This Week in Council

This Week in Council - 2021 In Review

 

Wednesday, Dec. 8 

HOMELESSNESS AND THE 110 FREEWAY

On Wednesday, the City Council approved a 41.18 resolution introduced by Councilmember Price, which focuses on the 110 freeway corridor from Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard to Slauson Avenue in his District. The 41.18 resolution will allow the City to place individuals experiencing homelessness in this area into housing and move them away from the poor air quality and health hazards created by living near a freeway. It is also unsafe for individuals to be in such close proximity as vehicles are moving at increased speeds while entering and exiting the freeway. 

Additionally, by placing individuals into housing it will allow the City to clean the underpasses and overpasses creating safe pedestrian infrastructure for the District. Click here for more.

 

Tuesday, Dec. 7

DISTRICT MAPS APPROVED BY LA CITY COUNCIL 

On Tuesday, the Los Angeles City Council unanimously approved the boundaries for City Council districts for the next decennial, with this vote, the year-long process of redistricting came to a close. The new boundaries will keep USC and Exposition Park within the 9th District. Throughout the process, Councilmember Price expressed the importance of keeping these assets within his District as he has brought nearly $2 billion in investments and thousands of temporary and permanent jobs to Exposition Park through catalytic projects like the Banc of California Stadium, LA Memorial Coliseum renovations, and the upcoming Lucas Museum of Narrative Art opening in 2022. Further, CD 9 constituents have overwhelmingly echoed Councilmember Price’s sentiment that both Exposition Park and USC should remain in District 9 as it will continue to help with stimulating the District’s economy. Click here for more.

LA’S FIRST PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING PLAN

Additionally, the City Council approved reports from the Budget and Finance Committee and Immigrant Affairs Committee (IAC), authorizing the LA City Controller to establish the Los Angeles Reforms for Equity and Public Acknowledgement of Institutional Racism (LA REPAIR) Innovation Fund. The LA REPAIR Fund will give nine communities impacted by high rates of poverty, COVID-19, pollution and other factors the decision-making power to allocate more than $8.5 million in City funds. The neighborhoods in the participatory budgeting pilot, known as REPAIR Zones, are Skid Row, Arleta, Pacoima, Boyle Heights, Mission Hills, Panorama City, North Hills, Westlake, West Adams, South Los Angeles, Southeast Los Angeles, and Wilmington-Harbor Gateway.

Participatory budgeting, which is in place in thousands of cities worldwide, including New York City, Oakland and Seattle, emphasizes public ownership of government resources, deepens democracy, improves trust in government and builds stronger communities impacted by systemic inequality, according to a report by the City’s Civil + Human Rights and Equity Department. Click here to read the report on LA REPAIR and participatory budgeting. 

 

Friday, Dec. 3 

APPROVED FUNDING FOR CENTRAL APARTMENTS

On Friday, the Los Angeles City Council approved funding for the Central Apartments in the 9th District. The Central Apartments will be a 56-unit supportive housing project located near 21st Street and Central Avenue. The project is scheduled to be completed during 2022. Click here for more. 

Additionally, the City Council approved a motion that extends the City’s contract with Coalition for Responsible Community Development (CRCD). The contract extension will allow CRCD to conduct sidewalk improvement within the District until December 2022. Click here for more. 

Finally, the City Council approved the LA 2028 Olympic and Paralympic games agreement between the City and LA 28, the game’s organizing committee. The agreement includes a host of topics like youth sports development, safety requirements, and goals for hiring local, minority-owned, and women-owned businesses. Earlier in the week, during the Ad Hoc Olympic Committee meeting, Councilmember Price asked LA 28 to provide transparency for the selection criteria used to select the business mentioned above. As the chair of the Economic Development and Jobs Committee, Councilmember Price expressed that it is crucial for Black, Latino, and women-owned businesses to be invested in as the details of the 2028 games are finalized. Click here for the full agreement.

 

Wednesday, Dec. 1 

REDISTRICTING MAPS

On Wednesday, the City Council approved a technical amendment, by a 13-1 vote, to the Los Angeles City Council Redistricting Maps related to Council Districts 1 and 10. Because of this amendment, a new ordinance will come back to the City Council next week with these changes. Council District 9 will retain Exposition Park and USC, which was approved last week by the City Council. The final ordinance will be adopted before Dec, 31 of this year, which will set Council District boundaries for the next decennial. Click here for more. 

 

Tuesday, Nov. 30 

ORDINANCE ON GHOST GUNS

On Tuesday, the Los Angeles City Council adopted an ordinance to prohibit the possession, purchase, sale receipt, or transport of a non-serialized unfinished firearm or ‘Ghost Guns’ within the City. ‘Ghost Guns’ are weapons that are assembled from parts or kits that include one unfinished piece, typically the frame or receiver, which is part of the gun regulated under federal law. The lack of a serial number makes it difficult to track where the gun was manufactured. These unauthorized guns make our streets more dangerous as it allows individuals with a criminal history to easily access weapons they should not be in possession of. The goal of the ban is to help reduce gun violence rates within the city. Click here for more. 

The City Council also approved two resolutions, both seconded by Councilmember Price, related to the food industry. The first resolution asks the California State Legislature to amend the California Food Retail Code to make it more sensitive to the context of sidewalk vending while ensuring food safety. The second resolution recommends the City to support Assembly Bill (AB) 257, which would create the Fast Food Sector Council. Through AB 257, the Fast Food Sector Council would set out to improve working conditions for hundreds of thousands of fast-food workers in California. Click here for the sidewalk vending resolution and here for the fast-food industry resolution. 

Finally, the Council adopted an ordinance to amend the Los Angeles Municipal Code to remove malls and shopping centers from the definition of indoor establishments that require proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 to enter. However, even with this amendment, proof of full vaccination will still be required at any indoor restaurants or food courts within these shopping centers and malls. Click here for more. 

 

Wednesday, Nov. 24 

JEDI ZONES

On Wednesday, the Los Angeles City Council approved a motion to establish a Jobs and Economic Development Incentive (JEDI) Zone for the Goodyear Tract in Council District Nine. The JEDI Zone will provide economic development incentives within specific geographies of the City that aim to both promote and expand business in Los Angeles. Businesses located within this zone at the Goodyear Tract will be eligible to obtain a variety of incentives including case management of the City development permit process, permit fee reductions, business consulting, and façade improvements, among other things. The Goodyear Tract is comprised of over 280 parcels, and is home to over 200 companies with a total of approximately 4,000 employees. Click here for more.  

BUSINESS ASSISTANCE

Finally, the City Council approved a motion introduced by Councilman Price to transfer $50 million from the Unappropriated Balance in the 2021-22 City’s Budget for the implementation of business assistance programs under the American Rescue Plan Act. This money will help small businesses stay afloat and recover from the losses experienced due to the COVID pandemic. Councilman Price is hopeful that the money will help small businesses to continue to serve the greater Los Angeles community as the City continues to reopen. Click here for more.

 

Tuesday, Nov. 23

ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS 

On Tuesday, Councilmember Price introduced multiple motions and resolutions. The first resolution instructs City Department(s) to post signage at various locations in the District to address homeless encampments in an effort to get individuals housed and the streets cleaned. 

The various areas include but are not limited to the underpass at MLK Boulevard and the 110 Freeway and the underpass at Vernon and the 110 Freeway. Click here for more.

SIDEWALK REPAIRS

Additionally, Councilmember Price introduced a motion to extend a contract between the City and the Coalition for Responsible Community Development (CRCD) for sidewalk improvements in the 9th District. The contract will include more than $1 million for these improvements. Click here for more.

MINIMUM WAGE

Councilmember Price introduced a motion to ensure the minimum wage in the City will increase based on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers for the Los Angeles metropolitan area. This change will begin in July 2022 and will rise proportionately from $15 per hour, which went into effect in July 2021. Click here for the motion.

BALLOT MEASURE

Further, the Los Angeles City Council debated drafting a ballot measure for the June 2022 election that would amend the Los Angeles Municipal Code to prohibit homeless encampments in all public areas. After significant debate, the Council voted to send the motion to the Homelessness and Poverty Committee for further consideration. Click here for more.

REDISTRICTING HEARING  

Lastly, the Los Angeles City Council held the second of the state required hearings for both the City Council Redistricting Maps and the LAUSD Redistricting maps. Once again during the meeting, individuals called thanking the City Council for voting to keep Exposition Park in CD 9. Council District 8 attempted once more to take Exposition Park from CD 9; however, that motion failed. As it stands now, Exposition Park will remain in Councilman Price’s District. The final vote on the maps is expected to take place on Dec. 1. Following that vote, the new maps will take effect on Jan. 1 and remain for the next decennial. Click here for more.

 

Friday, Nov. 12

PROOF OF COVID-19 VACCINES

On Friday, the City Council approved a report from the Chief Legislative Analyst (CLA) asking the City Attorney to amend the ordinance related to requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination to enter certain public locations. The changes include revising the definition of an “eligible individual” for a COVID vaccine to individuals 12 years or older, as well as removing malls and shopping centers from the entertainment and recreation venues that are specified. 

Although malls and shopping centers are being removed from entertainment and recreation venues, if a patron is to eat at a restaurant and food court within these facilities, they will need to show proof of vaccination. Click here for more. 

 

Wednesday, Nov. 10 

REDISTRICTING PUBLIC HEARING

On Wednesday, the Los Angeles City Council held the first of two state-required public hearings on the Los Angeles City Council Redistricting maps. During the meeting, individuals called thanking the City Council for voting to keep Exposition Park in CD 9. The next public hearing will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 23 before the City Council votes on a final ordinance, solidifying the District maps for the next decennial. Click here for more. 

 

Tuesday, Nov. 9

EXPO PARK, USC REMAIN IN DISTRICT 9 

On Tuesday, the Los Angeles City Council approved the Ad Hoc Redistricting Committee report on a 12-2 vote and retained Exposition Park within Council District 9, something Councilman Price has vehemently been fighting for. This was a defining moment within the Redistricting process as previous iterations of Council draft maps placed Exposition Park in Council District 8.

Councilman Price argued that Exposition Park should remain in the 9th District as he has brought nearly $2 billion in investments and thousands of temporary and permanent jobs to Expo Park through catalytic projects like the Banc of California Stadium, LA Memorial Coliseum renovations, and the upcoming Lucas Museum of Narrative Art. In addition, throughout this whole process during the last year, CD 9 constituents have overwhelmingly expressed sentiment that both Expo Park and USC should remain in District 9. 

“This was a huge victory for the District, which for years had been neglected and handicapped economically. Keeping the 9th District whole will help set a strong foundation for generations to come as the local economy will be stimulated through the continued development of the area,” added Councilman Price. 

Click here for more. 

 

Friday, Nov. 5 

AD HOC REDISTRICTING COMMITTEE MEETING

On Friday, Councilman Price introduced a motion during the Ad Hoc Redistricting Committee to retain Expo Park in Council District 9. Councilman Price, who represents the South Los Angeles Region on the Ad Hoc Committee, along with five of his colleagues approved the motion by a 6-1 vote. As it stands now, the draft maps approved by the Los Angeles City Council Redistricting Commission places Expo Park in Council District 8. 

During the meeting, Councilman Price argued that Expo Park should be retained in District 9 because of the numerous calls during Commission and Council meetings from constituents that it is crucial to keep the 9^th District whole. Additionally, Councilman Price pointed out that he has brought over $1 billion in investments and numerous jobs to Expo Park during his tenure.  

The Committee report will go to Council on Tuesday for a vote. The maps will then go through two-state required hearings. Finally, a draft ordinance will be presented for a final vote on Dec. 1. The maps approved by the full City Council will go into effect beginning in January 2022. Click here for more. 

 

Thursday, Nov. 4 

ENFORCING VACCINATION

Beginning on Nov. 4, various businesses within Los Angeles will begin enforcing being fully-vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to enter into indoor spaces. It is advised that individuals either carry their physical vaccine or a digital copy. Click here to read the full ordinance. 

 

Wednesday, Nov. 3 

CENTRAL APARTMENTS

On Wednesday, the Los Angeles City Council approved two motions introduced by Councilmember Price related to the Central Apartments, a multifamily housing project, and remediation on the Slauson and Wall Redevelopment Project. 

The Central Apartments will have 56 units of affordable housing and one manager’s unit bringing the total number of units to 57. The project will be located at 2106-2112 S. Central Ave. in Council District 9. Click here for the motion. 

Additionally, a motion was approved allowing UC Riverside to conduct toxic soil cleanup at the Slauson and Wall Redevelopment Project site by using native plants. This treatment is a more environmentally friendly approach as it will prevent the soil from being disposed of in a landfill. When the Project is complete, Slauson and Wall will be the location of 525 residential units, with nearly 50 percent of them marked as affordable. The project will also have a Superior Foods grocer and space for businesses and restaurants amongst other things. Click here to read more. 

 

Tuesday, Nov. 2 

AD HOC REDISTRICTING COMMITTEE

On Tuesday, the Los Angeles City Council voted to approve the establishment of the Ad Hoc Redistricting Committee. The Committee will be tasked with reviewing the submitted plans by the Los Angeles City Council Redistricting Commission, and making any revisions deemed necessary. Amongst the members on the Committee will be Councilman Price, who will be representing the South LA region. Click here for more. 

On a related matter, Councilmember Price introduced a motion to retain Exposition (Expo) Park in Council District 9. As it stands now, the draft maps approved by the Los Angeles City Council Redistricting Commission places Expo Park in Council District 8. This motion is necessary as Expo Park serves as a large economic driver within District 9 and provides numerous job opportunities and economic benefits to the District as a whole. 

Under Councilman Price’s leadership, Expo Park has undergone a significant transformation and continues to do so with the many developments that are up and coming, including the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art. With this, he understands the importance of Expo Park in the 9th District and will continue to fight to keep it where it belongs. Click here for more. 

 

Tuesday, Oct. 26

On Tuesday, the Los Angeles City Council approved a resolution amending the City’s COVID-19 vaccination policy for all City employees. The expectation of the City was that all employees would be fully vaccinated by Oct. 20, 2021. In lieu of this, employees now have until Dec. 18, 2021 to become fully vaccinated. During the time that employees are undergoing the vaccination process, employees will be responsible for using their own compensated time if they fall ill with COVID and they must test twice per week, amongst other requirements. If an employee fails to become vaccinated by Dec. 18, they will be subject to corrective action. Click here for more.

 

Wednesday, Oct. 20

Transportation

On Wednesday, the City Council approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro), allowing various City departments to update existing railroad infrastructure allowing Metro to connect their Blue Line to the future Crenshaw/LAX line. Doing so will bring the City and County one step closer to completing the Crenshaw/LAX Transit project that spans 8.5 miles from the intersection of Exposition and Crenshaw to the Metro Green Line’s Aviation/LAX station. This will give people an alternative transit option when accessing LAX. Click here for more. 

Additionally, the City Council moved to suspend Councilmember Mark Ridley-Thomas, Councilman for the 10th District, with a vote of 11-3. This suspension followed the indictment by the United States Attorney’s Office of Councilman Ridley-Thomas that includes charges of conspiracy and bribery. Amongst the three dissenting votes was Councilman Price. Councilman Price voted against suspension because he believed Councilman Ridley-Thomas “has a right to due process and that it should take place in a court of law and not inside Council Chambers.” Additionally, Councilman Price wanted to operate from a position of fairness and respect and did not believe it was right to tarnish the record of a public servant of over 40 years before the case was heard. As it stands now, the 10th Council District seat is vacant until further notice. Click here for more. 

 

Tuesday, Oct. 19 

Homelessness

On Tuesday, the Los Angeles City Council approved a lease agreement with the Coalition for Responsible Community Development (CRCD) and a sublease agreement with Urban Alchemy to establish and operate a Safe Sleeping Village at the Historic Lincoln Theater at 2300 Central Ave. within Council District 9. The Safe Sleeping Village will be able to accommodate 95 tent spaces for up to 125 people. Additionally, various services will be provided to individuals at the Safe Sleeping Village, like restrooms, showers, storage, food services, and case management services for families and individuals experiencing homelessness. Click here for more. 

Economic Development 

Additionally, the Los Angeles City Council approved a Personnel, Audits, and Animal Welfare Committee report instructing various departments in the City, including the Personnel Department, to develop a plan within 90 days with recommended steps on how to implement a Citywide Career Pathways Pilot Program. The goal of the Career Pathways Program pilot would be to recruit, train, and hire future City Employees by focusing on individuals who typically face barriers to employment. With this pilot, the City hopes to make the hiring process more equitable and ensure that Angelenos are prioritized in the hiring process rather than outsourcing the hiring. Click here for more. 

 

Wednesday, Oct. 13 

27th STREET FIREWORKS BLAST

On Wednesday, Councilmember Price introduced a motion appropriating funds to continue to house individuals of the 27th Street fireworks blast. The money will be disbursed to the Community Investment for Families Department (CIFD) to execute the contract.  Many neighbors face an uphill battle and a tough road ahead for years to come. This motion aims to ease that burden. Click here for the motion.

 

Tuesday, Oct. 12

$100 BILLION CALIFORNIA COMEBACK PLAN

On Tuesday, the Los Angeles City Council directed the Chief Legislative Analyst (CLA) and City Administrative Officer (CAO) to report on the $100 billion California Comeback Plan and the State’s $1.5 billion investment to clean public spaces near highways. Within the report, Council is asking the CLA and CAO to report on how the money from the Comeback Plan and the State’s investment in cleaning public spaces can be used by the City of Los Angeles. The money available is crucial with helping to clean the City and also Council District 9 specifically around freeway overpasses and underpasses. Click here for more. 

 

Wednesday, Oct. 6

CITY OF LOS ANGELES COVID VACCINATION MANDATE

On Wednesday, the Los Angeles City Council voted 11-2 to approve an ordinance requiring proof of full vaccination to enter into certain indoor public spaces, large events, and City buildings. The ordinance was adopted following the surge in cases due to the Delta variant of the COVID virus. The goal of the ordinance is to ensure the safety of both workers and patrons within indoor settings – a place where transmission can occur at higher rates. The ordinance also allows malls to post signage at all entrances stating that a vaccination is required for entry and failure to comply can result in denial of entry. The ordinance will be enforced beginning in November. Click here for the adopted ordinance.

 

Tuesday, Oct. 5

A PUBLIC BANK FOR LA

On Tuesday, the Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously to release a Request for Proposals (RFP) seeking qualified consultants to conduct an analysis and study the viability of creating a Public Bank in Los Angeles. LA’s Public Bank would be able to invest in areas such as credit access for small businesses (targeting disadvantaged neighborhoods), helping finance affordable housing, green energy investment and developing credit programs, among other services. Click here for more.

 

Wednesday, Sept. 29 

27th ST. LAPD FIREWORKS EXPLOSION

On Wednesday, the Los Angeles City Council approved a motion by Councilmember Price to transfer more than $1 million from the LAPD back into the CD 9 community. This transfer occurred after Councilmember Price established a $1 Million Emergency Relief Fund following the 27th Street explosion as a result of a botched detonation of fireworks by the LAPD. The Fund has been used to help neighbors with cleanup, repairs, longer-term corporate housing and financial assistance. Councilmember Price had an interest in holding LAPD accountable for their actions, and with the approval of the motion, it is a step in the right direction. Click here for more. 

CANNABIS LICENSING

Councilmember Price also co-introduced a motion alongside his colleagues Marqueece Harris-Dawson, Mark Ridley-Thomas, and others asking the City Attorney to draft an ordinance to implement cannabis licensing changes to increase speed and equity for applications. Specifically, the motion asks the Department of Cannabis Regulation (DCR) to process the applications of Social Equity Applicants for state provisional cannabis licenses without delay. To do this, the motion asks DCR to give regular status updates to the Planning and Land Use Management Committee once an ordinance is adopted by Council. This motion comes after the City received complaints from stakeholders that DCR’s process has moved too slowly. Click here for more.

VACCINE ORDINANCE 

Additionally, the City Council debated instituting a Vaccine Ordinance requiring proof of full vaccination to enter into certain indoor public spaces, large events, and City buildings. After a thorough debate, the Council decided to table the vote as some members still had some questions and concerns. The ordinance will come back to the Council next week and will be up for a vote. If the ordinance is approved, the requirements will take effect beginning on Nov. 4th. Click here to view the Vaccine Ordinance. 

COVID-19 Emergency Renter Protections 

Within the City of Los Angeles, renters are protected from eviction if they are unable to pay rent due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The moratorium lasts for up to 12 months following the end of the City’s Emergency Declaration, or until May 1, 2023, whichever date comes first. Click here for more.

 

Tuesday, Sep. 28 

HOMELESSNESS

On Tuesday, the Los Angeles City Council approved a lease extension with the County of Los Angeles to continue operation of a temporary interim housing site within Council District 9. The interim housing site has housed multiple families experiencing homelessness over the last year. St. Joseph Center has provided various services to these families during this time. Click here for more. 

 

Tuesday, Sept. 21 

Recovery Plan for 27th Street Neighborhood 

On Tuesday, the Los Angeles City Council approved Councilman Curren Price’s motion to form a recovery plan for the 27th Street Neighborhood following the botched detonation of illegal fireworks by the LAPD in June. The comprehensive plan will include $5 million to help the area recover from the devastating explosion, including the establishment of a Neighborhood Recovery Center and services such as infrastructure improvements, mental health services, job, and workforce development, access to children’s services, as well as business grants and prioritization for the City’s Guaranteed Basic Income program. The approved motion asks for numerous City departments to report back on their findings. That report is expected to be ready by the end of October. Click here for more.

Clean Streets 

Additionally, the City Council also approved over $3 million for the 9th District to continue to help clean the District. The money will be used for bulky item cleanup, community beautification, and other services to help improve the various communities within the District. Click here for more. 

Tenant Protections

Councilmember Price also introduced a motion calling on the State Legislature and Governor Newsom to extend the statewide eviction moratorium past Sept. 30, the date it’s scheduled to expire currently. The statewide eviction moratorium has saved millions of Californians from losing their apartments and homes due to the inability to pay rent because of COVID-19. While the statewide moratorium is scheduled to end this month, renters in the City of Los Angeles are protected for the length of the Emergency Declaration within the City. For the resolution, click here. For more information on the City’s eviction moratorium, click here. 

Homelessness 

Further, the City Council approved a motion, seconded by Councilman Price, to begin creating the Housing Now Program. This Program aims to increase rental housing subsidies to help individuals transition from the streets to housing. Within the Program, individuals dealing with health and mental health needs will be targeted by working with Los Angeles County’s Department of Health Services. The motion also asks for a report from the City Administrative Officer (CAO), Chief Legislative Analyst (CLA), and various Los Angeles County departments to report back to the Homelessness and Poverty Committee in 30 days with a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with an aim to double the number of vouchers provided by the Housing Now Program to 10,000. Click here for more. 

Reimagining Public Safety

Finally, the City Council authorized an agreement between the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) and the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (DMH) for the Therapeutic Van Pilot Program. The Program will be piloted at five locations across the City and will be used when residents need assistance when dealing with individuals going through a mental health crisis. The goal of the Program is to help divert non-violent calls from the LAPD. This push was made following the protests in the summer of 2020. Click here for more. 

 

Wednesday, Sept. 15 

On Wednesday, the Los Angeles City Council received an update regarding a Request for Proposal (RFP) for an unarmed crisis response, which would direct non-violent calls for help away from the LAPD to appropriate departments within the City of Los Angeles depending on the nature of the call. The RFP asks the City to explore options related to piloting mental health partnerships with the Los Angeles Fire Department along with groups like Didi Hirsch, who specializes in suicide ideation and other mental health issues. The City Council asked for the City Administrative Officer to host a minimum of four bidder conferences, with at least one in the evening, one on the weekend, and one with language interpretation, to ensure input from all communities within Los Angeles. Additionally, the Council asked for the Department of Civil + Human Rights and Equity, Housing Department, and other City Departments to assist with outreach for the bidders conference. The Unarmed Crisis response was borne after the City Council cut $150 million from the LAPD budget in the summer of 2020, an effort led by City Councilmember Curren Price. Click here for more.

 

Tuesday, Sept. 14

On Tuesday, the Los Angeles City Council adopted a report from the Energy, Climate Change, Environmental Justice and River Committee to create an Outreach Engagement Framework to ensure a more successful chance of housing placement for people experiencing homelessness. The framework includes emergency outreach, service-focused outreach, and sanitation outreach, which aims to both clean the streets and provide resources for those experiencing homelessness. The adopted report also asks for a report back by March 2022 asking various City and County Departments to provide results of the Street Engagement Strategy and explain what went well, what did not work, and provide information on what resources may be needed in the future. Click here for more. 

Additionally, the City Council passed an ordinance amending Los Angeles Municipal Code (LAMC) Section 56.45 to prohibit targeted picketing at a private residence. By amending LAMC Section 56.45, picketing must be conducted at least 300 feet from a private residence. This amendment comes after two members of the City Council had their houses vandalized following anti-vaccination protests. Click here for more.  

 

Wednesday, Sept. 1 

On Wednesday, Councilman Price introduced a motion calling on the Chief Legislative Analyst (CLA), the CAO, the Emergency Management Department, Housing Department, LA Sanitation & Environment (LASAN), and other key City Departments to report back in 30 days with a Recovery Plan for the 27th Street neighborhood to help the area recover following an attempted detonation by the LAPD on June 30 after they seized illegal fireworks. The botched detonation caused a massive explosion that ripped through the neighborhood destroying homes, property and caused both bodily injuries and severe mental trauma for residents in the area. Since the explosion, Councilmember Price and his office have worked relentlessly in making sure the affected residents have received the essential services needed. The motion asks for the various City departments, including the LAPD, to produce a minimum of $5 million to help with rebuilding the community and helping the residents who were affected. Read the full motion here.  

The Los Angeles City Council also approved a ITGS Committee report in following a motion that instructs the CAO, with assistance from the Economic and Workforce Development Department (EWDD), to report on the impacts of SB 156, which provides $6 billion in funding to expand broadband infrastructure and enhance internet access for underserved communities across the state, on the City of LA. This motion, seconded by Councilmember Price, hopes to take advantage of the new funding to help more communities in Los Angeles have access to broadband. Click here for more. 

Additionally, the City Council approved a report from the Economic Development and Jobs Committee based on a motion that asks the EWDD with assistance from the CAO and CLA, to report in 60 days on Entrepreneurship Leadership Programs across other U.S. cities in an effort to develop a similar program to serve the City of Los Angeles. The goal of the motion is to create pathways for underserved communities to become business owners and ultimately help close the racial wealth gap. With the COVID pandemic, however, many of these opportunities have not been presented. The motion asks for the City departments mentioned above to look into utilizing the $1 million Equity Fund that was allocated in the 2021-2022 budget. Read more here. 

Finally, the City Council heard a verbal report on the LA100 study, which aims to place the City of Los Angeles on 100 percent carbon-free energy by 2035 and approved a motion that focus on long-term hiring and a workforce plan that coincides with the LA100 plan. The motion asks for the appropriate City departments to work with labor groups and have a focus on prevailing wage and targeted hiring requirements that focuses on neighborhoods in environmentally and economically disadvantaged communities. Click here and here to read more. 

 

Tuesday, Aug. 31

On Tuesday, the Los Angeles City Council approved reports from the Information, Technology, and General Services Committee (ITGS) and Homelessness and Poverty Committee asking the City Administrative Officer (CAO) to identify City-owned parking lots, vacant parcels, and other City properties not suitable for permanent and interim housing that can be utilized to create a Citywide network of shipping-container storage facilities for people experiencing homelessness. This motion is a key piece in helping people experiencing homelessness as many worry about the ability to store their personal possessions when they seek work or make appointments to see case managers, for example. The motion asks for the CAO to report back within 60 days with a plan for funding and the establishment of five initial locations within the City. Click here for more. 

The City Council also approved a resolution, co-presented by Councilmember Curren Price, supporting the rights of Dignity Health security officers to unionize. Over the course of the COVID pandemic, security officers at Dignity Health have been frontline protectors of its patients, workers, and the general public at the company’s facilities. By joining a union, the security officers will have better protections and will be better able to serve individuals with Dignity Health. Click here for more. 

Additionally, the City Council adopted an ordinance amending the Los Angeles Administrative Code to extend the date by when the Los Angeles City Council Redistricting Commission (LACCRC) must present their proposals to the City Council. The extension gives the LACCRC until Oct. 29 to report their findings to the City Council instead of the original date of Aug. 31. The extension was requested due to the delay in the U.S. Census Bureau’s release of 2020 Census data. Click here for more. 

Further, the City Council took action to ban the use of “ghost guns,” weapons that are assembled from parts or kits that include one unfinished piece and have no serial number. The motion asks the City Attorney to draft an ordinance prohibiting the possession, purchase, sale and transportation of these firearms within the City of Los Angeles. “Ghosts guns” have been particularly problematic as they are impossible to track if used in a crime. To read more about this action, click here. 

Finally, the City Council approved a resolution in support of SB 679, which would establish the LA County Affordable Housing Solutions Agency. If approved, the bill would generate funding for renter protections, affordable housing preservation, and affordable housing production. Click here for more. 

 

Wednesday, Aug. 25

On Wednesday, the City Council passed a resolution in support of AB 1400, which would create the California Guaranteed Health Care for All program (CalCare). The passage of this resolution was important as the COVID pandemic exposed the inequities and unsustainability of the healthcare system that left behind many underserved communities. By passing CalCare, comprehensive and universal single-payer health care coverage would be provided to numerous lower-income families, as well as to individuals who deserve it. CalCare would help guarantee comprehensive, lifetime, high-quality care that all California residents deserve. To read the full resolution, click here. 

Additionally, the City Council approved funding for the expansion of the COVID-19 Emergency Renters Assistance Program (ERAP). With this approval, millions of dollars will be allocated to help tens of thousands of households pay rent due to COVID-19 hardships. The program was reopened after the first round of applications were closed in April. With this round of ERAP, the funding will be distributed by the California Department of Housing and Community Development directly to an applicant’s landlord. To check eligibility or to learn more about the ERAP program visit https://housing.ca.gov/.

 

Tuesday, Aug. 24

On Tuesday, the Los Angeles City Council approved a motion, co-authored by Councilman Curren Price, requesting the Civil and Human Rights and Equity Department and other relevant City departments to produce a Racial Equity Audit of existing City programs, policies and practices to determine whether African Americans and other underserved communities face systemic barriers in accessing benefits and opportunities available across the City. The motion was introduced to encourage the City of Los Angeles to continue to make strides to address implicit bias and promote equity – two areas that were brought to light following the protests of last summer during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The motion asks for an audit to identify policies and actions that exacerbate barriers to equal opportunity. Click here to read the full motion.

 

Wednesday, Aug. 18 

On Wednesday, the Los Angeles City Council unanimously adopted a draft ordinance from the City Attorney, 13-0, relative to a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy for all current and future City employees and contractors. The ordinance states that all City employees and contractors must be fully vaccinated (two-doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or one-dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine) no later than Oct. 19, 2021, or request an exemption. City employees and contractors then must report their vaccination status by Oct. 20, 2021 to City’s Personnel department, even if they receive an exemption. 

The City Council agreed the ordinance was necessary to protect the health of City employees and contractors, in addition to the general public, as many roles are public facing and service oriented. While the majority of City staff are vaccinated, the City Council wants to be as close as possible to a 100 percent vaccination rate to help Los Angeles emerge from the COVID pandemic and return back to a more normal operation. Click here to read the full ordinance. 

 

Wednesday, Aug. 11

On Wednesday, the Los Angeles City Council unanimously approved a motion 13-0 instructing the City Attorney to draft an ordinance that would require eligible individuals to have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to enter indoor spaces, including but not limited to: restaurants, bars, retail establishments, fitness centers, spas and entertainment centers such as stadiums, concert venues and movie theaters. Additionally, the motion instructs the Chief Legislative Analyst (CLA) to work in  conjunction with the Economic & Workforce Development Department (EWDD) and the City Attorney, to ask for input from businesses, business organizations and Council Offices on the types of public spaces that should be included in the draft ordinance. Finally, the CLA is being asked to work with the Community Investment for Families Department and the City Attorney to solicit input from parents, parent groups, teachers, pediatricians, and non-profit organizations/businesses that deliver childcare services and incorporate in the draft ordinance how to best protect children under 12 as this group remains ineligible to receive a vaccine.

The motion was brought forward as the Delta variant became prominent enough to where Los Angeles County saw a steady spike in cases and hospitalizations since July. In order to protect the health and well-being of residents of Los Angeles, the City Council felt this was necessary to help Los Angeles avoid another shutdown and eventually return to normalcy. Click here for more.

Additionally, Councilmember Price introduced a motion asking the CLA, in consultation with the City Attorney, to report back to the Council on current protocols across City departments to provide compensation to victims of City-caused accidents or disasters, including the LAPD fireworks detonation and the Los Angeles Bureau of Sanitation (LASAN) Hyperion sewage spill. 

The motion also asks the Office of Racial Equity within the Department of Civil and Human Rights and Equity report back to Council with an equity framework that can be used by all departments in providing victim compensation in the event of a City-caused accident or disaster. Councilmember Price introduced this motion along with two other colleagues following the discrepancy in City response by City departments to the 27th Street LAPD explosion in comparison to the Hyperion sewage spill. With the 27th Street incident, many individuals are still displaced and are seeking compensation. However, nearly all individuals affected by the Hyperion sewage spill have been compensated. Click here for more.

 

Tuesday, Aug. 10

On Tuesday, the Los Angeles City Council adopted a motion seconded by Councilmember Curren Price entitled, “A Way Home” plan. The initiative sets a goal to create 25,000 homeless housing units by 2025 for individuals experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles. As the City continues to look for solutions to providing housing for its most vulnerable, this new roadmap sets housing goals and establishes a comprehensive approach in breaking down the barriers that have prevented the City from acting more quickly to house its unhoused community. Click here for more.

 

Friday, Aug. 6 

On Friday, Councilmember Price co-presented a resolution in supporting the right of Security Officers at Common Spirit/Dignity Health to form their union in SEIU-UHW or, at the very least, allow these Security Officers to hold a free and fair election so they can vote to form their union in SEIU-UHW. Many Security Officers have submitted union authorization cards to join SEIU-UHW after many have been asked to be frontline protectors of its patients, workers and the general public at the company’s facilities. During this time, many Security Officers have been put at a heightened risk of exposure and infection of COVID-19. By supporting unionization, Councilmember Price hopes these workers will receive the proper protections they are entitled to. 

 

Wednesday, Aug. 4

On Wednesday, Councilmember Price introduced motions asking the public for information related to two murders that occurred in 2020. The first victim was named Tajanae Alicelynn Nelson and the second victim was named Robert Maurice King. Click here and here for the full motions. If you or anyone you may know has any information on either incident, please contact the South Bureau Homicide Division at (323) 786-5080.

Councilmember Price also seconded a motion asking the CAO, the Information Technology Agency, and the Economic and Workforce Development Department to report on the impacts of SB 156, any potential revenue the City expects to receive as a result of passage of the legislation, and potential uses of funds provided by this legislation that will enhance the City’s digital inclusion efforts. SB 156 was signed into law on July 20, 2021 and provides $6 billion in funding to expand broadband infrastructure and enhance internet access for underserved and underserved communities across the State. During the Pandemic, the digital divide was exposed as many in underserved communities were left behind and unable to complete work. With this bill, it is the hope that more will stay connected. Click here for more.

 

Tuesday, Aug. 3

On Tuesday, Councilmember Price seconded a motion directing the City Administrative Officer (CAO) with assistance of the Chief Legislative Analyst (CLA) to report back on federal and state COVID-assistance programs and timelines for expiration of relief programs, as well as the anticipated impacts to Angelenos. The motion also asks to report on how the City of Los Angeles can help address the gaps caused by the expiring programs. This motion was introduced as many of the relief programs that our federal and state governments launched are set to expire or have expired, including the original federal eviction moratorium which expired on July 31. Click here for more.

 

Friday, July 30

On Friday, Councilmember Price introduced a motion to install a permanent ceremonial sign at 3511 Central Ave. in recognition of the historic location of the Florence Mills Theatre. Formerly the Globe Theatre, it was renamed after Mills before being demolished in March 2013. Mills, known as the “Queen of Happiness,” was an American cabaret singer, dancer and comedian known for her effervescent stage presence and delicate voice. The ceremonial sign is an important reminder to mark the important location in the South Central Neighborhood of Los Angeles.

Additionally, Councilmember Price co-introduced a motion supporting the implementation of the City of Los Angeles’ Street Engagement Strategy and Right to Housing framework that accompanied the new ordinance approved by the City Council on Wednesday. The motion asks to find ways to increase flexible rental housing subsidies through a partnership with the County’s Department of Health Services, as well as asking the City Administrative Officer, the Los Angeles Housing Department, and other City Departments to report to the Homelessness and Poverty Committee within 30 days on the operation of the current pipeline to increase the flexible rental housing subsidies.

Finally, Councilmember Price seconded a motion asking multiple City Departments, including the Department of Building and Safety, Bureau of Engineering, and the Fire Department, to prepare a report with recommendations regarding existing inspection protocols for high-rise buildings, best practices for the inspection of our high-rise buildings, and preparation of a map that identify the location by Council District of all high-rise buildings in the City. The motion is in response to the collapse of the Champlain Towers located in Surfside, Florida. With this motion, it is the hope of the Council that a similar tragedy does not occur in the City of Los Angeles.

 

Wednesday, July 28

On Wednesday, the Los Angeles City Council, with a 13-2 vote, adopted an ordinance designed to both uphold the City’s obligation to keep public rights-of-way clean, safe, and accessible for the public at-large, address the City’s homelessness crisis in a way that preserves the dignity of our residents, and support the efforts to transition such individuals to housing. 

The ordinance provides pathways for the City to prevent and clear encampments near areas of sensitive use such as within 10 feet of any operational or active driveway or loading dock; 5 feet from any building entrance; 500 feet from any school, daycare center, public park, or public library; 500 feet from any freeway overpass, underpass, freeway ramp, tunnel, or active railway; and 1,000 feet from any Bridge Home Sites that the City has constructed since 2018. The ordinance also requires that the City pass a resolution designating a specified area or areas for enforcement against encampments and give individuals occupying the space at least 14 calendar days from the time signage is posted by the City and clear the space. 

The ordinance also lays out a Street Engagement Strategy and Right to Housing Framework that gives our houseless neighbors a pathway to housing by working with various community partners along with the Los Angeles Housing Services Authority (LAHSA). Click here for the full ordinance. 

Additionally, during the meeting, Councilmember Price had the opportunity to question Police Chief Michel Moore to get some answers on how the 27th Street illegal fireworks explosion emergency was handled, added protocols put in place after the disaster and whether the LAPD plans to hold responsible individuals accountable for their actions. 

The Council also heard from representatives from the Los Angeles Fire Department, LA City Attorney, the LA Emergency Management Department and the Housing and Community Investment for Families Department, to gain insights into their respective roles taken as the City mobilized. The Departments shared updates on how they are assisting the victims during their time of need, including providing longer-term housing for the individuals that have been displaced and the status of pending personal and property claims submitted to the City.

With the support from his council colleagues, Councilmember Price introduced an amending motion that sets aside funds that will help in the recovery efforts which will include cleanup services, debris removal, and assistance with interim living expenses associated with residential displacement and necessary repairs to the residences impacted by the blast. Finally, the motion instructs the LAPD with assistance from other City departments to ensure that the $1 million Emergency Relief Fund used by the District 9 office to help the residents affected is restored in the near future. Click here for more. 

Councilmember Price also seconded a motion asking various City Departments and labor departments to report back in 15 days to require that all City employees and contractors, as a condition of employment, to be fully vaccinated from the COVID-19 virus and report their COVID-19 vaccination status to the appropriate City department. With the rise of cases, the City wants to ensure that all employees are protected from the COVID virus. Click here for more. 

 

Friday, June 25

On Friday, the Los Angeles City Council confirmed the appointment of Ms. Abigail Marquez as the permanent General Manager (GM) of the Community Investment for Families Department. As GM, Ms. Marquez will oversee the department which will be responsible for various programs that will provide aid to residents across Los Angeles including the Guaranteed Basic Income program that Councilmember Price helped initiate. Click here for more.

Additionally, the City Council approved funding for Council District 9 to purchase two stake bed trucks for one year to be used by rapid response cleanup crews within the District. The trucks will be used to help with collecting bulky items and other trash and debris in the District. Click here for more.

Finally, the City Council continued discussions on evaluating LAHSA’s governance structure. No vote was taken, however. The purpose is to continue to find solutions on how to provide the most effective delivery of homeless services for those within the City. Click here for more.

 

Wednesday, June 23

On Wednesday, the City Council approved an ordinance to establish an Anti-Harassment of Tenant ordinance. This ordinance was adopted to protect tenants living in rental units who are vulnerable to landlord harassment due to the shortage of other available rental housing and lack of accessible remedies. Within the ordinance, there are specific protections for individuals 65 years older or older and for those who are disabled. If a landlord is found to have violated this ordinance, they can be fined up to $10,000 depending on the offense as well as potential jail time. Click here for more.

 

Friday, June 18

On Friday, the City Council began discussions relative to evaluating the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority’s (LAHSA) governing structure. The purpose of the discussion is to ensure that the Governance Structure of LAHSA is suitable to provide for the effective delivery of homeless services. Click here for more.

 

Wednesday, June 16

On Wednesday, the City Council instructed the City Attorney to draft an ordinance to prohibit the sale of flavored tobacco products and products manufactured with the intent of flavoring tobacco products, with a six month period to allow retailers to clear their existing stock of products. Councilmember Price introduced an amending motion to include the sale of menthol flavored products within the ban. The City Council exempted legally operating Smokers’ Lounges which will be allowed to sale flavored shisha tobacco to patrons 21 years of age or older for either on-site consumption or off-site consumption. Click here for more.

 

Tuesday, June 15

On Tuesday, the Los Angeles City Council approved a motion in support of the City of Los Angeles filing an amicus brief or suitable document in support of the California Attorney General’s appeal of Miller, et al. v. Bonta with the 9^th Circuit Court of Appeals. The case in front of the 9^th Circuit Court of Appeals focuses on a potential repeal of California’s assault weapons ban, which has been in place over thirty years since 1989. Click here for more.

 

Wednesday, June 9

On Wednesday, the Los Angeles City Council requested the City Attorney to establish an Anti-Harassment of Tenant ordinance into the Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO). Within the ordinance, there are a host of protections for renters if a landlord tries to coerce or harass a tenant into vacating their dwelling. If landlords are found in violation, they can be charged with a misdemeanor. The ordinance also directs the Los Angeles Housing and Community Investment Department to implement an informational campaign, working with landlord and tenant organizations, to inform tenants about the ordinance when it becomes effective. Click here for more.

Additionally, the City Council approved a Planning and Land Use Management Committee Report exploring the feasibility of expanding the provisions of the existing Interim Motel Conversion Ordinance to existing commercial office buildings, and implement changes to allow the repurposing or adaptation of commercial office buildings into supportive and transitional housing with supportive services. With Los Angeles facing an unprecedented housing crisis and as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, it is an urgent public health and moral priority that the City explore all options to provide shelter for people currently living on the streets. Click here for more. 

 

Wednesday, June 2

On Wednesday, Mayor Eric Garcetti approved the City’s 2021-2022 Budget which will go into effect July 1, which marks the beginning of the new fiscal year.

Within the budget, Councilman Price championed several initiatives on behalf of low-income and working-class families that have been hit hardest by COVID-19 and for a more inclusive and equitable Los Angeles. Some of the initiatives include $10 million for Utility Assistance Programs, $10 million for expanding broadband access for disadvantaged communities, $10 million for the expansion of Senior Meals, and $25 million for Business Assistance Programs in Disadvantaged Communities. In total, Councilman Price fought for over $150 million for low-income communities and communities of color.

The spending plan also includes nearly $1 billion to combat homelessness and more than $300 million in equity and justice initiatives like a citywide Guaranteed Basic Income program, which Councilman Price contributed the initial $6 million towards a targeted CD 9 program which will provide 500 single-parent households $1,000 a month for a year. Additionally, there is dedicated funding for direct relief to small businesses in low-income communities, expanding the Gang Reduction and Youth Development (GRYD) program, eviction defense and much more. Click here for more.

 

Tuesday, June 1

On Tuesday, the Los Angeles City Council passed a resolution, introduced by Councilman Price, in support of AB 1177- California Public Banking Option Act, which encourages the State Legislature to pass the legislation. This is an opportunity that would help close the financial divide, bolster the economy and ensure an equitable recovery by creating a stable, accessible financial services platform with the BankCal program and provide Californians with a zero-fee, penalty public option for essential financial services. The California Public Banking Option is an important step forward as nearly half of Black and Latino households are unbanked. This action would help reduce predatory, discriminatory, and costly alternatives as well as reduce the risk of falling into catastrophic debt traps and brings us closer to bridging the racial wealth gap. Read the full resolution here.

 

Wednesday, May 26

On Wednesday, the City Council approved a motion requesting the Mayor revise the Emergency Order relative to Supplemental Paid Sick Leave due to COVID-19 to include an additional four hours of paid leave for all employees employed by private businesses/entities per injection to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, as well as paid time off for any vaccine related side effects. Within the County of Los Angeles, over fifty-percent of residents have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and over forty-percent are fully vaccinated. By providing sick leave to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, there’s hope that more individuals will be incentivized to get inoculated. For more click here. 

 

Tuesday, May 25

On Tuesday, the Los Angeles City Council approved a Budget and Finance committee report approving recommendations regarding the remaining reinvestment of funds from the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) to underserved communities. With the efforts led by Councilmember Price, Council District 9 will receive nearly $8 million to fund various programs and services focused on homelessness, anti-recidivism, apprenticeship programs, COVID-19 bereavement funding, legal aid for residents and businesses, and grants for local artists and cultural organizations.

This additional $8 million comes after the Council previously approved $6 million for a Guaranteed Basic Income program within CD 9, which will provide five-hundred single-parent households from the District with $1,000 for a year. Read more here.

Additionally, the City Council approved a resolution in support of HR 1280 (Bass) – the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021. The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act would hold law enforcement accountable for misconduct in court, improve transparency through data collection, and reform police training and policies. The City Council passed the resolution in support of HR 1280 on the year anniversary of the death of George Floyd, who was murdered by a former police officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Over the past year, numerous cities including Los Angeles have explored alternatives to policing specifically when related to non-violent calls for help. Read the full resolution here.

 

Thursday, May 20

On Thursday, the Los Angeles City Council approved the Budget and Finance Committee report that provided several recommendations as changes to the Mayor’s 2021-2022 Proposed Fiscal Year budget, for adoption of the City’s 2021-2022 Budget.

Within proposed budget, Councilman Price championed several initiatives on behalf of low-income and working-class families that have been hit hardest by COVID-19 and for a more inclusive and equitable Los Angeles. Some of the initiatives include $10 million for Utility Assistance Programs, $10 million for expanding broadband access for disadvantaged communities, $10 million for the expansion of Senior Meals, and $25 million for Business Assistance Programs in Disadvantaged Communities. In total, Councilman Price fought for over $150 million for low-income communities and communities of color.

The spending plan also includes nearly $1 billion to combat homelessness and more than $300 million in equity and justice initiatives like a citywide Guaranteed Basic Income program, which Councilman Price contributed the initial $6 million towards a targeted CD 9 program that would provide 500 single-parent households $1,000 a month for a year. Additionally, there is dedicated funding for direct relief to small businesses in low-income communities, expanding the Gang Reduction and Youth Development (GRYD) program, eviction defense and much more.

The approved recommendations and revisions have now been sent to the Mayor who has until next Thursday, May 27^th to either sign and adopt the budget or veto it. If the Budget is signed, the new budget will take effect on July 1^st, 2021.

 

Wednesday, May 12

On Wednesday, the Los Angeles City Council approved a Transportation Committee Report relative to establishing a permanent Al Fresco Program in the City. The report asks the City Attorney and other City departments to report on the feasibility of reviving the Al Fresco Program. The Al Fresco Program became popular over the last year during the COVID-19 pandemic as it allowed restaurants to use the public right-of-way to serve diners in an outdoor setting. Read more here.

 

Tuesday, May 11

On Tuesday, the Los Angeles City Council adopted an ordinance that amends the Los Angeles Municipal Code in various sections related to commercial cannabis businesses. Amongst the changes, cannabis businesses will now have an extended period of time for renewal applications submitted in 2019, 2020 and 2021 and now have until July 31, 2021 to submit renewal fees for those years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more here.

Additionally, Councilmember Curren Price introduced a motion instructing the Department of Cannabis Regulation (DCR), the Chief Legislative Analyst (CLA), and the City Administrative Officer (CAO) to report on the feasibility of allocating a portion of the City’s Cannabis Tax Revenue to fund programs which serve communities that have been disproportionately harmed by the criminalization of cannabis. The goal of this motion is to place the City in a position to promote equity in the near future by reinvesting these dollars within underserved communities and those that have been negatively impacted by the years of criminalization of cannabis. The motion will be heard in the Budget and Finance committee within the next few months. Read the full motion here.

Councilmember Price also seconded a resolution supporting H.R. 1280 (Rep. Karen Bass) – George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021. The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act would make systematic reforms to policing in the United States, including banning no-knock warrants and choke holds, dissolving qualified immunity from liability for peace officers, and encouraging significant reform to police training and policies. Read more here.

Finally, in the Economic Development and Jobs (EDJ) Committee, Councilmember Price heard a presentation on the benefits of creating a Public Bank within Los Angeles. The hearing in EDJ committee followed a motion put forward by former Council President Herb Wesson that instructed various City departments to look into establishing a Municipal Public Bank of Los Angeles following the passage of AB 857 – a state bill that created a framework that allowed municipalities to form public banks in the state. Public banks have many benefits including providing a significant number of Angelenos who have unbanked access to a checking or savings account. Read more here.

 

Wednesday, May 5

On Wednesday, the Los Angeles City Council approved a motion from the Planning and Land Use Management Committee (PLUM) relative to the feasibility of permitting the conversion of commercial hotels into the micro-unit housing. The report is based on a motion that cites the need for any and all solutions for housing within Los Angeles as the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the need due to the number of jobs lost. The report asks various City departments, including the Planning Department, Department of Building and Safety, and others to prepare a report outlining options on how to move forward with converting commercial hotels into micro-unit housing. Click here to read more.

Additionally, the City Council approved a Public Works Committee report relative to the installation of the Venice Mexican American Traqueros Monument. The monument will serve as a reminder of how Los Angeles was built with the sweat and toil of immigrant workers and honor their contributions. The proposed monument is supported by many across the City and the Country, including labor leader and civil rights activist Dolores Huerta. The monument will be located in Windward Circle in the Venice neighborhood. Click here for more.

Finally, the Council’s Budget and Finance Committee continued to hear presentations from various City departments related to budget requests. Councilman Price continues to have a keen focus on seeking solutions and addressing generations of damage caused by long-standing effects of inequality, racial and social injustices. Budget deliberations will continue through next week before being presented to the full City Council on May 20. If approved, the budget will take effect during the new fiscal year beginning on July 1.  

 

Tuesday, May 4

On Tuesday, the Los Angeles City Council approved a Public Safety Committee report asking the LAPD, with assistance of the City Attorney, to disclose a detailed account based on the increased hate crime targeting Asian Americans in the City and on the LAPD’s response to the troubling trend. Over the last year, there has been an increase in reported crimes against the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community sparked by racist rhetoric used by several politicians and news outlets. The goal with this information is to make it easier for those in the AAPI community to gather data on these crimes and incidents, and make communities safer. Read more here.

 

Tuesday, April 27

This week, the Los Angeles City Council’s Budget and Finance Committee, which Councilmember Curren Price sits on, began hearing presentations from various City departments regarding Mayor Eric Garcetti’s $11 billion proposed budget for the 2021-2022 Fiscal Year.

Within the initial plan, the Mayor allocates nearly $1 billion to combat homelessness and more than $300 million in equity and justice initiatives like a citywide Guaranteed Basic Income (GBI) program. Earlier this year, Councilman Price announced an initial $6 million towards a targeted GBI for single parents and caregivers in the District. Furthermore, in the proposed City budget there is dedicated funding for direct relief to small businesses in low-income communities, expanding the Gang Reduction and Youth Development (GRYD) program and eviction defense. 

Councilman Price looks to build upon the work he did on the Budget Committee last year with reinvesting $150 million from the LAPD budget into Black and Brown communities in Los Angeles. 

Budget deliberations will continue through the coming week before being presented to the full City Council on May 20. If approved, the budget will take effect during the new Fiscal Year beginning July 1.

 

Wednesday, April 14

On Wednesday, Councilmember Curren Price seconded a motion presented by Council President Nury Martinez that focuses on transitioning the City of Los Angeles from COVID-19 response to COVID-19 recovery. The Council will consider using the $1.35 billion the City will receive from the federal American Rescue Plan.

Within the recovery plan, the Council is being urged to prioritize focusing on supporting children and families, including supporting moms with child care and family care; supporting women entrepreneurs and women-led organizations; opportunities for youth employment; and continuing efforts related to providing a Universal Basic Income to all Angelenos.

The motion cites the need to shift the focus of the City from COVID-19 response to COVID-19 recovery as the City Council created the Ad Hoc Committee on COVID-19 Recovery and Neighborhood Investment, a committee Councilman Price sits on, which has provided Angelenos rent relief, utility relief, and child care. As vaccination rates increase and cases continue to decrease, the Council is being called on to prioritize those who have been impacted the most during the pandemic, like those who are Black, Latinx, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, and low-income populations. The COVID-19 pandemic will have an impact on the City of Los Angeles for decades to come, and with this new plan, the Council hopes to lead Los Angeles into a stronger future. To read the full list of priorities and the full motion, click here. 

 

Tuesday, April 6

On Tuesday, the Los Angeles City Council approved a Homelessness and Poverty Committee Report related to a motion, co-introduced by Councilmember Curren Price, instructing the Chief Legislative Analyst (CLA), with assistance from the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) and the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) to develop a citywide framework on how its existing outreach teams and new outreach teams will coordinate to ensure a person experiencing homelessness has the best chance of a successful housing placement. The motion also lists many objectives including how these teams will address homelessness during “off-hours,” which are defined as a night, weekend, or emergency outside of normal service times. The motion was brought forward after subsequent motions and presentations brought to light existing gaps between how homelessness outreach was being conducted between the City and County. Click here to read the full motion.

 

Wednesday, April 7

On Wednesday, the Los Angeles City Council approved a Public Safety Committee Report to rename the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Central Area Roll Call Room as the Robert William Stewart Roll Call Room. Stewart was the first African American to serve in the LAPD. The report is based on a motion co-authored by Councilmember Price. Stewart was pushed from the department in 1900 based on false allegations against him. Click here for more.  

Additionally, the City Council approved an additional Public Safety Report relative to the resources needed to expand the LAPD’s Mental Evaluation Unit (MEU) and System-wide Mental Assessment Response Teams (SMART). The report asks the LAPD to report back on the resources needed to expand the LAPD’s MEU and SMART to ensure that police officers in the field can rely on SMART or other MEU resources anytime there may be a need. Click here for more.

 

Wednesday, March 24

On Wednesday, the Los Angeles City Council voted to approve a motion introduced by Councilmember Price asking the Information Technology Agency (ITA) to add multiple languages, including Spanish, to the MYLA311 mobile application. The addition will be a tremendous help to District 9 as many constituents speak Spanish as their first language.  

For the first time, neighbors would be able to submit requests for bulky item pickup, graffiti removal, sidewalk repair, street sweeping and dozens of other City services in a language other than English. The new and improved MYLA311 mobile application will also include the capabilities of submitting requests in Chinese, Tagalog and Korean. The updated app and website is expected to be revamped by the end of 2021. Click here for more.

 

Tuesday, March 23

On Tuesday, the Economic Development and Jobs Committee (EDJ), chaired by Councilmember Curren Price, approved a motion that would put a moratorium on issuing fines to any street vendors for not having a permit. Vendors may still be fined for not complying with other rules and regulations, for example blocking entrances, sidewalks and ADA access. Councilmember Price asked StreetsLA to study how LA County has handled street vending and report back on progress with the County in terms of trying to create a more fair and equitable program that allows more vendors to participate. The item will now move to the full City Council for a final vote. Click here for more.

Additionally, Councilmember Price co-introduced a motion instructing the Chief Legislative Analyst (CLA) with assistance from the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) and the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) to develop a citywide framework on how its existing outreach teams and new outreach teams will coordinate to ensure a person experiencing homelessness has the best chance of a successful housing placement. The motion also lists many objectives including how these teams will address homelessness during “off-hours,” which are defined as a night, weekend or emergency outside of normal service times. The motion was brought forward after subsequent motions and presentations brought to light existing gaps between how homelessness outreach was being conducted between the City and County. Click here to read the full motion.

 

Wednesday, March 17

On Wednesday, the Los Angeles City Council approved a Housing Committee report relative to a motion that explores implementing an immediate rent freeze on residential units with expired or expiring affordability covenants and relocation options for impacted tenants. The report also asks to explore options to preserve long-term affordable housing stock. With the COVID-19 pandemic, many residents within Los Angeles have experienced economic hardships forcing them to choose between paying rent and paying for other necessities. The goal of this motion is to keep Angelenos housed and help ease the economic burden. Click here for more.

Further, the Council asked the City Attorney, with help from the Small Business Commission, to draft a Foodware Accessories Upon Request ordinance that would require restaurants and other food service providers to provide all disposable foodware accessories (straws, utensils, condiments, napkins, etc.) only upon the request of the customer. The ordinance also will require third party food delivery companies and other online platforms for ordering prepared meals to enact an opt-in model for foodware accessories across all digital platforms and applications. With the COVID-19 pandemic increasing the reliance on food delivery and takeout, the goal of the ordinance is to cut back on the amount of plastic waste that clogs landfills, pollutes streets and waterways, and adds to the global gut of non-recyclable plastic pollution. Click here for the full motion.

Additionally, the City Council approved a Homelessness and Poverty Committee report relative to a motion that asks the Chief Legislative Analyst (CLA) to report in 14 days on ways the City of Los Angeles Emergency Management Department can align with the Los Angeles County Office of Emergency Management to better support Winter Shelter Program sites for those experiencing homelessness. The report also asks for the Winter Shelter Program to be extended beyond March 31, 2021. Click here for more.

Finally, the City Council went on to approve three Homelessness and Poverty Committee reports relative to the Homeless Housing and Recovery Program focused on housing and options for housing that support substance abuse recovery; a report relative to the development of metrics to determine the suitability of hotels and motels for temporary and permanent homeless housing; and a report that develops a new set of design standards to facilitate the construction of temporary housing units. All reports and the related motions aim to continue to provide resources and housing for those experiencing homelessness within Los Angeles. Click here, here, and here for more.

 

Tuesday, March 16

On Tuesday, Councilmember Curren Price introduced a motion with Councilmembers Nithya Raman and Gil Cedillo asking StreetsLA and the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) to re-establish a moratorium on enforcing and issuing citations to street vendors who do not have a valid license or permit for the remainder of the COVID-19 pandemic and for six months after the emergency ends. During the six-month period following the end of the emergency order, StreetsLA will conduct an extensive education and outreach campaign to the vendors to ensure they get the proper information on how to obtain a permit.  

With the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic and simultaneous closures of the vast majority of businesses across Los Angeles, the City Council adopted a motion in March 2020 to resume enforcement of unpermitted street vendors during the emergency period in order to limit the virus’ spread. However, as the emergency period has continued, many forms of retail and dining have been allowed to reopen. With only approximately 90 vendors out of more than 10,000 in Los Angeles County that have obtained permits, the goal of this motion is to continue to keep street vendors a vital part of Los Angeles as they have for several decades. Click here for the full motion.

Additionally, the Los Angeles City Council approved a report from the Immigrant Affairs, Civil Right, and Equity Committee instructing the Personnel Department, with the assistance of the Human Relations Commission and the Commission on the Status of Women, to develop a strategic plan with goals to better recruit, hire, develop and retain women in departments across the City, including women of color, transgender women and non-binary individuals. This action follows from the publication of a report by Los Angeles City Controller Ron Galperin. Within the report, Galperin notes that while the City of Los Angeles does a better job with gender equity compared to other jurisdictions, the City can do more. The report highlights that only 28 percent of the City’s workforce is represented by women – the same percentage as in 2015. The plan aims to close the gender gap amongst the City’s workforce in both representation and pay. Click here for more.

 

Wednesday, March 3

On Wednesday, the Los Angeles City Council finalized a “hazard pay” emergency ordinance by a vote of 14-1 that will provide roughly 26,000 grocery store and drugstore workers an additional $5 an hour for 120 days. The temporary mandate, which Councilman Price co-presented, applies to stores with 10 or more employees onsite and 300 or more employees nationwide. Click here for more.

Additionally, the City Council approved a Public Safety Committee report relative to a motion that instructs the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) to report in 30 days on the current race/ethnicity and gender demographics of sworn personnel in the LAPD as compared to 10 years ago, and present a forecast as to where the LAPD expects to be in the next five years in regards to race/ethnicity and gender demographics within the department. Click here for more.

 

Tuesday, March 2

Councilmember Curren Price Puts in Motion Plan to Develop Largest Guaranteed Basic Income Program in the Country  

On Tuesday, the Los Angeles City Council voted in support of overriding Mayor Eric Garcetti’s veto of a community reinvestment proposal, clearing the way for the reallocation of $88 million from the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) towards initiatives that reimagine public safety and support disenfranchised communities of color.

Councilmember Curren Price outlined a number of crucial initiatives for his District, including  $6 million for a Guaranteed Basic Income Pilot Program, the largest program of its kind in the country. The CD 9 Guaranteed Basic Income initiative would provide 500 single-parent households $1,000 a month for a year. Other programs will include an unarmed model of crisis response, community intervention workers, homelessness prevention, and other services that address economic inequality and prevent poverty. Click here for more.

Additionally, the City Council approved two motions to provide assistance to renters within the City of Los Angeles. The first motion, seconded by Councilmember Price, asks the Los Angeles Housing + Community Investment Department (HCIDLA) on the feasibility of creating a Renters Relief Registry, which would provide renters with monetary aid to help individuals meet their needs. Click here for more. The second motion authorizes HCIDLA to create an Emergency Renters Assistance Subsidy Program (ERAP) to assist tenants and small landlords. ERAP will be funded by state funds and will total $143 million to help Angelenos with rent. Click here for more. 

Finally, the City Council approved a motion by Councilmember Price to begin new construction of a 127-unit multifamily housing project that will be known as Parkview within Council District 9 on Compton Avenue. The project will have 126 units of affordable housing and one manager’s unit for those in CD 9. Click here for more.

 

Wednesday, Feb. 24

On Wednesday, the City Council approved a “hazard pay” emergency ordinance by a vote of 14-1 that would provide roughly 26,000 grocery store and drugstore workers an additional $5 an hour for 120 days. The temporary mandate, which will come back next week for a second reading, would apply to stores with 10 or more employees onsite and 300 or more employees nationwide. Councilmember Price, who is Chair of the Economic Development and Jobs Committee (EDJ), co-presented the proposal in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Click here to read the ordinance.

Additionally, the Los Angeles City Council adopted an ordinance to institute a Paid Parental Time (PPT) pilot program that will provide up to six weeks of 100 percent paid time off for City employees who are new parents. The pilot program will run through June 30, 2025. The goal of the program is to ease the burden on new mothers and not force them to decide between work and taking care of their child. Click here to read the full ordinance. 

Further, the City Council approved an EDJ Committee Report to help address federal assistance gaps and resources for undocumented people. The report instructs the Chief Legislative Analyst (CLA), with the assistance of the Los Angeles Housing and Community Investment Department (HCIDLA), the Economic and Workforce Development Department and other City departments, to report with recommendations on methods to improve the City’s outreach efforts for undocumented immigrants focused on increased participation of undocumented immigrants in the City’s programs and services. Click here for more.

The City Council also approved a report from the Housing Committee and Budget and Finance Committee to ask for an analysis on the feasibility of a revolving loan fund that would increase the stock of workforce housing in the City to benefit working families and promote regional economic growth and job creation. The report asks the CLA to work with HCIDLA to draft a report on best practices in creating a fund by working with institutional investors, philanthropic organizations and private companies. Click here for more.

Finally, the City Council approved a report relative to a motion that instructs the CLA, CAO, the Department of General Services and other City departments, to report on the underutilization of city-owned properties and the feasibility of using them for temporary or permanent homeless housing. For more info, click here.

 

Tuesday, Feb. 23

On Tuesday, the Los Angeles City Council approved a report relative to finding alternative methods that do not rely on armed law enforcement when conducting traffic enforcement within Los Angeles. The report was relative to a motion co-introduced by Councilmember Curren Price that asks various departments, including the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) and the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), to evaluate alternatives. Click here for more.

Additionally, the City Council heard an oral presentation from the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) and the Chief Legislative Analyst (CLA) in regards to the development of an unarmed model of crisis response to divert non-violent calls for service away from the LAPD and to the appropriate non-law enforcement agencies. Within this discussion, Councilmember Price asked for the CAO to expand on how they are gathering data and stakeholder input to make sure that conversations held last summer through virtual town halls within our community are not forgotten about and the best program is put forward. The conversation is one of many that will continue to occur as the City Council pursues a re-imagined public safety system within the City of Los Angeles. For background information, click here. 

 

Wednesday, Feb. 17

On Wednesday, the Los Angeles City Council approved a Public Safety Committee report relative to a proposed Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the LAPD and HACLA in connection to the CSP program. Within MOA, two public housing developments, Avalon Gardens and Pueblo del Rio, in Council District 9 were included. Click here for more.

The City Council also considered a motion that would make it easier for the City to issue permits for Safe Parking projects and make administrative changes to remove unnecessary hurdles to expedite facilities to serve persons experiencing homelessness. Click here for the full motion.

Lastly, the City Council approved a Public Safety Committee report requesting the LAPD to report on how they plan on addressing the significant increases in violent crimes across the City. In comparison to this time last year, violent crime is up significantly and is comparable to rates last seen in the City in the 1980s and 1990s. Click here for the motion. 

 

Tuesday, Feb. 16 

On Tuesday, the Los Angeles City Council considered motions and reports aimed at bridging the digital divide, providing more help to renters and low-income families and examining practices of the City Council to make work more transparent.

The City Council approved a report from the Information, Technology, and General Services Committee relative to a motion that explored the feasibility of creating a Digital Equity Plan within the City. The motion, seconded by Councilmember Curren Price, instructs the City Administrative Officer (CAO) and Chief Legislative Analyst (CLA) to report on best practices, as well as funding sources, that can be used by the City to ensure that all families within Los Angeles have access to the Internet going forward. During the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been numerous reports of low-income students being left behind while in school because of the lack of access to the Internet. The motion aims to fix this divide. Read the full motion here.

Additionally, the Los Angeles City Council approved a Public Safety report related to a motion that asks the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) on the expectations for officers assigned to community-focused duties, and how their performance is measured. The motion asks the LAPD to report in 30 days on community expectations for officers assigned as Senior Lead Officers within the Community Safety Partnership Bureau. Click here for more. 

Further, the Los Angeles City Council considered the feasibility of amending the City of Los Angeles’ zoning code through a ballot initiative to ensure a more equitable distribution of new housing around the City based on high quality jobs, transit and historic housing production. A report is expected from the City Planning Department and CLA in 30 days. Click here for more.

Along the same line, the City Council discussed creating criteria for amending the City’s planning process to have high value developments bypass the Planning and Land Use Management (PLUM) Committee and go straight to the full Council. The proposal was suggested due to previous members of the City Council’s abuse of the current guidelines. The Council plans to revisit this proposal after the City Planning Department and the CLA report back in 30 days. Click here for more.

Finally, the Los Angeles City Council approved Housing Committee reports for proposals to help low-income residents with rent and ultimately to keep them housed. The first report asks the City’s Planning Department to report on the creation of an incentive program that allows developers to contribute funds to provide rental assistance for low-income residents, such as the Renters Assistance Program. The second report is related to the creation of a strategy to support and expand the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) housing acquisition program to increase the number of publicly owned housing units to keep low-income families housed. Click here and here for the reports and motions.

 

Wednesday, Feb. 10

On Wednesday, the Los Angeles City Council approved an ordinance that allows commercial cannabis licensees to provide late payments of renewal fees to match the City’s ongoing fiscal crisis.

The ordinance extends the 10-day payment deadline to 30 days, adds alternative methods of payment – such as by mail – and establishes one-time extensions for the late submission of 2020 and/or 2021 renewal applications and late payments of 2020 and/or 2021 renewal fees due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The ordinance was drafted following a motion introduced by Councilmember Curren Price at the end of January in response to the Department of Cannabis Regulation (DCR) and Office of Finance temporary closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Click here to read the full ordinance.

 

Wednesday, Feb. 3

On Wednesday, the Los Angeles City Council introduced and approved motions related to COVID-19, reimagining public safety, street improvements and a reward motion. 

Councilmember Price seconded a motion exploring the feasibility of creating a Public Health Department within the City of Los Angeles. The need for a health department stems from the lack of control the City of LA has with how resources like PPE, testing sites and now vaccine sites are distributed across the City due to relying on the LA County Department of Public Health. By creating a new Public Health Department, the City would have more independence on how resources could be distributed during the COVID-19 pandemic and with any other public health crisis in the future. Click here to read the full motion.

Additionally, Councilmember Price seconded a motion that asks for a status update on a Request for Proposal (RFP) to select a nonprofit that will help run the City of Los Angeles’ Unarmed Responder Pilot Program, and report on efforts to maximize efficient rollout of the program. The status update follows after the City Council introduced a motion, co-authored by Councilmember Price, to call on City Departments to report on establishing an unarmed responder program in the City of Los Angeles, which would direct non-violent 911 calls to health professionals and crisis interventionists rather than armed LAPD officers. Click here for the full motion.

Finally, the City Council approved two motions authored by Councilmember Price focused on street improvements on Main Street and a reward motion for information leading to the identification, apprehension and conviction of the person(s) responsible for the shooting death of Pearl Myles on Oct. 1, 2020. 

The motion for street improvements on Main Street allocates $450,000 for street resurfacing and improvements to curbs to make them ADA compliant. Click here for the motion.

The reward motion for information regarding the shooting death of Ms. Myles offers $50,000 to help identify the person or persons responsible for the 79-year-old’s death. The reward will be offered for six months until August 2021. If you have information regarding the death of Ms. Myles, please contact (877) 275-5273. Click here for full motion. 

 

Tuesday, Feb. 2

On Tuesday, the Los Angeles City Council unanimously approved a proposal, co-presented by Councilmember Curren Price, which would give employees at grocery and drugstores with 300 or more employees nationally, as well as retail stores with 85,000 square feet or more that dedicate 10 percent of sales floor to grocery or drug retail, an additional $5 an hour hazard pay for 120 days. The proposed plan also asks the Chief Legislative Analyst (CLA) to report on the feasibility of including other low-wage frontline workers within sectors like healthcare, transportation, goods movement/logistics, janitorial services and delivery services. The Council is expected to vote on the final emergency ordinance later this month. 

Added Councilman Price, “This is personal for me and a thank you just isn’t enough. Communities of color like the one I represent are primarily composed of essential workers who do not have the luxury of staying home and are backed into corners daily where they can’t always follow health protocols due to their nature of their jobs. These workers are in danger now, they need hazard pay now – I only wish we could have provided it to them sooner.”

Click here to read the motion. 

 

Wednesday, Jan. 27

On Wednesday, the Los Angeles City Council approved two motions seconded by Councilmember Price that focus on an equitable distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine to some of the most vulnerable residents within Los Angeles. The motions ask various departments, including the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and Emergency Management Department, to create proposals and report to the City Council on how to best prioritize low-income communities of color and frontline workers who have been hit hardest by the pandemic. City departments, including the General Services Department and the Department of Recreation and Parks, are also being asked to explore ways to use existing infrastructures to serve as vaccine distribution centers in higher risk communities. To read the motion regarding the equitable distribution of vaccines, click here. To read the motion instructing various City departments to explore ways to use existing infrastructure as vaccine distribution centers, click here.

Additionally, the City Council heard a presentation from  Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Director Dr. Barbara Ferrer on the state of the COVID-19 pandemic countywide. She emphasized the importance of continuing to wear masks and be as vigilant as possible with observing social distancing guidelines. She along with the Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Ralph Terrazas expressed optimism that as vaccine supply increases, more vaccine sites within South LA will be opening and mobile vaccine units will become available focusing on COVID hotspots similar to how mobile testing units currently operate. 

The Council also approved a report from the Planning and Land Use Management Committee report relative to a motion presented by Councilmember Price that allows commercial cannabis businesses to provide late payments of renewal fees due to the City’s ongoing fiscal crisis. The motion asks the City Attorney, with the assistance of the Department of Cannabis Regulation (DCR), to present an ordinance that allows commercial cannabis licensees to provide late payments of renewal fees to match the City’s ongoing fiscal crisis and the Office of Finance’s operational changes. Click here for the full motion.

Finally, Councilmember Price introduced a motion asking the Information Technology Agency (ITA) and other departments as necessary to evaluate the feasibility of adding additional languages, like Spanish, to the MyLA311 mobile app, which allows residents to submit requests for bulky item pickup, graffiti removal and illegal dumping pickup among other services, and the Get Connected Los Angeles website. The goal of the motion is to make both of these City services more accessible for residents within Los Angeles as 43 percent of the County of Los Angeles is Spanish speaking. Click here to read more.

 

Tuesday, Jan. 26

On Tuesday, the Economic Development and Jobs (EDJ) Committee, which Councilmember Curren Price chairs, voted unanimously to have the City Attorney draft an emergency ordinance that would provide hourly, non-managerial employees at grocery and drug retail stores in the City with 10 or more employees onsite and 300 or more employees nationally, with an additional $5 an hour hazard pay for 120 days, as compensation due to the high risk nature of doing their jobs during the coronavirus pandemic.

The committee report is expected to be in Council next week and the ordinance and reports transmitted later this month. The final ordinance could be approved before the end of February. Click here to read the full motion, which was co-presented by Councilmember Price. 

 

Tuesday, Jan. 19

On Tuesday, the Los Angeles City Council introduced and approved various motions related to police training standards within the LAPD, homelessness and the COVID-19 pandemic.

The City Council approved a report from the Ad Hoc Committee on Police Reform relative to a motion introduced by Councilmember Curren Price that directs the LAPD to report on various practices and training methods within their department. The LAPD is asked to produce a plan to enhance community policing and procedural justice training standards within the department. The procedures include the duty to intercede, crisis intervention and de-escalation tactics used by officers. The motion was introduced following the nationwide peaceful protests last summer after George Floyd, an unarmed Black man, was killed while in police custody in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Click here to read more.

Additionally, the City Council approved a report from the Homelessness and Poverty Committee relative to the use of the Los Angeles Convention Center as a temporary emergency homeless shelter. The motion, introduced by Councilman Price, instructs the City Administrative Officer (CAO), the Chief Legislative Analyst (CLA), the Convention and Tourism Department, and other departments as necessary, to evaluate the use of the Convention Center as a temporary emergency homeless shelter and report back to Council in 30 days.

Within the report, the departments are asked to explore all potential uses for the property – including expanding the parking structures into safe parking sites, the potential of adding temporary shelter like pallet structures, and using the interior of the Convention Center as a temporary shelter. Click here for the full motion. 

Finally, the Los Angeles City Council approved a report, as well as a motion to provide funding for COVID-19 awareness within Council District 9 and funding for A Bridge Housing project also in the District. To read more click here and here.

 

Wednesday, Jan. 13

On Wednesday, the Los Angeles City Council approved a Health, Education, Neighborhoods, Parks, Arts, and River Committee report requesting the City Attorney to draft an ordinance that would provide fines and penalties for refusal to wear a mask at an indoor public place when requested to do so by management or operators of a facility or establishment. Additionally, the Council requested the ordinance to prioritize the issuance of citations, during the normal course of business, to persons not wearing a mask in public and report in 30 days on the status of the new ordinance. As COVID-19 continues to spread rapidly, the goal of the ordinance is to help encourage individuals to wear a mask and avoid citations and fines to help stop the spread of the disease. Click here for more. 

 

Tuesday, Jan. 12

On Tuesday, the Los Angeles City Council returned following a brief recess for the holidays for the first City Council meeting of 2021. During this meeting, the City Council considered initiatives focused on renters’ relief, housing and condemning the deplorable actions that took place last week in our U.S. Capitol.  

Councilmember Curren Price seconded a motion that calls on the City Council to build 25,000 housing units by 2025 in an effort to house homeless individuals within the City. Based on a report by LAHSA issued in March 2020, the 25,000 units will help get us closer than ever to ending homelessness in Los Angeles once and for all. Click here for more. To help reach this goal, Councilmember Price also signed onto a motion that will help streamline the process in the creation of new housing by asking various City departments to form pre-approved plans that are free for the most common building types within the City. The objective is to reduce both the costs and time associated with projects that sometimes take years to complete. Click here for more.

In addition, Councilmember Price joined colleagues in backing a motion to establish a “Renters Relief Registry” that would benefit the most vulnerable renters when economic aid becomes available that addresses both the pandemic and institutional poverty. Renters will be prioritized based on a list of criteria, which will include those who are essential workers, and those households with children living below the poverty line, for example. Click here for more.

Further, the City Council approved a Housing Committee report securing millions of dollars for various improvements within Council District 9. Recipients of the funding include All Peoples Community Center, Green Meadows Recreation Center, the Hoover-Gage Park Playground, the Theresa Lindsay Multipurpose Center and funding for “Ways Park,” a new park installation. Click here for more.

Finally, Councilmember Price supported a resolution calling on Vice President Mike Pence and the President’s Cabinet to use the 25th Amendment to declare President Donald Trump unfit to fulfill his duties as the commander-in-chief. The resolution also promotes legislation that would begin impeachment proceedings to remove President Trump from office. Click here for more.