Housing Agenda Coverage
November 14, 2001
Time: 06:00 PM - 07:00 PM
Station: KNX-AM Radio
Location: Los Angeles
Program: KNX 1070 NewsRadio
DAVE ZORN, anchor:
A new study released today by Loyola Marymount University
says Los Angeles is in the midst of serious shortage of
affordable housing. (sic) That's having a major negative
impact on the economy and on L.A.'s quality of life.
LUIS TORRES reporting:
The title of the study is "Rebuilding the Dream: A New
Housing Agenda for Los Angeles." One of the principal
authors of the study is Dr. Fernando Guerra, director of
the Center for the Study of Los Angeles. He tells KNX there
is no other word for it--it is a crisis. He says the lack
of housing in the city results in more blight, results in
longer commutes from the distant suburbs, resulting in more
traffic congestion and pollution.
He says the study and an accompanying public-opinion poll
confirm there's a housing shortage of crisis proportions
and that local government officials are not committed to
implementing policies to promote housing development rather
than commercial development.
Dr. FERNANDO GUERRA (Center for the Study of Los Angeles):
All of those are arbitrary obstacles, and that we can
overcome this by, number one, making sure that our elected
leaders and our civic leaders understand the need for
housing, that they respond to the majority of people who
have housing problems, not the minority of people who
already are settled in for their housing and don't want
change. One of the constant things about Los Angeles is
change, and when we fight change, we create instability.
TORRES: Dr. Fernando Guerra of Loyola Marymount University.
I'm Luis Torres, KNX 1070.