Latest news with #NithyaRaman
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Stay In L.A. Rally In Sun Valley Attracts Hundreds In Support Of Tax Incentives: 'We're Not Asking For A Handout, We Are Asking For The Chance To Work'
Hollywood workers threw themselves a pep rally on Sunday in hopes that their grassroots campaigning — not to mention their ability to lure hundreds of people into a hot warehouse in balmy Sun Valley — will be enough to keep production in Los Angeles. SirReel Studios on Lankershim Boulevard lent its large, production rentals property for the 2 p.m. rally, which featured food trucks and Stay in L.A. merch while local, state and national politicians — along with a few actors and writers — spoke about how their hometown has become a ghost town when it comes to film and TV production. More from Deadline L.A. Might Have Found A Local Solution To Stop Movies Being Made In Other States California Lawmakers Call On Experts To Help Weigh Newsom's Expanded Film & TV Tax Credit Proposal: 'A Serious Fiscal Matter' WGA Ratifies New 3-Year Contract With CBS News, Securing Key AI Protections The goal, of course, is to show support for Governor Newsom's proposed $750 million tax incentive plan, as detailed in recently introduced legislation AB 1138 and SB 630 which aims to stop the bleeding and keep studios from seeking cheaper locales to make their shows and films. But Newsom's proposal may not be a slam dunk, suggests LA. City Councilwoman Nithya Raman (District 4). 'I want to tell you, a lot of people are against the tax credit because they think Hollywood is full of rich people,' Raman told the crowd. 'It's a middle class industry of costumers, set decorators, drivers, camera operators, hair dressers and caterers. It's all of us, and to think this is a hand-out for rich people is patently false. We're not asking for a hand-out. We are asking for the chance to work. We want to work in L.A., we want to live in L.A., we want to raise our families in L.A.' L.A. City Councilwoman Imelda Padilla (District 6) called out her elected colleagues for not helping with the cause. 'Only 4 of the 15 councilmembers are talking about it,' she said. 'For everyone who lives in L.A., I highly encourage you to call all council members. The minimum you need is eight to get anything done. Make sure it's a priority. No one is going to say [they oppose] keeping jobs in Los Angeles, that I can assure you. Everyone wants a piece of this pie to help make this happen. Call every councilmember.' Director Adam Bhala Lough (Deepfaking Sam Altman) floated a provocative argument by saying 'there should be no cap on incentives' and that California should consider investing in the industry. 'This debate over caps is a distraction. It's the state's way of fighting over crumbs,' he said to the crowd. 'California is missing an opportunity to take bold action, to make a direct investment. The U.K., France and Canada invest cash in the industry. They take an equity stake. They profit when films succeed. California has a $3.9 trillion GDP, but it sticks with soft money tax credits and wonders why productions are leaving. We need to think bigger. I propose California becomes a financier or a co- financier by covering 50 percent or 100 percent on [everything from] micro-indies to blockbusters.' A recent report from Film in L.A. certainly drove home the point that the situation couldn't be more dire. Per the report, regional studios consistently had around 90% average occupancy from 2016 through 2022, before tanking to 69% average occupancy in 2023. In 2024, the average occupancy weakened even further to 63%. At its highest, in Q2 of 2024, occupancy was at 67%. Episodic television has been hit particularly hard by the production contraction, accounting for just 20% of all production happening on certified stages and backlots in 2023. In past years, episodic television consistently comprised around 30% of all stage-based filming in L.A. 'There is no place like home, am I right? We have to start meeting like this,' SAG-AFTRA's Joely Fisher shouted to the crowd. 'I feel a little nostalgic when we were marching and we fought corporate greed. They call us unserious and unreasonable people. Where are my unserious and unreasonable people at?' 'The nation, the world is at a crossroad. It's an existential crisis,' Fisher continued. 'We need to usher in a golden age and it starts with California.' Best of Deadline '1923' Season 2 Release Schedule: When Do New Episodes Come Out? Everything We Know About 'Nine Perfect Strangers' Season 2 So Far Everything We Know About 'Hacks' Season 4 So Far
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Motion to remove double staircase requirement in L.A. building code adopted
The Los Angeles City Council adopted a motion Wednesday that would remove a requirement for apartment buildings to have double stairwells. The motion, introduced by Councilmembers Nithya Raman and Katy Yaroslavsky, looks to create more space for more affordable family-sized units. 'These requirements, born out of early 20th century planning concerns – have since become a hindrance to creating larger units with greater natural light and ventilation and buildings with enhanced green space,' the councilmembers stated in a media release. California bill seeks to limit ICE presence on school campuses Wednesday's legislation begins the process of updating the city's building code to allow for multifamily residential buildings up to six stories to be built with a single stairwell instead of a double stairwell. This provides 'greater flexibility in housing construction across the city,' the councilmembers' release said. City lawmakers criticized L.A.'s current building code, calling it outdated and claiming it is a significant barrier to building larger units. The city's most recent Housing Element estimates that less than 15% of rental homes in Los Angeles have three or more bedrooms as compared to 70% of owner-occupied residences. 'As a majority renter city, the lack of available family-sized apartments has resulted in severe overcrowding, with most apartment units housing more people than there are rooms,' officials said. 'Studies have shown that increased safety features, like sprinklers and fire-resistant materials, have rendered the need for multiple staircases obsolete, and major cities across the country, such as New York and Seattle, now allow for the development of single-stairwell buildings over three stories.' Following Wednesday's vote, the L.A. Department of Building and Safety, Los Angeles Fire Department and Department of City Planning will have 90 days to present modifications to the city's building code in order to allow for single-exit, single-stairway multifamily unit residential buildings up to six stories. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
