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The most important stories for you to know today
  • If Mercado Gonzalez is packed, try these top spots
    A large pink and teal checked food stand says coffee dose in the middle, amid yellow smiley faces. it's a coffee bar and three people stand in front of it. The stand is in a cavernous open indoor location
    Coffee Dose at Rodeo 39

    Topline:

    Orange County has an extensive food hall scene, with all cuisines known to man under some roof somewhere. While Mercado Gonzalez has stolen the spotlight since its opening in November, there are some excellent other places to visit. Here’s our handy guide.

    Why it matters: Yes, we all get excited about the newest thing on the market, but this too will pass. You can never go wrong sticking to the classics.

    Why now: Many food halls now have expansive outdoor seating. Why not enjoy a cocktail and a bite at sunset overlooking a lovely view?

    Mercado Gonzalez Northgate Market has been open since November, but it’s still near capacity on weekends. Yes, it does get many things right, including variety, ambience and family-friendly options, but it comes at a price.

    The parking lot can be a circus, and the long lines for certain eats means it’s easy to get hangry.

    But there is another direction you can take. Orange County is full of other food hall options that have been around much longer than the new kid on the block and also deserve some respect.

    Here's a handy guide to the county’s wide-ranging food hall offerings, that are well into the double digits like L.A. county, but in a more concentrated area.

    The OC Mix, Costa Mesa

    A storefront in a food hall is mostly wooden, with a chalk-drawn sign and the words "Birdie Juicery" among others to the right.
    Birdie Juicery
    (
    Courtesy KTPR
    )

    Flanked by massive home design stores, The Mix is found at the heart of SoCo (South Coast Collection) adjacent to the 405. It is the original food hall concept in Orange County that has turned over several tenants since its opening in 2011.

    Portola Coffee is the closest thing to a culinary anchor, having been around since the beginning. Shuck Oyster Bar caters to shellfish aficionados while The Cheese Shop provides a perfect dairy fix (stay for a sandwich and capture a solid cheese pull for your socials).

    Birdie Bowl and Juicery, Sunright Tea Studio plus We Olive and Wine Bar are liquid nourishment, with the remainder of available dining including Arc Food and Libations, Butcher’s House and Moulin, which are just outside the food hall.

    Location: 3303 Hyland Avenue, Costa Mesa
    Hours: Monday to Saturday, 11a.m. - 8p.m.; Sunday, 11a.m. - 7p.m.

    Packing House, Anaheim

    A plate of luscious gumbo sits on a table, with a garnish-topped ball of rice sitting on top of it.
    Georgia's gumbo at Packing House
    (
    Courtesy Moxxe PR
    )

    A packed food hall that encompasses two floors plus a wrap around patio, Packing House has been up and running since 2014. The crowded space is occupied by The Blind Rabbit speakeasy, Adya Indian cuisine and Georgia’s for Southern fare, among many others. Parking can get tough, but valet is there to assist.

    Vacancies are few and far between at this bustling hall, but once they're in, it's a great place for new brands to get the exposure they need to grow.

    Location: 440 S. Anaheim Blvd., Anaheim
    Hours: Sunday to Thursday 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; individual stalls may vary

    4th Street Market, Santa Ana

    Introduced to the downtown Santa Ana community in 2015, 4th Street Market is a high-traffic food hall which continually evolves, with new vendors cooking up trending menus or testing a concept before eventually moving into a larger venue.

    Alta Baja Market offers casual eats, refreshing sips and products to gift or keep. Faka’s Island Grill puts a twist on familiar Hawaiian flavors. Deli Station caters to sandwich fans, salad lovers and diners who cannot decide.

    Location: 201 E. 4th St., Santa Ana
    Hours: Sunday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. See individual tenant hours.

    Union Market, Mission Viejo

    This hidden selection of retail and dining has been located on the top level of Kaleidoscope (Crown Valley Parkway/5 Freeway) since 2016. Best known for its special event space, live music, and seasonal family activities, Union Market’s offerings are eclectic. Due to its chill location within the plaza, it's a neighborhood favorite.

    Popp’s Booch pours gut-friendly fizzy drinks, while Sana’s Pakistani-Indian cuisine is made with love by the family that operates it. Expansive underground parking and spacious food hall bathrooms make this outlier worth a visit. Additional tenants for both Union Market and Kaleidoscope, including La Patrona Mexican and a coffee concept, are in the works.

    Location: 27741 Crown Valley Parkway, Mission Viejo
    Hours: Monday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m; Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Thursday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

    Lot 579, Huntington Beach

    Since opening in 2016, Lot 579 has only had a handful of occupants take up real estate at a time. It is fortunate to have variety, though, with a focus on dessert — like Bella Sophia Chocolates, which are delicately crafted in-house by a husband-and-wife team.

    Seeking a proper yet low-key meal? Bear Flag Fish Co. is consistently busy with raw and grilled seafood entrees (plus the best ocean views from its patio), while Phans 55 covers Vietnamese cravings, including steaming pho broth and fresh/crispy spring rolls. Do remember to get parking validated, but also take the time to explore the rest of the plaza known as Pacific City for additional options.

    Location: 21010 Pacific Coast Highway, Huntington Beach
    Hours: Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

    Trade Marketplace, Irvine

    Trade, the SNA-adjacent food hall, began cooking for the neighborhood in spring 2017, when its al fresco-only dining area was busy every weekday lunch. Over the next seven years, it appears just one brand, the bar Center Hub, has been a permanent fixture. Otherwise nearly every other business has seemed to turnover.

    But there are good places to visit currently. Popular (read: enclosed) dining adjacent to Trade include the OG HiroNori Craft Ramen, Krisp Fresh Living for coffee plus snacks and upscale Ootoro Sushi. On a related note, parking at Trade is very limited at lunch. Unless your workplace is walkable from the hall, hail a rideshare.

    Location: 2222 Michelson Drive, Irvine
    Hours: Monday to Thursday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday to Sunday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

    McFadden Public Market, Santa Ana

    Around the same time as Trade, McFadden came onto the scene a few blocks from 4th Street Market. Like Trade, it’s also been a revolving door of eateries, but the upstairs bar known as Mission Control is still buzzing; having an arcade in the watering hole surely helps. Mongiello’s Pizza and Wings plus Tacompadre for Mexican meals rounds out options (if you cannot locate The Twisted Tiki speakeasy downstairs).

    Location: 515 N. Main Street, Santa Ana
    Hours: Tuesday to Thursday, 1 p.m. to 10:30 p.m; Friday and Saturday, 1 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.; Sunday, 1 p.m. to 10 p.m.

    Mess Hall Market, Tustin

    Up close, a rectangular slab of pizza with leafy toppings and meat awaits.
    One of La Sera Pizzeria's offerings at the Mess Hall Market.
    (
    Anne Marie Panoringan
    )

    Mess Hall within the Flight office complex celebrated its official grand opening in 2019. While local favorite The Lost Bean is tucked away, it occupies a generous spot within the food hall’s open layout. Drink Bar’s cocktails (and other beverages) pair well with a slice from La Sera Pizzeria or grilled meats from The Little Greek.

    Location: 1705 Flight Way, Tustin
    Hours: Monday to Saturday, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Closed Sunday

    SteelCraft Garden Grove

     The exterior of Steelcraft in Garden Grove.
    The exterior of Steelcraft in Garden Grove.
    (
    Courtesy Kitchen Table PR
    )

    SteelCraft expanded into Orange County in 2019, with a Garden Grove outpost that included primarily outdoor seating and a second level of seating for privacy or special events. From burgers by Swagyu to pasta from Aldente, Tea Otter for boba and Dark Horse for coffee, SteelCraft appears to check all the boxes. Live entertainment is a bonus. Pack an extra layer if you visit near sundown.

    Location: 12900 Euclid St., Garden Grove
    Hours: Sunday to Thursday, 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.

    Herb and Ranch, Irvine

    An influencer’s recent social media fullsome praise was a wake up call for foodies who weren’t already aware of Herb and Ranch adjacent to UCI. Created by Chef Brian Malarkey of “Top Chef” fame, and hidden in plain sight at the back of an office complex, the restaurant caters to early breakfast and lunch seekers, and its operating hours (it closes at 3 p.m.) make it ideal for a cup of coffee paired with carbs.

    Some people are seated at long table in front of a kitchen bar, where people are ordering food.
    The inside of Herb and Ranch.
    (
    @occomestibles
    )

    Menus are updated with the seasons, but hot sandwiches, creative salads and comforting Hawaiian favorites dominate the selections.

    Location: 5301 California Avenue, Irvine
    Hours: Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.; closed weekends

    Rodeo 39 Public Market, Stanton

    The exterior of a food hall in the evening, adorned with glowing signage that reads Rodeo 39.
    Rodeo 39 shines in the evening.
    (
    Wonho Lee
    )

    Rodeo 39 is the newest market in the county, having opened in 2020. The number 39 represents the street it’s located along, plus what it’s named after, Beach Boulevard, while Rodeo is the name of the chain (there’s another one in Ontario Ranch).

    It’s a modern take on shopping mall food courts from decades past. The saving grace of this particular hall (which kept it from being shut down during the pandemic) is its three sizable patios for al fresco dining. Dedicated takeout parking was also added for efficient service.

    Coffee Dose may be one of the newer storefronts here, but its humorous take on caffeine, aka “Anti-bitch serum” has inspired a following. Hawaiian-inspired Shootz is the overall favorite, having moved to a larger restaurant pad within Rodeo to accommodate ordering lines crossing into the main walkway. Lines for Phoholic are generally long, but the flavorful broth and properly cooked noodles make it worth the wait.

    Location: 12885 Beach Boulevard, Stanton
    Hours: Sunday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

    Collage Culinary Experience, Costa Mesa

    A two-story food hall within Bloomingdale’s, Collage is primarily Asian-inspired, with Paradise Dynasty (a direct competitor of Din Tai Fung) and Le Shrimp being popular enough to have lines outside. A third location of Phoholic opened downstairs not too long ago. The fanciest spot inside Collage is Blossoms and Brass with a full bar, abbreviated menu and attention to detail. Younger palettes will go for Bruxie and Cha Redefine Tea.

    Location: 3333 Bristol St., Costa Mesa
    Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day

  • Malibu and Pasadena agree to lift SB 9 bans
    A wide look at two workers bent over on top of a wooden house frame using tools to work on it. One is wearing bright orange, while the other is in bright yellow.
    Construction workers build a home to replace one destroyed by the Eaton Fire on March 19, 2026, in Altadena.

    Topline:

    Duplex projects will be allowed to move forward once again in two Southern California cities affected by last year’s fires. It comes after advocates for denser housing challenged the legality of the local restrictions on state law.

    What is SB 9? The state housing law SB 9 allows single-family homeowners to subdivide their lots and build duplexes. They can create up to four units in some cases.

    How this started: After the Palisades and Eaton fires, local jurisdictions were allowed to suspend SB 9 projects in certain areas. Advocates for increased housing development sued them and the state, alleging the bans were not legal.

    About the result: Pasadena and Malibu are now backing out of the lawsuit, agreeing to settle with the plaintiffs. The two cities have until the end of September to repeal their SB 9 bans. L.A. County, the city of L.A. and the state are still fighting the lawsuit. However, a proposed state housing bill could impact what happens next in Altadena.

    Read on…. to learn more about what the settlement means.

    Duplex projects will be allowed to move forward once again in two Southern California cities affected by last year’s fires. The change of course is the result of a court showdown between advocates for denser housing and local elected officials who wanted to ban more units from cropping up in burn zones.

    The cities of Malibu and Pasadena have agreed to settle with the plaintiffs who brought forward a lawsuit that challenges local jurisdictions’ suspension of Senate Bill 9 in high fire risk zones, according to documents obtained by LAist.

    Sonja Trauss, executive director of YIMBY Law, a plaintiff in the lawsuit, said the result will help residents get more out of their properties.

    “I want them to know that they can build,” Trauss said.

    How we got here

    SB 9 allows single-family homeowners across the state to build duplexes and split their lots. It became state law in 2021. SB 9 applicants can use the law to create up to four units where a single-family home once stood, in some cases. The law takes away the ability of local governments to block these projects.

    However, after the 2025 fires, some homeowners affected by the fires erupted with anger over the prospect of their burned-down neighborhoods being rebuilt with denser housing. They argued more homes — and the additional residents that come with them — would clog evacuations and hurt neighborhood character.

    In July 2025, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an order giving local leaders the power to block the law in very high fire hazard areas within the Palisades and Eaton fire burn zones.

    Elected officials in L.A. city, the county of L.A., Pasadena and Malibu followed suit and adopted policies to stop processing SB 9 applications in those areas.

    Advocates for increased housing development, including YIMBY Law, sued the governments, alleging they didn’t have the authority to suspend laws passed by the legislature.

    Trauss told LAist housing advocates believe the order is being misused for political purposes.

    “ It chips away at the policy,” she said. “Especially in the Palisades, everybody could watch the political back-and-forth that caused that to happen.”

    The backlash on social media to SB 9 projects in the Palisades was led by former reality TV star Spencer Pratt, who lost his home in the fire and later mounted an unsuccessful campaign for L.A. mayor.

    What the settlement means

    According to the settlement documents, Malibu and Pasadena have agreed to repeal the local ordinances that blocked SB 9 projects by the end of September. The settlements still require City Council action to undo those bans.

    The cities are also supposed to process any pending SB 9 applications that were submitted, paused or rejected.

    Another plaintiff in the lawsuit — Andrew Slocum, CEO of Green Development Company — said he thinks Newsom never should have signed the executive order in the first place.

    Slocum said he hopes to see recovering homeowners have more options when rebuilding their properties. Last year, he told LAist he was working with homeowners on SB 9 projects.

    The settlement “allows for the people to hopefully be able to come back and resubmit that application,” Slocum said, “because most people who are doing SB 9 are the homeowners themselves.”

    The Pasadena City Council took the first step toward repeal on July 20, according to city spokesperson Lisa Derderian. She said they’ll start processing SB 9 applications once the vote is finalized.

    “The City reached a conditional settlement with YIMBY in recognition of the uncertainty inherent in litigation and the significant passage of time since the Eaton Fire in January 2025,” she said in a statement.

    LAist contacted officials in the city of Malibu for comment but has not heard back.

    What’s next

    The county and city of L.A. are still fighting the lawsuit. They control land use in Altadena and the Pacific Palisades, home to the lion’s share of properties affected by the Eaton and Palisades fires.

    State officials also continue to defend the restrictions. Newsom’s office stands behind the executive order and plans to defend it in court, according to a state official.

    Trauss said the parties met for  a trial setting conference a few days ago.

    “ I want the folks in the county and in the city of L.A. who could build … to have hope,” she said.

    The lawsuit is playing out while state legislators are moving forward with a new bill, SB 1090, which would expand the ban on SB 9 to all of Altadena.

  • Sponsored message
  • Historic theater set to reopen

    Topline:

    The Cinerama Dome – one of the most famous movie theaters in the world – has been closed since the COVID pandemic. But it's now got a new lease on life, thanks to SONY Pictures and Alamo Drafthouse Cinema.

    The backstory: The Cinerama Dome was built in 1963 by William Forman – the founder of Pacific Theaters, who had popularized drive-in cinemas. Forman commissioned a French architect who had studied under R. Buckminster Fuller, a designer of other geodesic structures. The theater was originally made to showcase Cinerama, a format developed in the 1950s that was part of the widescreen craze designed to lure viewers away from television and back to cinemas. Parent company Pacific Theatres and Aclight Cinemas filed for bankruptcy in 2021.

    New life for the Dome: The studio announced it will lease, restore and reopen the famous theater in 2028; Alamo Drafthouse plans to program and operate it and 14 other screens at the adjoining multiplex. Sony has promised to preserve the Cinerama Dome's history while ensuring its future.

    One Hollywood icon is prepping for a comeback. The Cinerama Dome – one of the most famous movie theaters in the world – has been closed since the COVID pandemic. But it's now got a new lease on life, thanks to SONY Pictures and Alamo Drafthouse Cinema.

    The studio announced it will lease, restore and reopen the famous theater in 2028; Alamo Drafthouse plans to program and operate it and 14 other screens at the adjoining multiplex.

    "Hot damn! We're bringing the Dome back, baby," SONY Pictures Entertainment Motion Picture Group CEO Tom Rothman said in a statement. "We believe in moviegoing down to our soul, and no venue on Earth stands more for that than the one-of-a-kind Dome."

    "There's a lot of passion behind this theater," says Michael O'Leary, who heads Cinema United, the global association of movie theater owners. He says while the Cinerama Dome's closing was a symbol of the pandemic, its recovery is proof the pandemic is behind us and movie theater-going is back.

    "It's really exciting," agrees Escott Norton, former executive director and current board member of the Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation. "There's been a lot of people waiting with baited breath to see when the dome is going to reopen. People think of this as the ultimate Hollywood experience."

    As an LA native and former film production designer, Norton has great memories of going to the Cinerama Dome. He says it was always an immersive experience to watch movies inside the geodesic-shaped auditorium designed to show wide screen movies.

    "When I saw Close Encounters on this giant screen curved around me, it knocked my socks off," he says, adding he was also blown away watching Apocalypse Now at the Dome. "The movie opens up with this wide screen of just a quiet jungle, birds tweeting and then it explodes. Being surrounded by that on the curved screen, it still gives me tingles thinking about it."

    Closeup of a sign, hanging on a building, that reads, "cinerama."
    The Cinerama Dome in October 2021.
    (
    Mario Tama
    /
    Getty Images
    )

    The Cinerama Dome was built in 1963 by William Forman – the founder of Pacific Theaters, who had popularized drive-in cinemas. Forman commissioned a French architect who had studied under R. Buckminster Fuller, a designer of other geodesic structures. The theater was originally made to showcase Cinerama, a format developed in the 1950s that was part of the widescreen craze designed to lure viewers away from television and back to cinemas.

    Forman was able to get the theater constructed in 16 weeks … just in time for the world premiere of a madcap comedy called, It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World. The movie ran four hours long, with an intermission. Filmmakers had originally planned to use the Cinerama format, but abandoned it, shooting in Ultra Panavision 70 millimeter instead.

    Still, it featured a who's who of comedy at the time – including Sid Caesar, Edie Adams, Milton Berle, and Buddy Hackett. Buster Keaton even makes a ten second cameo. "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World played at the Cinerama Dome, the brand new theater, for two years without stopping," recalled Karen Sharpe, the widow of the movie's director, Stanley Kramer. The former TV actress and producer spoke at a rally to preserve the Cinerama Dome last year, and talked about the star-studded premiere.

    "It was a real happening," she remembered. "Bobby Kennedy came, Adlai Stevenson came and President and Mrs. Kennedy accepted the invitation to attend the opening. A few days before, they called to say 'So sorry, we have to [decline] the invitation because President and Mrs. Kennedy have to go to Dallas.' And we know what happened in Dallas."

    Over the decades, the theater became a mecca for cinephiles. The dome was sometimes costumed like the movies it screened. Once, a replica Godzilla appeared to burst through the egg-like roof. Another time it was painted green with ears to resemble Shrek's head. Figures depicting the Pink Panther, Spider Man and the Minions have perched or crawled atop the Dome.

    And fans were treated to countless premieres and special events, like when filmmaker Quentin Tarantino personally welcomed audiences to his 2019 feature Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. For the film, he included exterior shots of the Dome.

    Two years later, after the Cinerama Dome's operators went bankrupt during the pandemic, Tarantino talked about how it was one of his favorite LA landmarks.

    "I don't know if I could 100% afford it, but I would love to own the Cinerama Dome," he said on The Jess Cagle Show on SiriusXM. "That would be fantastic."

    Tarantino already owns two other historic LA cinemas. But other preservationists and activists have been working to revive the dormant theater. Many of them credit the efforts of Benjamin Steinberg, a 27-year-old filmmaker and actor who appeared on Brooklyn Nine-Nine.

    "The Cinerama Dome is the most famous movie theater in the world," Steinberg said, standing outside the boarded-up theater. "It seemed like it was going to be a demolition by neglect. So I was, like, something has to be done."

    Steinberg created a campaign to save the Cinerama Dome. He organized a few street rallies, and wrote an online petition that amassed more than 30,000 signatures.

    Images of two men and the words "reopen the dome" are projected onto a white domed building.
    Ben Steinberg projected images onto the dome as part of a campaign to save the theater.
    (
    Ben Steinberg
    )

    Then in March, Steinberg went even further to get the attention of the Forman family, which still owns the property: he projected images of the owners' faces onto the outside of the Dome, asking them to reopen the theater.

    "We actually projected it for two hours and then they called the police on us," Steinberg explains. "We didn't get arrested; The police just said that the ownership considered it an escalation and harassment. I never wanted to anger the owner, so we stopped immediately."

    Steinberg's stunt created a lot of buzz, and may have moved the needle, says theater preservationist Norton. His group had been consulting with architects on restoration plans in hopes that someone would save the day.

    "We were all working behind the scenes. But Ben Steinberg really got on board on social media to save the dome," says Norton. "I'm very happy he did. You know, you sort of have to rattle the chains sometimes."

    Meanwhile, Sony has promised to preserve the Cinerama Dome's history while ensuring its future.
    Copyright 2026 NPR

  • Why LA’s federal homelessness money is in limbo
    A man sleeps on a bus bench during daylight, using a backpack as a pillow.
    An unhoused man sleeps on a bus bench in the heart of Skid Row in downtown Los Angeles.

    Topline:

    A pair of federal court battles unfolding in the coming weeks could reshape the future of homelessness funding across the Los Angeles region.

    What’s at stake: Two separate lawsuits challenging recent actions by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will help determine whether L.A.’s embattled lead homelessness agency can compete for up to $241 million in federal grants this year and how that money can be spent.

    What’s on the docket: One lawsuit challenges HUD’s suspension of the L.A. Homeless Services Authority from federal grant activity pending a federal investigation into alleged financial mismanagement. The other seeks to overturn HUD’s new grant regulations capping permanent housing at no more than 60% of local spending plans.

    Read on… to learn how L.A. homelessness officials and service providers are preparing to deal with the outcomes of these cases.

    A pair of federal court battles unfolding in the coming weeks could reshape the future of homelessness funding across the Los Angeles region.

    Two separate lawsuits challenging recent actions by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will help determine whether L.A.’s embattled lead homelessness agency can compete for up to $241 million in federal grants this year and how that money can be spent.

    Both legal challenges reflect a broader fight over the Trump administration's efforts to remake federal homelessness policy and crack down on perceived misspending by local governments overseeing federal assistance programs.

    Will lead L.A. agency stay suspended?

    The lawsuits center on HUD’s national Continuum of Care grant competition, the largest source of federal homelessness dollars flowing to L.A. each year.

    Since the 1990s, HUD has required metropolitan areas like L.A. County to submit one single application for the region’s entire chunk of annual funding. The L.A. Homeless Services Authority, known as LAHSA, has been responsible for submitting that application on behalf of the region.

    That changed in June, when HUD suspended LAHSA from federal grant activity pending a federal investigation into alleged financial mismanagement. The federal agency said LAHSA’s suspension meant it was not allowed to apply for this year’s grants, even though the agency has been working on an application.

    LAHSA sued to overturn the suspension and is moving forward with its application while awaiting guidance from the court. U.S. District Judge David O. Carter has scheduled a hearing for Aug. 6 on LAHSA’s motion for a preliminary injunction.

    HUD has since formally invited homeless service providers to apply directly for the federal homelessness money, bypassing LAHSA entirely.

    Meanwhile, the L.A. County Development Authority has offered to apply for the region instead of LAHSA, if necessary.

    HUD’s application deadline is Aug. 26. That’s when LAHSA, or an alternative applicant, would submit its final application to the federal government.

    Shift away from permanent housing

    The second lawsuit between HUD and local officials focuses on how federal homelessness dollars can be spent.

    The L.A. Continuum of Care historically spends about 90% of its more than $200 million federal funding allocation on permanent housing interventions — including subsidies to help cover people’s rent, according to LAHSA.

    That approach is part of a philosophy and strategy known as “housing first,” which prioritizes providing unhoused people with a stable place to live as the first step towards recovery from life on the streets. Additional issues, like unemployment, addiction, mental illness or other health problems, are typically addressed only after first moving someone indoors.

    But that approach is now under fire from the Trump Administration, which has made multiple attempts to remake the federal Continuum of Care program to fund fewer permanent housing beds and focus more on drug treatment, recovery and enforcement.

    As the Trump administration geared up to pivot away from the “housing first” model, HUD initially proposed rules limiting permanent housing to 30% of local spending. Last year, the city of L.A. and other municipalities joined litigation challenging the HUD guidance.

    This June, Judge Mary McElroy struck down the proposed HUD rules, but denied cities’ request for a permanent injunction.

    HUD had already issued new grant regulations, this time capping permanent housing at no more than 60% of local spending plans, forcing the states to start over with a new legal complaint assigned to the same federal judge.

    A heavyset man in a dark suit shakes hands with a dark-skinned man wearing a pink polo, in front of the White House rotunda.
    U.S. President Donald Trump greets United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Scott Turner during the congressional picnic on the South Lawn of the White House on May 19, 2026 in Washington, DC.
    (
    Heather Diehl
    /
    Getty Images
    )

    States push back

    Last month, nearly two dozen states, including California, sued HUD over those regulations, asking McElroy to again throw out HUD’s new funding rules.

    The proposed rules put more than 5,000 Angelenos at risk for homelessness, according to projections by the National Alliance to End Homelessness, a nonprofit research and advocacy group.

    The states hope for a ruling by Aug. 10, so that regions like L.A. have time to align their applications. The lawsuit argues the restrictions conflict with federal law and undermine the federal government's long-standing “housing first” strategy.

    The Trump administration says the new rules are intended to move federal policy toward approaches emphasizing mental health treatment, addiction recovery and personal accountability.

    If HUD prevails, local officials warn the consequences could ripple across L.A. County, affecting one of the region’s largest sources of funding for permanent supportive housing and other homelessness programs.

    The federal funding at stake has been roughly a quarter of LAHSA’s annual budget in recent years and is among the largest single sources of money for the region’s homelessness programs, which are also funded by the state, county and city.

    The story behind the Trump admin’s LAHSA fight

    HUD imposed the suspension earlier this year amid mounting scrutiny of LAHSA's financial oversight and operations. Auditors and local officials have raised longstanding concerns about the agency’s internal controls, contract monitoring and oversight of homelessness funds.

    LAHSA argues HUD's suspension is unlawful and could jeopardize the region's ability to secure funding.

    On July 2, Carter directed HUD and LAHSA to propose an order to temporarily keep the current funding process in place while the case moves forward. The two sides couldn't agree on the terms.

    LAHSA sent an email to service providers last week urging them to continue with the current process.

    “Please do not let this notice disrupt your current application preparation,” the letter said. “We strongly urge all service providers to stay the course.”

    Other regional homelessness officials clarified they’re moving forward with the consolidated application and working to protect existing program funding.

    Sarah Mahin, director of L.A. County’s new Department of Homelessness and Housing, said the county expects to receive more direction from the court before or at the August 6 hearing. Until then, Mahin said, “The existing competition process and LAHSA’s role as collaborative applicant should remain undisturbed while the court considers the preliminary injunction motion.”

    A man walks at night in a blue outfit surrounded by other people, along a road with buildings in the background, as someone points in the direction the man is looking.
    U.S. District Judge David O. Carter walks on a tour of the VA's West LA facilities on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024 in West Los Angeles, CA.
    (
    Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
    /
    Los Angeles Times
    )

    How the feds are planning for court decisions

    In a July 21 court filing, HUD said it intends to delay any final action against the L.A. Continuum of Care until Aug. 10, or whenever the court rules on LAHSA’s request for a preliminary injunction.

    HUD also said that if the suspension holds and LAHSA and the court determine local applicants must apply directly, the federal agency will give providers an additional 30 days to submit their applications.

    Carter is also overseeing a major L.A. legal settlement stemming from a lawsuit by the L.A. Alliance for Human Rights over the city and county’s response to the homelessness crisis. Carter ordered all of the parties in the Alliance settlement to also appear at the Aug. 6 hearing in the case between LAHSA and HUD.

    How service providers are preparing

    Homeless service providers, caught in the middle of HUD’s legal battles with LAHSA and with states, say they want to make sure services aren’t disrupted.

    LAHSA’s own deadline for local homeless service providers to submit their individual applications as part of the collaborative application process was last week. More than 100 local nonprofit service providers have already submitted theirs.

    Several organizations told LAist they’re prepared to submit applications directly to HUD, including Hope the Mission, a large homeless services provider operating primarily in the San Fernando Valley.

    “While larger organizations have the administrative capacity to pivot quickly, we are concerned about smaller, specialized community providers who may struggle to navigate a direct HUD submission without localized technical assistance,” said Ivet Samvelyan, a vice president at Hope the Mission.

    Service providers told LAist they’re watching the two court cases closely, and awaiting clearer guidance from local officials about what to do next.

    “Our concern is less about the application process itself and more about the policy direction it represents, which is an attempt to take funding away from evidence-based practices such as permanent supportive housing and instead fund programs that require sobriety and compliance,” said Tian Martinez, a spokesperson at Union Station Homeless Services.

  • Voters will decide whether to ban data centers
    In the foreground of a crowded meeting room is a sign that reads "No Data Center" held up by a woman who's face is obscured by the sign.
    Hundreds packed into Monterey Park City Hall to call for a moratorium on data centers.

    Topline:

    The Alhambra City Council voted unanimously Monday to put a measure on the November ballot that will ask local voters to ban data centers citywide.

    Why it matters: Alhambra could become the second city in California to pass a ban on data centers through a public vote. Monterey Park became the first city to pass such a ban in June.

    The details: The new ballot measure proposes expanding an existing prohibition on data centers in Alhambra's office and industrial zones. It would effectively ban data centers in all of the city.

    The backstory: Local citizens and groups like No Data Centers San Gabriel Valley and No Data Center in Monterey Park have been organizing to oppose the construction of data centers and other infrastructure that supports them, such as battery energy storage systems.

    Read on... for more on Alhambra's new ballot measure.

    The Alhambra City Council voted unanimously Monday to put a measure on the November ballot that will ask local voters to ban data centers citywide.

    Why it matters

    If the measure passes, Alhambra could become the second city in California to pass a ban on data centers through a public vote.

    In June, Monterey Park became the first city to pass such a ban.

    The details

    Council members previously voted to establish an official definition of what qualifies as a data center. At an earlier meeting last month, they also added data centers to a list of prohibited facilities in office and industrial zones.

    The new ballot measure proposes expanding the prohibition. It would effectively ban data centers in all of the city.

    Residents weigh in

    Andrew Yip, an Alhambra resident and an organizer with the group SGV Progressive Action, spoke about the importance of ballot language during Monday’s council meeting.

    Yip said the name of Monterey Park's June ballot measure — Measure NDC, which stood for "No Data Center" — left some data center opponents unsure about whether to vote yes or no.

    “It was very confusing,” Yip said. “I encourage the city to consider a different acronym if possible, maybe BAN, so people know to vote yes on a ban.”

    The backstory

    Local citizens and groups like No Data Centers San Gabriel Valley and No Data Center in Monterey Park have been organizing to oppose the construction of data centers and other infrastructure that supports them, such as battery energy storage systems.

    Plans for a proposed data center in Monterey Park were pulled in March, and the Covina Planning Commission voted down a proposed storage system in June following public input.

    What’s next

    Alhambra voters will decide the fate of data centers in the city in the general election on Nov. 3. The ban needs a simple majority of support from local voters in order to pass.

    How to keep tabs on the Alhambra City Council

    The Alhambra City Council tends to meet a few times per month, generally on Mondays. Meetings typically start at 6 p.m.

    Here’s how you can follow along: