##  In the News

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/34/065h-34567bec.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33212:reminder-to-the-red-states-turnabout-is-fair-play&catid=395)

### [Reminder to the Red States, Turnabout is Fair Play](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33212:reminder-to-the-red-states-turnabout-is-fair-play&catid=395)

August 17 2026

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/10/066m-104e94b8.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33229:democrats-finally-tell-iowa-and-new-hampshire-you-dont-go-first-anymore&catid=395)

### [Democrats Finally Tell Iowa and New Hampshire: You Don’t Go First Anymore](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33229:democrats-finally-tell-iowa-and-new-hampshire-you-dont-go-first-anymore&catid=395)

August 20 2026

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/0d/065o-0dac225b.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33213:californias-empty-classrooms-are-a-warning-sacramento-cant-ignore&catid=378)

### [California’s Empty Classrooms Are a Warning Sacramento Can’t Ignore](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33213:californias-empty-classrooms-are-a-warning-sacramento-cant-ignore&catid=378)

August 17 2026

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/86/066j-864c685d.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33231:a-prisoner-a-peacemaker-and-israels-defining-choice&catid=375)

### [A Prisoner, A Peacemaker, and Israel’s Defining Choice](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33231:a-prisoner-a-peacemaker-and-israels-defining-choice&catid=375)

August 20 2026

#  PLANNING WATCH LA

---

  [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Apr-2025/031b.jpg)

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

Written by Dick Platkin on April 17 2025.

 ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=30726:senate-bill-79-another-housing-rip-off-from-the-california-state-senate&catid=398)

  [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/component/ajax/?p=cache/01/027k-01b2853f.jpg&src=images/stories/Apr-2025/027k.jpg&thumbnail=610,396,&hash=a9cdd881) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=30660:valid-criticisms-of-trump-ii-neglect-the-housing-sins-of-democratic-party-officials&catid=398)Written by Dick Platkin on April 03 2025. Posted in [PLANNING WATCH LA](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=398).

## [Valid Criticisms of Trump II Neglect the Housing Sins of Democratic Party Officials](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=30660:valid-criticisms-of-trump-ii-neglect-the-housing-sins-of-democratic-party-officials&catid=398)

PLANNING WATCH - I only have one quarrel with the critiques of Trump II. They gloss over the two major sins of Democratic officials. In particular…

---

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/18/0025i-180603ba.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=30628:livable-communities-if-something-is-too-good-to-be-true-it-probably-is&catid=398)### [Livable Communities: If Something Is Too Good To Be True, It Probably Is](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=30628:livable-communities-if-something-is-too-good-to-be-true-it-probably-is&catid=398)

Written by Dick Platkin on March 27 2025.

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/0d/019g-0d6a93e1.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=30486:homelessness-in-la-you-aint-seen-nothing-yet&catid=398)### [Homelessness in LA? You ain’t seen nothing yet](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=30486:homelessness-in-la-you-aint-seen-nothing-yet&catid=398)

Written by Dick Platkin on March 06 2025.

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/f7/017o-f71cd202.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=30465:los-angeles-mayor-karen-bass-real-and-imagined-offenses&catid=398)### [Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass: Real and imagined offenses.](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=30465:los-angeles-mayor-karen-bass-real-and-imagined-offenses&catid=398)

Written by Dick Platkin on February 27 2025.

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/12/015a-1257b3b9.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=30404:climate-chaos-has-arrived-in-the-los-angeles-area&catid=398)### [Climate Chaos Has Arrived In The Los Angeles Area ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=30404:climate-chaos-has-arrived-in-the-los-angeles-area&catid=398)

Written by Dick Platkin on February 20 2025.

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/68/013f-680b0b8b.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=30372:why-las-homeless-crisis-will-not-just-continue-but-will-get-worse&catid=398)### [Why LA’s Homeless Crisis Will Not Just Continue, But Will Get Worse](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=30372:why-las-homeless-crisis-will-not-just-continue-but-will-get-worse&catid=398)

Written by Dick Platkin on February 13 2025.

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/b6/011b-b602a8ba.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=30323:rebuilding-after-the-wildfires-the-devil-is-in-the-details&catid=398)### [Rebuilding After The Wildfires. The Devil Is In The Details.](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=30323:rebuilding-after-the-wildfires-the-devil-is-in-the-details&catid=398)

Written by Dick Platkin on February 06 2025.

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/4c/009h-4c59c881.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=30288:why-las-wildfires-are-becoming-more-destructive&catid=398)### [Why LA’s Wildfires Are Becoming More Destructive](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=30288:why-las-wildfires-are-becoming-more-destructive&catid=398)

Written by Dick Platkin on January 30 2025.

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/93/007h-93b9793a.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=30238:both-conservatives-and-liberals-spin-tall-tales-about-las-wildfires&catid=398)### [Both Conservatives And Liberals Spin Tall Tales About LA’s Wildfires](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=30238:both-conservatives-and-liberals-spin-tall-tales-about-las-wildfires&catid=398)

Written by Dick Platkin on January 23 2025.

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/1e/005g-1e349aa4.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=30196:what-the-mainstream-media-misses-about-las-wildfires&catid=398)### [What The Mainstream Media Misses About LA’s Wildfires](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=30196:what-the-mainstream-media-misses-about-las-wildfires&catid=398)

Written by Dick Platkin on January 16 2025.

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/ca/003a2-ca51619e.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=30148:homelessness-doubled-in-four-years-yet-excuses-persist&catid=398)### [Homelessness Doubled in Four Years, Yet Excuses Persist](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=30148:homelessness-doubled-in-four-years-yet-excuses-persist&catid=398)

Written by Dick Platkin on January 09 2025.

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/99/104a-99bf85fa.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=30085:billions-spent-on-homelessness-yet-it-is-still-increasing-why&catid=398)### [Billions Spent On Homelessness, Yet It Is Still Increasing. Why?](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=30085:billions-spent-on-homelessness-yet-it-is-still-increasing-why&catid=398)

Written by Dick Platkin on December 26 2024.

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/40/102c-40afaf5d.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=30052:why-has-the-price-of-housing-increased-faster-than-incomes&catid=398)### [Why Has The Price Of Housing Increased Faster Than Incomes?](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=30052:why-has-the-price-of-housing-increased-faster-than-incomes&catid=398)

Written by Dick Platkin on December 19 2024.

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/63/101n-6396cec6.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=30033:investors-behind-the-us-housing-affordability-crisis&catid=398)### [Investors Behind the US Housing Affordability Crisis](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=30033:investors-behind-the-us-housing-affordability-crisis&catid=398)

Written by Chuck Collins on December 16 2024.

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/4a/100h-4a6a078c.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=30007:why-la-remodels-so-few-vacant-buildings-with-low-cost-housing-for-the-homeless&catid=398)### [Why LA Remodels So Few Vacant Buildings With Low-Cost Housing For The Homeless](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=30007:why-la-remodels-so-few-vacant-buildings-with-low-cost-housing-for-the-homeless&catid=398)

Written by Dick Platkin on December 12 2024.

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/de/096a-deffaa3d.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29952:las-city-council-is-ready-to-adopt-the-citywide-housing-incentive-program-chips-ordinances&catid=398)### [LA’s City Council is Ready to Adopt the Citywide Housing Incentive Program (CHIPs) Ordinances](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29952:las-city-council-is-ready-to-adopt-the-citywide-housing-incentive-program-chips-ordinances&catid=398)

Written by Dick Platkin on November 28 2024.

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/2b/094a-2bd2c44e.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29921:measure-a-passes-la-county-approves-0-25-sales-tax-hike-for-homeless-programs&catid=398)### [Measure A Passes: LA County Approves 0.25% Sales Tax Hike for Homeless Programs](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29921:measure-a-passes-la-county-approves-0-25-sales-tax-hike-for-homeless-programs&catid=398)

Written by Dick Platkin on November 21 2024.

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/7d/092a-7dba13b7.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29883:las-city-hall-reveals-the-democratic-partys-failing-domestic-policies&catid=398)### [LA’s City Hall Rveals the Democratic Party’s Failing Domestic Policies](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29883:las-city-hall-reveals-the-democratic-partys-failing-domestic-policies&catid=398)

Written by Dick Platkin on November 14 2024.

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/e0/090f-e0ba5e38.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29836:can-voting-resolve-local-policy-issues&catid=398)### [Can Voting Resolve Local Policy Issues?](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29836:can-voting-resolve-local-policy-issues&catid=398)

Written by Dick Platkin on November 06 2024.

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/e1/086c-e169c922.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29770:las-new-zoning-code-is-under-review-at-the-city-attorneys-office&catid=398)### [LA’s New Zoning Code Is Under Review At The City Attorney’s Office](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29770:las-new-zoning-code-is-under-review-at-the-city-attorneys-office&catid=398)

Written by Dick Platkin on October 24 2024.

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/4e/084g-4e50084b.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29738:urban-forest-blues-in-los-angeles&catid=398)### [Urban Forest Blues in Los Angeles](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29738:urban-forest-blues-in-los-angeles&catid=398)

Written by Dick Platkin on October 17 2024.

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