

Twitter     City Planning Department Pats itself on the Back for its Recent Awards   By Dick Platkin, CityWatchLA , June 4, 2020 Share PLANNING WATCH -The Los Angeles Department of City Planning prominently placed two  self-congratulatory awards  on its web site. Other than promoting eye-rolling and head scratching, what else is going on?  According to City Planning’s press release, one award was for the  Transit Oriented Communities (TOC) Incentives , and the other for  Urban Design Citywide Guidelines.  The same press release also patted the Department of City Planning on its back for its transparency and its planning and policy initiatives to encourage a more sustainable Southern California. A similar City Planning public letter took credit for “ supporting Los Angeles's long-range planning efforts .”  While this is an amusing demonstration of the puff pieces that a new City Hall  public relations unit ...

To Keep Track of City Hall Corruption, Follow the Lies and Trust Your Eyes Dick Platkin 21 May 2020 PLANNING WATCH -The FBI’s investigation of corruption at LA’s City Hall, now in its third year , has, so far, focused on five individuals and lead to several arrests. Former Councilmember Mitchell Englander  is likely to spend five years in prison, and several City Council colleagues asked Councilmember Jose Huizar to either recuse himself or resign  while he remains under criminal investigation. Real estate appraiser Justin Kim admitted to arranging a $500,000 bribe, and real estate “consultant” George Chiang agreed this week  to plead guilty. Other corruption investigations continue for Raymond Chan, a former Deputy Mayor to Eric Garcetti and to aides for Councilmembers Herb Wesson and Curran Price and. Furthermore, the City of LA’s Ethics Commission fined f...

During a deep financial crisis, local public works spending should increase, but in this crisis exactly the opposite is happening, with dire consequences. https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php/cw/los-angeles/19737-la-s-crumbling-infrastructure-an-ounce-of-good-news-and-ton-of-bad-news

There are two glaring exemptions from the State of California's and City of LA's Coronavirus closure orders: residential demolitions and the construction of McMansions, luxury apartments, and commercial buildings. https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php/cw/los-angeles/19506-why-are-mcmansions-luxury-high-rises-and-commercial-buildings-exempted-from-la-s-coronavirus-closure-orders

FIX THE CITY PRESS RELEASE September 4, 2019 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACTS: Laura Lake 310-497-5550, James O’Sullivan 213 -840-0246 FIX THE CITY SUES L.A. FOR FAILING TO OBEY MEASURE JJJ: AFFORDABLE HOUSING & GOOD JOBS INITIATIVE Los Angeles – Affordable Housing and Good Jobs- that is what Measure JJJ was supposed to be about. Developers would build needed affordable housing while providing good jobs. In return, they would be allowed to build bigger buildings. This was the deal presented to voters in Measure JJJ. But that’s not what we got. Instead, voters got a Planning-Department-created grab-bag of goodies for developers that failed to require the good jobs that voters were promised. Adding insult to injury, the City made these changes without a public hearing and without City Council approval as required by state law. Even worse, the new rules were designed to limit public awareness and evade transparency all while putting even greater strain on our...