##  In the News

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/3e/072d-3e77bc12.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33319:when-the-last-minute-power-play-failed-sacramento-finally-ran-out-of-time&catid=375)

### [When the Last-Minute Power Play Failed: Sacramento Finally Ran Out of Time](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33319:when-the-last-minute-power-play-failed-sacramento-finally-ran-out-of-time&catid=375)

September 10 2026

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/dc/073e-dc8fd595.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33336:may-day-international-workers-day-a-major-us-holiday-ignored-by-the-media&catid=398)

### [May Day/International Workers Day, a Major US Holiday Ignored By The Media](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33336:may-day-international-workers-day-a-major-us-holiday-ignored-by-the-media&catid=398)

September 10 2026

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/8e/072i-8e728952.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33314:olympics-la28s-drip-drip-drip-tactics-leave-los-angeles-holding-the-bag&catid=312)

### [Olympics: LA28’s Drip‑Drip‑Drip Tactics Leave Los Angeles Holding the Bag](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33314:olympics-la28s-drip-drip-drip-tactics-leave-los-angeles-holding-the-bag&catid=312)

September 07 2026

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/88/072b-884ad1a1.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33321:1-billion-later-congress-comes-knocking-los-angeles-homelessness-machine-faces-its-day-of-reckoning&catid=396)

### [$1 Billion Later, Congress Comes Knocking: Los Angeles’ Homelessness Machine Faces Its Day of Reckoning](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33321:1-billion-later-congress-comes-knocking-los-angeles-homelessness-machine-faces-its-day-of-reckoning&catid=396)

September 07 2026

#  PLANNING WATCH LA

---

  [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/d2/054i-d21aafa7.png)

### Real Estate Deals Are Everywhere At LA’s City Hall

Written by Dick Platkin on July 09 2026.

 ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33001:real-estate-deals-are-everywhere-at-las-city-hall&catid=398)

  [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/96/052i-96650872.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32963:sb-1116-starter-home-revitalization-act-another-real-estate-scam&catid=398)Written by Dick Platkin on July 02 2026. Posted in [PLANNING WATCH LA](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=398).

## [SB 1116 (Starter Home Revitalization Act): Another Real Estate Scam](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32963:sb-1116-starter-home-revitalization-act-another-real-estate-scam&catid=398)

PLANNING WATCH - All that glitters is not gold. In recent weeks I have focused my columns on SB 79, the “Abundant and Affordable Homes Near Transit…

---

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/19/050b-1967a60c.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32927:sb-79-developments-in-los-angeles-another-failing-effort-from-sacramento&catid=398)### [SB 79 developments in Los Angeles: Another failing effort from Sacramento](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32927:sb-79-developments-in-los-angeles-another-failing-effort-from-sacramento&catid=398)

Written by Dick Platkin on July 08 2026.

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/5a/048j-5ab8c988.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32895:the-housing-crisis-is-really-an-affordability-crisis&catid=398)### [The Housing Crisis Is Really an Affordability Crisis](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32895:the-housing-crisis-is-really-an-affordability-crisis&catid=398)

Written by Dick Platkin on June 18 2026.

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/69/046a-69b78071.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32866:vacant-houses-and-apartments-are-everywhere-yet-las-city-hall-tells-us-los-angeles-has-a-housing-shortage&catid=398)### [Vacant Houses And Apartments Are Everywhere, Yet LA’s City Hall Tells Us Los Angeles Has A Housing Shortage](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32866:vacant-houses-and-apartments-are-everywhere-yet-las-city-hall-tells-us-los-angeles-has-a-housing-shortage&catid=398)

Written by Dick Platkin on June 11 2026.

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/5b/044a-5b796c12.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32832:rising-in-la-homelessness-overcrowding-and-vacancies&catid=398)### [Rising in LA: Homelessness, Overcrowding, and Vacancies](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32832:rising-in-la-homelessness-overcrowding-and-vacancies&catid=398)

Written by Dick Platkin on June 04 2026.

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/da/040e-da91491b.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32749:some-housing-prices-are-falling-in-la-but-homelessness-and-overcrowding-are-increasing&catid=398)### [Some Housing Prices Are Falling In LA, But Homelessness And Overcrowding Are Increasing](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32749:some-housing-prices-are-falling-in-la-but-homelessness-and-overcrowding-are-increasing&catid=398)

Written by Dick Platkin on May 21 2026.

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/dd/038b2-dd4c4bb0.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32712:sb-79-in-los-angeles-is-its-bark-worse-than-its-bite&catid=398)### [SB 79 In Los Angeles: Is its bark worse than its bite?](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32712:sb-79-in-los-angeles-is-its-bark-worse-than-its-bite&catid=398)

Written by Dick Platkin on May 14 2026.

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/dd/036i-ddf85ccf.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32686:replacing-the-streetlights-in-los-angeles&catid=398)### [Replacing the Streetlights in Los Angeles](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32686:replacing-the-streetlights-in-los-angeles&catid=398)

Written by Dick Platkin on May 07 2026.

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/c6/032c-c6dccec2.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32603:las-new-mayoral-climate-action-plan-will-be-filed-away-when-mayor-bass-leaves-office&catid=398)### [LA’s New Mayoral Climate Action Plan Will Be Filed Away When Mayor Bass Leaves Office](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32603:las-new-mayoral-climate-action-plan-will-be-filed-away-when-mayor-bass-leaves-office&catid=398)

Written by Dick Platkin on April 23 2026.

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/e4/030e3-e44ecc9d.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32568:the-number-of-vacant-apartments-in-la-will-expand&catid=398)### [The Number of Vacant Apartments in LA Will Expand](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32568:the-number-of-vacant-apartments-in-la-will-expand&catid=398)

Written by Dick Platkin on April 16 2026.

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/60/028k-60e84546.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32528:california-senate-bill-79-passed-signed-but-on-hold-in-los-angeles&catid=398)### [California Senate Bill 79: Passed, Signed, but on Hold in Los Angeles](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32528:california-senate-bill-79-passed-signed-but-on-hold-in-los-angeles&catid=398)

Written by Dick Platkin on April 09 2026.

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/96/026m-9645a486.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32487:a-city-planners-visit-to-china&catid=398)### [A City Planner’s Visit To China](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32487:a-city-planners-visit-to-china&catid=398)

Written by Dick Platkin on April 02 2026.

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/01/011j-015be93d.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32231:senate-bill-79-another-get-rich-scheme-destined-to-fail&catid=398)### [Senate Bill 79: Another Get-Rich-Scheme Destined To Fail](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32231:senate-bill-79-another-get-rich-scheme-destined-to-fail&catid=398)

Written by Dick Platkin on February 05 2026.

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/8e/007g-8e92264d.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32161:las-urban-forest-expect-more-cutbacks&catid=398)### [LA’s Urban Forest – Expect More Cutbacks](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32161:las-urban-forest-expect-more-cutbacks&catid=398)

Written by Dick Platkin on January 22 2026.

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/e0/005j-e0397025.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32117:what-if-a-mandami-type-were-elected-mayor-of-los-angeles&catid=398)### [What If A Mandami-type Were Elected Mayor of Los Angeles?](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32117:what-if-a-mandami-type-were-elected-mayor-of-los-angeles&catid=398)

Written by Dick Platkin on January 15 2026.

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/b6/003o-b6c3116a.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32076:first-anniversary-of-the-palisades-and-eaton-fires-prices-down-and-hardly-any-homes-rebuilt&catid=398)### [First Anniversary Of The Palisades And Eaton Fires: Prices Down And Hardly Any Homes Rebuilt](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32076:first-anniversary-of-the-palisades-and-eaton-fires-prices-down-and-hardly-any-homes-rebuilt&catid=398)

Written by Dick Platkin on January 08 2026.

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/8f/103e-8fe15387.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32006:the-price-angelenos-pay-for-politicians-who-cave-to-the-housing-industry-increased-homelessness-and-overcrowding&catid=398)### [The Price Angelenos Pay For Politicians Who Cave To The Housing Industry – Increased Homelessness And Overcrowding](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32006:the-price-angelenos-pay-for-politicians-who-cave-to-the-housing-industry-increased-homelessness-and-overcrowding&catid=398)

Written by Dick Platkin on December 25 2025.

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/46/097e-46b6c88b.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)### [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)

Written by Dick Platkin on December 04 2025.

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/56/095f-563e3a94.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)### [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)

Written by Dick Platkin on November 27 2025.

 [ ![](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.

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