Bass, Hutt open Koreatown’s first affordable housing project
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass joined LA City Councilmember Heather Hutt (D-Koreatown, Arlington Heights, Mid-City, Palms, South Robertson, West Adams, Wilshire Center) yesterday for the grand opening of an 80-unit affordable housing development in Koreatown, the first project in the neighborhood completed under Bass’s Executive Directive 1.
Bass signed ED1 during her first week in office to streamline the approval of affordable housing citywide. The city now has nearly 47,000 affordable units in the pipeline, with 6,000 already under construction, and the City Council voted unanimously in December to make the directive a permanent city ordinance.
Koreatown, where 90% of residents are renters, will see the new development’s 80 units set aside as 100% affordable housing.
“Today, we’re celebrating more than the opening of a new building; we’re celebrating families coming home,” said Bass. “This project is the first in Koreatown completed under my Executive Directive 1, and with nearly 47,000 affordable units now in the pipeline citywide, we’re showing what happens when City Hall slashes red tape and works with local partners to urgently deliver the affordable housing Los Angeles has needed for so long.”
“Today marks a significant milestone for Koreatown and for our citywide effort to confront the housing crisis head-on. I want to thank Mayor Bass for her leadership on ED1, which has been instrumental in getting projects like this off the ground faster,” said Hutt. “Koreatown is one of the densest neighborhoods in Los Angeles, and this project will greatly benefit our community, delivering much-needed housing, faster, to the people who call Koreatown home.”
Affordable housing developers and Korean American community leaders also joined the opening.
Lieu bill would limit Trump from renaming buildings
U.S. Rep. Ted Lieu (D, Westside Los Angeles and South Bay, including Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Culver City, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, Torrance, Rancho Palos Verdes) this week introduced the Congressional Authorization for Federal Building Names Act, legislation that would require Congress to expressly authorize the renaming of any federal property.
The bill follows a series of unilateral renamings by the Trump administration, including a September 2025 order to rename the Department of Defense the “Department of War” — a change that could cost taxpayers up to $125 million and has not been enacted in statute, meaning FY27 appropriations bills still refer to the agency as the Department of Defense.
In December, Trump also ordered the John F. Kennedy Center renamed the “Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts” and the U.S. Institute of Peace renamed the “Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace,” with the administration physically altering signage at both buildings.
“Presidents should not be able to unilaterally put their own name on federal property,” said Lieu. “Not only is this practice self-centered, it also carries a large price tag for the American people. Renaming federal property should respect the history, spirit, and purpose of the property as opposed to catering to the ego of the president.”
The bill would impose criminal penalties on any political appointee, including Senate-confirmed officials, who displays an incorrect federal property name or renames property without statutory authorization — up to one year in prison and a $100,000 fine for damage under $1,000, and up to 10 years and a $250,000 fine above that threshold. It would also extend the statute of limitations on such violations from five to 10 years.
Valladares presses Sacramento to make affordability the priority
State Sen. Suzette Martinez Valladares (R-Lancaster, Palmdale, Santa Clarita) this week called on Gov. Gavin Newsom and legislative leadership to make affordability the top priority for the rest of the legislative session, which started this month.
Valladares, citing a new Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) poll, said Californians increasingly opposed policies that raise their cost of living.’ This includes the PPIC’s July 2026 statewide survey that found 63% of Californians consider energy costs, including gasoline, natural gas and electric bills, a big problem, up 9 points from a year earlier, and that 65% of likely voters oppose Newsom’s mandate banning the sale of new gasoline-powered vehicles by 2035 — up 17 points from 2021.
The survey also found 60% of adults unwilling to pay more for electricity generated from renewable sources, and nearly half saying the state should wait until the economy improves before taking further action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. LACP has not independently reviewed the underlying PPIC survey.
“Sacramento keeps telling Californians that the green agenda is worth the cost,” said Valladares. “This poll says that while Californians value environmental efforts, support declines when the rising costs hit the pocketbook. Hard-working Californians are struggling to make ends meet, and affordability must be a priority.”
Valladares is calling on Newsom and legislative leaders to suspend the state’s automatic gas tax increase, prioritize repayment of California’s nearly $20 billion federal unemployment insurance debt, and pursue policies aimed at making energy more affordable and the state more energy independent.
Barger grant keeps Altadena pool open through September
Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger (R-Palmdale, Lancaster, Santa Clarita, San Marino, Pasadena, La Cañada Flintridge, portions of the San Gabriel Valley) secured a one-time grant extending the summer pool season at Loma Alta Park in Altadena through Sept. 30, giving families, seniors and residents added weeks of recreational swimming, lap swim, water exercise and swim lessons.
The extended season runs Aug. 24 through Sept. 30 at the Loma Alta Park Pool, located at 3330 N. Lincoln Ave., and includes free morning lap swim for adults 65 and older and people with disabilities.
“Access to safe, affordable recreational opportunities is especially important as our Altadena community continues to recover and rebuild,” said Barger. “I was pleased to provide the funding that made this extended pool season possible so children, families, seniors, and residents of all ages can continue enjoying this valuable community resource.”
The extension is part of Barger’s continued investment in community wellness as Altadena rebuilds from the Eaton Fire, aimed at preserving residents’ access to recreational programs that support health and quality of life.
