Neighbors & Leaders who Support the LCI

“Southern California faces ongoing problems related to climate change and a lack of sufficient affordable housing. LCI presents a bold and innovative vision for the future of urban growth in Los Angeles. By constructing communities that are walkable, in which housing and jobs are in close proximity to each other, we can begin to promote climate resilience and begin to reduce the high cost of housing in our region. I am a proud supporter of LCI, and I look forward to seeing it come to fruition in Burbank.”

-Nick Schultz, Vice Mayor, Burbank City Council

"Burbank residents say our community has a “small town in the big city” feel. Creating truly walkable, bikable, and safe travel corridors, near small/micro businesses and affordable housing, all while focusing on green space and healthy outdoor experiences, is the way to truly live up to our city’s reputation.

We have ample opportunity to support dozens of 15 minute neighborhoods, to bring more character and vibrancy to our business districts, and to enhance the overall quality of life for all. When we have enough housing for our workforce, we will experience less car traffic and healthier air. When we have a complete bike network, our kids can get safely to school on their own. When we improve our bus system, seniors and those who cannot/prefer not to drive will have equitable access to our entire city with the same level of convenience and ease as those who use cars.

LCI is a breath of fresh air in our community, bringing innovation and future-focused ideas. I fully support LCI Burbank and look forward to seeing how we can all work together to take our city to the next level, into an even better future.”

-Tamala Takahashi, Burbank City Council Member

“For years, I’ve been giving versions of a talk called, “Data Driven Climate Action” and my takeaway point is this: we can reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the large amount that is necessary with our existing technology and at a far less cost than the current path we are on. Remodeling our region the LCI-way is intentional and effective climate action. We can go down the path we are currently on— reacting with fear to the latest calamity— whether they be fires, floods, deadly heat or homelessness. Or we can embrace an optimistic future where more people can enjoy clean air, water, access to jobs and amenities. We have nothing to lose but our pollution and time spent in traffic.”

-Grace Peng, PhD, Climate scientist, Multi-modal mom, Natural Resources Director,  League of Women Voters Los Angeles County

“Just when you thought there was no hope for LA other than more sprawl, or awful boxy car congested apartment buildings, along comes this little idea that might just provide a way to create what people really want: small scale, walkable villages on traffic lite streets that people would actually choose to live on. By reducing cars the LCI will create foot and bike traffic, and it suggests to do it all without big developers and their compliant architects. It will mobilize an army of small builders who can build from a selection of pre-designed, pre-approved building types. The land owners will make some money, and all of this will create the ideal form of capitalist competition that will benefit us all.”

-Gerhard Mayer, architect, urbanist and visionary 

“Los Angeles needs more housing, but the city puts what little housing it builds along wide streets choked with cars. This approach isn't efficient (we need more homes and aren't building them) but it's also unfair (we put our multifamily units along dangerous dirty corridors, effectively using apartment buildings as noise and pollution shields for more affluent neighborhoods of single family homes). The LCI offers a solution to this dilemma: not all of our bigger streets have to be so big, or so dirty or dangerous. By converting some of our large corridors into human-scaled environments, we can add housing in a way that is greener, safer, and fairer, and make the whole city more livable.”

-Michael Manville, Professor and Chair Department of Urban Planning, UCLA

“If equity is at the heart of what we say we care about, then LCI presents an equitable path forward that we should be paying attention to. For so long, access to a quality life, in all of its forms, has been denied to certain groups, particularly Black and Brown communities, and communities experiencing poverty. A plan that puts people within a 15-minute reach of what they need, in the way they say they need it, is the LCI way. It's people-centered. It's thoughtful. It is also possible if we simply believe and put action behind our belief.”

-Tunette Powell, PhD, Equity Practitioner and South LA Resident