Meet W4Ev Member Brennan L.

Enjoy this spotlight about the people behind Westside for Everyone, their personal stories about what got them into housing advocacy and why it matters to them.

We hope you’ll enjoy getting to know the folks driving the Westside’s housing movement.

Brennan is a chapter lead of Westside for Everyone, as well as founder of Venice Artbeat, entrepreneur and designer of Ile Sainte Marguerite Fashion House, and member of the Venice Neighborhood Council.

Brennan, pictured in the middle, with participants at Venice Artbeat, July 2025

Why are you a member/leader of W4Ev?

I joined Westside for Everyone with a desire to bring the YIMBY movement to my local community. I’d previously engaged with state organizations and online communities, then found myself seeking to impact housing and transit sentiment at a more grassroots level. Most of all, I’ve enjoyed being a part of a group of neighbors interested in taking action to make our community more accessible. 

What is your favorite part of the westside? What do you hope for the westside’s future?

My favorite things about the Westside are the climate and access to nature; from our beaches and costal areas to the forests, trails, and creeks of the Santa Monica mountains. My goal is to live in a community where these amenities are more accessible to everyone, and not just the wealthy. 

What is one thing people can do to make housing more affordable/sustainable?

Some of the most important things we can do as a community are to support ideas like infill and transit-oriented development, support local government candidates who are able to clearly articulate how to improve access to housing and transit, and to hold our cities and counties accountable for maintaining affordability in our housing markets. 

P.S. from Westside for Everyone:

Our members had a great time volunteering at his second annual Artbeat event in July 2025. Follow Artbeat on Instagram for updates on music & art events they’re supporting throughout the year!

Member and transit advocate Jonny talks to attendees of Venice Artbeat in July.

Shout out to W4Ev member Erik for joining us at Artbeat!

Meet W4Ev Leader Margaret H.

This post kicks off a new blog series to spotlight the people behind Westside for Everyone, sharing their personal stories about what got them into housing advocacy and why it matters to them.

We hope you’ll enjoy getting to know the folks driving the Westside’s housing movement.

Meet Margaret H.

Margaret is a chapter lead of Westside for Everyone and leader of Building a Better Westchester-Playa

What's your housing story?

I have been very fortunate and have not had to experience housing insecurity myself. I began my journey into housing advocacy by my desire to help address our homelessness crisis. The understanding that the homeless crisis is actually a housing crisis led me to broaden my focus, which led to an appreciation that homelessness is the tip of the iceberg as far as the impacts of our housing shortage – it doesn’t seem that hyperbolic to say that housing is an existential crisis in LA and beyond. Restoring sufficient affordable housing throughout this region is a challenge that engages me intellectually and emotionally.

What do you hope for the westside's future?

My hope – for the westside and everywhere – is for a radical redefinition of the legitimate stakeholders in decisions on land use and zoning and development. Our current processes give almost exclusive weight to the people who are already here, who are naturally prone to protecting and expanding what they have.

Until our decision-making processes also give voice to people who would like to live in our communities today, and to those who will make their homes here decades and generations from now, we are unlikely to achieve the more concrete hopes we all have for housing, transportation, economic vitality and social equity on the westside.

Why are you a leader of W4Ev?

Housing advocacy is such a broad and complex undertaking, it is really valuable to connect with an organization that helps you learn, structures ways for you to contribute, and welcomes you into a community. Westside for Everyone and Abundant Housing LA filled those roles for me, enabling me to be an effective part of the movement for more housing. I volunteer within W4E and AHLA to help sustain and expand those benefits to others.

What is your favorite part of the westside? 

The westside has wonderful community theatre! I’m very involved in Kentwood Players, based in Westchester; there’s also Morgan Wixson in Santa Monica, Theatre Palisades (appearing in multiple spots while their theater is rebuilt after the fire), The Aerospace Players in Torrance, and many more. These are all-volunteer organizations that put on wonderful entertainment at very reasonable prices. Check them out!

What is one thing people can do to make housing more affordable/sustainable? 

Get involved with your Neighborhood Council. NCs can have a lot of influence over what does and doesn't get built, and they have the councilmember's ear on issues of city and state housing policy. Attend Board meetings and particularly planning and land use committee meetings to know what is happening in your very local community. Your presence will let those supporting the status quo know there are people who have a different view of what makes the westside great.

Legislation Update: Why We’re Supporting SB79 and AB609

California faces a housing crisis that affects everyone—from young families struggling to find affordable homes to workers spending hours in traffic because they can't afford to live near their jobs. Two bills currently moving through the state legislature offer practical solutions to help address these interconnected challenges: SB79 and AB609. Here's why our advocacy group is supporting both.

SB79: Building Smart Growth Around Transit

What it does: SB79, authored by Senator Scott Wiener, would legalize mid-rise housing (up to seven stories) near transit stops and allow transit agencies to build housing on their own land. Think apartment buildings within walking distance of train stations and bus rapid transit lines.

Why this matters for transportation: Every dollar we invest in public transit works better when people actually live near it. Currently, much of the land around our transit stations is zoned only for single-family homes or parking lots. This is like building a highway that nobody can access—it wastes the massive public investment we've already made in rail lines and bus rapid transit.

When people can walk to the train instead of driving to a parking lot, our transit systems become more efficient and cost-effective. Building more homes near transit access reduces housing and transportation costs for California families, and promotes environmental sustainability, economic growth, and reduced traffic congestion.

Why this matters for housing: SB79 isn't just about transit—it's fundamentally a housing bill. SB 79 will make it faster and easier to build multi-family housing near transit stops, like train and rapid bus lines, by making it legal for more homes to be built in these areas and streamlining existing permit review processes. By allowing more homes in the places where people want to live—near good transportation options—we can help address the housing shortage while reducing sprawl.

Why this matters for the environment: Transportation is one of California's largest sources of carbon emissions. When more people can commute by train or bus instead of driving, we dramatically reduce emissions per person. This isn't just theory—it's already happening in places like the Bay Area, where neighborhoods near BART stations have some of the lowest per-capita carbon footprints in the state.

AB609: Stopping Environmental Laws from Blocking Environmental Goals

What it does: AB609, authored by Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, would exempt qualifying infill housing projects from certain requirements under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). "Infill" means housing built in areas that are already developed—adding apartments in existing neighborhoods rather than building new subdivisions in farmland or wilderness.

The problem: CEQA was created in 1970 to protect California's environment by requiring environmental review of new developments. It's done important work stopping harmful projects like polluting factories or developments that would destroy wildlife habitat. But over the decades, it's increasingly been misused as a tool to block environmentally beneficial housing in already-developed urban areas.

No more environmental lawsuits for "infill" housing is the straightforward goal. When someone files a CEQA lawsuit against an apartment building in downtown San Francisco or Los Angeles, they're not protecting the environment—they're forcing new residents to move farther out, creating more sprawl and more driving.

Why this gets CEQA back to its original purpose: AB 609 will create a streamlined permitting process for multi-family housing in already-developed urban areas by exempting these projects from the California Environmental Quality Act. The bill defines housing in these areas as environmentally beneficial, consistent with prior state law

The environmental case for urban infill housing is clear: it reduces sprawl, protects natural areas, and cuts transportation emissions. AB609 simply recognizes this reality in law.

Why timing matters: Right now, even when cities approve housing projects, CEQA lawsuits can delay them for years. AB 609, a bill that would exempt qualifying infill housing projects from CEQA review, passed the State Assembly unanimously, showing broad recognition that these delays are counterproductive.

Housing that's legal on paper but takes a decade to build doesn't help anyone. AB609 makes housing not just legal, but timely.

The Bottom Line

Both bills work together toward the same goals: more housing in the right places, better transportation options, and lower carbon emissions. SB79 focuses on transit-oriented development, while AB609 removes bureaucratic barriers to urban infill housing. Neither bill would eliminate environmental protections for truly sensitive areas—they're about recognizing that dense, transit-connected neighborhoods are themselves an environmental solution.

California has spent decades and billions of dollars building public transit and promoting smart growth. These bills would finally let that investment pay off by allowing people to actually live near the transportation we've already built.

The housing crisis, traffic congestion, and climate change are all connected problems. SB79 and AB609 offer connected solutions. That's why we're supporting both.

Missing Middle Housing: What It Is and How We Get More

Los Angeles residents are struggling to find affordable housing in their desired neighborhoods. One solution to this problem is the addition of "missing middle" housing.

Missing middle housing refers to a range of housing types that fall between single-family homes and large apartment buildings, such as duplexes, triplexes, and courtyard apartments. These types of homes were once common in Los Angeles. Hello, bungalow courts!

One of the benefits of bringing back missing middle housing is affordability. Missing middle housing in neighborhoods can provide more affordable options for residents, including young professionals, families, and seniors.

However, missing middle housing has disappeared due to zoning regulations. Many Los Angeles neighborhoods have zoning laws that only allow for single-family homes or large apartment buildings, leaving no room for the middle ground. Changing these zoning laws and allowing for more diverse housing options can promote affordability and create more vibrant, diverse communities.

It's time to advocate for the addition of missing middle housing in Los Angeles. That’s why Westside for Everyone is a proud supporter of the Livable Communities Initiative, an effort to push Los Angeles to change zoning laws that would make it easier to build missing middle housing near commercial streets that can create the “main street” neighborhood experience that so many LA residents want.

Learn more about the Livable Communities and ways that you can support them here.

Housing on the Westside: A Brief History

The history of housing policy in Los Angeles has been shaped by a complex interplay of factors, including race, class, and economics.

In the early 20th century, neighborhoods on the Westside were largely developed for single-family homes, with zoning laws specifically designed to promote the suburbanization of Los Angeles. This trend continued well into the mid-20th century, with the construction of vast tracts of suburban-style housing and the development of malls.

However, this suburbanization came at a cost. The rigid zoning laws in these areas limited the development of more affordable housing options. Zoning laws contributed intentionally to the racial segregation of neighborhoods, further entrenching social and economic disparities.

Today, our neighborhoods are grappling with issues of housing affordability. Rising rents and property values leading to the displacement of long-term residents.

In response, activists and community members are advocating for more equitable and inclusive housing policies. This includes efforts to promote the development of more affordable and diverse housing options, as well as the preservation of existing housing stock. It also involves pushing back against zoning laws that promote segregation and inequality. Lastly, it means helping tenants stay housed through rent control and other programs that help people fight eviction.

The development and land use policies of Santa Monica, Venice, Culver City, Mar Vista, and Playa Del Rey offer important insights into the challenges and opportunities facing our entire state and country when it comes to housing costs.

It is up to all of us to advocate for changes that benefit all members of our communities.

Photo Credit: Mark Adriane

The Westside Needs Affordable Homes

The Westside of Los Angeles is one of the most desirable and affluent areas in the city, and is home to many major employers and cultural institutions. Unfortunately, the high cost of housing in the area is a major barrier to entry for many people, including young professionals, senior citizens, and low-income residents.

Current research by UCLA’s Lewis Center shows that increasing the supply of housing in the Westside is key to addressing the affordability crisis. The Westside has been slow to add new housing, with many neighborhoods using zoning regulations to limit density and preserve the character of the area.

This has led to a situation where the Westside is home to some of the most expensive neighborhoods in the country, with many residents spending a large portion of their income on housing.

Here’s why we need more homes:

1. Lower the financial burden. According to the UCLA report mentioned above, Los Angeles County households spend an average of 47% of their income on housing, far above the recommended threshold of 30%.

2. Reduce inflow to homelessness. The lack of affordable housing can lead to homelessness and displacement. Many low-income families, students, and elderly people are being pushed out of the area, unable to find affordable housing. This not only harms those individuals and families, but also weakens the social fabric of the community.

3. Help the environment. Better planning for homes would help reduce traffic congestion by allowing people to live closer to their jobs and other amenities, reduce greenhouse gas emissions by reducing commuting distances, and create more diverse and inclusive neighborhoods. Furthermore, many of the areas of the Westside with the greatest potential for new housing, such as Santa Monica, Culver City, and Venice, since more public transportation is available than ever before.

It’s time to make sure that housing becomes more affordable and accessible again on the westside.

Housing and Race: Facing History & Creating a Brighter Future

It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.

Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.