LA City Council Approves Power to Clear Hillside Encampments Amid Election Battles

Los Angeles city officials are poised to gain expanded authority to clear hillside properties of hazardous materials and homeless encampments, even without the owner’s consent, in a move driven by escalating wildfire concerns. The proposal, spearheaded by Councilmember Monica Rodriguez, passed the City Council on Tuesday, but has already ignited political tensions as several councilmembers face reelection challenges.

The motion allows city officials to enter “Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones” to remove materials that could contribute to wildfires, with a particular focus on homeless encampments. The move comes after years of increasing rubbish fires linked to encampments and five wildfires in Rodriguez’s district since 2017, though none were directly caused by encampments, according to the councilmember.

While the vote passed with minimal dissent, Councilmembers Hugo Soto-Martínez and Ysabel Jurado voiced concerns about the lack of specific definitions regarding what constitutes a “fire hazard,” while Eunisses Hernandez also voted against the measure without offering public comment. The division highlights a growing rift within the council’s progressive bloc, as the issue is expected to become a key point of contention in upcoming elections.

The proposal echoes previous debates surrounding the city’s anti-encampment law, Municipal Code section 41.18, which allows for the designation of no-camping zones near sensitive areas. Soto-Martínez and Hernandez previously opposed 41.18, arguing it simply displaced individuals experiencing homelessness without addressing the underlying issues. Now, challengers are already seizing on their opposition to Rodriguez’s proposal as evidence of prioritizing ideology over public safety.

Maria Lou Calanche, a nonprofit leader running against Hernandez in District 1, lives in a “Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone” and expressed concern over the presence of encampments in nearby Debs Park. She indicated she would consider highlighting Hernandez’s “no” vote in campaign materials, framing it as a failure to prioritize citizen safety. Hernandez, however, defended her vote, stating the proposal lacks clear definitions and could lead to inconsistent enforcement and legal challenges.

In District 13, Dylan Kendall, a nonprofit founder challenging Soto-Martínez, described the proposal as “common sense” and criticized her opponent’s vote as “irresponsible.” Her district includes areas like Elysian Heights and Silver Lake, which are considered high fire risk zones. Kendall emphasized the dangers posed by encampments with exposed wiring and flammable materials.

Soto-Martínez initially supported a motion to request a report on necessary municipal code changes, but Rodriguez amended the proposal to directly request the city attorney draft the changes, citing the urgency of preventing fires. He also expressed concern that the expanded authority could be used to simply displace homeless individuals.

Councilmember Nithya Raman, who is currently running for mayor against incumbent Karen Bass, voted in favor of the motion, stating the need to resolve the issue of accessing private property in high-risk zones to mitigate fire danger. Raman previously opposed 41.18, demonstrating a nuanced position within the progressive bloc.

The debate over the hillside encampment issue is seen as less clear-cut than the previous controversy surrounding 41.18, but still carries significant political weight. Former Councilmember Mike Bonin, now at Cal State LA’s Pat Brown Institute for Public Affairs, suggested the issue is being deliberately framed as a binary choice to create political division.

The vote comes amid a broader landscape of political maneuvering in Los Angeles. Mayor Karen Bass invoked her karate training to signal her readiness to fight off a challenge from Raman, while the Los Angeles Unified School District board approved potential layoffs amid a looming budget crisis. UCLA fired its chief financial officer over discrepancies in budget reporting, and Casey Wasserman, chair of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, faces calls to step down over past emails with convicted sex offender Ghislaine Maxwell.

A coalition of business and hotel industry leaders is also pushing for a November ballot measure to repeal the city’s gross receipts tax, a move that could create an $800 million budget shortfall. Meanwhile, candidates and residents have until February 28th to submit arguments for or against three city ballot measures related to cannabis and hotel taxes.

The Los Angeles Police Protective League is also contributing $278,000 to support the reelection of Councilmember Traci Park, and candidate Jose Ugarte, running to replace Curren Price in District 9, has agreed to pay a $25,000 fine for an ethics violation related to undisclosed financial interests.