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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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Weaker state rules superseded L.A. County eviction protections in April. But now, the county’s rules are coming back. -
High inflation is affecting the ability of homelessness service providers to provide basic needs like food and shelter. -
For more than two years, L.A. has protected renters from evictions and rent hikes. Now, the city council wants to “reassess” those rules. -
But opponents say the ban criminalizes unhoused folks who often use bikes as transportation or repair them to make a living. -
Legislators propose a $1-billion-a-year down payment program for first-time buyers, given the high cost of housing and rising mortgage interest rates, in exchange for a partial stake. -
The homelessness crisis — and how to fix it — continues to be one of the biggest issues for voters. But outreach workers, tasked with bringing people indoors, are dealing with their own challenges.
