L.A. Planning Referendum, Measure S, Soundly Defeated

[Updated 3/9/2017] Emily Alpert Reyes, Ben Poston, and David Zahniser report on the demise of Measure S, the controversial and hard-fought ballot initiative that would have halted general plan amendments and, along with them, much of the approved construction around the city of Los Angeles.

"As of midnight, returns showed Measure S going down to defeat by a 2-1 margin, with more than half of precincts reporting," according to the article, so the margin of victory was substantial. Thus, the article also declares a winner in the campaign's "referendum on urbanist dreams of a denser, taller Los Angeles, bemoaned by critics as the 'Manhattanization' of L.A."

A separate article by Dakota Smith, Matt Stevens, Ben Poston, and Doug Smith frames the election as a victory for the status quo.

Finally, Jenna Chandler provides additional coverage of the Measure S vote, including an updated vote tally that brings the score to 68.85 percent voting no on S, and 31.15 voting yes on S.