Los Angeles City Council Regular Meeting – May 20, 2025
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Los Angeles City Council Regular Meeting – May 20, 2025
The Los Angeles City Council held its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at 9:37 AM in the John Ferraro Council Chambers. The meeting included roll call (13 members present), approval of previous minutes, flag salute, and consideration of 43 agenda items. Public comment, debate on the Homeless Emergency Account (Item 36), and closed session (Item 43) occupied the bulk of the session. Multiple items were continued, amended, and voted on, with the council approving most items on the consent calendar and taking up several contested items separately.
Consent Calendar
- Items 11 through 13, 15 through 25, 28 through 32, 34, 35, 37, 39, 41, and 42 were approved en masse with a vote of 14 ayes.
- Items 1 and 2 (public hearing) were continued: Item 1 to June 3, 2025; Item 2 was not continued separately.
- Item 3 was continued for four weeks to June 18, 2025.
- Item 26 was continued to May 27, 2025.
- Item 40 was initially continued for two weeks, but later reconsidered and continued to May 27, 2025.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Multiple speakers from the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment (ACE) urged Councilmember Nithya Raman to introduce a new rent control formula of 0–3%, reminding her of grassroots support during her election.
- A speaker criticized the Inside Safe program, calling it costly and ineffective, and questioned the tracking of funds by LAS.
- Another speaker asked the council to save crossing guard jobs threatened by the mayor’s proposed budget.
- A speaker requested that the city establish a public bank to reduce debt service costs.
- Several social equity cannabis applicants called for an independent audit of the Department of Cannabis Regulation (DCR) and opposed fee increases.
- A speaker expressed support for the Violet Tower Project (Item 29), highlighting community benefits and good jobs.
- One disruptive speaker used profanity but was allowed to complete his time; he criticized the city’s homelessness policies and the city attorney.
- Residents shared personal stories of rent increases, evictions, and landlord abuse.
Discussion Items
- Item 36 (Homeless Emergency Account – Inside Safe Funding): Councilmember Monica Rodriguez engaged CAO staff Kendra Leo in detailed questions about occupancy agreements, booking agreements, and compliance with the LA Alliance settlement. Rodriguez expressed concern that only 466 rooms were secured through occupancy agreements through 2027, while 216 additional rooms and 499 booking agreements were not yet verified as compliant. She noted challenges in verifying bed use and highlighted that LAS had not provided data on service provider costs or vacancies. CAO staff clarified that booking agreements are reported based on invoices and that all beds are eligible for the settlement, though compliance verification remains difficult. Councilmember Raman introduced an amendment to align funding with the budget committee’s six-month interim housing plan; the amendment passed 12–1.
- Item 43 (Closed Session): The council entered closed session to discuss pending litigation. An amendment by Councilmembers Blumenfield and McOsker (including language on city attorney and outside counsel) was adopted 12–0, and the item as amended passed 11–1.
- Items 4 and 5 each had amendments that were approved unanimously (14–0).
- Item 14 (with an amendment) and Item 38 (affordable housing revenue bonds) were voted on separately; Councilmember Price recused himself. Both passed 13–0.
- Item 33 (amendment by Raman and Hernandez) was adopted 14–0 after a technical date correction.
- Item 27 passed 11–3 on a separate roll call.
- Item 35 passed 14–0.
Key Outcomes
- The Homeless Emergency Account (Item 36) was approved as amended (12 ayes, 1 no) with a directive to align spending with the budget committee’s six-month interim housing plan and improve transparency.
- Closed session authority (Item 43) was approved 11–1, with the council authorizing legal action subject to amendment.
- Item 40 (restrictions on sitting, lying, and sleeping in public) was continued to May 27, 2025, following a reconsideration.
- Item 3 (unidentified) continued to June 18, 2025.
- Councilmember Price recused from items 14, 36, and 38 citing a conflict of interest.
- The council directed CAO staff to provide better data on time-limited subsidies (TLS) distribution, vacancy rates, and progress toward the bed plan for the LA Alliance settlement.
Meeting Transcript
So important. For so long, they feel like they get left out or deprioritized for other wealthier neighborhoods. You're not going to see the underground work, some biofiltrations that you'll see, you'll see some trees. It also has educational signage, all these aesthetics that the community benefit as we're investing in our stormwater infrastructure. You know, we may be in a fiscal crisis, but as long as we can collaborate and be creative, we can make projects like this. CD 14 is here to work with you to find these creative solutions even at this time. You might not know the name or have any awareness of this 1898 legal case, but the landmark ruling is still being talked about today. A panel at El Pueblo discuss the United States versus Wong Kim Ark. We are the Chinese American Museum in Los Angeles, and I'm moderating a panel called Advancing Equality, uh United States versus Wang Kim Ark with experts and community members about how important this legal case is. Wang Kim Ark was born in San Francisco, and so he was automatically a U.S. citizen at that time. He went to China for a visit, and when he tried to come back, they said that because his parents were immigrants, he did not have the rights of U.S. citizen, even though he was born in the United States. He fought that case, and that case went all the way to the Supreme Court justice, and they ruled in his favor in 1898, saying that if you are born in this country, you automatically have the rights of U.S. citizenship, regardless of your parents' immigration status. I'm very proud of my great grandfather Won Kim Ark. I feel privileged to be here and the other people recognize what he did. His struggle winning birthright citizenship. It validates my life. That birthright citizenship, that question was answered over 125 years ago. We're fighting an old battle. What we want to do is educate people on this important legal case, a precedent case, Wang Kim Arc, and what is the significance of birthright citizenship and what impact is had on Asian American communities, but all immigrants and refugees. You know, citizenship for immigrants is so vital because it protects their rights, it gives them protection. It also gives them opportunities to participate as full members of civil society and um participate in the United States and its democracy. The Board of Public Works has a new president. LAX carries out its full-scale emergency exercise, and the electric Dash Poquoima bus goes into service. The stories up next on City Beat. Appointed by Mayor Karen Bax, Kang's election during Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month is a notable milestone for the community. Kang's prior experience includes serving as vice president of the Central Area Planning Commission. As board president, Kang will oversee public infrastructure, services, and sustainability projects critical to the city's future. For more information, visit dpw.lacity.gov. Los Angeles World Airport's Lawa recently conducted its full-scale emergency response exercise known as AirX, the unrehearsed emergency simulation test, disaster planning, and is required at least once every three years by the Federal Aviation Administration. Around 400 participants took part in the exercise, including first responders, law enforcement, airline personnel, staff, and about 150 volunteers who portray the injured passengers. According to Lawa, the test helps the airport strengthen coordination, identify improvements, and ensure it is prepared to effectively respond to any emergency situation. For more info, visit lawa.org slash news-releases. LA's Department of Transportation marked the beginning of Dash Pocoima, a new all-electric bus service operating in the San Fernando Valley. According to Councilmember Amilda Padilla, the new route on the Bandai's corridor lays the groundwork for a connected and sustainable future across the valley. Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez, who helped secure funding for Dash Pocoima, said that safe, reliable public transportation remains a priority for the community. Dash Percoima will operate on weekdays from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. And on weekends from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. with service every 30 minutes. Fares are 50 cents in cash and 35 cents with a tap card. But to celebrate the service, Angelinos can ride Dash Procoima free through May 31st. For more information, visit LADLT Transit.com. We know moms make a lot happen every day, and councilwoman Heather Hutt and her colleagues know that too. To honor the occasion of Mother's Day, they hosted a musical program for moms to relax and enjoy. We're celebrating the people that nurture our city. They did an amazing job.
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