The Los Angeles City Council has permanently adopted Mayor Karen Bass’ three-year-old initiative to speed up approvals for 100% affordable housing, folding her Executive Directive 1 into the city’s municipal code as the new Affordable Housing Streamlining Ordinance. The policy requires qualifying projects to be approved within 60 days—far faster than the usual six to nine months—by eliminating many discretionary reviews, and has already streamlined 490 proposals representing over 40,000 units, with 437 approved in an average of just 22 days. However, only a fraction have begun construction, and concerns remain about potential tenant displacement and affordability, especially as the directive has been narrowed over time through exemptions for single-family zones, historic districts, fire-hazard areas, and rent-controlled buildings with 12 or more units. Advocates and some councilmembers support keeping the ordinance but want amendments to better protect renters and ensure that “affordable” units truly match the needs and incomes of low-income Angelenos.

Los Angeles City Council’s Planning and Land Use Management Committee reviewed the city’s next steps for responding to SB 79, the new state law that will allow five- to nine-story multifamily buildings by-right within a half mile of major transit lines beginning July 1, 2026. The committee approved a plan to analyze all available options for delaying the law’s effectuation for one to five years, including potential exemptions for historic districts, high fire zones, or areas where the city adopts alternative housing plans. Neighborhoods like Hancock Park, Windsor Square, and the Miracle Mile could see significant impacts due to proximity to Metro’s D Line and other transit corridors, and Councilmembers Bob Blumenfield, Nithya Raman, and Heather Hutt expressed support for delaying implementation while conducting community outreach. The Planning Department will return in January with detailed recommendations, and the Council must act by March to secure state approval for any delay.

The Los Angeles County Board of  Supervisors on November 4, 2025 approved Supervisors Horvath and Hahn’s motion to strengthen the Office of Food Systems (OFS), a critical County hub working to ensure equitable food access, public health, and resilience in the face of growing need due to this month’s federal government shutdown. The motion expands OFS’s ability to coordinate across departments and respond quickly when food access is threatened by establishing formal collaboration between OFS and all County departments—each designating a Food Systems Liaison—and requiring an interim progress report by June 16, 2026, and a final strategic plan by October 20, 2026. The Office of Food Systems, originally established as the Office of Food Equity, grew out of the County’s Food Equity Roundtable created in 2021 and operates as a public-private partnership between Los Angeles County and Community Partners.

More than 1.5 million children and adults are within days of being cut off from their CalFresh food benefits due to the ongoing federal government shutdown, so LA County and its partners are mobilizing to meet residents’ needs by surging food assistance resources throughout the County. Resources for residents can be found here – https://lacounty.gov/2025/10/28/la-county-mobilizes-food-assistance-as-federal-government-shutdown-continues/. 

The LA County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a $2 million settlement for CEO Fesia Davenport due to what she characterized as “physical, emotional and mental distress” caused by Measure G, which converted her appointed position to an elected one starting in 2028. The settlement, approved in a July 29th closed session, reflects supervisors’ concerns about potential litigation from Davenport, though experts questioned the legitimacy of her claims. Measure G, passed by voters in 2024, also increased the Board from five to nine members and created an elected county executive position, fundamentally changing LA County’s governance structure for the first time in decades.​

Los Angeles has approved a $2.62 billion expansion of the Convention Center, with Mayor Karen Bass signing off on $990 million in bonds to fund the project, to be repaid through 2058. The plan will link the West and South Halls, adding 190,000 square feet of exhibit space, 40,000 square feet of meeting rooms, and 95,000 square feet for a multi-service room, while creating an estimated 9,000 union jobs and 1,600 apprenticeships. Officials project $1.8 billion in new business sales and $103 million in tax revenue, with construction set to begin in October and required to be complete before the 2028 Olympics. Critics, including City Controller Kenneth Mejia, warn of financial risks, while Bass emphasized fiscal responsibility and downtown revitalization efforts during construction.

California lawmakers have passed Senate Bill 79, a landmark housing bill authored by Sen. Scott Wiener, which allows denser, taller apartment buildings near train and subway stations in eight major metro areas—regardless of local zoning rules. The goal is to address the state’s housing crisis and boost public transit use by encouraging development near transportation hubs. The 13 amendments that were tacked onto the bill narrowed its scope, added labor and affordability requirements, and gave some flexibility to cities already planning transit-oriented housing. Critics worry about seven-story buildings in low-rise areas and question whether the bill will result in significant new construction due to economic and logistical challenges. Despite its narrow passage, supporters call SB 79 the most significant housing reform California has passed, though experts caution its impact will be gradual and limited, especially amid high construction costs and market constraints.