EKA Partner Jeff McConnell took center stage as co-chair of the Central City Association’s Housing, Land Use & Development (HLUD) Committee, a meeting that signaled a pivotal moment for Los Angeles’s approach to housing and homelessness.
The gathering featured a compelling address from Sarah Mahin, Director of the County’s newly established Department of Homeless Services & Housing (HSH).
With the County having left LAHSA, Mahin brought a bold, forward-looking vision for what this reimagined department can accomplish, and the energy in the room reflected just how much is at stake.
The Los Angeles City Charter Commission approved a set of recommendations aimed at improving city operations, including creating an anti-corruption Inspector General’s Office, bifurcating the City Attorney’s Office to separate criminal prosecution from civil litigation, and doubling the charter-mandated funding for parks. The commission, created in the wake of the 2022 City Hall tapes scandal, is also expected to propose increasing the size of the City Council from 15 to 23 members and potentially adopting ranked-choice voting. The recommendations will go to the City Council, which will decide whether to place the proposals on the June ballot – any changes to the charter require voter approval. The commission faces an April 2 deadline to transmit its recommendations to the Council, with meetings continuing through February and March on topics including government structure, personnel, and budgeting.
The Supreme Court’s decision to invalidate President Trump’s tariff authority has created uncertainty for cargo movement through the Port of Los Angeles, as businesses weigh how changing trade policies could affect imports and exports. Port Executive Director Gene Seroka said exporters have been especially impacted, noting soybean shipments to China fell by 90% last year and exports have declined in nine of the last 13 months. Despite the uncertainty, port officials expect a potential surge in imports as companies move quickly to take advantage of tariff changes, and say the port is prepared to handle increased cargo volume.
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City Councilmember Nithya Raman launched a surprise bid on February 7 to unseat incumbent Mayor Karen Bass, saying the city is at a “breaking point” and no longer capable of providing basic services. Raman, the first council member elected with support from the Democratic Socialists of America, cited frustration with the city’s progress on housing production, homelessness, and the delivery of basic services. Her entry shocked the political establishment, with Bass supporters calling it a betrayal after the mayor supported Raman’s 2024 reelection. The mayoral race has intensified as Bass’s approval ratings remain bruised from her handling of last year’s devastating Palisades fire, while Raman has pointed to Measure ULA as a major obstacle to housing construction and has called for the redesign of the mayor’s Inside Safe program to be “fiscally sustainable”.
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These new California laws go into effect in 2026
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It’s Now Easier to Remove Google Search Results About Yourself
