Growing L.A. for everyone

Re “Time to talk about L.A.’s future is now,” editorial, March 20

The anti-development Measure S has been resoundingly defeated. The remaining question is how Los Angeles can best develop itself not just for the wealthy.

As we expand transit and plan for a more walkable, bikeable city, we must ensure these public investments don’t gentrify neighborhoods and push out long-time residents. L.A. continues to lead the nation in housing unaffordability and homelessness.

It is not enough to say let’s build a denser, more sustainable city; affordable housing for the lowest income earners who depend on transit the most and anti-displacement policies must be at the center of these plans. Investments must lead to high-road employment of local residents. We must consistently evaluate development plans to ensure they stabilize struggling communities.

These are hardly new conversation topics, but the influence of developers and others who benefit the most from the status quo has stymied past efforts to move forward solutions to what is a full-blown housing crisis. Hopefully now, we will see a renewed citywide commitment to equitable community development and renter protections. Laura Raymond

Los Angeles The writer is campaign director at the Alliance for Community Transit Los Angeles.