Los Angeles City Council Meeting Summary - October 24, 2025
Los Angeles City Council Meeting Summary - October 24, 2025
On October 24, 2025, the Los Angeles City Council convened to celebrate community leaders during Filipino American History Month and Clergy Appreciation Month, while addressing urgent concerns regarding police conduct during recent protests. The meeting featured formal recognitions for individuals including Marianne Hayashi, Ruby Ibarra, and numerous clergy members. However, the session was dominated by contentious public testimony accusing the LAPD of excessive force and political interference, alongside a failed procedural motion that caused significant disruption.
Consent Calendar
- The minutes of the October 22, 2025 meeting were approved via motion by Councilmember McCosker and second by Councilmember Hutt.
- Commendatory resolutions were approved without objection.
- Item 5 was continued to Wednesday, October 29, 2025, without objection, following a request from Councilmember Cencido who was subsequently warned for disruptiveness.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Positions on LAPD Leadership: Multiple speakers expressed strong opposition to current LAPD Chief Jim McDonald, with several explicitly demanding his removal. Speakers argued that the Chief is mismanaging resources, deploying excessive force at protests (specifically the "No Kings" protest on October 18), and complying with federal orders to protect ICE rather than serving the community. Speakers cited specific incidents involving horses, batons, and disregard for court injunctions against press.
- Positions on City Council Conduct: Speakers criticized the Council and Mayor Bass for allegedly failing to protect First Amendment rights and for a perceived disconnect between their rhetoric as a sanctuary city and the actions of the police department. One speaker expressed support for the City Council's leadership in recognizing food systems and clergy but noted the Council's failure to address the lack of transparency regarding police directives.
- Positions on Funding and Policy: A speaker expressed concern over a motion to transfer $750,000 from homeless services to the police overtime fund, questioning the decision to fund police while other services are cut.
- Disruption: Speakers noted that multiple individuals were warned for disrupting the meeting, including Councilmember Cencido and an unseated individual, necessitating potential removal for rule violations.
Discussion Items
- Clergy Appreciation Month: Council President Marquis Harris Dawson led a recognition of faith leaders across all 15 districts. Speakers honored clergy for their work supporting immigrants during ICE raids, providing food and resources to the homeless, and leading youth programs. Reverend John Reimer delivered a keynote addressing the spiritual responsibilities of leaders.
- Filipino American History Month: Councilmember Isabel Jorado presented Ruby Ibarra, recognizing her artistic impact, her role in elevating Filipino American stories through music and film, and her advocacy for the community. Councilmembers Soto Martinez and Roman expressed full support for Ibarra's work in representation.
- Good Food Day: Councilmember Isabel Jorado, Councilmember Tim McCosker, and the Los Angeles Food Policy Council led a presentation on building an equitable food system. They honored specific district champions, including the Skid Row People's Market, street vendors, and organizations like the Wilmington YMCA, emphasizing the need to support food access amidst federal disruptions to SNAP and WIC.
- Marianne Hayashi Recognition: Councilmembers Rodriguez and Hernandez led a tribute to Marianne Hayashi, Executive Director of the Central City Action Committee, for her 45+ years of youth development work. They expressed their support for designating "Marianne Hayashi Square" in Angelino Heights.
Key Outcomes
- Recognitions Granted:
- Marianne Hayashi honored and recognized as a cornerstone of youth development; a square in Angelino Heights to be named in her honor.
- Ruby Ibarra recognized for artistic and cultural contributions to the Filipino American community.
- Clergy members from all 15 districts recognized for community service, with specific mentions of Pastor Mario Torres (CD1), Rabbi Rebecca Schatz (Citywide), and Pastor Robert Taylor (CD15).
- Good Food Day champions recognized for their work in food equity.
- Procedural Actions:
- Minutes approved.
- Item 5 continued to October 29, 2025.
- The meeting was adjourned due to concerns over lost quorum and procedural disruption, though the Council President later clarified that quorum was not actually lost before formally adjourning.
- Directives/Referrals: No new policy resolutions were voted on during the session due to the procedural disruptions focusing on public comment.
Meeting Transcript
The most modern firefighting technology. Fireboat number two, Warner Lawrence, is one of the most powerful fireboats and can discharge 38,000 gallons of water per minute. These fireboats ensure that the port and the fire department maintain a high level of service for many years to come. We are back at the Los Angeles Maritime Museum. We hope you enjoyed your virtual harbor tour at the Port of Los Angeles. You're arriving at Los Angeles International Airport in beautiful Southern California. One of the first things you will see as you are landing is the ever-iconic LAX Theme Building. The LAX theme building is a modern icon and recognized worldwide as the space age landmark of one of the world's youngest and most influential cities. Designed by architectural firm Pierra and Look. The building was completed in 1961 and features an observation deck in the Bob Hope USO. The spider-like appearance of the building is a playful and futuristic design illusion created by topping four steel reinforced concrete legs with stucco. The building received cultural historic status from the city of Los Angeles for its distinguishing characteristics, which are valuable to the study of that period's style and method of construction. It is also an example of mid-century modern googie architecture. The LAX theme building serves as the symbolic gateway to Los Angeles and a futuristic design intended to convey new prosperity and the embrace of technological innovation. It has been and continues to be a constant reminder of Los Angeles' drive to be the city of tomorrow, hello everyone. Preparing for the big one. The annual shakeout is a national reminder, especially for those in California to plan and prepare for when there's an earthquake. Knowing the drill and practicing what to do are key life-saving strategies. So we're at the emergency operations center here in Los Angeles for the Great Shakeout. An annual event where all these different agencies come together to ensure preparedness for an earthquake. All of us in California and particularly Los Angeles have been through earthquakes. We know it's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when and how big. And it's really a matter of how prepared are we all. The fire department continually prepares for earthquakes. Today, millions of people worldwide will participate in earthquake drills at work, school, and at home so that they know what to do in case of an emergency. And as a city, we're taking every measure we can to ensure that our homes, buildings, and most importantly, Angelinos are safe. In order to be prepared, you have to practice. So we designate a day on the third Thursday of October at a designated time to remind people that it's important to communicate how you will be ready for a disaster. Take a moment to practice because we want everybody to remain safe. Ensure that you have your emergency supply kit. Ensure that you have enough items in your kit to sustain your family for three days. You have pets, make sure that you're also accounting for them. Right now we're standing inside the Big Shaker Earthquake Simulator. The simulator simulates a 7.5 magnitude earthquake. So the whole goal of this is to make sure that family and friends are prepared at home if an earthquake were to happen. So top heavy furniture, TVs, any items that can turn into projectiles, especially glass, as we want to make sure we're securing those. People need to be self-sufficient to begin with. So we want people to be prepared at home. It starts with you and your family. You know, do you have your furniture secured? Do you have an emergency kit? Do you have a family communication plan? And when an earthquake actually does happen, remember the three things. It's drop cover and hold on that you need to do. What you should do is get down on the ground. That's what we call drop. Cover your head and neck. And if you can get under a table for additional shelter, that's going to protect you from what causes the most injuries, which is falling or flying objects. You can have your earthquake drill any day of the year. So if you haven't already registered at shakeout.org to be counted in the annual total or to find out a lot of the guidance materials we have, go to shakeout.org and join us, and that way you also get notified for next year when we'll be doing this again.
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