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Long Beach Controversy

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City Hall’s recent push to allow more development of buildings across Long Beach has caused controversy between residents and city officials. The controversy revolves around a city policy document known as the Land Use Element which was written in 1989, a time when Long Beach had 44,000 less residents. The Land Use Element sets basic rules for what kinds of buildings can be built in a given neighborhood. City officials are now attempting to re-write the policy for the first time since 1989. As presently drafted, the Land Use Element does not allow developers to add more dwelling in taller buildings. The proposed draft calls for taller buildings, including five- and six- story buildings around the Traffic Circle, and 10-story buildings in the …show more content…

The fist economic concept presented in the article is cost-benefit analysis in regards to adding more density. The newly proposed land use element policy wants to address the demand for housing, employment, and lifestyle choices. They would like to encourage larger open space which could accommodate mixed -use development. This would help reduce the number of residents that commute out of Long Beach for work. The plan would also encourage more section 8 housing projects that can accommodate low income individuals. Majority of residents living in Long Beach believe that this proposal would incur a huge cost on the city. Long Beach is a parking impacted city with poor public transit system. Adding more density would not help the parking crisis that Long Beach faces; it can potentially make it worse. Residents also fear that adding more density in the city could lead to an increase in crime. The second economic concept in this article relates to supply and demand. Long Beach is currently facing a housing crisis. There is not enough housing to accommodate its residents. The demand for housing is far greater than the supply, which has caused rent prices to skyrocket over the past few years. Long Beach simply does not have enough housing to accommodate all of its residents. When the Land Use element was first written in 1989, there were 44,000 less residents. City officials believe that adding more housing density could help alleviate

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