LA City Council Restricts Developer Contributions Starting in 2022

The Los Angeles City Council has decided to restrict donations from real estate developers beginning with the 2022 election cycle. The vote received unanimous approval from all 15 city council members, and is now with Mayor Eric Garcetti for signature.

While not a disruption of the Supreme Court’s landmark 2014 ruling on political free speech from independent expenditures in Citizens United v. FEC, the law bans developers seeking entitlements from directly donating to candidates for Mayor, City Council and City Attorney while a project is pending and for a year following approval.

The new law has created a growing concern that real estate developers are being unduly singled out as they look for balanced civic leadership.  This, in an era where new housing solutions and commercial real estate development are critical to the future of the city, is a position outlined by the L.A.-based Reason Foundation in a relevant counter-point analysis.

For comments, questions or concerns, please contact Dennis Kaiser