Copyright © 2022, Los Angeles Times | | | | Advertisement The Los Angeles City Council took a first step Tuesday toward asking voters to approve a new tax on empty homes, directing city lawyers to draft the measure ahead of a looming deadline.But the council has not made a final decision to put the tax on the November ballot, in the face of an ongoing debate about how such a tax should work and how it would affect Angelenos.The vacancy tax has been as a way to nudge landlords to put vacant apartments back on the market and generate revenue for affordable housing. Backers of the idea,...…Copyright © 2022, Los Angeles Times | | | | Advertisement The Los Angeles City Council took a first step Tuesday toward asking voters to approve a new tax on empty homes, directing city lawyers to draft the measure ahead of a looming deadline.But the council has not made a final decision to put the tax on the November ballot, in the face of an ongoing debate about how such a tax should work and how it would affect Angelenos.The vacancy tax has been as a way to nudge landlords to put vacant apartments back on the market and generate revenue for affordable housing. Backers of the idea,...WW…

Copyright © 2022, Los Angeles Times | | | | Advertisement L.A. Times Today airs Monday through Friday at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Spectrum News 1.  Los Angeles should penalize landlords who keep homes vacant as the city suffers a housing and homelessness crisis, several members of the Los Angeles City Council declared in a proposal unveiled Tuesday.City Councilmen Mike Bonin, Marqueece Harris-Dawson, Paul Koretz and David Ryu are asking city staffers to come back with options for an “empty homes penalty” or vacancy tax, which would likely have to go before voters for approval. They cited...…Copyright © 2022, Los Angeles Times | | | | Advertisement L.A. Times Today airs Monday through Friday at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Spectrum News 1.  Los Angeles should penalize landlords who keep homes vacant as the city suffers a housing and homelessness crisis, several members of the Los Angeles City Council declared in a proposal unveiled Tuesday.City Councilmen Mike Bonin, Marqueece Harris-Dawson, Paul Koretz and David Ryu are asking city staffers to come back with options for an “empty homes penalty” or vacancy tax, which would likely have to go before voters for approval. They cited...WW…

Copyright © 2022, Los Angeles Times | | | | Advertisement Los Angeles City Councilman Jose Huizar, an ambitious player in city politics for nearly two decades, was arrested Tuesday, becoming the most prominent figure to face charges in the federal investigation into . Huizar faces a racketeering charge arising from allegations he ran a sprawling pay-to-play scheme in which real estate developers were shaken down for cash bribes and campaign donations in exchange for Huizar’s help getting high-rise development projects through the city’s arduous approval process.Along the way, the councilman...…Copyright © 2022, Los Angeles Times | | | | Advertisement Los Angeles City Councilman Jose Huizar, an ambitious player in city politics for nearly two decades, was arrested Tuesday, becoming the most prominent figure to face charges in the federal investigation into . Huizar faces a racketeering charge arising from allegations he ran a sprawling pay-to-play scheme in which real estate developers were shaken down for cash bribes and campaign donations in exchange for Huizar’s help getting high-rise development projects through the city’s arduous approval process.Along the way, the councilman...WW…

Copyright © 2022, Los Angeles Times | | | | Advertisement As Los Angeles City Councilman Jose Huizar was preparing to run for his third and final term in 2014, he was facing enormous political pressure.County Supervisor Gloria Molina, one of the biggest names in Eastside politics, had just to unseat him. One of his former staffers had of sexual harassment and was seeking a payout from the city.Then, the lawsuit was abruptly settled. The city . And Huizar refused to say how he had persuaded Francine Godoy, his onetime deputy chief of staff, to drop her claims.AdvertisementAfter nearly six...…Copyright © 2022, Los Angeles Times | | | | Advertisement As Los Angeles City Councilman Jose Huizar was preparing to run for his third and final term in 2014, he was facing enormous political pressure.County Supervisor Gloria Molina, one of the biggest names in Eastside politics, had just to unseat him. One of his former staffers had of sexual harassment and was seeking a payout from the city.Then, the lawsuit was abruptly settled. The city . And Huizar refused to say how he had persuaded Francine Godoy, his onetime deputy chief of staff, to drop her claims.AdvertisementAfter nearly six...WW…

Copyright © 2022, Los Angeles Times | | | | Advertisement Los Angeles is pushing forward with plans to limit how much delivery services such as Postmates, Grubhub and Uber Eats can charge restaurants, capping delivery fees at 15% of the purchase price for orders during the COVID-19 crisis.The City Council voted 14-0 Wednesday to ask city attorneys to draft such a law, following other cities including San Francisco and New York City. Restaurants currently pay as much as 30% in fees to third-party delivery apps, which Councilman Mitch .O’Farrell said that, during the pandemic, restaurants...…Copyright © 2022, Los Angeles Times | | | | Advertisement Los Angeles is pushing forward with plans to limit how much delivery services such as Postmates, Grubhub and Uber Eats can charge restaurants, capping delivery fees at 15% of the purchase price for orders during the COVID-19 crisis.The City Council voted 14-0 Wednesday to ask city attorneys to draft such a law, following other cities including San Francisco and New York City. Restaurants currently pay as much as 30% in fees to third-party delivery apps, which Councilman Mitch .O’Farrell said that, during the pandemic, restaurants...WW…

Copyright © 2022, Los Angeles Times | | | | Advertisement Tenants will soon have the right to sue landlords who violate restrictions that Los Angeles has placed on evicting renters during the coronavirus crisis, under a law passed Wednesday by the City Council.Renters could potentially win penalties of up to $10,000 per violation — or $15,000 per violation if the tenant is disabled or a senior. The effort was about “giving the tenants a big stick,” Councilman Bob Blumenfield said. After the vote, Council President Nury Martinez said in a statement that although good landlords were working...…Copyright © 2022, Los Angeles Times | | | | Advertisement Tenants will soon have the right to sue landlords who violate restrictions that Los Angeles has placed on evicting renters during the coronavirus crisis, under a law passed Wednesday by the City Council.Renters could potentially win penalties of up to $10,000 per violation — or $15,000 per violation if the tenant is disabled or a senior. The effort was about “giving the tenants a big stick,” Councilman Bob Blumenfield said. After the vote, Council President Nury Martinez said in a statement that although good landlords were working...WW…

Copyright © 2022, Los Angeles Times | | | | Advertisement Hours after Los Angeles City Councilman Jose Huizar was and charged in a corruption probe, he was swiftly suspended by the rest of the council. His were soon cut off and his name disappeared from the District 14 newsletter. In Boyle Heights, Eagle Rock and El Sereno, his name was even on signs for his field offices.For the record:Huizar, the message is clear, is no longer in charge. But weeks later, many Angelenos remain puzzled about who is actually running the council office that represents neighborhoods stretching from downtown to...…Copyright © 2022, Los Angeles Times | | | | Advertisement Hours after Los Angeles City Councilman Jose Huizar was and charged in a corruption probe, he was swiftly suspended by the rest of the council. His were soon cut off and his name disappeared from the District 14 newsletter. In Boyle Heights, Eagle Rock and El Sereno, his name was even on signs for his field offices.For the record:Huizar, the message is clear, is no longer in charge. But weeks later, many Angelenos remain puzzled about who is actually running the council office that represents neighborhoods stretching from downtown to...WW…

Copyright © 2022, Los Angeles Times | | | | Advertisement Federal officials have charged Los Angeles City Councilman Jose Huizar in an ongoing pay-to-play probe, accusing him of running a criminal enterprise fueled by bribes from real estate developers seeking to build in his downtown district.It is unclear, however, what might happen to the as-yet unbuilt skyscrapers planned by the executives who allegedly provided those bribes. Several council members have for the city to reassess approvals for real estate projects mentioned in the criminal case, arguing that the building plans have been...…Copyright © 2022, Los Angeles Times | | | | Advertisement Federal officials have charged Los Angeles City Councilman Jose Huizar in an ongoing pay-to-play probe, accusing him of running a criminal enterprise fueled by bribes from real estate developers seeking to build in his downtown district.It is unclear, however, what might happen to the as-yet unbuilt skyscrapers planned by the executives who allegedly provided those bribes. Several council members have for the city to reassess approvals for real estate projects mentioned in the criminal case, arguing that the building plans have been...WW…

Copyright © 2022, Los Angeles Times | | | | Advertisement It was Halloween of 2018 and a real estate developer had just gotten a treat: The blessing of the Los Angeles City Council for a new high-rise in the Arts District.The real estate executive crowed in an email that it was a “truly amazing” accomplishment — the council had approved the tallest building yet in the Arts District, and with “minimal” requirements for affordable housing, according to federal prosecutors.Now federal investigators are describing the Arts District project as one of the real estate developments entangled in an...…Copyright © 2022, Los Angeles Times | | | | Advertisement It was Halloween of 2018 and a real estate developer had just gotten a treat: The blessing of the Los Angeles City Council for a new high-rise in the Arts District.The real estate executive crowed in an email that it was a “truly amazing” accomplishment — the council had approved the tallest building yet in the Arts District, and with “minimal” requirements for affordable housing, according to federal prosecutors.Now federal investigators are describing the Arts District project as one of the real estate developments entangled in an...WW…

Copyright © 2022, Los Angeles Times | | | | Advertisement Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti unveiled a $10.5-billion budget for the city Monday that imposes cuts across an array of city agencies, with nearly 16,000 city workers being furloughed in response to the economic fallout from the coronavirus outbreak.Garcetti’s proposed spending plan for the fiscal year starting July 1 is expected to result in fewer street repairs, fewer trees trimmed and longer wait times for the city’s 311 public services hotline. Graffiti removal, neighborhood councils, gang intervention programs and various...…Copyright © 2022, Los Angeles Times | | | | Advertisement Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti unveiled a $10.5-billion budget for the city Monday that imposes cuts across an array of city agencies, with nearly 16,000 city workers being furloughed in response to the economic fallout from the coronavirus outbreak.Garcetti’s proposed spending plan for the fiscal year starting July 1 is expected to result in fewer street repairs, fewer trees trimmed and longer wait times for the city’s 311 public services hotline. Graffiti removal, neighborhood councils, gang intervention programs and various...WW…