The Partnership for Community Wealth
A plan to increase access to healthcare, education, and economic opportunities in Los Angeles.
The Problem
Los Angeles faces extraordinary challenges.
And they’re crippling the pathway to social and economic prosperity for millions of Angelenos.
Healthcare
Despite improvements in coverage due to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Los Angeles County still has more uninsured residents than all but 7 states.
Income Inequality
In 1979, LA ranked 19th out of the largest 150 metro regions in income inequality. Today, it ranks 7th, and middle-wage jobs are disappearing, crippling the opportunities for many Angelenos.
Abuse of Vulnerable Workers
Immigrant labor is worth $180 billion+ per year to California’s economy. However, employer retaliation against workers based on their immigration status has been rising - immigration-related retaliation claims, per the California Labor Commission, increased 1,243% between 2015 and 2017.
The Statistics
homeless
people experiencing homelessness in the city of Los Angeles (up 10% from 2022)
African Americans make up 40% of individuals experiencing homelessness despite making up only 9% of residents
“Homelessness is a by-product of racism in America”
~Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority
lack health insurance
LA County residents lack the care they need
Angelenos are 1.5x more likely than the average American to be uninsured
76% of uninsured in Los Angeles are people of color
Black residents are dying of COVID-19 at twice the rate of whites
fewer jobs
fewer employed people
Decline in well-paying jobs in the trade, construction, manufacturing, and healthcare industries between 1990 and 2012
Unemployment for Latinos in LA County stands at nearly 19%
More than 1/3rd of all Black youth are unemployed, the highest ever recorded
The Solution
It’s time for an innovative economic solution.
One that puts Angelenos on the path to better careers and ensures that the private sector is doing its part to reinvest in the community’s needs in a more holistic, transformative, and sustainable way.
- Guaranteed quality family healthcare
- Given access to skills training through an apprenticeship program
- Paid middle-class wages in a sustainable career
- Living in stable housing
- Providing for their families
- Contributing to the economic growth of their communities
Policy Proposal
The Partnership for Community Wealth is a comprehensive policy proposal designed to enrich the health of the community at large.
The partnership—a collaboration between developers, contractors, labor unions, community groups, and educational institutions—would support a 6-point certification system that evaluates and scores contractors on their record of maintaining and complying with the program.
The 6-Point Certification Program
Success Stories
All residents deserve a path to economic security and prosperity through building community wealth.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Will Community Wealth upzone single family neighborhoods
- Are projects required to adhere to the labor standards?
- Why increase project costs with labor standards?
- How does Community Wealth fit into the Housing Element and Community Plan Updates?
- Will the city be able to expedite Community Wealth projects through all departments?
No, Community Wealth is only an option where multifamily zoning already exists. Single family neighborhoods will not be upzoned because the goal of Community Wealth is to improve our communities and preserve our neighborhoods while adding more housing and creating middle-class pathways for residential construction workers.
Yes, Community Wealth projects are required to follow the labor standards. As an optional incentive policy, housing developers can choose to pursue a Community Wealth entitlement project, use base zoning, or take advantage of any other incentive policy that works best for the project.
Like the provision of Affordable housing, labor standards are a solution to the housing crisis by raising the wage minimum for an often exploited yet necessary labor force. Instead of constraining project budgets with length city processes and low-density multifamily zoning, Community Wealth saves months, if not years, in pre-construction so workers can be paid enough to not qualify for Affordable housing units or be forced to move out of the city or county. Community Wealth also gives qualifying housing projects more flexible density, FAR, set back, open space, and parking incentives that can increase the number of units built in a housing project to accommodate increased construction costs.
Community Wealth amplifies the goals of both the Housing Element and Community Plan Update processes by building upon best practices and providing immediate solutions. While the planning department works with communities and stakeholders to design new housing policies, implement the new zoning code, and create community-based incentive programs, Community Wealth is an independent city-wide optional incentive policy that will support these important efforts.
The city has implemented a similar process before and will be able to accommodate focused deadlines for Community Wealth projects with a newly created team funded by developer Community Wealth expediting fee. Community Wealth is the perfect opportunity to pilot a new method of project approval with department input provided up-front as a team – hopefully this new process can be expanded and built upon for more projects in the future.
