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OP ED - In a move that says more about political instinct than policy courage, the Los Angeles City Council has effectively sidestepped full implementation of California’s transit-oriented housing law, SB 79—choosing instead to delay, dilute, and redefine it.
Let’s be clear about what just happened.
SB 79 was designed to do one thing: allow taller, denser housing near transit corridors—the very places where density actually makes sense. The state’s vision was straightforward: reduce car dependency, increase housing supply, and align growth with infrastructure.
But Los Angeles had other ideas.
The Great Step-Back
Rather than embrace the law’s intent, the Council approved a local plan that:
- Caps most new development at about four stories
- Limits projects to roughly 4 to 16 units
- Applies selectively across about 55 designated areas
And most importantly, this maneuver allows the City to delay full SB 79 implementation until 2030.
In political terms, that’s not reform—it’s a stall.
Control Over Change
Supporters of the Council’s move argue this preserves “local control.” That phrase gets used a lot at City Hall—usually when Sacramento pushes policies that disrupt the status quo.
But here’s the problem:
The status quo is exactly what got Los Angeles into its housing crisis.
Sky-high rents.
Stalled construction.
Homelessness at crisis levels.
And yet, when presented with a framework to meaningfully increase housing near transit, the response was: slow it down.
The Missing Middle—Again
The most telling aspect of the vote is what didn’t happen.
More aggressive proposals—allowing 5- to 8-story buildings near major transit hubs—were rejected. That “missing middle” housing, widely considered the sweet spot between single-family homes and high-rises, remains politically untouchable in Los Angeles.
Instead, the City opted for a safer, smaller version of density—one that is unlikely to move the needle in any meaningful way.
Politics Over Practicality
This is classic Los Angeles governance:
- Acknowledge the crisis
- Signal action
- Avoid disruption
Everyone gets to claim progress, while the underlying problem remains largely intact.
And let’s not ignore the political reality:
Neighborhood resistance, pressure from stakeholders, and fear of backlash continue to outweigh long-term planning.
What This Means for Angelenos
For residents, the implications are simple:
- Fewer housing units than could be built
- Continued upward pressure on rents
- Longer timelines for meaningful change
For developers and investors, it signals uncertainty and constraint.
For the City, it’s another example of incrementalism in the face of urgency.
Finally
SB 79 was an opportunity to rethink how Los Angeles grows—especially around transit, where growth is most sustainable.
Instead, City Hall chose caution.
Or more bluntly:
Los Angeles blinked.
(Jim Hampton is the Publisher and Editor of CityWatchLA.com. With over 40 years of experience in radio broadcasting, marketing, and content creation, Jim helped launch CityWatch online with founding editor Ken Draper more than two decades ago. He continues to guide the platform’s mission to provide independent news and opinion on Los Angeles government, policy, and civic life.)
