Should public entities in the City be authorized to develop, construct, or acquire an additional 5,000 units of low-income rental housing in each Council district subject to funding availability and City development requirements?
City of Los AngelesMeasure LH - Majority Approval Required
City of Los Angeles
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Shall a measure authorizing public entities in the City of Los Angeles to develop, construct, or acquire up to 5,000 additional units of low-income rental housing in each Council District to address homelessness and affordable housing needs, subject to availability of funding and City development requirements, be adopted?
What is this proposal?
Pros & Cons — Unbiased explanation with arguments for and against
Information provided by League of Women Voters of Greater Los Angeles
The Question
The Situation
Article 34 of the State Constitution, which was adopted in 1950, requires local government to obtain voter approval to develop, construct or acquire certain low-income rental housing units for every project in which more than 50 percent of units are restricted to low-income households.
Since 1969, the State of California has required that all cities and counties adequately plan to meet housings needs of communities through a Housing Element in its General Plan. The City’s current Housing Element sets a goal of 185,000 affordable housing units for low and very low-income households by 2029.
In 2008 voters authorized the City to produce 3,500 units per Council District. Several Council Districts are approaching their authorized limit. According to the Housing Department, the current level is not adequate to address homelessness and affordable housing needs.
The Proposal
This measure would authorize public entities in the City to increase the number of units of low-income rental housing the City could develop, construct, or acquire by an additional 5,000 units in each Council District, for a total of 75,000 additional authorized units.
Fiscal effect
This measure does not require the City to develop additional units and does not authorize a new funding source for low-income rental housing. There is no financial impact resulting from adoption of this measure.
Supporters say
Los Angeles housing crisis grows worse every day. The City has not authorized additional affordable housing since 2008.
This proposition authorizes the City to pursue development of affordable housing, but does not fund it. It ensures that any new housing will be developed across the city with 5,000 units authorized in each of the city’s fifteen council districts.
The Housing Department’s current level is inadequate to address homelessness and affordable housing needs.
Opponents say
No official arguments against this measure were filed.
Details — Official information
Impartial analysis / Proposal
SHARON M. TSO, CHIEF LEGISLATIVE ANALYST
Article 34 of the State Constitution requires a local government to obtain voter approval in
order to develop, construct, or acquire certain low-income rental housing units. Article 34
authority is required for every project where more than 50 percent of units are restricted for
low-income households. In 2008, the voters of the City of Los Angeles approved a ballot
measure authorizing and maintaining a level of 3,500 units of low-income housing per
Council District, for an aggregate total of 52,500 units of low-income housing within the City
of Los Angeles. The Los Angeles Housing Department reports that the current level of Article
34 authority is insufficient to address homelessness and meet the City’s affordable housing
needs.
Since 1969, the State of California has required that all cities and counties adequately plan to
meet the housing needs of communities through a Housing Element. The Housing Element
is a required part of every local government’s General Plan, must be updated every eight
years, and must comply with standards and requirements set by the State. The City’s 2021-
2029 Housing Element, as required by State law, sets a goal that the City provide 185,000
affordable housing units for low- and very low-income households by 2029. Increasing the
City’s current total Article 34 authority would allow for increased development of low- and
very low-income housing and support the City’s efforts in achieving the 2021-2029 Housing
Element’s goal.
This measure would authorize public entities in the City to develop, construct, or acquire an
additional 5,000 units of low-income rental housing in each Council District, for an additional
potential 75,000 units Citywide. This would provide an aggregate total of 127,500 units of
low-income housing within the City of Los Angeles, subject to funding availability and City
development requirements.
Voter approval of the additional Article 34 authority does not require or guarantee that the
authorized number of units will be developed, constructed, or acquired by the City or other
public entities, nor obligate the provision of additional funding for such purposes, or exempt
such projects from the public review or other development processes required by the City.
This measure will become effective if approved by a majority of voters.
Published Arguments — Arguments for and against
Arguments FOR
Proposition LH would authorize the City of Los Angeles to build, develop, or acquire up to
75,000 units of affordable housing.
Los Angeles’ housing crisis grows worse every day, with more and more Angelenos facing
housing insecurity and homelessness. The City of Los Angeles has not authorized additional
affordable housing SINCE 2008. We need to get serious about tackling the crisis of our time.
Proposition LH simply AUTHORIZES the City of Los Angeles to pursue the development or
acquisition of affordable housing—it does not fund, site, or approve it.
Any proposed new low-income housing will still be subject to environmental review, community
input, and city approval.
Proposition LH ensures that any new housing will be developed across the city, with 5,000
units authorized in each of the city’s 15 council districts.
The proposition is made necessary by the California State Constitution’s requirement that all
new publicly-funded affordable housing be approved by the voters.
Proposition LH is an essential tool in the fight to get our neighbors off the streets and help
every Angeleno find their way home.
VOTE YES ON PROPOSITION LH.
JON DEUTSCH
President
Los Feliz Neighborhood Council
ALAN GREENLEE
Executive Director
Southern California Association of NonProfit Housing
Arguments AGAINST
No argument against this measure was submitted.
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