LOS ANGELES | Countywide Project Rundown Megathread - Page 23

LA21st · #**441** Posted **Jun 26, 2026, 3:14 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Illithid Dude

Btw all the transfer tax reforms in the CA Senate failed bc of Karen Bass refusing to go against the labor unions and LA remains totally screwed. I guess to the mayoral race it is.

Doesnt that mean the Jarvis tax protection act is still in play? I remember reading they were considering taking it off the ballot if Bass reformed ULA. They didnt, so...

sopas ej · #**442** Posted **Jun 26, 2026, 5:14 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Illithid Dude

Btw all the transfer tax reforms in the CA Senate failed bc of Karen Bass refusing to go against the labor unions and LA remains totally screwed. I guess to the mayoral race it is.

Nithya Raman is a member of the DSA, so I would think that she would moreso be in support of labor unions... or am I misinterpreting what you're saying, that Karen Bass does not want to not support (go against) labor unions?

LA21st · #**443** Posted **Jun 26, 2026, 5:44 PM**

Raman has brought up ULA reforms though. I dont think she's DSA really.

Radio5 · #**444** Posted **Jun 26, 2026, 8:40 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by LA21st

Raman has brought up ULA reforms though. I dont think she's DSA really.

She definitely is. Maybe not as much as Rae, but she did go on Hasan Piker's podcast saying some wild stuff...imo

kittyhawk28 · #**445** Posted **Jun 26, 2026, 9:38 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by LA21st

Raman has brought up ULA reforms though. I dont think she's DSA really.

She's DSA adjacent but nowhere as extreme. She got alot of flack from bucking the left on ULA when she proposed the 15-year exemption for apartments and commercial, as well as not being anti-Israel as most of DSA is. Also has gotten flack for bucking her DSA colleagues in voting to maintain LAPD size as well as voting against allowing encampments on brush-filled hillsides.

Say what you want about Nithya, I disagree with her on her old comments on catalytic conveter theft and encampments near schools, but she is clearly open to changing her positions when ptoven wrong, e.g. on ULA. Shes by no means an ideologue, and to be honest she'd govern more as a moderate center left than as a Mamdani.

caligrad · #**446** Posted **Jun 26, 2026, 10:00 PM**

Can someone enlighten me perhaps. Maybe in a PM to not derail the thread but.... If ULA has proven to crater proposals/developments in the city, wouldn't the Unions want to get rid of it since they are seeing less work?

Illithid Dude · #**447** Posted **Jun 26, 2026, 10:23 PM**

Unions are pro ULA because it encourages affordable housing, which must be built with union members that are paid a prevailing wage. Basically, transfer taxes subsidize higher labor costs for affordable housing projects, whereas market rate housing isn't subsidized and often pays labor less.

Nithya Ramen wasn't endorsed by the labor unions like Bass was, so it is more politically viable for her to go against them. She has also pushed a ten year moratorium for ULA transfer taxes on multi family (not commercial though). I'd prefer to just adjust ULA so it only applies to single family in perpetuity, but I suppose ten years is a start.

LA21st · #**448** Posted **Jun 27, 2026, 1:48 AM**

Wait, thats what this is all about? That the unions can make more money?
I also thought it was weird there's a certain group of people on social sites that loathe market rate apts and only want affordable instead.

I assumed it was about gentrification, but they felt weirdly strong about it. Of course they did, they're looking at it financially.

sopas ej · #**449** Posted **Jun 27, 2026, 1:53 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by LA21st

Wait, thats what this is all about? That the unions can make more money?
I also thought it was weird there's a certain group of people on social sites that loathe market rate apts and only want affordable instead.

I assumed it was about gentrification, but they felt weirdly strong about it. Of course they did, they're looking at it financially.

Unions are non-profit organizations. Most unions get their money from union dues and initiation fees. And like other organizations, they also make passive money by using a percentage of their funds to buy investments like stocks and bonds.

But yeah, certain trade unions, like construction, have contracts that stipulate employer contributions, usually a specific amount per hour worked, that go into employer/union joint trust funds. These help fund the benefits for union workers like healthcare, pensions, etc. This money doesn't fund union operating costs; operating costs are still funded by dues and initiation fees.

LA21st · #**450** Posted **Jun 28, 2026, 2:57 AM**

Went to SM and Venice today. It is insane how vibrant these places are right now, and it's a great look for world cup visitors. The Pier is just...I've never seen it so busy in my life.

The Olympics will be crazier? Damn

wisheye · #**451** Posted **Jun 28, 2026, 5:01 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by LA21st

Went to SM and Venice today. It is insane how vibrant these places are right now, and it's a great look for world cup visitors. The Pier is just...I've never seen it so busy in my life.

The Olympics will be crazier? Damn

I was also in SM last week and the pier was absolutely nuts (world cup watch parties and related tourists). Don't think the Olympics can top that.

But I have to say I was shocked by what's happened to 3rd st promenade. I haven't been in a few years and had read in a few places that businesses have left and it's in bad shape, but was assuming there was some exaggeration at play. But man, it has been an unbelievable downfall from its hey-day. And I'm not one to normally pick on places, but I really hope their recent initiatives pay off to revitalize it.

LA21st · #**452** Posted **Jun 28, 2026, 2:20 PM**

It's coming back, some of those vacancies have signs with new businesses coming. And I think the WC events are showing the locals it's safer than what it was in 2020-2022, when it was kinda weird.

Radio5 · #**453** Posted **Jun 28, 2026, 5:29 PM**

I must be going to the wrong places, because i feel like LA has been more dead than usual. Barely any traffic, barely anyone on ocean ave walking (I walk this almost everyday), i took the subway from lacma to DT (it was clean and no crazy homeless), and DT was looking bleak in the historic core, granted it was a weekday.

LA21st · #**454** Posted **Jun 28, 2026, 5:35 PM**

I'm confused, you were on Ocean Ave and saw barely anyone walking? Were you doing this at 8 am on a weekday? There was an absollute crush of people in downtown SM yesterday.
Third Street looked like 2007 third street. You dont see all the people walking in Palisades Park? I don't get what you mean.

The World Cup stuff doesn't pick up until after noon on any day.

The Farmers Market/Farifax/Third over on that side is crazy busy too right now.

craigs · #**455** Posted **Jun 28, 2026, 5:54 PM**

Just going about my daily life this past week, I think LA is busier. There have been noticeably more people on the B Line than usual, and way, way more tourists at the Disney Hall-adjacent lunch spot that I usually hit up on Wednesdays.

LA21st · #**456** Posted **Jun 28, 2026, 6:17 PM**

I noticed Union Station was busier last weekend too, even with the smoke/smell from Boyle Hts. I think people were coming in from the burbs to see WC events/watch parties is my guess.

wisheye · #**457** Posted **Jun 28, 2026, 8:17 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by LA21st

I'm confused, you were on Ocean Ave and saw barely anyone walking? Were you doing this at 8 am on a weekday? There was an absollute crush of people in downtown SM yesterday.
Third Street looked like 2007 third street. You dont see all the people walking in Palisades Park? I don't get what you mean.

The World Cup stuff doesn't pick up until after noon on any day.

The Farmers Market/Farifax/Third over on that side is crazy busy too right now.

Yeah Ocean Ave was totally buzzing when I was there (was a Thu evening). Crowds thinned out going towards 3rd st that day.

But this is why in the grand scheme of things I'm not really that concerned about Santa Monica & 3rd st. There are always so many people who will be willing to come to the city due to the proximity to the ocean and the beautiful views. They need to continue to clean up & redirect tourists and the traffic will return to the promenade. Cycles happen, but the allure of downtown SM is undeniable and more or less permanent.

But on the flip side it highlights the conundrum that faces DTLA, because they don't have that huge supply of tourists always milling around even if they're not extensively using the retail/restaurants. Of course there are always pockets of crowds (around the Broad/Disney Hall, Grand Central market, events at LA Live etc), but we need something compelling slap dab in the middle of the historic core that fulfills that need. Easier said that done I guess. If Broadway could've genuinely been fully revitalized from top to bottom that would've done the trick.

craigs · #**458** Posted **Jun 28, 2026, 8:28 PM**

Something that might help would be to bring back the Night on Broadway event (I never got to go), and make it more than just once a year. A monthly or bi-monthly event like that would draw people downtown and show them it's interesting and can be fun and safe. Then they might come back even when there's no scheduled event:

wisheye · #**459** Posted **Jun 28, 2026, 8:53 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by craigs

Something that might help would be to bring back the Night on Broadway event (I never got to go), and make it more than just once a year. A monthly or bi-monthly event like that would draw people downtown and show them it's interesting and can be fun and safe. Then they might come back even when there's no scheduled event:

That is an impressive picture! Yeah that would be a great start.

Are there any World Cup watch parties in DTLA? This is such a great opportunity right now.

LA21st · #**460** Posted **Jun 28, 2026, 9:03 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by wisheye

Yeah Ocean Ave was totally buzzing when I was there (was a Thu evening). Crowds thinned out going towards 3rd st that day.

But this is why in the grand scheme of things I'm not really that concerned about Santa Monica & 3rd st. There are always so many people who will be willing to come to the city due to the proximity to the ocean and the beautiful views. They need to continue to clean up & redirect tourists and the traffic will return to the promenade. Cycles happen, but the allure of downtown SM is undeniable and more or less permanent.

But on the flip side it highlights the conundrum that faces DTLA, because they don't have that huge supply of tourists always milling around even if they're not extensively using the retail/restaurants. Of course there are always pockets of crowds (around the Broad/Disney Hall, Grand Central market, events at LA Live etc), but we need something compelling slap dab in the middle of the historic core that fulfills that need. Easier said that done I guess. If Broadway could've genuinely been fully revitalized from top to bottom that would've done the trick.

Not every Angeleno is a fan of SM and Venice, but they have the large crowds of tourists you'd see in other cities downtowns. It's just...not in downtown here. I think locals who haven't been to SM will notice it feels safer than the covid years and theyll return for more weekends. Venice has gotten alot of hype from WC visitors on socilal media too, so I think it's going to be a great thing going forward.

I've heard Miami has the same problem, Brickell will never be South Beach. My friends who go to Miami for vacation only really go to Miaimi Beach and Fort Laurderdale.
They never talk about Brickell or downtown there. This was basiclally repeated by the WC visitors this week in the media.