Which Way, L.A.?
Downtown LA's City Center Plan
On a 12-to-3 vote, the Los Angeles City Council has rushed to approve a new 2.4 billion-dollar City Center plan for downtown LA. Like all redevelopment plans, it will reinvest tax revenue in a single neighborhood rather than spend it citywide. The plan has skeptics raising their eyebrows and secessionists saying, "we told you so." Critics say it was pushed through too fast, without enough public input and with a lot of questions outstanding, including whether the ultimate goal is to subsidize a professional football stadium. We hear from supporters and critics, including Councilwoman Jan Perry, who authored the plan, a skeptical Councilman Jack Weiss, who represents parts of the Westside and Valley, and Valley Vote secessionist Richard Katz. Reporter's Notebook: Borough Idea Gains Support as Secession Alternative For a long time, City Hall gave little credence to movements to break up the City of Los Angeles. Now it appears that at least the San Fernando Valley secession proposal will be on the November ballot. Wendy Greuel, the city's newest Council member, has an alternative, a borough-type plan that would provide community-based control over city services that range from tree trimming and street maintenance to education and zoning.
By Warren Olney • • 1 min readOn a 12-to-3 vote, the Los Angeles City Council has rushed to approve a new 2.4 billion-dollar City Center plan for downtown LA. Like all redevelopment plans, it will reinvest tax revenue in a single neighborhood rather than spend it citywide. The plan has skeptics raising their eyebrows and secessionists saying, "we told you so." Critics say it was pushed through too fast, without enough public input and with a lot of questions outstanding, including whether the ultimate goal is to subsidize a professional football stadium. We hear from supporters and critics, including Councilwoman Jan Perry, who authored the plan, a skeptical Councilman Jack Weiss, who represents parts of the Westside and Valley, and Valley Vote secessionist Richard Katz.
Borough Idea Gains Support as Secession Alternative
For a long time, City Hall gave little credence to movements to break up the City of Los Angeles. Now it appears that at least the San Fernando Valley secession proposal will be on the November ballot. Wendy Greuel, the city's newest Council member, has an alternative, a borough-type plan that would provide community-based control over city services that range from tree trimming and street maintenance to education and zoning.
LA Downtown Central Business Improvement District
Central Business District Redevelopment Project
Redevelopment Agency of the City of LA
