Pierce on the Closure of the Santa Ynez Reservoir during the Palisades Fire

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News that the Santa Ynez reservoir was empty and closed for repairs during the highly destructive Palisades Fire in January has led to a month-long state investigation ordered by Governor of California Gavin Newsom on whether or not use of the reservoir could have made a difference in combatting the flames.

The resulting report released by California agencies found that use of the reservoir could not have influenced the outcome of the wildfire, as the water flow rate would have been insufficient to keep fire hydrants working and even a full reservoir would not have been able to maintain the necessary water pressure for long. The report emphasized that the Santa Ynez reservoir is part of L.A.’s municipal water system whose primary purpose is not to fight wildfires, but rather to maintain a supply of clean drinking water.

Co-Executive Director of the UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation and Director of the Human Right to Water Solutions Lab Greg Pierce shared his views on the report with LAist. “This report confirms what we and others have been saying more broadly regarding water system expectations and capabilities, but does so completely independently and with new details specific to the L.A. fires.”

Wasserman on Efforts to Improve Traffic Flow at LAX

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As the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in L.A. steadily approach, the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is picking up the pace on rebuilding its roads to improve traffic flow. This project is predicted to be completed two months before the games begin. 

Perspectives on the practicality of this effort have been mixed. LAWA officials claim that it will increase safety and streamline the separation of airport travelers from others on the road. Critics, on the other hand, point out that this plan neglects the “horseshoe,” an infamously traffic-heavy bottleneck at LAX, and argue it could actually worsen traffic.

A recent Los Angeles Times article featuring Research Program Manager Jacob Wasserman at the UCLA Institute of Transportation Studies cited his views on the temporality of traffic improvements due to a phenomenon called induced demand.

“Initially, these changes could alleviate traffic in the area and on the freeways to some degree, but it’s going to fill up again. … When there’s less traffic, more cars will naturally file in and it’ll fill up,” he said. “It’s going to move more people in total, but it’s not going to fix traffic.”

Yaroslavsky on the Response to the Lachman Fire

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Reports have emerged that firefighters at the site of the January Lachman fire were told to leave the scene of the flames while there was still visible smoldering. Five days later, the highly destructive Palisades fire swept through southern California, killing twelve people and destroying thousands of buildings and homes.

Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass ordered an investigation into the handling of the Lachman fire to ensure that the Los Angeles fire department (LAFD) can enact necessary reforms and improvements. 

Director of the Los Angeles Initiative at the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs Zev Yaroslavsky spoke with the Guardian about the resulting Palisades fire, describing it as a “Pearl Harbor moment,” and highlighted the importance of transparency to restore the public’s faith in the LAFD.

“Many questions remain and Bass and the LAFD need to provide answers as communities continue to rebuild,” said Yaroslavsky. “I think the morale has been shaken to the core in Altadena and the Palisades.”

A Tradition of Family Sacrifices in the Black Community

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A house purchased on behalf of a grandniece in need of stability is the focus of a federal indictment of New York Attorney General Letitia James, who has pleaded not guilty. The case has resonated among many Black women in America who have stepped up to help loved ones experiencing hardship.

Research shows that many upwardly mobile Black women and men feel a steep cultural obligation to provide assistance to extended relatives, even at their own expense.

UCLA Luskin’s Jasmine D. Hill told the New York Times that the practice can be especially connected to one’s sense of identity in Black communities.

Hill’s research found that even those “on the verge of economic ruin themselves” sometimes provide significant financial support to immediate and extended relatives, pulling from emergency savings and emptying retirement accounts.

“Black families, and Black women particularly, have had to figure out ways to essentially be an unhonored social safety net in the United States,” said Hill, an assistant professor of public policy and sociology.

Global Study Reveals Best Cities for Walking and Cycling

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A new global study analyzed walking and cycling patterns in 11,587 cities across 121 countries, revealing that some cities consistently outperform others for active transportation. Dense cities with extensive bike lanes, such as Wageningen in the Netherlands and Copenhagen in Denmark, top the list, while terrain and climate have less impact than previously assumed.

The research also highlights the influence of policy and pricing: higher gas prices and investments in nonmotorized infrastructure significantly increase walking and cycling rates. Cities like Osaka, Japan, and Nairobi, Kenya, showcase how thoughtful urban design can balance pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles.

Lead author and Luskin professor of urban planning Adam Millard-Ball emphasizes that infrastructure drives behavior: “It’s not that Dutch people are genetically predisposed to cycling; it’s that most Dutch cities have really good infrastructure for cycling. If it were quicker and safe to walk or bike to their kids’ school or to the store or to work, then Americans would do that just as much as anyone else.”

Loya on Building Wealth through Homeownership

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Housing prices have been on the rise over the past decade, making the prospect of homeownership inaccessible to many Americans. In light of this growing issue, a question has recently emerged: “Does homeownership really build wealth?” Experts seem to think so, and Assistant Professor of Urban Planning José Loya appeared on Marketplace to share his perspectives.

According to Loya, the accrual of wealth from homeownership primarily originates from mortgage interest deduction, a type of government subsidy that makes homeownership financially appealing. Socioeconomic disparities, however, impact this level of wealth accumulation. There has been found to be a disproportionately higher value of homes and wealth accumulation in majority-white communities compared to their minority counterparts. Cities with more job opportunities like Los Angeles also tend to have higher housing costs while places with fewer prospects tend to have lower costs, further exacerbating the issue.

“Homeownership can be a heavy burden if your job is unstable and your income fluctuates,” said Loya. With the uncertain future of both the job and housing market, Loya suggests exploring alternate means of building wealth, such as starting a business.

Schwarz on Promoting School Greening as Global Temperatures Rise

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A recent study led by UCLA associate professor of urban planning Kristen Schwarz highlights the lack of shade on California’s K‑12 school campuses, exposing students to extreme heat during outdoor activities. Analyzing over 7,200 urban public schoolyards from 2018 to 2022, the team found that 85% of schools lost tree canopy, with a median coverage of just 6.4%.

L.A. Times reports that many of these schools lack adequate tree cover and children, whose abilities to regulate body temperature are still developing, are particularly vulnerable when exposed to the intense heat outdoors. This presents a pressing concern as global temperatures continue to rise and give way to dangerous heat waves.

“Extreme heat is becoming a major public health concern in California and across the country, and trees can play a really big role in helping us cool down those schools and also build climate resilience,” said Schwarz.

To better understand the cooling effect of trees, Schwarz and her team are examining the trees and microclimates of schools across several districts in California. They hope their findings will inform policymakers and promote school greening to provide a cooler, safer environment for students in the face of global warming.

Segura on Bread-and-Butter Issues Driving Latinos to the Polls

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Media outlets reporting on the influence and priorities of the nation’s Latino electorate spoke to Gary Segura, UCLA Luskin professor of public policy and an authority on polling research.

A new nationwide UnidosUS poll that Segura helped conduct found that the cost of living is a top concern, while immigration ranks fifth.

Many Latinos feel that they can’t make ends meet, Segura told the Miami Herald. “The fear of losing their job, the inability to afford increased housing costs, the increased health care costs … none of these things have been alleviated since Trump took office,” he said.

Segura also spoke with the Los Angeles Times and Sacramento Bee. He noted that the power of California’s Latino voting bloc is growing; only 50% of the poll respondents had voted prior to 2020 but 75% said they planned to vote in 2026.

“My advice to candidates in both parties is that they need to get out there and speak to the largest constituency in the state and see what their policy needs are and act on them,” Segura said.

Tilly on Global Impact of U.S. Economic Data Interruption

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Urban Planning Professor Chris Tilly spoke with Chile’s El Mercurio about the U.S. government shutdown, the longest in the nation’s history.

Tilly weighed in on the interruption of reliable economic data produced by the government. U.S. agencies that produce key indicators such as the Consumer Price Index, monthly employment report, and retail sales figures have suspended or reduced many of their operations due to a lack of funding.

Global markets and central banks are also affected, Tilly told the Spanish-language news outlet.

“The lack of data directly affects international markets,” he said. “Investors depend on data to make their decisions, and this situation generates uncertainty in investment decisions.”

Lens on the Biggest Fixes Needed in U.S. Housing Policy

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Michael Lens, chair of the Luskin Undergraduate Program at UCLA, joined a NOTUS Perspectives panel to discuss the biggest improvements the U.S. needs in its housing policy — particularly the lack of affordable housing nationwide. The conversation centered on one key issue: the nation’s severe shortage of affordable housing, driven by restrictive zoning and local barriers to new development.

Lens proposed that in order to remove barriers to housing production and establish state-level uniform standards, power needs to shift from local governments to state governments, which are more removed from political backlash surrounding decisions regarding housing.

“Local governments are not typically motivated to allow more homes to be built in their backyards. Perverse incentives create bad policies…that result in poor housing production numbers throughout the country,” said Lens, a professor of urban planning and public policy.

Lens emphasized that reducing barriers to housing construction would also help those experiencing homelessness: “Once we reduce the barriers to building more homes, we can also better help those in need who cannot afford housing at any price,” he said.