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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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In January, volunteers counted 3,595 people experiencing homelessness in Long Beach, compared with the 3,376 people counted in January 2024. -
Gibson, Dunn and Crutcher has handled major cases around the country, including last year when the firm represented the city of Grants Pass, Oregon, in a landmark Supreme Court case. -
Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority CEO says the embattled agency won’t have enough funding to carry out the 2026 count. -
To qualify, tenants must provide proof of residency in Boyle Heights, a copy of their rental agreement and documentation of overdue rent. -
Across Los Angeles, rent hikes have led to fewer bus and train riders in an example of how California’s housing crisis is also making its transit crisis harder to solve. -
Property tax relief letters, including refund checks, are getting returned because the homes they’re being sent to were destroyed in the fires.
