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Ballot measure proposes building a better L.A.

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Proponents of a ballot initiative that would give developers incentives to build affordable housing units near transit hubs submitted nearly 100,000 signatures to the Los Angeles city clerk today in a bid to qualify the measure for the November ballot.

The Build Better L.A. initiative needs 61,487 signatures from registered voters in order to qualify for the ballot. The signatures on the submitted petition will now undergo verification by the city clerk’s office.

Proponents say the initiative calls for incentives for developers to build more affordable residential units near transit hubs and would require a percentage of the units that require amendments to existing zoning and planning rules to be affordable.

The initiative would also establish local hire rules, which include standards for wages and working conditions.

Los Angeles County Federation of Labor Executive Secretary-Treasurer Rusty Hicks, who formed the Build Better L.A. coalition, said proponents are “grateful to the nearly 100,000 Angelenos who signed and have faith that our city can do better.”

“The voters in Los Angeles will soon not only get the opportunity to vote on the future of our country, but they will vote on an initiative that brings housing people can actually afford and good, local jobs they could rely on,’ Hicks said.

Critics of the measure said it would lead to more developments that require exceptions to be made to existing zoning rules that limit the height and density of projects.

Backers of the Neighborhood Integrity Initiative —which is proposed for the March 2017 ballot—said in a statement that the Build Better L.A. measure “will boost gridlock and hasten demolitions in rent-stabilized communities, all while accelerating L.A.’s price-gouging luxury housing craze.”

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