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Remembering Ken Draper: CityWatch and Transparency Are his Legacy

August 07 2025

Brace Yourself For A Worse Housing Crisis

August 03 2026

Be Prepared to Protect Our Democracy in November From a Trumpian Plot

August 13 2026

Nithya Raman Loses the Homelessness Gavel — Her Record Explains Why

August 10 2026

Written by Dick Platkin on December 04 2025. Posted in PLANNING WATCH LA.

Why Is There A Housing Crisis In The United States?

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…

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Written by Dick Platkin on November 27 2025. Posted in PLANNING WATCH LA.

LA Must Have a General Plan. But Why is LA’s So Out-of-Date?

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…

Scott Wiener’s Senate Bill 79 Signed by the Governor. Why it Won’t Make a Difference

Written by Dick Platkin on November 20 2025.

Los Angeles: A Case Study In Homelessness And Overcrowding

Written by Dick Platkin on November 13 2025.

How Long Can Los Angeles City Hall Ignore Climate Change?

Written by Dick Platkin on October 30 2025.

“Despite” Presidential Denials and Local Foot-Dragging, Climate Change is Getting Worse

Written by Dick Platkin on October 09 2025.

Why Los Angeles Is Falling Apart

Written by Dick Platkin on October 02 2025.

California Senate Bill 79: Bipartisan Giveaway to Big Real Estate

Written by Dick Platkin on September 25 2025.

Homelessness Crisis: Too Few Homes or Too Much Poverty?

Written by Dick Platkin on September 11 2025.

Mystery solved: Why LA Spends So Much Money On Homelessness And Gets Lousy Results

Written by Dick Platkin on August 28 2025.

2028 Olympics: Why Should Los Angeles Host The Games?

Written by Dick Platkin on August 21 2025.

Dems and Trump Agree on Housing: Eliminate Public Housing and then Police the Homeless

Written by Dick Platkin on August 14 2025.

Why is Los Angeles a City in Deep Crisis?

Written by Dick Platkin on July 24 2025.

LA Times Article On The History Of Homelessness In LA Is A Must Read

Written by Dick Platkin on July 17 2025.

Getting Lost in the Weeds of the State-imposed Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) for Los Angeles

Written by Dick Platkin on July 10 2025.

LA is Falling Apart. How Will This Impact The 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympics?

Written by Dick Platkin on July 03 2025.

It’s Time to Update LA’s Rent Stabilization Ordinance

Written by Dick Platkin on June 19 2025.

Three Housing Myths Explain Why Homelessness Is Increasing

Written by Dick Platkin on June 05 2025.

California Senate Bill 607. Pigs lining up at the trough.

Written by Dick Platkin on May 22 2025.

The Continued Mansionization Of Los Angeles Neighborhoods

Written by Dick Platkin on May 15 2025.

Rapid Reconstruction Of Incinerated Homes Reveals Who Has The Most Influence At LA’s City Hall

Written by Dick Platkin on May 08 2025.

Senate Bill 79 - Another Housing Rip-off from the California State Senate

Written by Dick Platkin on April 17 2025.

LA DWP #2 (Pay Your Bill Help)

Home - HHR Rent is too High - SB-2

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