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Question of the Month: Why is GIS Technology Important to Urban Planning?

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Question of the Month: What is the Home-Sharing Program?

In December 2018, the City Council adopted the Home-Sharing Ordinance ( CF 14-1635-S2 ), establishing a regulatory framework to restrict short-term rentals to one's primary residence, in order to prevent the wholesale conversation of homes into rental properties. The Home-Sharing Program requires hosts wishing to engage in short-term rentals to register with the City and post their registration number on all advertisements. Hosts are also required to adhere to all requirements and must use the online portal to register. Registering for the Home-Sharing Program There are several steps and a few requirements to establish a secure and legal home-sharing stay service. The application can be found and submitted on the city website under the “Development Services” tab on the left side of the website which has been live since July 1, 2019. Home-sharing users will have four months, until November 1, 2019, to which the City will then begin enforcement of this Ordinance (185931)

Young, Black and Planning

Based on recent data , African-Americans only represent 7.9% of those in the planning profession. In 2017, TheRoot.com published an article titled, “Urban Planning Can’t Happen Without Black People in the Room—Yet It Does,” reflecting on the importance of having multiple voices when planning and designing a city.  In the City of Los Angeles, we see diversity throughout the City and in those who are helping plan the future of Los Angeles. In 2018, 16% of new hires and 12% of all promotions within the Department of City Planning were of African-Americans, representing 12% of the entire Department.  Below, the Department of City Planning’s African-American City Planning Assistants and Associates share their advice for those interested in entering the profession. Scroll below to get their insights, and get inspired to plan!   Kyle Winston "I grew up in South Central LA. I watched my neighborhood burn during the LA riots and then sit untouched for years wondering wh

Top 10 Moments of 2018!

Drumroll please…. It’s been a wonderful year #Planning4LA! Here are some of the top moments from the year. Which moment was your favorite? Comment below and let us know! 10. Office of Historic Resources Presents 2018 Historic Neighborhoods Conference The Department's Office of Historic Resources, in partnership with the Los Angeles Conservancy, hosted its bi-annual LA Historic Neighborhoods Conference on Saturday, October 13, 2018. This year's theme was  The Intersection of Housing and Preservation. The day-long forum was open to anyone interested in neighborhood conservation and included presentations by field experts in preservation, and featured interactive workshops and open conversations with community stakeholders. 9. External Affairs Launches Monthly E-Newsletter and Community Corner Publications The External Affairs Units is committed to providing the community with up-to-date news and information about planning. That is why the External Affai

Planning for the Environment | Fires and Mudslides and Rain, Oh My!

Imagine being woken up at 2:00AM to find your house, all of your possessions and precious memories being engulfed by flames. For many Southern California residents, this nightmare became an all too real, frightening reality on November 8 – when the Woolsey Fire gained speed and began destroying everything in its path.   Now, nearly three weeks later, the fire is finally 100% contained but has destroyed approximately 1,500 structures and priceless memories for those in its path. This isn’t the first massive fire we’ve seen in California. You may even wonder why our region particularly vulnerable to wildfires? Or, what role does planning serve to improve our resiliency to wildfire events? In short, we can address these challenges through Climate Adaptation Planning. Wildfire Risk in Southern California To understand these recent devastating wildfires, let’s first consider our local environment. Wildfires are uncontrolled fires on undeveloped land and are