Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
LA City Council Moves Forward On Hotel Housing Ordinance
Unite Here Local 11 supporters participate in a sit-in protest at one of the main entrances to LAX airport on June 22, 2023.
(
Zaydee Sanchez
/
CalMatters
)
The Los Angeles City Council advanced a hotel initiative that will require developers to replace any housing lost to hotel construction in a 14-0 vote Tuesday.
The ordinance replaces a ballot measure that would have required hotels to make vacant rooms available to unhoused people. Instead, it will require the city to consider how new hotel developments will affect housing, childcare, public transit and small businesses in the area.
Council President Paul Krekorian, who helped broker a deal between the hotel workers union, Unite Here Local 11, and the hotels said the ordinance will "empower community input for consideration of new hotel development and expansion and its impact on communities. It would strengthen public oversight over short-term rentals, hotels and other properties that create public nuisances."
In exchange, LA's hotel industry will not be required to tell the city's housing department about their vacant rooms.
Support for LAist comes from
The housing initiative was one of the sticking points between the Coordinated Bargaining group, which represents the hotels, and Unite Here Local 11.
The union's co-president Kurt Petersen said negotiations have been about two things: housing and a living wage.
"Will L.A. only belong to the rich?" he said at Tuesday's council meeting. "Or will those who act, who teach, who clean, who cook those who make our city prosperous and beautiful, will they be able to afford to live in Los Angeles?"
Hotel workers have engaged in rolling strikes since the July 4 weekend when their contracts expired. It's unclear how this new ordinance was reached or if it affects the negotiations going forward.
Only three hotels have reached deals with the union: the Westin Bonaventure, the Biltmore in downtown L.A. and Loews Hollywood.
In a statement last week, Krekorian said the affordable housing shortage in the city does much more than driving the homelessness crisis in Los Angeles
Support for LAist comes from
“It hurts everyone who’s looking for a home in Los Angeles," he said. "The hospitality industry is a vital and necessary component of our local economy, and we need hotels to welcome the thousands of visitors we receive, but new hotel construction cannot come at the cost of our current housing stock.”
A few things must happen before the proposal becomes law. Unite Here Local 11 has to withdraw the original ordinance and the city attorney must review and send the proposal for city council approval by early December. Councilmember Bob Blumenfield was absent during Tuesday's vote.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The L.A. City Council approved the venue change Wednesday, which organizers say will save $12 million in infrastructure costs. -
Taxes on the sale of some newer apartment buildings would be lowered under a plan by Sacramento lawmakers to partially rein in city Measure ULA.
-
The union representing the restaurant's workers announced Tuesday that The Pantry will welcome back patrons Thursday after suddenly shutting down six months ago.
-
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake.
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
-
Censorship has long been controversial. But lately, the issue of who does and doesn’t have the right to restrict kids’ access to books has been heating up across the country in the so-called culture wars.
Best of LAist