Liam Dillon
@liamjdillon.com
Covering housing in Los Angeles and California for POLITICO.
Early days of the Left-YIMBY synthesis in New York via @economist.com www.economist.com/united-state...
September 16, 2026 at 4:42 PM
Early days of the Left-YIMBY synthesis in New York via @economist.com www.economist.com/united-state...
Of the many problems facing SRO Housing, Skid Row's largest homeless housing provider, one is familiar to many developers — market-rate and affordable — in LA. Its CEO told me that the opening of new building was delayed because the city-run utility didn't connect electricity.
September 15, 2026 at 7:26 PM
Of the many problems facing SRO Housing, Skid Row's largest homeless housing provider, one is familiar to many developers — market-rate and affordable — in LA. Its CEO told me that the opening of new building was delayed because the city-run utility didn't connect electricity.
NEW: The largest provider of housing for formerly homeless residents in Los Angeles' Skid Row is facing financial collapse after years of deficits and warnings to the city www.politico.com/news/2026/09...
Major housing nonprofit in Los Angeles’ Skid Row facing financial collapse
The prospect of SRO Housing Corp., which operates 2,500 units of affordable housing, going under creates a significant new problem for Mayor Karen Bass and other local political leaders.
www.politico.com
September 15, 2026 at 4:26 PM
NEW: The largest provider of housing for formerly homeless residents in Los Angeles' Skid Row is facing financial collapse after years of deficits and warnings to the city www.politico.com/news/2026/09...
Fascinating new @ppicnotes.bsky.social study found 2014's Proposition 47, which reclassified some drug and property crimes from felonies to misdemeanors, increased California's street homeless population by 10 percent in the years following the initiative's passage www.politico.com/newsletters/...
The latest turn in Sacramento’s wildfire fight
www.politico.com
August 27, 2026 at 9:38 PM
Fascinating new @ppicnotes.bsky.social study found 2014's Proposition 47, which reclassified some drug and property crimes from felonies to misdemeanors, increased California's street homeless population by 10 percent in the years following the initiative's passage www.politico.com/newsletters/...
Bay Area lawmaker @buffywicks.bsky.social's bid to advance a Los Angeles affordable housing development just passed the state Senate, leaving it an Assembly vote away from clearing the Legislature.
Even though LA Mayor Karen Bass and others oppose the project they've not fought Wicks' bill.
Even though LA Mayor Karen Bass and others oppose the project they've not fought Wicks' bill.
August 27, 2026 at 9:31 PM
Bay Area lawmaker @buffywicks.bsky.social's bid to advance a Los Angeles affordable housing development just passed the state Senate, leaving it an Assembly vote away from clearing the Legislature.
Even though LA Mayor Karen Bass and others oppose the project they've not fought Wicks' bill.
Even though LA Mayor Karen Bass and others oppose the project they've not fought Wicks' bill.
Gov. @gavinnewsom.bsky.social says home construction is up 59% in California
It’s not!
www.politico.com/news/2026/08...
It’s not!
www.politico.com/news/2026/08...
Newsom’s big housing claim is built on bad data
California Gov. Gavin Newsom claimed that housing production has increased 59 percent during his tenure. But his calculation left out San Diego and other large cities. 'It's a pretty basic error,' one...
www.politico.com
August 27, 2026 at 3:29 PM
Gov. @gavinnewsom.bsky.social says home construction is up 59% in California
It’s not!
www.politico.com/news/2026/08...
It’s not!
www.politico.com/news/2026/08...
NEW: Asm. @buffywicks.bsky.social
is jumping into an affordable housing fight in Los Angeles using last-minute legislation to boost a controversial development a block from the beach in Venice that's opposed by @karenbassla.bsky.social subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2026...
is jumping into an affordable housing fight in Los Angeles using last-minute legislation to boost a controversial development a block from the beach in Venice that's opposed by @karenbassla.bsky.social subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2026...
POLITICO Pro: Bay Area lawmaker steps into a nasty LA housing fight
Assemblymember Buffy Wicks is using last-minute legislation to keep a controversial low-income housing project a block from the Pacific Ocean alive.
subscriber.politicopro.com
August 22, 2026 at 1:14 AM
NEW: Asm. @buffywicks.bsky.social
is jumping into an affordable housing fight in Los Angeles using last-minute legislation to boost a controversial development a block from the beach in Venice that's opposed by @karenbassla.bsky.social subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2026...
is jumping into an affordable housing fight in Los Angeles using last-minute legislation to boost a controversial development a block from the beach in Venice that's opposed by @karenbassla.bsky.social subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2026...
Homelessness pendulum shifting back from temporary housing in individual rooms to congregate shelters.
LA Mayor Bass told @latimes.com the city will need to move away from expensive hotels and motels and toward high-quality homeless shelters. www.latimes.com/california/s...
LA Mayor Bass told @latimes.com the city will need to move away from expensive hotels and motels and toward high-quality homeless shelters. www.latimes.com/california/s...
Bass’ Inside Safe teams went to these places again and again. But so did the homeless
Mayor Karen Bass' Inside Safe outreach teams went 25 times to a one-mile stretch along the 110 Freeway in South L.A. The area stands as a symbol of the challenges facing the program.
www.latimes.com
August 10, 2026 at 5:54 PM
Homelessness pendulum shifting back from temporary housing in individual rooms to congregate shelters.
LA Mayor Bass told @latimes.com the city will need to move away from expensive hotels and motels and toward high-quality homeless shelters. www.latimes.com/california/s...
LA Mayor Bass told @latimes.com the city will need to move away from expensive hotels and motels and toward high-quality homeless shelters. www.latimes.com/california/s...
Some rubber meeting road in Left-YIMBY world. Mamdani's pick for a key housing position facing pushback from city council members for blaming lack of affordable housing on "wealthy homeowner cartels" and dumping on community benefit agreements www.politico.com/newsletters/...
Mamdani pick for crucial housing panel on thin ice with City Council
www.politico.com
August 6, 2026 at 8:41 PM
Some rubber meeting road in Left-YIMBY world. Mamdani's pick for a key housing position facing pushback from city council members for blaming lack of affordable housing on "wealthy homeowner cartels" and dumping on community benefit agreements www.politico.com/newsletters/...
“The whole point of preservation is to maintain the historic look,” Cowan said. “Don’t buy a house next to an airport and complain about the noise.”
Great piece on historic preservation battles in Hollywood in @latimes.com www.latimes.com/california/s...
Great piece on historic preservation battles in Hollywood in @latimes.com www.latimes.com/california/s...
'It's not like I'm painting a tiger on my house': Sunset Square squabbles over its HPOZ rules
A battle is brewing in Sunset Square, where residents are fighting over HPOZ rules. Some say the historic protections are saving the neighborhood. Others claim they're destroying it.
www.latimes.com
August 5, 2026 at 5:11 PM
“The whole point of preservation is to maintain the historic look,” Cowan said. “Don’t buy a house next to an airport and complain about the noise.”
Great piece on historic preservation battles in Hollywood in @latimes.com www.latimes.com/california/s...
Great piece on historic preservation battles in Hollywood in @latimes.com www.latimes.com/california/s...
Reposted by Liam Dillon
Fantastic reporting here by Libby Rainey that confirms what we've been hearing about the "clean zones" around LA28 venues: "Carter Hewgley, chief strategy officer for L.A. County’s Department of Homeless Services and Housing, said his office had been told to plan for perimeters as wide as a mile"
The LA Olympics is expected to displace unhoused people living around venues. So what's the plan?
L.A. officials say people living on the streets will likely have to leave certain areas come 2028. They don't know how they'll be moved or who will pay for it.
laist.com
August 4, 2026 at 7:46 PM
Fantastic reporting here by Libby Rainey that confirms what we've been hearing about the "clean zones" around LA28 venues: "Carter Hewgley, chief strategy officer for L.A. County’s Department of Homeless Services and Housing, said his office had been told to plan for perimeters as wide as a mile"
Two Los Angeles businessmen told Pacific Palisades residents this week that they’re planning a $250 million investment in rebuilding the community and that state Sen.
@benallenca.bsky.social
was on their board. But Allen said that’s not true. www.politico.com/news/2026/07...
@benallenca.bsky.social
was on their board. But Allen said that’s not true. www.politico.com/news/2026/07...
Two LA businessmen say a California state senator is part of their nonprofit to help wildfire victims. He isn't.
Lee West and Steven Dietz plan to raise up to $250 million to buy lots and build homes in Pacific Palisades. They told residents that state Sen. Ben Allen was on their nonprofit board, but Allen told ...
www.politico.com
August 1, 2026 at 12:40 AM
Two Los Angeles businessmen told Pacific Palisades residents this week that they’re planning a $250 million investment in rebuilding the community and that state Sen.
@benallenca.bsky.social
was on their board. But Allen said that’s not true. www.politico.com/news/2026/07...
@benallenca.bsky.social
was on their board. But Allen said that’s not true. www.politico.com/news/2026/07...
Fascinating debate in LA wildfire recovery areas where a decade's worth of state laws aiming to increase density in single-family home neighborhoods is clashing with stiff anti-developer sentiment among rebuilding residents www.politico.com/news/2026/07...
'We can have seven homes or we can have 70.' In wake of Los Angeles wildfires, homeowners and developers clash
Many LA wildfire survivors are united against 'predatory developers,' who they say are exploiting vulnerable residents and changing their communities. Lawmakers are trying to balance the need to build...
www.politico.com
July 31, 2026 at 4:23 PM
Fascinating debate in LA wildfire recovery areas where a decade's worth of state laws aiming to increase density in single-family home neighborhoods is clashing with stiff anti-developer sentiment among rebuilding residents www.politico.com/news/2026/07...
Absolute dismal satisfaction rates for federal, state, local government among LA wildfire survivors in survey released today static1.squarespace.com/static/6792c...
July 23, 2026 at 4:51 PM
Absolute dismal satisfaction rates for federal, state, local government among LA wildfire survivors in survey released today static1.squarespace.com/static/6792c...
New owner of LA's downtown "Graffiti Towers" will remove the graffiti immediately but plans to memorialize it in a coffee table book. www.latimes.com/business/sto...
Graffiti towers set to be cleared for cleanup and sale
Work cleaning the Oceanwide Plaza skyscrapers — known informally as Graffiti Towers — will begin immediately, according to the $517-million sale agreement tentatively approved by a federal judge.
www.latimes.com
July 22, 2026 at 12:30 AM
New owner of LA's downtown "Graffiti Towers" will remove the graffiti immediately but plans to memorialize it in a coffee table book. www.latimes.com/business/sto...
Rebuilding in Pacific Palisades and Altadena from the 2025 LA wildfires is close or at to some milestones, per
@politico.com tracker:
* 148 completed homes
* Almost half of the 9,900 properties with destroyed homes have filed permits to rebuild
@politico.com tracker:
* 148 completed homes
* Almost half of the 9,900 properties with destroyed homes have filed permits to rebuild
July 20, 2026 at 4:39 PM
Rebuilding in Pacific Palisades and Altadena from the 2025 LA wildfires is close or at to some milestones, per
@politico.com tracker:
* 148 completed homes
* Almost half of the 9,900 properties with destroyed homes have filed permits to rebuild
@politico.com tracker:
* 148 completed homes
* Almost half of the 9,900 properties with destroyed homes have filed permits to rebuild
Reposted by Liam Dillon
A big issue to the ROAD to Housing Act is that much of it asks HUD to do things, which it will struggle with since staffing is down 30% in the DOGE cuts www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...
New report from me at National Association of Affordable Housing Lenders (NAAHL) breaking down what happens now that the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act is law.
Key takeaways:
-No provisions in the…...
New report from me at National Association of Affordable Housing Lenders (NAAHL) breaking down what happens now that the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act is law.
Key takeaways:
-No provisions in the ...
www.linkedin.com
July 13, 2026 at 4:35 PM
A big issue to the ROAD to Housing Act is that much of it asks HUD to do things, which it will struggle with since staffing is down 30% in the DOGE cuts www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...
Am I wrong that this is Teddy Roosevelt for some reason??
June 12, 2026 at 7:22 PM
Am I wrong that this is Teddy Roosevelt for some reason??
AP just called the LA mayor's race. It's Bass-Raman.
Bass will face progressive challenger in LA mayor runoff
Bass will face progressive challenger in LA mayor runoff
Incumbent Karen Bass will compete with City Councilmember Nithya Raman in November after Spencer Pratt failed to advance from the primary.
dlvr.it
June 8, 2026 at 11:59 PM
AP just called the LA mayor's race. It's Bass-Raman.
With @nithyaforthecity.bsky.social in line to make the mayoral runoff in Los Angeles, take a look at how she and NYC Mayor @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social are attempting to end the left's civil war over housing — the most important affordability issue in both cities. www.politico.com/news/2026/03...
The left’s housing civil war is ending
For a decade, progressives argued over whether greedy landlords or blocked construction caused the housing crisis. Zohran Mamdani and Nithya Raman say the answer is both.
www.politico.com
June 8, 2026 at 3:56 PM
With @nithyaforthecity.bsky.social in line to make the mayoral runoff in Los Angeles, take a look at how she and NYC Mayor @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social are attempting to end the left's civil war over housing — the most important affordability issue in both cities. www.politico.com/news/2026/03...
Reposted by Liam Dillon
Nithya Raman surges past Spencer Pratt in L.A. mayor's race, closing in on runoff with Karen Bass
Nithya Raman surges past Spencer Pratt in L.A. mayor’s race, closing in on runoff with Karen Bass
Nithya Raman pulled ahead of Spencer Pratt in the race to get into the Nov. 3 mayoral runoff on Sunday, five days after the vote counting began.
www.latimes.com
June 8, 2026 at 12:28 AM
Nithya Raman surges past Spencer Pratt in L.A. mayor's race, closing in on runoff with Karen Bass
Obviously the Raman-Pratt battle is the headline but it’s also quite significant that Bass’ high-water mark appears to have been the first drop of results where she was over 38%. Now she’s below 35%.
Especially interesting compared to what happened four years ago
Especially interesting compared to what happened four years ago
Raman cuts deeper into Pratt's lead as new votes are tallied
Raman cuts deeper into Pratt's lead as new votes are tallied
The latest vote tally Saturday evening showed Nithya Raman closing the gap with Spencer Pratt in the L.A. mayor's race, now behind by 1 percentage point.
www.latimes.com
June 7, 2026 at 1:42 AM
Obviously the Raman-Pratt battle is the headline but it’s also quite significant that Bass’ high-water mark appears to have been the first drop of results where she was over 38%. Now she’s below 35%.
Especially interesting compared to what happened four years ago
Especially interesting compared to what happened four years ago
Reposted by Liam Dillon
NEW: There was NOT a batch of L.A. mayor votes with zero votes for Pratt.
But there was a "lag in an automated update" to @apnews.com vote tallies that split the batch and updated Bass & Raman's votes about a minute before updating Pratt's.
Read me @latimes.com:
www.latimes.com/politics/sto...
But there was a "lag in an automated update" to @apnews.com vote tallies that split the batch and updated Bass & Raman's votes about a minute before updating Pratt's.
Read me @latimes.com:
www.latimes.com/politics/sto...
How a simple mix-up fueled false conspiracies about L.A. vote count
An update of votes for Los Angeles mayor, reported by media outlets, led some observers to believe there was a large batch of votes counted that included zero votes for candidate Spencer Pratt. There ...
www.latimes.com
June 6, 2026 at 1:52 AM
NEW: There was NOT a batch of L.A. mayor votes with zero votes for Pratt.
But there was a "lag in an automated update" to @apnews.com vote tallies that split the batch and updated Bass & Raman's votes about a minute before updating Pratt's.
Read me @latimes.com:
www.latimes.com/politics/sto...
But there was a "lag in an automated update" to @apnews.com vote tallies that split the batch and updated Bass & Raman's votes about a minute before updating Pratt's.
Read me @latimes.com:
www.latimes.com/politics/sto...
June 5, 2026 at 3:37 AM
Today's press release from @governor.ca.gov's office on homelessness is pretty congratulatory but leaves out some, uh, context.
June 4, 2026 at 9:27 PM
Today's press release from @governor.ca.gov's office on homelessness is pretty congratulatory but leaves out some, uh, context.