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Dear Friend:
Last week I was in Sacramento talking with key leaders including Senator Scott Weiner, Assemblymembers Buffy Wicks and Mike Fong, as well as Governor Newsom’s administration. Topics included the proposed Woodland Hills Country Club project, SB 79 and the urgent need to expand housing opportunities, and our City’s budget needs.
While we need more housing like we’ve spurred in the Warner Center area and around most major thoroughfares in my district, it’s imperative to grapple with unintended consequences of certain new state laws that removed local/community protections and discretion in high, fire severity zones. Fire risk in our hillside communities is not theoretical, it is the reality we face. Watch a video recap here. |
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I look forward to continuing these conversations with leaders in Sacramento and working together to push the Woodland Hills Country Club housing density in a high fire severity zone proposal into a discretionary review process. Progress is being made but we’re far from success. More history on the project and the latest updates can be found here. |
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Los Angeles, and all of California, faces a housing shortage and affordability crisis. To address this problem, last year the State enacted SB 79, which requires the City of Los Angeles to allow more housing near 145 high-quality transit stations in the City. That includes areas with single-family zoning, especially in higher-resource neighborhoods like West LA, Tarzana and Woodland Hills. As Chair of the Planning and Land Use Committee, Councilmember Blumenfield has been leading the effort to sensibly implement SB 79 at the local level, as required by State law.
Los Angeles must partially implement SB 79 before July 1, which will give the City until 2030 to develop a complete implementation plan. Specifically, the City must allow at least half of the required density capacity of SB 79 to be written into law, before it is permitted to delay implementing the other half. If the City were to fail to allow for this density before July 1, the entire density capacity enabled by SB 79 would automatically be allowed on July 1.
SB 79 requires the City to add development capacity for approximately 2.4 million more units of housing. Currently, in the entire City of Los Angeles there are less than 2 million units of actual built housing. While this analogy helps illustrate the sheer scale of the SB 79 requirement, it’s important to recognize that “capacity” and actual built units are very different, and that all of this newly mandated housing capacity is intended to be concentrated within a half-mile of major transit stops.
Last week, the City Council instructed its lawyers to draft an ordinance that will allow additional development at more than 50 station areas. Some station areas are ineligible for delay and must allow more density immediately, including the Reseda, Tampa, Winnetka and DeSoto stations on the G (Orange) Line. Blumenfield ensured that the City also allows more housing quickly in other parts of the City with existing heavy and light rail, especially along the Red, Purple and Expo Lines which will prevent the full weight of SB 979 from being felt right away.
Under the plan approved by Council, the City would allow lower-scale “missing middle” housing types such as bungalow courts, row houses, and townhomes that provide 4-16 units and are 2-4 stories tall. The plan would not change the actual zoning of any parcel, so developers could not “stack” other programs, such as density bonus, to build even larger buildings. More information is available from the Planning Department. The City Planning Commission will hold a hearing on the proposed ordinance in late April or early May, and Council will vote on a final ordinance in June. |
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Supporting Older Adults in the San Fernando Valley |
Councilmember Blumenfield presented a $175K check to the ONEgeneration Senior Lunch Program and the Canoga Park Senior Center. ONEgeneration provides lunch at five locations for individuals over 60 and has been serving meals at the Canoga Park Senior Center for more than 20 years. Together with the partnership of the Los Angeles Department of Aging and Department of Recreation & Parks, ONEgeneration creates a welcoming environment for socialization, engaging programming, and a nutritious hot lunch at no cost. If you or someone you know could benefit from this lunch program, stop by the Canoga Park Senior Center at 7326 Jordan Avenue, Monday through Friday at 11:30 a.m, at no cost. |
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Launching the Warner Center Micro Transit Pilot Project |
Councilmember Blumenfield partnered with the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI) and the Warner Center Association to launch a new all-electric shuttle service serving the West San Fernando Valley. The pilot program will operate for an initial one-year period and is funded through support from Blumenfield’s Office and the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development.
The shuttles are provided by Circuit, a LACI portfolio company and a leading provider of electric, on-demand micro transit services. Shuttles will be available for $1 per ride from 6am-8pm on weekdays and 7am-9pm on weekends within the geographic area of Warner Center. The all-electric vehicle fleet includes GEM e6 six-seat electric shuttles, Volkswagen ID Buzz vans, and an ADA-accessible Ford E-Transit van. Learn more about the program here. |
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New Additions to Warner Center Park |
In Fall 2025, Recreation and Parks completed Phase 1 of infrastructure improvements at Warner Center Park, installing new concrete pads and benches throughout the park to enhance visitor comfort and accessibility. Phase 2 is nearly complete, bringing the addition of more than 22 new trees to the park and providing increased shade for residents during the spring and summer months. Greening the Valley and enhancing local parks remain top priorities for Councilmember Blumenfield. |
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Register Now EmpowerLA Youth Conference |
Registration is officially open for the 2026 EmpowerLA Youth Conference, taking place on Saturday, June 6, 2026. Young people between the ages of 14-17 are invited to register to attend this day-long event focused on civic engagement, local government, and community impact. EmpowerLA Youth Conference attendees will explore the role the Neighborhood Council system plays in grassroots democracy, attend learning sessions on ways to be civically engaged in the community, network with like-minded young leaders, engage with City leaders, and more. Registration closes on Friday, April 24, 2026. Learn more and register here. |
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Call for Live Musicians–Madrid Theatre's 100th Anniversary Grand Re-Opening |
The Department of Cultural Affairs is seeking live musicians to create and present a family-friendly, original 12–15 minute piece (dance, music, theatre, cultural performance, or fusion) as part of the Madrid Theatre 100th Anniversary Grand Re-Opening Celebration. The Madrid Theatre, an anchor site in Councilmember Blumenfield’s designated Canoga Park Arts Hub, continues to undergo state-of-the-art renovations. More details and application can be found here. |
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Councilmember Blumenfield helped kick off a Spring Egg Hunt at Winnetka Park, where he also sponsored a shaved ice truck for the community. He thanked LA Parks staff for bringing everyone together to celebrate and enjoy a day of fun-filled activities. |
Councilmember Blumenfield joined community members at a No Kings Day rally, standing in support of democratic values and civic engagement. |
Councilmember Blumenfield joined the San Fernando Valley NAACP in recognizing and honoring community leaders that continue to uplift the diverse voices, cultures, and generations that make the SFV strong. |
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Community Events and Resources |
This week's photo, taken in 1964, is from the Los Angeles Public Library's Valley Times Collection of Canoga Park women experimenting with new dishes to add to their collections of timeless Passover recipes, which have been handed down from family to family for generations. Learn more about the photo here. |
Councilmember Bob Blumenfield 200 N Spring Street, Room 465, Los Angeles, CA 90012 Unsubscribe |
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