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Reposted by Joe Cohen

Shane Phillips @shanedphillips.bsky.social · 9h

Another entry for the "impact fee nexus studies are bullshit" file! Student enrollment at LA Unified has fallen for 24 years straight, ~48%. And yet! We have an impact fee because: "As new development occurs, additional school facilities will be needed to house the growth in the student population."

A screenshot from the Los Angeles Unified School District 2026 School Impact Fee Justification Study. The text reads: "Education Code Section 17620 allows school districts to assess fees on new residential and
commercial construction within their respective boundaries. These fees can be collected without
special city or county approval, to fund the construction of school facilities necessitated by the
impact of residential and commercial development activity. In addition, these fees can also be used
to fund the reconstruction of school facilities to accommodate students generated from new
development projects. Fees are collected immediately prior to the time of the issuance of a building
permit by the City or the County.
As new development occurs, additional school facilities will be needed to house the growth in the
student population. Because of the high cost associated with constructing school facilities and the
District’s limited budget, outside funding sources are required for future school construction. State
and local funding sources for the construction and/or reconstruction of school facilities are limited."

Source: https://4.files.edl.io/0bc1/05/22/26/161250-26fd9501-6360-44fb-a158-3bb37a543fd9.pdf

A chart showing TK-12 enrollment in LAUSD declining in every year since 2002-03, from 724,000 in that year to 408,000 in 24-25, and a projected 376,000 in 27-28.
Source: https://gpsnla.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Facing-the-Decline-Building-A-Resilient-LAUSD_FINAL.pdf

Current school impact fee rates effective August 11, 2026, per square foot by construction type:
Residential: $5.38
Commercial/industrial: $0.87
Rental Self Storage: $0.32
Parking Structure: $0.44

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Reposted by Joe Cohen

Joe Linton @lintonjoe.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

I quantified some of the repaving issues I've been observing, and it's even worse than I expected. I don't understand why this is not a scandal for equity-minded central and south L.A. councilmembers... or even all councilmembers.

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Joe Cohen @cohenhouse.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Shame on Sierra Club for trying to stop what will likely be the best opportunity in a generation to fight climate change

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Reposted by Joe Cohen

Kirsten Bladh @kerstanley.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

The California DMV will now revoke someone’s license if they injure someone *after* having *four* DUIs. Our laws were written to protect drivers from any consequences, at the cost of not protecting their victims from death and injury. The right to drive a car may as well be in the constitution.

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Joe Cohen @cohenhouse.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

I'm sorry... what's up with this one random 32,000 sf lot when all the other lots in the subdivision are 4,000 - 5,000sf 🤣

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Joe Cohen @cohenhouse.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Remember the 19 acre development site in Valley Glen? Today Regent Properties filed a development application for 303 for-sale homes, w/ a single-family & a condo component. higher than the ~175 units allowed by base zoning, less than ~600 units that could be achieved with state density bonus.

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Joe Cohen @cohenhouse.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

What type of pet is that logo supposed to be?

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Joe Cohen @cohenhouse.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

They should do a CicLAvia on The 10 from Santa Monica to DTLA sometime

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Reposted by Joe Cohen

Sam @samd.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

nithya is likely going to win because she is assembling a broad cross-ideological coalition of people who actually *care* about making LA better instead of another four years of incompetence and decline donate to @nithyaforthecity.bsky.social here: secure.actblue.com/donate/nithy...

Raman takes the lead
Whom L.A. likely voters support for mayor
Karen Bass
28%
Nithya Raman
Undecided
33%
39%

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Reposted by Joe Cohen

Jason Linkins @dceiver.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

"We're told some of the attendees were shocked the former Republican governor would host Raman, a democratic socialist. But after hearing her pitch for tackling L.A.'s problems, some who came in skeptical walked away impressed." www.tmz.com/2026/09/25/a...

tmz.com

Arnold Schwarzenegger Introduces L.A. Mayoral Candidate Nithya Raman to Power Players

Arnold Schwarzenegger is opening doors for Los Angeles mayoral candidate Nithya Raman ... bringing her face-to-face with some of the city's biggest power players, TMZ has learned.

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Reposted by Joe Cohen

Nithya Raman @nithyaforthecity.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Stay safe out there, LA. Dangerous, rabid super PACs are everywhere.

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Joe Cohen @cohenhouse.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Another dumb American code requirement! basin.la/articles/nin...

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Reposted by Joe Cohen

Brandon D. Wilson @geniusbastard.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

LFG! Sorry Mayor Bass. I have been voting for you for nearly 20 years but I cannot do it one more time. We need new leadership.

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Reposted by Joe Cohen

Warren Wells, AICP @warrenjwells.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

The bougiefication of Rockridge, Oakland, fueled by single family zoning. These are the same three homes in 2019 and today. With different zoning, capital would go toward converting these 100-year old homes into multi-family housing, a 2-block walk from BART. Instead, people are just upgrading.

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Joe Cohen @cohenhouse.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

The California Post believes Los Angeles is being ruined by two things: greedy landlords and socialists

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Joe Cohen @cohenhouse.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

According to Realtor(.)com, LA ranks last for housing affordability "12 out of a possible 100 points, driven by a worst-in-class affordability component score of just 0.9." "the city is building less than half the national average of homes per resident." www.realtor.com/news/trends/...

realtor.com

L.A. Mayor Karen Bass Defends Her Housing Record as City Scores Worst for Affordability

Los Angeles has earned the lowest housing affordability score among the 100 biggest metros, despite Mayor Bass' measures to build more homes.

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Joe Cohen @cohenhouse.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Anyone really good at identifying locations in Los Angeles?

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Reposted by Joe Cohen

Max Dubler 🏳️‍🌈 @maxdubler.com · 15/09/2026

We need to reform the utilities to make them care about housing.

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Joe Cohen @cohenhouse.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

First meeting as a Santa Monica Landmarks Commissioner in the books! ✅

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Reposted by Joe Cohen

Andrew Solmssen @solmssen.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

I’ve lived in West Hollywood for 20 years and my only regret is that I cannot vote for Nithya Raman for mayor of Los Angeles. Help make LA a better city, vote for change, vote for Nithya.

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Reposted by Joe Cohen

Muhammad Alameldin @muhammadspeaks.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

🚨Affordable Housing Alert in our quest to reverse segregation (AFFH) New HDFC regulations would significantly weaken the incentive to fund affordable housing in high- and highest-resource neighborhoods, which have been key to shifting where development happens: www.hdfc.ca.gov/wp-content/u...

hdfc.ca.gov

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Reposted by Joe Cohen

Nithya Raman @nithyaforthecity.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

For your consideration: A mayor who will fight for LA, every day. Catch this ad on NBC tonight, before and after the Emmys.

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Reposted by Joe Cohen

Dan Shafer @danshafer.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Terrific, must-read piece on David Crowley from Karen Tumulty at the Washington Post: www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

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Reposted by Joe Cohen

Urban Land Rent 🇸🇴🚰 @urbanlandrent.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

This is why we should run Prop 15 again, make it revenue neutral, and come with cuts to income/ cap gains taxes tbh

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Reposted by Joe Cohen

Max Dubler 🏳️‍🌈 @maxdubler.com · 13/09/2026

Refusing to support the overwhelmingly pro trans political party because it includes some imperfect allies harms our trans friends.

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Reposted by Joe Cohen

Nithya Raman @nithyaforthecity.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

For the next 30 years, Los Angeles will be spending $100 million of YOUR taxpayer money EVERY YEAR to pay for the convention center. That’s enough money to: - Hire 625 firefighters - Remove 185 mil sq ft of graffiti See what else $100 million buys: convention.nithyaforthecity.com

convention.nithyaforthecity.com

What $100 Million Could Buy

Los Angeles is paying $100 Million a year for the next 30 years to pay for the Convention Center expansion. See what that money could have funded instead.

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Joe Cohen @cohenhouse.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Apple should have brought back the iBook name for the iPhone Duo. It feels like a fundamentally different product from an iPhone

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Reposted by Joe Cohen

Nithya Raman @nithyaforthecity.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

BIG-TIME boondoggle.

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Joe Cohen @cohenhouse.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

IMO the optimal policy for AVs is to let them get as cheap as possible in order to replace car ownership, then apply a road tax based on congestion and availability of alternatives, and use that revenue to fund transit.

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Joe Cohen @cohenhouse.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

Two things can be true at once: 1. Elon Musk is a fascist and a terrible person 2. He/his company engineers often make really good product/engineering decisions. Well, the engineers at Tesla have made what I think might turn out to be a brilliant decision with the design of Cybercab...

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Joe Cohen @cohenhouse.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

You should know the name Nick Gerda. (this is who Nick Shirley thinks he is.) The same reporter that has exposed all of LAHSA's corruption also brought down OC Supervisor Andrew Do. He's Pablo Torre for local government agencies that most people find too boring to investigate.

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Joe Cohen @cohenhouse.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

I can't believe LAist didn't win a Pulitzer in 2025 for their reporting on all the various scandals at LAHSA.

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Reposted by Joe Cohen

Matt is Just Trying His Best @thegrampus.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Whoever decided to promote Coyote vs Acme by letting Wile E do an AMA using only signs deserves all the praise.

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Reposted by Joe Cohen

Stan Oklobdzija @stano.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

California's ruling Democrats are just fundamentally unserious about governing this state. They pulled the coward's veto on a bill that'd make it easier to build condos.

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Reposted by Joe Cohen

Stan Oklobdzija @stano.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

@gavinnewsom.bsky.social can still call a special session and include this bill so those barnacles who killed it have to put their names on the record. Big put up or shut up moment for a man who wants to be the President!

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Reposted by Joe Cohen

Stan Oklobdzija @stano.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

The reason this died is probably because California's trial attorneys were upset at losing potential business suing condo developers. So they leaned on a few key legislators to delay this bill long enough to kill it. Great job making all of us poorer and encouraging more people to leave CA!

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Joe Cohen @cohenhouse.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

WTF!! Only in California can a bill pass unanimously in both chambers of the legislature but still be dead because of a timing issue

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Joe Cohen @cohenhouse.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Given that windowless bedrooms are back in the news, I think I should reshare my article from five years ago about dormzilla: substack.com/@housingplay...

substack.com

Are We Justified in Hating the Dorm?

How UC Santa Barbra got to the point where a "windowless" dorm for 4,500 students is an improvement on the status quo

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Reposted by Joe Cohen

Max Dubler 🏳️‍🌈 @maxdubler.com · 31/08/2026

It’s a good thing this architecture professor got the windowless bedrooms that were often marketed to low-income college students banned. Otherwise these kids might be forced to live in inhumane conditions. (Picture completely unrelated.)

UC Santa Barbara student Kris Hotchkiss lives in a van borrowed from Rahyen Heilmann, a close friend. The two friends renovated it to include a bed, fridge and ceiling fan. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
California college students live in vans and hotels as campus housing plans spark backlash

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Reposted by Joe Cohen

Nithya Raman @nithyaforthecity.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Angelenos have every right to expect more. If you're ready for change, I want you to join us.

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Reposted by Joe Cohen

Nithya Raman @nithyaforthecity.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Los Angeles has a childcare crisis. The most rewarding experience of my life has been raising my twins in Los Angeles. But many LA families are having to face a choice between earning a paycheck and knowing their child is safe and cared for.

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Joe Cohen @cohenhouse.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Do you think they accept Apple Pay?

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Joe Cohen @cohenhouse.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Update: the vote is going to be on Monday. Keep calling today and this weekend!

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Reposted by Joe Cohen

Nithya Raman @nithyaforthecity.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

I have a photograph of the great Dolly Parton with my predecessor, Tom Labonge, hanging framed in my office. This is its story...

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Joe Cohen @cohenhouse.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Call your California State Senator RIGHT NOW and tell them to vote "yes" on AB 1903 to fix condo defect liability! findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov

findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov

Find Your California Representatives

Use your residential address to find your California State Senate and Assembly representatives.

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Reposted by Joe Cohen

Alex Ip 葉清霖 @alexip718.com · 26/08/2026

Jesus Christ. All green card interviews worldwide are paused indefinitely

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Joe Cohen @cohenhouse.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Condo defect reform faces its final vote in the CA Senate this week. I've heard a lot of Senators are on the fence. Have you called your State Senator yet? findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov

findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov

Find Your California Representatives

Use your residential address to find your California State Senate and Assembly representatives.

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Reposted by Joe Cohen

🏢 David L 🚎 @davidl206.city · 24/08/2026

Mayor Wilson managed, in the first year of her term, to do something that has eluded 30 years of previous mayors. I’m 50. The eastbound 8 has been delayed along Denny during rush hour during my entire adult life. Not anymore.

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Joe Cohen @cohenhouse.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

I hate doing research on Los Angeles infrastructure costs, because a bunch of sources will say it costs $200k per-mile to build a bus lane... And then I look up the costs for a specific project and it turns out to be $34 million per mile.

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