Los Angeles’ affordability crisis exposes its liberal hypocrisy
April 17, 2026
Los Angeles is very good at branding itself as liberal, but only 51% of Angelenos are registered democrats.
Los Angeles is grappling with a severe affordability crisis that has laid bare a deep contradiction within the city's progressive political landscape. While Angelenos overwhelmingly vote for Democrats and support affordable housing initiatives in principle, a powerful "not in my backyard" sentiment, particularly in affluent, liberal enclaves, continues to stifle the very development needed to alleviate the problem. This dynamic has created a chasm between the city’s stated values and the stark reality of its housing policies, where local interests frequently triumph over the collective good and exacerbate the economic pressures forcing many residents out. The high cost of housing has become so dire that it hampers the ability of local businesses to recruit and retain workers, and the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors this month declared housing insecurity a public health crisis.
The roots of the crisis are decades deep, stemming from policies that began after World War II. Discriminatory practices like redlining created lasting inequality, and the government's retreat from providing mental health services left many vulnerable individuals without support. More recent political decisions have compounded the issue. State laws like the Ellis Act have permitted landlords to evict tenants from rent-controlled units, further shrinking the affordable housing stock. In Los Angeles itself, the political structure grants significant power to individual city council members, who are often swayed by vocal, anti-development constituents in their districts. The result is a complex and protracted approvals process that discourages new construction and contributes to a housing production rate that has fallen dramatically since the mid-20th century.
This resistance to new housing persists despite broad public acknowledgment of the crisis. Residents in wealthier neighborhoods often express fears that increased housing density will depress property values or bring undesirable change. This opposition has had tangible policy consequences. An executive directive from Mayor Karen Bass aimed at fast-tracking 100% affordable housing projects was significantly weakened after pressure from homeowners, ultimately excluding roughly three-quarters of the city's residential land. The City Council has also voted to oppose state-level legislation intended to increase housing density near major public transit routes, arguing for local control over planning decisions.
Even well-intentioned measures have produced complicated outcomes. Measure ULA, a so-called "mansion tax" passed by voters to fund housing initiatives, is now blamed by some developers and analysts for a slowdown in apartment construction, prompting city officials to consider reforms. Critics argue that placing fees on market-rate developments to fund income-restricted housing is counterproductive, as it discourages the overall housing supply growth needed to lower costs for everyone. These policies, they contend, can inadvertently channel new development into lower-income neighborhoods more vulnerable to displacement while walling off wealthier areas from growth.
In an effort to break the logjam, city and county leaders are pursuing new strategies. Just this month, Mayor Bass announced a historic investment of over $300 million from Measure ULA funds to finance affordable housing projects and provide rental assistance. Concurrently, the recently formed L.A. County Affordable Housing Solutions Agency approved its first major round of funding, aiming to simplify the financing process and build units faster and cheaper. At the state level, a newly proposed bill, the Downtown Revitalization Act, seeks to spur high-rise residential construction near transit hubs in major cities, including Los Angeles. Whether these latest efforts can overcome the political inertia and deep-seated local opposition that have defined the crisis for a generation remains the city's most pressing challenge.
Source: nypost