Sheila Kuehl, Mark Ridley-Thomas, Kathryn Barger, Janice Hahn and Hilda Solis; Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors
Sheila Kuehl, Mark Ridley-Thomas, Kathryn Barger, Janice Hahn and Hilda Solis
Board of Supervisors at Los Angeles County
Sheila Kuehl, Mark Ridley-Thomas, Kathryn Barger, Janice Hahn and Hilda Solis together have more power and have jurisdiction over more people than 41 governors in the United States. That’s because they make up the board of supervisors for the most populous county in the country.
They also have tremendous power and influence over the real estate world. For example, Los Angeles County is quite an active player in development and land buys to create permanent supportive housing or affordable multifamily projects. The historically diverse board also uses its budget and discretionary power for massive landmark projects. Earlier this year, it approved the $650 million redesign at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
But this year, more than ever, the county has controlled the fate of tenants and landlords, due to the coronavirus pandemic and economic shutdowns. After Gov. Gavin Newsom lifted restrictions on eviction moratoriums, the board of supervisors acted to protect tenants, and not knowing how long the pandemic would last, every month the board extended that measure until the legislature finally imposed a statewide plan into 2021.
The board also worked on several other major measures to ease the pandemic strain, like launching a $100 million rent relief program for apartment dwellers struggling to get by. They’ve also flexed their muscle when Newsom and the state of California said L.A. County could reopen indoor shopping centers and card rooms, but the supervisors and the county health officials maintained restrictions at the time on those sectors. That led to a lawsuit from retail owners, including Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield. But it showed the county has discretion over major land use issues.
The county will continue to struggle mightily due to the pandemic and unemployment, and the board of supervisors will play a major role in directing L.A. out of this hole. About a quarter of California’s coronavirus deaths are in L.A. County. Meanwhile, tens of thousands of L.A. households are in serious financial trouble. According to a recent survey, almost 40,000 households missed rent at least three times over the summer. That also means there’s an incredible strain on landlords.
After the most recent election, the board will again make history with an all-female supervisor roster. Mark Ridley-Thomas is set to return to the L.A. City Council, and former state Sen. Holly Mitchell will take his place.—G.C.
