ADVOCATE
Policy Priorities
Combatting Homelessness
BOMA/GLA is committed to addressing the biggest crisis facing Greater Los Angeles: Homelessness.
Homelessness is a humanitarian crisis; it is a public health crisis; it is an economic crisis – and it is holding back both the people who experience it and our entire region.
BOMA/GLA is therefore working on all fronts to address this crisis.
Through our partnership with The People Concern, we have developed numerous volunteer, fundraising, and educational opportunities for our members to directly help individuals experiencing homelessness. Throughout 2022 and the beginning of 2023, we are proud to have expanded our coordination with The People Concern on public policy issues.
We are also leading the charge to tell our elected officials that it’s time for real change in every major jurisdiction across the County: Enforce existing law that keep our rights of way clear, invest in more diverse and nimble forms of temporary housing and services (such as “tiny homes”), utilize our network to help government officials identify safe housing locations, and intervene when individuals who are illegally camped refuse services.
We also need to invest in workforce/economic development that keep individuals housed in the first place, while acknowledging the mental health and addiction issues that can lead to homelessness.
With major world events coming to our region over the next several years, such as the Olympics, now is the time to advocate for bold action to address the crisis.
Building Electrification, Decarbonization, and EV Issues
As local governments across LA County look to “go green,” they are increasingly turning to measures to shift existing buildings solely towards full electrification and carbon net neutrality.
Simultaneously, California has committed to ban the sale of gas-powered vehicles by 2035, with cities around LA County looking to mandate electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure in our members’ parking lots.
BOMA/GLA is actively working with local government in the County, City of Los Angeles, Santa Monica, and Burbank to develop incentives instead of mandates wherever possible and to institute realistic timelines for electrification and decarbonization.
As the market grows for EV vehicles and our cities consider EV charging mandates for our buildings, we are actively working with local utilities, city government, and State Legislators to develop a reasonable infrastructure plan and generous subsidies to make EV charging cost-effective for owners.
Cutting Red Tape
In 2021, BOMA/GLA successfully worked with LA’s Department of Building and Safety to develop a “Fast Track” system to ensure that your permits for basic tenant improvement projects are reviewed and approved in just two days.
We are now looking to replicate and build upon this effort, working with other jurisdictions throughout LA County to explore similar fast-tracking measures to permitting projects in your buildings.
Opposing Harmful Tax Increases
BOMA/GLA was disappointed by the passage of Measure ULA in 2022, which imposed a 5.5% transfer tax on most BOMA/GLA members – a twelvefold increase from the previous rate. BOMA/GLA is continuing to monitor opportunities to undo the damage of ULA while addressing the root of the problem: Our system does not give enough voter voice to tax increases and too many loopholes exist to pass new harmful taxes.
With a net 90,000 people having left Los Angeles County in 2022, we see but another signal that the cost of living has grown too high in our region – and is taking its toll on our industry.
BOMA/GLA therefore strongly supports the Taxpayer Protection and Government Accountability Act, which will provide real oversight on tax increases and close the loopholes that have gotten many initiatives, like ULA, passed.
We are also collaborating with local government wherever possible to ensure that new taxes have their intended effect. For example, BOMA/GLA is in conversation with the City of Long Beach to ensure that a vacancy tax being considered does not inadvertently target commercial property owners unable to lease their properties or in the midst of a tenant improvement project.