LAX people mover lawsuit, Santa Monica's SB 79 plan, and more

Here's what we're reading this week:

These are California’s most affordable and least affordable cities. Both lists induce sticker shock "Coastal and upscale enclaves such as Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Laguna Beach and Berkeley top the ‘least affordable’ list, where buyers often need more than 14 years of income." (LA Times)

The LAX People Mover is nearly $1B over budget. Now its contractor is suing the city "In the suit, filed with the L.A. County Superior Court on July 9, LINXS alleges the city is misplacing blame in construction-related disputes and refusing to extend contract deadlines. LINXS also alleges it’s owed additional payment for the work as a result of the delays." (LAist)

Pasadena’s Ped Upgrades on Allen Ave. Nearing Completion "Sidewalk widenings have been finished relatively fast, shortening crossings on the busy transit corridor." (Streetsblog LA)

Southern California Retail Investment Jumps 62% in First Half of 2026 "L.A. County accounts for about half the total" (Commercial Observer)

In a policy paradox, council pushes density into single family neighborhood to delay statewide housing law "The council's decision, reached after nearly an hour of technical debate over acreage, density formulas and displacement risk, directs city planners to return with options for upzoning some or all of the roughly 212 R1-zoned parcels near the Expo/Bundy station — property records show many are around 5,500 to 6,500 square feet — rather than the 65 parcels zoned R2 and R3 that planning staff and the Planning Commission had recommended for increased development standards."  (SMDP)

Sunset Strip flooded by ruptured 110-year-old water line, another blow to L.A.’s ancient infrastructure "There are about 547 miles of trunk line underground across the city. In 2019, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power said roughly 29% of the city’s pipes were over 80 years old, approaching their typical lifespan of 100 years." (LA Times)

SoCal cities made landlords pay when rent hikes pushed out tenants. Then courts stepped in "A California appellate court ruled in December 2025 that Pasadena’s relocation requirement due to rent hikes was illegal. In April, the California Supreme Court declined to review the decision. A separate case brought against L.A. later used the Pasadena case as precedent to strike down a similar requirement in that city." (LAist)

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