UCLA Luskin School Research to Reveal Attitudes About Los Angeles County Quality of Life

Annual summit will feature data-driven discussion on California's pressing issues and solutions

Mar. 28, 2026 at 2:26am

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The UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs will release the details of its 2026 Quality of Life Index at its annual summit on April 15, 2026. The report examines satisfaction across nine major categories, from cost of living to public safety, and provides a data-driven conversation on California's most pressing issues and potential solutions.

Why it matters

The Luskin Quality of Life Index offers valuable insights into how Angelenos feel about various aspects of life in Los Angeles County, which can inform policy decisions and community initiatives aimed at improving quality of life. The annual summit provides a platform for experts, policymakers, and the public to discuss these findings and collaborate on addressing the region's challenges.

The details

The 2026 Luskin Summit will feature a morning of sessions focused on California's housing strategy, environmental health and justice, transportation security, and socio-economic vulnerability and prosperity. Former U.S. Senator Lafonza Butler will give the summit's keynote address. The event will also include standalone questions measuring Angelenos' feelings on affordability, immigration following the Los Angeles ICE raids, and the recent mayoral election.

  • The 2026 Luskin Summit will be held on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • The UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs' Quality of Life Index results will be revealed at the 2026 Luskin Summit.

The players

Karen Bass

The mayor of Los Angeles who joined the opening plenary of the 2025 UCLA Luskin Summit to discuss a path forward for recovery following the LA firestorms.

Cecilia Estolano

A former UC Regent who stated that the Luskin Summit has become "the place to be if you do public policy, or policy generally in Los Angeles."

Zev Yaroslavsky

The director of the Los Angeles Initiative at the UCLA Luskin School, who discussed how the Quality of Life Index results can be surprising, like when Angelenos placed transportation as their least important factor for quality of life in 2015.

Lafonza Butler

A former U.S. Senator who will give the keynote address at the 2026 Luskin Summit.

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What they’re saying

“It's a very lively discussion. It's become kind of the place to be if you do public policy, or policy generally in Los Angeles.”

— Cecilia Estolano, Former UC Regent

“Nobody's going to believe this. I mean, everybody complains about traffic here.”

— Zev Yaroslavsky, Director of the Los Angeles Initiative

“We get this composite of what's important to you. When it does drop a point or goes up a point, it's... it's significant.”

— Zev Yaroslavsky, Director of the Los Angeles Initiative

What’s next

The 2026 UCLA Luskin Summit will be held on April 15, 2026, where the findings of the Quality of Life Index will be revealed and discussed.

The takeaway

The Luskin Quality of Life Index provides valuable insights into the priorities and concerns of Angelenos, which can help inform policy decisions and community initiatives aimed at improving quality of life in Los Angeles County. The annual Luskin Summit serves as an important platform for data-driven discussions on the region's most pressing issues and potential solutions.