##  In the News

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/ae/064h-ae29651b.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29355:remembering-ken-draper-citywatch-and-transparency-are-his-legacy&catid=12)

### [Remembering Ken Draper: CityWatch and Transparency Are his Legacy](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29355:remembering-ken-draper-citywatch-and-transparency-are-his-legacy&catid=12)

August 07 2025

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/9b/061a-9b0a2dba.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33148:brace-yourself-for-a-worse-housing-crisis&catid=398)

### [Brace Yourself For A Worse Housing Crisis](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33148:brace-yourself-for-a-worse-housing-crisis&catid=398)

August 03 2026

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/ae/064j-ae16d9b9.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33204:be-prepared-to-protect-our-democracy-in-november-from-a-trumpian-plot&catid=9)

### [Be Prepared to Protect Our Democracy in November From a Trumpian Plot](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33204:be-prepared-to-protect-our-democracy-in-november-from-a-trumpian-plot&catid=9)

August 13 2026

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/bb/063e-bbfe3056.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33174:nithya-raman-loses-the-homelessness-gavel-her-record-explains-why&catid=396)

### [Nithya Raman Loses the Homelessness Gavel — Her Record Explains Why](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33174:nithya-raman-loses-the-homelessness-gavel-her-record-explains-why&catid=396)

August 10 2026

---

  [![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/75/097e-75c453ab.jpg)](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=31911:why-is-there-a-housing-crisis-in-the-united-states&catid=398)

 Written by Dick Platkin on December 04 2025. Posted in [PLANNING WATCH LA](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=398).

##  [ Why Is There A Housing Crisis In The United States? ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=31911:why-is-there-a-housing-crisis-in-the-united-states&catid=398)

PLANNING WATCH - How did greater Los Angeles go from a post-WWII land of milk and honey to a metropolitan region in free fall. It is not a pretty picture, and it is hard to see how hosting two global sports events, the World Cup in 2026…

###  More Coverage

- [Scott Wiener’s Senate Bill 79 Signed by the Governor. Why it Won’t Make a Difference](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=31840:scott-wieners-senate-bill-79-signed-by-the-governor-why-it-wont-make-a-difference&catid=398)
- [Los Angeles: A Case Study In Homelessness And Overcrowding](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=31813:los-angeles-a-case-study-in-homelessness-and-overcrowding&catid=398)
- [How Long Can Los Angeles City Hall Ignore Climate Change? ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=31743:how-long-can-los-angeles-city-hall-ignore-climate-change&catid=398)

  [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/0c/095f-0c692fb3.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=31877:la-must-have-a-general-plan-but-why-is-las-so-out-of-date&catid=398)Written by Dick Platkin on November 27 2025. Posted in [PLANNING WATCH LA](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=398).

## [LA Must Have a General Plan. But Why is LA’s So Out-of-Date?](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=31877:la-must-have-a-general-plan-but-why-is-las-so-out-of-date&catid=398)

PLANNING WATCH - California state law plus the City’s Charter require Los Angeles to maintain an up-to-date General Plan. The City Council must adopt it, divide it into required and optional chapters (i.e., elements), and keep it current…

---

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/41/093f-41ab5360.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=31840:scott-wieners-senate-bill-79-signed-by-the-governor-why-it-wont-make-a-difference&catid=398)### [Scott Wiener’s Senate Bill 79 Signed by the Governor. Why it Won’t Make a Difference](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=31840:scott-wieners-senate-bill-79-signed-by-the-governor-why-it-wont-make-a-difference&catid=398)

Written by Dick Platkin on November 20 2025.

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/b6/091i-b6d439ef.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=31813:los-angeles-a-case-study-in-homelessness-and-overcrowding&catid=398)### [Los Angeles: A Case Study In Homelessness And Overcrowding](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=31813:los-angeles-a-case-study-in-homelessness-and-overcrowding&catid=398)

Written by Dick Platkin on November 13 2025.

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/4d/087h-4d9d3853.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=31743:how-long-can-los-angeles-city-hall-ignore-climate-change&catid=398)### [How Long Can Los Angeles City Hall Ignore Climate Change? ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=31743:how-long-can-los-angeles-city-hall-ignore-climate-change&catid=398)

Written by Dick Platkin on October 30 2025.

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/63/081b-63410b5e.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=31633:despite-presidential-denials-and-local-foot-dragging-climate-change-is-getting-worse&catid=398)### [“Despite” Presidential Denials and Local Foot-Dragging, Climate Change is Getting Worse](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=31633:despite-presidential-denials-and-local-foot-dragging-climate-change-is-getting-worse&catid=398)

Written by Dick Platkin on October 09 2025.

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/c8/-sidewalk-c87ea57e.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=31599:why-los-angeles-is-falling-apart&catid=398)### [Why Los Angeles Is Falling Apart](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=31599:why-los-angeles-is-falling-apart&catid=398)

Written by Dick Platkin on October 02 2025.

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/26/077i-26cf656a.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=31563:california-senate-bill-79-bipartisan-giveaway-to-big-real-estate&catid=398)### [California Senate Bill 79: Bipartisan Giveaway to Big Real Estate](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=31563:california-senate-bill-79-bipartisan-giveaway-to-big-real-estate&catid=398)

Written by Dick Platkin on September 25 2025.

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/ec/073e-ec683214.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=31484:homelessness-crisis-too-few-homes-or-too-much-poverty&catid=398)### [Homelessness Crisis: Too Few Homes or Too Much Poverty?](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=31484:homelessness-crisis-too-few-homes-or-too-much-poverty&catid=398)

Written by Dick Platkin on September 11 2025.

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/f2/069k-f22fe70c.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=31414:mystery-solved-why-la-spends-so-much-money-on-homelessness-and-gets-lousy-results&catid=398)### [Mystery solved: Why LA Spends So Much Money On Homelessness And Gets Lousy Results](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=31414:mystery-solved-why-la-spends-so-much-money-on-homelessness-and-gets-lousy-results&catid=398)

Written by Dick Platkin on August 28 2025.

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/0c/067d-0c16c68d.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=31366:2028-olympics-why-should-los-angeles-host-the-games&catid=398)### [2028 Olympics: Why Should Los Angeles Host The Games?](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=31366:2028-olympics-why-should-los-angeles-host-the-games&catid=398)

Written by Dick Platkin on August 21 2025.

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/39/065a-395bded0.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=31333:dems-and-trump-agree-on-housing-eliminate-public-housing-and-then-police-the-homeless&catid=398)### [Dems and Trump Agree on Housing: Eliminate Public Housing and then Police the Homeless](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=31333:dems-and-trump-agree-on-housing-eliminate-public-housing-and-then-police-the-homeless&catid=398)

Written by Dick Platkin on August 14 2025.

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/8b/059c-8b32b23f.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=31225:why-is-los-angeles-a-city-in-deep-crisis&catid=398)### [Why is Los Angeles a City in Deep Crisis?](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=31225:why-is-los-angeles-a-city-in-deep-crisis&catid=398)

Written by Dick Platkin on July 24 2025.

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/cd/057a-cdd08050.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=31188:la-times-article-on-the-history-of-homelessness-in-la-is-a-must-read&catid=398)### [LA Times Article On The History Of Homelessness In LA Is A Must Read](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=31188:la-times-article-on-the-history-of-homelessness-in-la-is-a-must-read&catid=398)

Written by Dick Platkin on July 17 2025.

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/92/055b-927b5a9b.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=31155:getting-lost-in-the-weeds-of-the-state-imposed-regional-housing-needs-assessment-rhna-for-los-angeles&catid=398)### [Getting Lost in the Weeds of the State-imposed Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) for Los Angeles](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=31155:getting-lost-in-the-weeds-of-the-state-imposed-regional-housing-needs-assessment-rhna-for-los-angeles&catid=398)

Written by Dick Platkin on July 10 2025.

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/f3/053d-f33a5784.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=31104:la-is-falling-apart-how-will-this-impact-the-2026-world-cup-and-2028-olympics&catid=398)### [LA is Falling Apart. How Will This Impact The 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympics?](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=31104:la-is-falling-apart-how-will-this-impact-the-2026-world-cup-and-2028-olympics&catid=398)

Written by Dick Platkin on July 03 2025.

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/9e/049a-9ef69e54.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=31040:its-time-to-update-las-rent-stabilization-ordinance&catid=398)### [It’s Time to Update LA’s Rent Stabilization Ordinance](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=31040:its-time-to-update-las-rent-stabilization-ordinance&catid=398)

Written by Dick Platkin on June 19 2025.

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/d2/045a-d2a235ba.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=30981:three-housing-myths-explain-why-homelessness-is-increasing&catid=398)### [Three Housing Myths Explain Why Homelessness Is Increasing](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=30981:three-housing-myths-explain-why-homelessness-is-increasing&catid=398)

Written by Dick Platkin on June 05 2025.

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/5d/041h-5dcdc2ac.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=30919:california-senate-bill-607-pigs-lining-up-at-the-trough&catid=398)### [California Senate Bill 607. Pigs lining up at the trough.](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=30919:california-senate-bill-607-pigs-lining-up-at-the-trough&catid=398)

Written by Dick Platkin on May 22 2025.

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/8c/039a-8c4d5389.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=30897:the-continued-mansionization-of-los-angeles-neighborhoods&catid=398)### [The Continued Mansionization Of Los Angeles Neighborhoods](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=30897:the-continued-mansionization-of-los-angeles-neighborhoods&catid=398)

Written by Dick Platkin on May 15 2025.

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/00/037b-00bbf41e.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=30852:rapid-reconstruction-of-incinerated-homes-reveals-who-has-the-most-influence-at-las-city-hall&catid=398)### [Rapid Reconstruction Of Incinerated Homes Reveals Who Has The Most Influence At LA’s City Hall](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=30852:rapid-reconstruction-of-incinerated-homes-reveals-who-has-the-most-influence-at-las-city-hall&catid=398)

Written by Dick Platkin on May 08 2025.

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/09/031b-09f84e15.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=30726:senate-bill-79-another-housing-rip-off-from-the-california-state-senate&catid=398)### [Senate Bill 79 - Another Housing Rip-off from the California State Senate](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=30726:senate-bill-79-another-housing-rip-off-from-the-california-state-senate&catid=398)

Written by Dick Platkin on April 17 2025.

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