ADVOCACY

For 20 years, the LA Fashion District BID has been a champion for local businesses and property owners, serving as a connector between our stakeholders and the City. On a weekly basis, we help resolve issues that would otherwise make doing business in the Fashion District an inconvenient and often difficult task. Little things that make a big impact - like ensuring businesses have proper loading zones, access to mail boxes, connection to tenant improvement resources, and neighborhood beautification (like murals!) - all play an important role in making the district an attractive place for business and residents.

Earlier this year, the LA Fashion District Board of Directors outlined the priorities for the BID moving forward. Among the top focus points was increased pro-active advocacy, specifically on issues regarding homelessness, zoning, infrastructure and economic development. The BID has strategically targeted these four key issues and has already seen results in all categories.


For the last 12 months, BID staff has worked to educate City officials and demand resources to address homeless issues in the Fashion District. This included multiple meetings with Councilmember Jose Huizar and District 14 Downtown Area Director, Ari Simon, LAPD Central Division Captain Marc Reina and Senior Lead Officer (SLO) Jamilah Jones Linton, and the Mayor's Homeless Policy Advisor, Alisa Orduna. In fact, the BID has been documenting homeless issues in the Fashion District and communicating them with the Councilmember's office and the City on a weekly basis. On average we make 100 calls every week through the City's 311 number regarding homeless encampment-related issues.

On the legislative side, the BID is partnered with California Downtown Association (CDA) and Central City Association (CCA) to monitor and address legislation at a city and state level. Most recently, the BID, through CDA, was able to stop SB876 several times. Dubbed the "Right to Rest Act," the bill would have given homeless individuals the legal right to live on the street without providing any practical solutions for homelessness and prohibiting the regulation of public spaces in a way that would have hindered the City's ability to maintain our public spaces in a clean and safe manner.

While we wait for those changes to take effect, the BID helps connect developers with the proper departments at City Hall and educates stakeholders on proposed projects in the district. Most recently, BID staff worked to educate City officials and stakeholders on the importance of the 33-story tower coming to 7th Street and Maple Avenue. The project was facing an appeal in the zoning amendment process. Through the proactive efforts of our staff and stakeholders, we were able to successfully communicate this project's importance to the area and see the Planning Commission unanimously approve the project.

The BID has previously partnered with the City to bring other streetscape projects to the district including the s treetscape at San Pedro and 8th Streets and the median at 9th and Main Streets. We recently worked with our colleagues at other Los Angeles BIDs to expand the City's Sidewalk Repair Program to include reimbursement for sidewalk repairs to commercial areas. The plan originally only benefited residential properties.

Currently, the BID is exploring how to bring more trees and greenery to the district. There is also a plan to conduct a district-wide infrastructure survey in 2018 to accurately assess the district's infrastructure needs and communicate those needs with the appropriate City agencies.


It is with these projects and the future of the district in mind, that the BID recently launched a branding effort and hired a public relations and branding agency to help market the district to developers, businesses, and stakeholders. The BID will create branding materials that will help educate brokers and real estate community members on the opportunities the Fashion District can provide.