Adopted Positions

“The Westside Regional Alliance of Councils (WRAC), opposes   SB 79 (Wiener), which further erodes local control over land use and zoning decisions, requires  streamlined approval of very high multifamily buildings near certain bus stops and rail lines in single-family neighborhoods even when municipalities such as Los Angeles already have a state-approved and compliant Housing Element, and compromises public safety by failing to  include an unconditional exemption for the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone.

“WRAC further supports the resolution in City Council by Councilmember John S. Lee, second by Councilwoman Traci Park (CF 25-0002-S19), for the City Council to add to its State Legislative Program for 2025-26 opposition to SB 79 unless amended to exempt municipalities with a state-approved and compliant Housing Element.”

Additional letter to Councilmembers

“ _____NC/CC, a member of the Westside Regional Alliance of Councils (WRAC), opposes SB 677 (Wiener), which mandates further streamlining and automatic approval of certain permits for increased housing development throughout the state, and places all areas within the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone (VHFHSZ), including all or parts of Pacific Palisades, Brentwood and Bel Air-Beverly Crest, at risk of public safety, by failing to provide for an unconditional exemption for areas within the VHFHSZ.

“We further request that our Councilmembers representing WRAC member councils (Hutt, Park, Raman and/or Yaroslavsky)  bring a resolution in City Council forthwith to add opposition to SB 677 to the Council’s state legislative priorities for 2025-26.”

“Whereas the recent devastating wildfires have left the LA streets and landscape covered with a multitude of toxic chemicals, heavy metals, hazardous materials, ash and fire debris;

“Whereas the recent heavy rainstorms have washed an enormous amount of this toxic material down to our coastline;

“Whereas the EPA and FEMA, against strong public opposition, have chosen to use the beach lots along our coast as sorting sites;

“Whereas our beaches are now covered with hazardous fire debris and black sludge;

“Whereas no significant water/beach testing information has been released to the public;

“____NC/CC, a member of the Westside Regional Alliance of Councils,  strongly urges that this environmental catastrophe be taken seriously, with an immediate plan to fund, test, share information, and protect our coastal environment and the millions of people who enjoy it, by City of Los Angeles, City of Santa Monica and Los Angeles County authorities with respective operational control of our beaches in the region, including Dockweiler State Beach, Venice Beach, Santa Monica Beach, Will Rogers State Beach and Topanga Beach.

“____ NC/CC further urges that one or more of our Councilmembers who represent WRAC member councils (Hutt, Park, Raman and/or Yaroslavsky) bring a resolution in Council immediately 1) to address this catastrophe on all beaches over which the City has operational control, and 2) to request that the City of Santa Monica and Los Angeles County, respectively, take further, immediate action to address the catastrophe on all beaches over which they have operational control in the region.”

_______ NC/CC, a member of the Westside Regional Alliance of Councils (WRAC), supports Council File 25-0172, which calls for a report back on inspection and repair of the City’s network of fire hydrants.

_______ NC/CC, a member of the Westside Regional Alliance of Councils (WRAC), supports Council File 25-0006-S38, which calls for a report back on creation of a Climate Resilience District for the directly impacted and adjacent areas of the Pacific Palisades Fire.

“The _____ NC/CC, a member of the Westside Regional Alliance of Councils (WRAC), opposes the pending installation of the Metro Transportation Communication Network (TCN) structures along the 405 Freeway in West Los Angeles, North of the 10 Freeway interchange.  These structures will be located in Council Districts 11 and 5 in Metro’s Exposition Blvd. right-of-way. Council Files: 22-0392 and 22-0392-S1 (CFMS) (lacity.org)

“ _____ NC/CC, a member of the Westside Regional Alliance of Councils, believes that there is a clear need for oversight and accountability for negligent property owners and developers who allow construction sites to remain incomplete and/or abandoned for extended time periods.

______ NC/CC therefore supports CF 24-1128 (Hernandez), which calls for a report back by LADBS on consequences and solutions to the problem of abandoned / incomplete construction sites, which pose a risk of fire and other hazards and are a threat to public safety and welfare.”

“_____ NC/CC, a member of the Westside Regional Alliance of Councils (WRAC), urges (1)   the federal government to intervene and conduct a federal investigation into the use by the city of Los Angeles, the county of Los Angeles, the state of California and all city, county and state agencies of federal funds received to address homelessness; (2) the state government to investigate the use of state funds for such purpose; (3) the county government to investigate the use of county funds for such purpose; and (4) the city government to investigate the use of city funds for such purpose, due to the mismanagement and non-accountability of taxpayer dollars being squandered while leaving a humanitarian crisis on our streets.

” _____ NC/CC further calls upon our city Councilmembers to communicate this request to the relevant respective federal, state, county and city authorities, including our U.S. Senators,  Congressmembers, the U.S. Attorney General and Dept. of Justice; our Governor, state Senators, Assemblymembers and state Attorney General; our county Supervisors and District Attorney; and our Mayor and City Attorney.”

“______ NC/CC, a member of the Westside Regional Alliance of Councils, strongly supports CF 24-0602, which requests a report back from the CLA on the costs, environmental hazards, and human health consequences of artificial turf installations in Los Angeles, and recommendations to effectuate transitioning away from the future use of synthetic turf or artificial grass and to incentivize drought-friendly landscaping.”

“_____ NC/CC, a member of the Westside Regional Alliance of Councils, strongly supports the “Housing Unhoused Disabled Veterans Act” (HR 8340 / Sherman) and urges our Councilmembers to submit a resolution in City Council forthwith to add support for HR 8340 to the Council’s federal legislative priorities for 2024-2025.”