Voters Reject Measure S

Measure S, the hotly debated proposal that would have temporarily halted construction of projects larger, taller and denser than current limits allowed in the city of Los Angeles and its Valley neighborhoods failed to pass in Tuesday’s election. Amid a historically low turnout of 11 percent, voters defeated the measure with nearly 69 percent disapproving, compared to the 31 percent that approved it, according to the L.A. Times. L.A. city Mayor Eric Garcetti, who won re-election Tuesday, opposed the measure, as did the L.A. County Board of Supervisors. Originally called the Neighborhood Integrity Initiative and backed by the Coalition to Preserve LA with sponsorship and primary funding by L.A.’s AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Measure S would have mandated a two-year stop to most new construction, specifically those projects that needed exceptions to city limits on height, size and density. It was proposed in November. Supporters said the measure would stop local politicians from approving mega-projects that intensify development. It also aimed to eliminate spot-zoning, which are zoning changes to specific areas for projects, and to stop specific-area spot amendments to the city’s General Plan. It also called on the city to accelerate updating the city’s 35 neighborhood plans, 29 of which are more than 15 years old. Developers and real estate investors fought the measure, and said it would sharply curtail almost all new construction during a declared housing crisis, thus increasing demand and sending home costs and rental rates soaring. They also raised concern about the moratorium’s potential impacts on homelessness.