Developers are 'Poisonous' to Los Angeles City Council Hopefuls

"Anger over how Los Angeles is permitting development — from vast shopping centers to the McMansion next door — is all but constant on the campaign trail as more than a dozen candidates compete to represent the 4th City Council District, a grab bag of far-flung neighborhoods such as Sherman Oaks, the Hollywood Hills and Hancock Park," according to an article by Emily Alpert Reyes.

The issues may change from neighborhood to neighborhood, but the many remaining candidates in the race have rushed to score points with voters by lambasting development interests. The article provides some details about how each candidate would control developer interests—and the there is no shortage of opinions on how to that among the bunch. One in particular interest to planners: "Many candidates argue that city planning needs a wholesale makeover. Teddy Davis, who once served as an aide to former Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, suggested the city revise its "outdated" community plans and pursue a "top-to-bottom overhaul of the planning department."

And from the strange but, apparently, true files: "Candidates have also singled out developers as a poisonous political force. Davis declared early in the race that he wouldn't take campaign contributions from developers, and ended up returning a number of contributions he had accepted before making that pledge." One candidate, a businesswoman Sheila Irani, at least acknowledged that she would accept money from "affordable or homeless housing developers."