1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to intervene and end the ongoing and deeply harmful litigation being pursued by the City Attorney and Councilmember Traci Park that is obstructing the Venice Dell affordable housing project. This development was approved by the City Council and the California Coastal Commission, yet the City is now spending public funds fighting against a project it already authorized. As the recent editorial in the Los Angeles Times makes clear, these delays threaten to derail one of the most significant affordable housing developments planned for Venice Beach. Venice Dell would provide permanently affordable homes for low-income residents and people experiencing homelessness while replacing an underused parking lot with community-serving infrastructure. At a time when Los Angeles faces an acute housing and homelessness crisis, blocking this project sends the wrong message and undermines the City’s stated commitments. Continuing this litigation wastes taxpayer money, risks critical state funding, and delays urgently needed housing. It also erodes public trust that the City will follow through on its own approvals and commitments. I urge you, Mayor Karen Bass, to halt this counterproductive litigation, honor the City’s agreements, and allow the Venice Dell project to proceed without further delay. Los Angeles cannot claim to prioritize housing solutions while obstructing one of its most ready and impactful projects.