What’s Happening in Advocacy – October 2026

October brought a major permitting milestone and sustained work on proposals affecting the cost of owning and operating commercial buildings. BOMA/GLA challenged new property taxes, continued discussions on Measure ULA reform, and pressed for safeguards in emerging commercial tenant policies. As we prepared members for the November 3 election, we also built on a year of advocacy focused on filling vacant space, improving City services and supporting reinvestment.

State permitting reform

We began October by highlighting Governor Newsom’s September 30 signing of AB 2418, BOMA/GLA’s first sponsored bill to become law. Authored by Assemblymember Mark González and advanced with our industry partners, the legislation addresses commercial tenant improvements delayed by plan review. It provides clearer review estimates and additional private review options for qualifying projects when reviews stall. Members’ permitting experiences helped make the case for this change, which complements our continued push for faster local approvals and effective tenant improvement self-certification.

Pasadena and Culver City parcel taxes

Opposing new parcel taxes remained a major October priority. Pasadena’s Measure PFD would charge 19 cents per taxable square foot annually for 14 years. A taxable 100,000-square-foot building would owe $19,000 each year, including when space is vacant. Culver City’s Measure AA would charge 48 cents per taxable square foot annually for 10 years, capped at $15,000 per parcel each year. BOMA/GLA opposes both measures.

We worked with members on an opposition op-ed submitted to Pasadena Now, explaining how higher property costs could affect families, employers and tenants. The piece addressed the risk to Pasadena’s ability to attract businesses and urged City leaders to prioritize essential fire services within existing revenues. Our member communications also explained the measures’ potential costs. Any pass-through of a new tax to tenants would depend on their leases.

Los Angeles Council engagement and Measure ULA

On October 27, we met with staff from Councilmember Heather Hutt’s Council District 10 office to discuss commercial recovery and BOMA/GLA’s legislative priorities. The office expressed openness to working with us on a Measure ULA reform motion, creating an opportunity to pursue relief for commercial properties and reinvestment. Our agenda also addressed faster tenant improvement approvals, dependable access to City staff, homelessness response, street lighting and financially workable seismic compliance. We will follow up on reform options and opportunities to address specific member concerns.

Commercial tenant protections

Los Angeles’ study of possible commercial tenant protections under Council File 26-0588 remained a focus. We are seeking an early role in discussions, clear definitions of covered businesses, protection of confidential lease information, and safeguards for lawful lease enforcement. We also remain engaged on the County’s separate commercial tenancy initiative. Our earlier advocacy helped improve that proposal through faster studies, less lease data collection and consideration of a cap on relocation payments. We continue pressing for narrowly defined protections backed by legal and economic analysis, with attention to leasing and reinvestment.

Street lighting and public safety

We authored an October 19 letter on Council File 26-0955 concerning street lighting funding and revenue options. Following consultation with Government Affairs Committee leadership, we took a neutral, constructive approach emphasizing reliable lighting, transparent costs and property-owner engagement. The letter connected prolonged outages and copper theft to building security and pedestrian activity. Public Works approved the item as amended on October 13, and Budget and Finance concurred as amended on October 20. We will continue pressing for measurable service improvements as funding options develop.

Progress across 2026

This month’s work builds on progress throughout 2026. Alongside AB 2418, we have supported tenant improvement self-certification in Los Angeles and Santa Monica and joined members and business partners in opposing the proposed Los Angeles Parking Occupancy Tax increase, which did not reach the June ballot. Meetings with Council offices and County supervisors have kept occupancy, public safety and responsive government services in front of decision-makers. These relationships give members a way to raise building-level problems and pursue practical policy changes.

Election Day and November priorities

Tuesday, November 3 was Election Day. Our October communications highlighted BOMA/GLA’s endorsements of John McKinney for Los Angeles City Attorney and Tim Gaspar for Council District 3, reiterated our opposition to Measures PFD and AA, and directed members to BOMA California’s statewide ballot guidance. Our election work also included sharing information from PAC candidate conversations in Burbank, El Segundo, Santa Monica and West Hollywood. Those discussions brought permitting, vacancies and operating costs directly to candidates seeking local office.

As results are finalized, we will explain the implications for members and engage newly elected officials. November’s work will include following up with CD10 on ULA reform, tracking City and County commercial tenant proposals, and helping members understand permitting reforms. We will provide a fuller review of the year’s advocacy results in December.