Jay Pandit

Mega City Los Angeles

Challenges of rapid mega city growth

Housing
Jobs (High Unemployment rate)
Ethnic tensions and cultural divides
Increase in crime rates
Supplying enough water and food (resources) to the whole city
Education
Healthcare & Sanitation
Transport (Infrastructure) like roads and railways

Housing problems in LA
Los Angeles, a city where 63.1% of residents rent their homes, is in the midst of a crisis
in rental housing.
A recent study by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development laid out the
stark facts. Los Angeles rents have increased, after adjusting for inflation, by nearly 30%
over the last 20 years. During the same period, renter incomes have decreased by 6%.
Citys housing shortage is a major economic threat, and that it's all the fault of residents
who refuse to allow city-scale development.
Short Supply. Los Angeles has a critical shortage of housing. During the 1990s, only one
new home or apartment was built for every two new families. This lack of supply has led
to increasing rents and home prices as the region continues to grow.
Growing Demand. The population in Los Angeles is expected to increase by 30 percent
by 2030, with much of the growth attributable to young families with children. The
region's growing population means that the demand for housing will continue to increase
exacerbating the problem of a tight housing supply and driving prices even higher.
Wages vs. Housing Costs. While the cost of housing has continued to increase in Los
Angeles, incomes have not risen in response especially for low wage workers. The
income of many renters, who make up more than 60 percent of the people in Los
Angeles, has actually fallen over the past several years. This makes the cost of housing a
growing burden for many people.