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Listen Listen
Building Your Block
A newsletter course from LAist that explains the obstacles around housing development in L.A. and what you can do to make things better.
We know there’s a housing shortage in L.A., and it’s created major challenges for the region. But try to understand how to fix the problem and it gets murky, fast. We need more housing, but where can we actually build it? Why does it seem like all the new buildings going up are luxury apartments? Why isn’t there enough affordable housing? And most importantly: What can you actually do to support the housing you want to see in L.A.?
These are just some of the questions that Building Your Block will tackle in this seven-issue newsletter course.
Think of it as your starter guide to the conversations L.A. is having about housing development, plus we’ll bring you some real talk on what you can do to advocate for the housing future you want.
What can I expect?
Over seven issues, we’ll cover everything from how zoning rules determine what gets built and where, to why there’s so little affordable housing.
We’ll cap it all off with a long list of ideas you can put into action to influence housing decisions in your backyard, your city and beyond.
How often will you email me?
This newsletter has seven issues in total. Once you sign up, you’ll get one new issue a day until it’s done.
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“It would be completely unacceptable to me to settle with this pace,” Mayor Karen Bass told LAist. “That will not solve the problem, and our goal is to solve the problem.” -
L.A. tenants who didn't pay rent early in the COVID-19 pandemic must repay their debts by Tuesday. If they don’t, they could lose their housing. -
The designated sleeping site with 20 tents comes after the city passed a law against camping in public. An estimated 312 people were unsheltered in the city last year. -
Surprise charges for things like paying rent online or removing trash can add up and make an apartment less affordable. Advocates warn they can also put renters at risk for debt or even eviction. -
Some advocates say without a right to housing, lawsuits have limited reach. -
Six VA apartments have been scheduled for move-ins since LAist’s reporting last week cleared up confusion between officials. About a dozen more units are expected to be filled soon.
