Los Angeles City Council Meeting - October 29, 2025
Los Angeles City Council Meeting - October 29, 2025
The Los Angeles City Council convened on October 29, 2025, to consider consent calendar settlements, hear public comments on multiple topics, and vote on several agenda items. The meeting included public testimony on the proposed ban of 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) and Kratom, the Olympic wage, labor rights, and community protections. Councilmembers also made announcements and adjourned in memory of community members.
Consent Calendar
- The Council voted on settlement recommendations for eight lawsuits (Items 24–31) after hearing the amounts: Item 24 ($150,000), Item 25 ($175,000), Item 26 ($150,000), Item 27 ($750,000), Item 28 ($2,625,000), Item 29 ($750,000), Item 30 ($475,000), and Item 31 ($185,000). All items were approved.
- Item 32 was reconsidered and continued to Friday, October 31, 2025, after a motion by Councilmember Padilla, seconded by Councilmember Blumenfield, to allow community input during the council’s visit to Van Nuys City Hall.
Public Comments & Testimony
- 7-OH/Kratom Ban (AB 1088): Multiple speakers opposed the proposed ban. Dr. Michelle Ross, addiction neuroscientist and chief scientific advisor of Seven Hope Alliance, argued that banning 7-OH would lead to increased opioid deaths, citing a survey showing 25% of users would turn to the illicit market for fentanyl. A Crohn’s disease patient stated the compound was better than opiates and urged the council not to ban it. Jackie Subek, founder of Seven Hope Alliance, requested the item be pulled from consent for further education, advocating for regulation over prohibition. Other speakers, including Max Mitchell and Joseph Marino, highlighted 7-OH’s role in harm reduction and its lower abuse potential compared to alcohol and nicotine. A student and full-time employee described how 7-OH helped with anxiety and pain without the fog of other substances.
- Olympic Wage: Several speakers urged the council to defend the Olympic wage for tourism workers at LAX. Workers and union representatives (e.g., Veronica Gonzalez of Starbucks Workers United, Jordan Long, a bartender at Delta One Lounge) criticized Delta, United Airlines, and the Hotel Lodging Association for attempting to overturn the wage increase. Victor Sanchez of the Los Angeles Alliance for New Economy (LAANE) reminded the council that the wage was won in May and reaffirmed by voters defeating a referendum. Rabbi Neil Combs-Daniels and others called on the city to honor commitments to workers who will support the 2028 Olympics.
- Translatina Coalition and Immigrant Rights: Representatives from the Translatina Coalition (Lauren Robles, Chi Navarro) spoke about heightened risks for transgender, gender-expansive, immigrant, and working-class communities, urging the council to protect vulnerable groups during Olympic preparations and avoid increased policing and displacement.
- General Public Comment: A speaker from Flying Food Group at LAX union raised maintenance and wage issues. A member of the public also criticized systemic corruption in the city. Another speaker, Sheila Richardson, provided forms and tutorials for constituent services.
Discussion Items
- Olympic Wage & Labor: Councilmembers received public input regarding corporate efforts to weaken the Olympic wage. No formal discussion from councilmembers beyond public comment.
- Starbucks and Olympics: A speaker from Starbucks Workers United called on the council to deny Starbucks a role in the 2028 Olympics unless it stops union busting and respects workers' rights.
- Community Announcements: Councilmembers announced upcoming Dia de los Muertos events in their districts (e.g., West Adams, Panorama City, Canoga Park, Pocoima, and the intersection of Hoover and Adams), as well as Halloween events, a drive-in movie, a free pumpkin smash at Pan Pacific Park, and a vigil for unity in Wilmington. Councilmember Hernandez highlighted a $6 million state grant for homeless encampment resolution along the 110 freeway and Los Angeles Riverbed.
- Adjourning Motions: The council adjourned in memory of Rogelia Bernal (beloved wife and grandmother, passed September 6, 2025) and Gary Wendell Nelson (Hancock Park community member, killed in a burglary on June 11, 2025).
Key Outcomes
- Consent Calendar Approvals: All settlement items (24–31) and items 15–21 and 23 were voted on and approved. Item 23 was passed as urgent forthwith.
- Item 32: Motion to reconsider passed (12 ayes), and the item was continued to Friday, October 31, 2025.
- Item 3: Passed as amended, with the amendment introduced by Councilmember McCosker and seconded by Councilmember Hutt.
- Item 22: Passed with a final vote of 9–3. Councilmember Jurado requested to be recorded as a no vote after the roll was closed; the result remained 9–3.
- Item 3 and Item 22: Both items were called special for separate votes. No further detail on content was provided in the transcript.
Meeting Transcript
It's considered these items and they can be voted on open session, sir. Should I read the settlement amounts? Yes, please. Yes, sir. Item 24. In the case entitled Dory Batong Bacal versus City of Los Angeles et al. There is a recommendation to expend up to 150,000 in settlement. For item 25, in the case of Agavni Kachatrian versus City of Los Angeles, there's a recommendation to expend 175,000 in cent settlement. Item 26 in the case entitled Navid Ascarini versus City of Los Angeles et al. There is a recommendation to expend up to 150,000 in settlement. Item 27 in the case entitled Caesar Chavez 888 LLC versus City of Los Angeles. There's a recommendation to expend up to 750,000 in settlement. Item 28 in the case entitled Rosalina Reyes et al. versus City of Los Angeles et al. There's a recommendation to expend up to 2,625,000 in settlement. Item 29 in the case entitled Robert Mark Evans versus City of Los Angeles, there's a recommendation to expend up to 750,000 in settlement. Item 30 in the case entitled Magdalena Sacarian versus City of Los Angeles. There's a recommendation to expend up to 475,000. Finally, item 31 in the case entitled Juan Velasquez et al. versus Daniel Stephen Oriana et al. There is a recommendation to expend up to 185,000 in settlement, sir. All right. Those items are now before us. Let's open the roll, close the roll, tabulate the vote. Also, Mr. President, item 32, uh on the continuation agenda, public hearing has been held. Council may now vote on this item also, sir. All right. Let's open the roll. Close the roll, tabulate the vote. Alright, what's next? Uh next, council could go into public comment if it wishes, sir. All right. Uh before we go into public comment, I want to call on Councilmember Soto Martinez for a special announcement. Yes. Thank you so much, Council President. Uh, just like to uh let everyone here, my colleagues know that we want to recognize a few guests that we have here from the rotary, different rotary clubs, uh, in District 13. You can just stand up and be recognized. The rotary clubs, yeah. We do a lot of great work in the district. Uh and just uh we worked with them a few days ago to make October 24th uh be recognized as World Polio Day as an effort to eradicate that uh uh globally. So I just want to uh acknowledge them and thank you for coming here, and I think our staff is gonna give you a little tour of the of the building. And anyway, that's it. Thank you so much, Council. Thank you so much, Mr. Soto Martinez. Thank you all for being here, and thank you for your work in our community, but especially your work on polio. Uh and enjoy uh Los Angeles City Hall and the view from the Tom Bradley Tower uh this afternoon. All right, uh Madam Clerk, Mr. City Attorney, if we can prepare us for public comment.
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