Why Los Angeles’ mansion tax debate is likely to go statewide

By Ben Christopher | CalMatters

Los Angeles will be keeping its controversial “mansion tax” just the way it is, thank you very much.

Last Tuesday, L.A.’s city council rejected an 11th-hour proposal to place a rewrite of the city’s 4-year-old tax on high value real estate sales onto the June 2026 local ballot.

The decision, made after a heated session brimming with arcane procedural objections and spirited public comment from tenant activists and union members, effectively quashes the hopes of real estate developers...