These amazing families are going to have the opportunity to receive a huge fire safe to protect all of those valuables in their homes.

Thank you so much.

In light of all the recent events that we've had going on in the city of Los Angeles with the Palisades fire and the repetitive nature of brush fires in the Southern California area.

This is just an opportunity to remind the citizens of the importance of being prepared.

As far as the fire department helping, I really appreciate that it's something within my local neighborhood that I could have access to.

We've had, I would say over 200 uh households that have come through or are coming through right now.

I know that this is gonna be a difficult holiday season for a lot of people.

One for all of those families that were impacted by the fire, and I just think about the families who are not at home right now because they lost their homes in the fires.

The whole point is to support the community, right?

We identify a need in the community and we reach out and uh try to form a public private partnerships so that it benefits the community.

So we want you to know that your city still stands with you and will always stand with you.

So stay safe, stay strong.

Angelinos, we will always stick together.

The city's economic and workforce development department is connecting Angelinos to job opportunities.

At a recent fair, the department provided personal resume and interview coaching for those seeking jobs and brought in employers who were hiring on the spot.

So that's the first day of going and signing here.

Right now we're at LA Mission College, and this event is a partnership between LA Family Housing and AJCC, and it's job fair higher hope.

So first, of course, they need to enroll in our program.

After that, we do have resume workshops, interview workshops, job ready workshops.

So once you accomplish those three, your job ready.

And then you can attend any of these events because we want you to be job ready.

A lot of these city jobs are sticking out because you don't find these everywhere.

This is a good resource for that.

So we have the LAPD here, the Marine Corps here, retail T warehouse work.

I feel good about the city putting on events like this because this is very necessary.

We're hiring on this spot, uh, no barriers here.

You can just walk right in, sign up at our sign-up table, and receive any of the services.

Yeah, I want to say I really recommend this event because it's got a lot of resources and a lot of jobs that's hiring right now.

If you feel hesitant or unsure about coming out to one of these events, there's a place for everyone and there's a resource for everyone.

Speak one-on-one with the employers.

So we're all here to lift you up and help you.

We try to eliminate all the intimidation here and bring the resources to you.

Jackie Goldberg is a community legend at the junction of policy, law changes, civic engagement, and leadership.

In a fitting tribute to her many accomplishments, a junction on Sunset in Silver Lake has been renamed in Goldberg's honor.

We're here in the heart of Silver Lake Sunset Junction, but today we are renaming it Jackie Goldberg Sunset Junction.

We know that she was a councilwoman for many years, an assembly woman, a school board member, resident of this district, and so we're honoring her for all the things she's done to make the city a better place.

She sent everything from authoring LA's landmark living wage to domestic partnership law that I co-authored with her that allowed all the rights of marriage to same-sex couples.

It's hard to talk about all the things that she accomplished.

But it's great that we're recognizing her with five different signs for Jackie Goldberg Square, each one talking about some of her major accomplishments.

Very few will actually be able to say that they did so much for so many, as Jackie, no doubt can say.

For the school district, Jackie is an iconic leader.

She was a teacher.

She's been a leader, a board member, a board president.

She has always advocated for that which is right, righteous, and rightful for everybody.

It is a great day for Los Angeles.

Jackie is somebody who is such a tenacious fighter, and she is unapologetic about her values and a woman who represents the LGBTQ Plus community.

She's representing a big voice that is sorely needed in all the positions that she served, and she's somebody that I look up to.

And I'm getting the honor, which I think is quite remarkable, but I'm I'm overwhelmed.

Mayor Bass announces the stormwater capture from the recent rains.

And LA Zoo is celebrating the birth of a new baby gorilla.

The stories up next on City Beats.

Mayor Karen Bass announced recent rains in LA have helped to push the captured stormwater total to over five billion gallons.

Since October 1st, LA's Department of Water and Power estimates that close to 5.5 billion gallons have been captured, enough to meet the annual water needs of around 68,000 households.

The department captures rainwater using residential rain barrels and cisterns, stormwater infrastructure, and large spreading grounds like those in Tahunga.

Mayor Bass noted that city investments are helping to improve local water supply, reduce runoff into the ocean, and enhance LA's overall resilience.

For more information, visit mayor.lacity.gov slash press.

The Los Angeles Zoo is celebrating the birth of a new baby gorilla, bringing the number of great apes born at the zoo this year to five.

In the last four months, the LA Zoo has seen the birth of three chimpanzees, one orangutan, and this new baby gorilla.

The new baby has not been named yet, and its gender has not been identified so far.

They have a sister, Angela, who was born in 2020, and the whole family can be seen at the Campo Gorilla Reserve area of the zoo.

Western lowland gorillas are social animals that live in groups of one silverback adult male, several adult females, and their offspring.

For more information, visit lazoo.org.

Celebrating creative culture.

The Los Angeles Public Library held its annual Independent Voices Festival.

This event helps to build community among local writers, poets, and zine makers, honoring their voices and independence.

Today we have our independent voices festival.

It's a celebration of independent authors and zines.

This event is an opportunity for our local author community, our local zine sters, and anyone who's interested in the written word to gather to network to get advice about publishing their book, making connections with each other, really just being part of the community today.

So the people will be able to make their own zines, which they can keep or donate to us for potential inclusion.

And there's also poetry workshops.

They'll learn from many different voices of the community how to be a published author or self-published author or a zeedster.

And that's why I love Z making because you never know what you're gonna make.

It's up to how you feel that day.

These independent authors are just a one-man, one-woman show, and it can be a very lonely, challenging field.

So we love having this event to just offer them advice and a sense of community so they can talk to each other, share tips, and really help each other out.

For more information about all the library's resources and events, visit lapl.org.

A basketball legend is sharing his support for LA's youth.

The one and only Kareem Abdul Jabbar brought inspiration and giveaways to a local school.

His support will help the kids get in the paint on and off the basketball court.

We are at the amazing UCLA RFK Community School.

And we're here with the Skyhook Foundation, Karim Abdul Jabbar, the great in a sneaker and backpack giveaway for our children in LA USD.

I connected with the kids definitely.

I saw the smiles on their faces.

And I hope they use the equipment to uh to do meaningful things.

The students are overjoyed.

They're very surprised.

It feels like Christmas as students are opening up their new shoes and sharing this moment with their friends, and they're just excited to be part of this event.

I think just being here in the presence of the partners and also King Abduljubar is very inspiring.

Some of the athletes that I admired really set a great example.

Those guys were like my heroes when I was a kid, and uh they they really had a serious approach to what was going on, both on the playing field and away from her.

So amazing in his philanthropy and his support for young people and particularly young people in Los Angeles.

We care a lot about every student, and we're bringing every opportunity possible to enrich their lives and their experiences here at our school.

Kids are the future, and what they need to hear from us is that we're with them on their journey to whatever it is that they imagine themselves to be.

And for a lot of our kids in LA Unified, that journey isn't as easy as it is for kids in other places.

And so anything we can do to support them, that's what today's about.

Just sharing the message of achieving their dreams and trying their best.

I feel like it's really helpful when they know that people outside of the school actually care and want to actually show them, you know, love.

Some of these kids will get into science, technology, engineering, or math, and come back as a doctor or a chemist or uh physicist or some type of uh scientist because they got uh encouragement.

Connecting with local artists and makers this holiday season supports their creativity and business.

At the Port of LA, the crafted marketplace showcases a wide variety of handcrafted items and one of a kind gifts for everyone on your list.

Welcome to Crafted.

We are a unique handmade marketplace filled with local artists, makers, small business owners, entrepreneurs, and today is a special day to support local artists and shop small in your neighborhood.

I'm here today in my shop.

I'm a metal smith and jewelry designer.

I also teach metal smithing classes here at Crafted.

I think we have a really strong group of artists.

There's so many different classes you can take.

You can literally spend a whole day here.

There is sewing classes, there's metal smithing classes, there's pottery, candle making.

It's a perfect place for you to spend a day with your family and your loved ones.

Always has like positive energy in here, and you should come support.

Crafted is a fantastic environment to bring local jobs for local artists and makers in the port of Los Angeles, somewhere that's a really big city of industry.

We're bringing it back to our small town makers right here in the market.

As an artist, we spend a lot of time making and creating our craft.

So when you come and support us, I believe that you know you're taking home a little bit of us, a little love that we make for you.

Everything you're gonna find in the marketplace here is truly one of a kind, handmade, and something you are not gonna find anywhere else.

This place is truly unique and special.

Shop small this holiday season at Crafted, and you can also visit Santa every Saturday here in December.

Very Christmas!

Oh!

Happy holidays to everybody!

Oh the unique combination of palm trees and ice makes the Pershing Square holiday ice rink the coolest spot in LA.

The Department of Reckon Parks kicked off the holidays downtown with the promise of gliding into the season of goodwill.

We're here today at the wonderful Pershing Square for the grand opening of our ice skating rings and for our annual tree lighting ceremony.

It's my first time lighting up a 75-foot tree.

Events like this and and activities like this uh bring community together just so we can be together with with our neighbors and our families and and enjoy each other and enjoy the holiday spirit.

We're always up for anything, even yeah, in the rain.

And look at it, it's happening and it's fun.

This might be the closest thing we can get to snow, but it's very fun.

Let's have fun together.

Let's celebrate community, let's celebrate coming together.

No matter who you are, no matter where you come from, you can belong on this ice.

My favorite part is just the performances and just seeing everybody out there.

We have some experts out there that do amazing moves.

And then we have the very, very beginners.

Okay, okay.

Practice makes perfect.

That's why I try to come as often as I can.

Um, my goal today is to make it off of the barrier.

It's the beginning of the holiday season.

We have the lights, we're bringing the ice.

I don't know where else in the world you can have this metropolitan experience.

Skate in an icing rink to get your winter holiday vibes, and also be right next to all of the palm trees.

It's so beautiful.

We have a lot of families that it's a Christmas tradition for them to come here every year.

I think one common thing is the desire to just be with other people and find similarities and just find the love and connection that everyone else has, which is just wanting to be a part of like family in a community.

And so the ice skating rink is not just for tourists, it's really for our residents and people to come and join us and celebrate downtown.

I invite everybody to join us on that ice skating rink, and I'll try not to sprain my ankle.

And we'll be open all the way through January 19th.

Go to the website holiday ice rink downtownla.com.

Come skate.

It's a beautiful, beautiful view, and LA is also beautiful right now, so come and enjoy.

On the dark winter nights, it's good to know that the LA zoo is a glow.

The festive favorite LA zoo lights animals a glow is back for the season helping to make those holiday memories.

It's photo-filled, family fun, full of holiday cheer.

Three, two, one.

We are at the Los Angeles Zoo where we are kicking off LA Zoo Lights Animals a Glow for the 2025-26 season.

And it's an amazing time of the year to come and make some holiday memories here at the LA Zoo.

What I was telling my wife is this is the first time that we've been here together and with our one-year-old son.

It's gonna be like a great seat.

He's even excited to be here, and we're just enjoying this moment of uh our family time.

I currently brought my wife, my kids, my brother-in-law, and his family.

They they loved it.

They enjoyed it, and it's very pleasant.

We'll definitely come next year with my family.

I think that it's about creating holiday traditions.

It's an opportunity that families can look forward to.

Like I said, creating memories that will last a lifetime.

It's amazing.

The lights, the fun.

Taking different pictures with the different exhibits and the way that they they set up is very beautiful.

It's really pretty.

Like everyone did a really good job setting up.

It's just nice to see the families and everybody in the holiday experience.

It's really nice.

And the program will run until January 11th, and so there's plenty of opportunity for people to come and have a great experience during the holiday season.

And get your picture with Santa at the North Pole in Vermont Square Park.

All this up next on things to do.

Each night we'll have a children's pinata, live entertainment, and the procession.

Enjoy Las Posadas on nine nights beginning on Tuesday, December 16th through Wednesday, December 24th, with festivities beginning at 6 30 p.m.

For more information, visit OlveraEvents.

Gates open at 6.45 a.m.

with sunrise at 655 a.m.

The opening ceremony with Native American Blessing will begin at 7 a.m.

Head to Chatsworth Nature Preserve for the Winter Solstice Celebration, taking place on Friday, December 19th at 7 a.m.

For more details and updates, visit LADWP.com slash winter solstice.

Join Council Member Kern Price and his office for Holidays in the Ninth celebration events.

On Friday, December 19th, the holiday season celebration is North Pole at Vermont Square Park.

Join the community to get into the holiday spirit with all the magic of snow.

Enjoy family fun with arts and crafts, tasty treats, and much more.

Attendees will also get to take their own pictures with Santa Claus.

Head to West 47th Street and enjoy the North Pole at Vermont Square Park on Friday, December 19th at 4 p.m.

For more information, see the calendar section at CD9.lacity.gov.

And that's a look at some things to do.

And that's all for this week.

I'm Natalia Bobao, and from all of us here at LA this week, thank you so much for joining us.

Remember that you can watch us online anytime at LACityview.org, and we're also on Instagram, Facebook, X, and YouTube.

See you next time for more LA this week.

Challenge yourself to conserve.

Turning off the faucet when you brush saves up to 10 gallons of water.

Taking a five-minute or less shower saves up to 15 gallons of water.

Washing only full loads of laundry saves up to 30 gallons of water.

And fixing a running toilet can save up to 50 gallons of water.

Keep it in mind all day, every day.

It's water conservation the LA Wayne.

Good morning and welcome to the regularly scheduled meeting of your Los Angeles City Council.

Today is Friday.

Our last regular council meeting for the year twenty twenty-five.

Public comment for this morning's meeting will be taken in person in this chamber, Madam Clerk.

Please begin our proceedings by calling a role.

President.

All right, first order of business.

Approval the minutes of December 10, 2025.

All right, Councilmember Raman moves.

Councilmember Lee seconds.

What's next?

Commendatory resolutions for approval.

Councilmember Nazarian moves.

Councilmember Hutt seconds.

Can we run through our agenda?

Yes, sir.

Mr.

President, would council like all items to go forth with today?

Without objection, that will be the order.

Items one through 15 are items notice for public hearing.

Items 16 through 49 are items which public hearings have been held.

Items 16, 18, 19, 32, 36, 40, 44, 46 through 49.

The committee reports have been submitted for council consideration and are online under their respective council files.

Items 37 and 45 should be held on the desk until the personnel and hiring committee reports have been submitted for council consideration.

Items 50 through 82 are items which public hearings have not been held.

Items 83 through 94 are closed session items considered by the budget and finance committee on the continuation agenda.

Item 95 is the night in which public hearing has been held.

All right.

Without objection, those items are now before us.

Uh special members.

I'll start on my left with Mr.

Blumenfield.

An item 4 for the chair to uh move the budget FSR report.

All right.

Councilmember Hernandez.

Council President, I would like to call item 80 for comments, and I would like to continue item 52 until January 13th.

And item 62 for one month.

62 is continued for one month, and that would be uh let's see.

Oh, you that would be January 9, 2026.

You could do the other one for one month as well, which is item uh 52.

So 52 is continued to January 9th, Friday, 2026, as well as 62 is continued to January 9, 2026.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Councilmember Lee.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Uh I'd like to ask uh we call special item 41 for an amendment that's being circulated.

And I sorry, item 40 uh that is being circulated at the moment, and I'd like to also request that items 41 and 45 for a separate vote.

So uh Mr.

Lee 40 is going is called special for an amendment.

41 and 45 are separate votes.

Thank you, sir.

And is there a second to uh Mr.

Blumenfield's uh um motion for item four to move the budget and finance report?

Oh Ms.

Hutt, thank you.

Councilmember Nazarian.

Good morning, Council President.

I'd like to bifurcate instructions E and the budget and finance committee report for item 40 for a separate vote.

You got that, madam clerk?

Uh yes.

Uh so um Mr.

Nazarian would like to bifurcate recommend recommendation e of item 40 for uh separate vote just a moment, sir.

Okay, and is there a second to uh Mr.

Nazarian's motion to for uh a separate vote on uh uh E for uh the FS for the budget and finance committee report?

Second.

Oh Mr.

Lee, thank you.

Okay, uh seeing no other specials on my left.

I'll go to my right, council member price.

Thank you.

President uh caution, I'm accusing myself from item 41, as I am a landlord.

I'm also accusing myself from items 20 20, 21, 42, and 76, because my wife's employer has worked with one of the organizations listed in the past.

All right, council member ramen.

Um can I call item 44 for a separate vote?

Can I call item 44 for a separate vote?

And I have a question about item one, so if we could hold that on the desk till after public comment.

Councilmember Rodriguez.

Yes, uh items 20 and 21 for a separate vote.

All right.

Any other specialist members?

Councilmember Blumenfield.

Yeah, on item 39.

I'm going to have a uh an amendment that's just adding we're still working the language out, but adding an instruction to the CLA regarding the report back.

So it's just to add a little bit of language to the report back, and we'll we'll circulate that.

All right.

Any other specials members?

Going once, going twice.

Councilmember Soto Martinez.

Yes, thank you so much, Council President.

Um I'd like to call item number 73 uh special for a separate vote and uh item 35 for some brief comments.

All right.

You got something, Councilmember McCosker?

Yeah, thank you.

Thank you very much, uh, Mr.

President.

For item 45, I'd like to call that special and move the motion from the personnel committee of this morning for item 45.

Is there a second to um Mr.

McCosker's uh motion to adopt the uh uh the personnel and hiring report?

Uh Ms.

Raman, thank you.

All right, any other specials?

All right, um Madam Clerk, what items are available for votes at this time, Mr.

President, council may now vote on item 16 18 through 18 and 19.

So it's 16, 18, and 19, 22 through 34, item 36, um, and then 43, 44, 46 through 48, and 49, sir.

All right, those items are now before us.

Let's open the roll, close the roll, tabulate the vote.

49.

14 ayes.

And um, there is a request to continue item 17 to January 14, 2026, as well as to refer item 38 to the budget and finance and public safety committee, sir.

All right, without objection, that'll be the order.

Um next would be the closed session items considered by budget and finance committee.

I'll ask uh if Mr.

Blumenfield, our uh vice chair of budget and finance, can uh give us a report back on the closed session items.

Okay, right.

I I believe these items that we have uh we considered all these items in committee, and uh it's fine to hear them in open session and to go along with the committee recommendations on this item.

All right, uh Mr.

President, uh 90 should be 90 in the closed session item should be held on the desk.

Okay, but let me read the um settlement amount, sir.

Item 83 in the case entitled Tao Hiti Chong et al.

versus City of Los Angeles et al.

There is a recommendation to expend up to 300,000 in settlement for item 84 in the case entitled Tatiana Bahadori versus Carol El Gutierrez et al.

There is a recommendation to expend up to 365,000 in settlement for item 85 in the case entitled Paul Alberto Sanchez versus City of Los Angeles, there is a recommendation to expend up to 599,000 in settlement for item 86 in the case entitled Ms.

Rain Morales Gonzalez versus Sebastian Salzgiver et al.

There is a recommendation to expend up to 990,000 in settlement.

For item 87 in the case entitled uh Roy Berkler versus City of Los Angeles and et al.

There is a recommendation to expend up to 250,000 in settlement.

For item 88 in the case entitled Jose Hernandez versus City of Los Angeles, there is a recommendation to expand up to 300,000 in settlement.

For item 89 in the case entitled Stephen Blaha versus City of Los Angeles et al.

There is a recommendation to expand up to 690,000 in settlement.

For item 90, in the case entitled Los Angeles Police Protective League versus Matt Sable, City Administrative Officer of the City of Los Angeles et al.

There is a recommendation to expend up to 450,000 in settlement.

For item 91 in the case entitled Heled Heleodoro Lara versus City of Los Angeles et al.

There is a recommendation to reject the plaintiff's offer in settlement.

For item 92 in the case entitled Tri-Star Risk Management versus City of Los Angeles, there is a recommendation to expand up to 225,000 in settlement.

For item 93 in the case entitled Celine Castellanos versus City of Los Angeles, there's a recommendation to expand up to 250,000 in settlement.

For 90 item 94 in the case entitled Terry Manor Senior Housing LP and Terry Manor Preservation LP.

There is a recommendation to expand up to 2,475,000 and 275,000, respectively, plus accrued interest in settlement.

That's all, sir.

All right.

These items are now before us.

Let's uh open the roll, close the roll, tabulate the vote.

15 ayes.

All right, what's next?

Uh next would council like to move on to presentations?

Yes.

Uh thank you so much.

We'll begin our presentations uh with a spotlight on our city and how we're weathering the uh immigration enforcement actions um in our neighborhoods and on our businesses and to our people.

This morning we'll hear from Councilmember Price.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Colleagues.

The ice raids on our Latino neighbors on the streets of America have certainly been disruptive.

They've disrupted the cities, businesses, families, and individuals.

Less publicized has been the how the ice raids have also negatively impacted our neighbors from Africa and the Caribbean.

With us today, in solidarity with those that have spoken over the past several weeks, uh representatives from the U.S.

Africa Institute.

The Institute is a community-based organization based in CD9.

Founded to address the urgent education, policy advocacy, and community organizing needs.

The institute serves black immigrant communities from Africa, the Caribbean, and South and Central American countries, working to ensure that their unique perspectives and experiences are recognized and addressed.

Its mission is to foster cross cultural understanding and to strengthen collaboration with other immigrant groups and the African American communities.

The organization provides know your rights resources, academic support, and immigration assistance for ongoing immigrants.

Immigrant assistance for those who remain unseen and disproportionately impacted by ongoing immigration enforcement efforts.

So please uh join me in welcoming uh Dr.

Taddius Beley, President of the US Africa Institute.

Thank you, Councilman.

Uh good morning and thank you so much, uh Councilman uh good morning, members of the City Council and Council President uh Harstavson.

Uh by name is uh Dr.

Tadis Balai.

I am the founder of US African Institute.

We founded the organization when I was uh a doctoral student at the University of Southern California to uh in response to the urgent need of uh immigration support for the black immigrant communities.

Uh we are uh deeply grateful to uh council member price for his commitment to uplifting the immigrant communities uh in and in the black uh diaspora communities in in our district as well as across uh the country.

Uh the black immigrant community uh is under attack right now.

And the the administration has waged a war against not just in a black immigrant community but across uh the board, including in our uh brothers from the Hispanic American community and Asian American you know uh uh communities.

And uh the president called us garbage.

And in he said uh Mexican American brothers and sisters rapist.

And but let us be clear.

We are we're not rapists, we're not garbage, we are educators, we are community organizers, uh, we are doctors, we are you know nurses.

We contribute so much to the very fabric of our country culturally, economically, and in countless uh other ways.

Today, we urge the city uh council members and the president and also our mayor to condemn uh uh this uh rhetoric against immigrant communities and also to support uh our immigrant community, not only in CD9, but across uh our city.

Uh, council members, when we're alone in this fight.

We appreciate the support of our immigrant communities from the uh Hispanic community as well as from the Asian American communities and also from our brothers uh from uh African American uh communities.

What council member price is doing today and in every day to uplift and uh in power African Americans or uh black immigrants or uh immigrant communities in general um is a legacy of uh the black communities who have been fighting on the fruit line in the 50s in the 60s against the Chinese exclusion acts.

And you know, if you look at our institutions, the HBCUs fighting for everybody, not just you know for our black Americans, but for everyone who has been you know marginalized in this in this country.

So we are very grateful for the work you're doing, doing all of you here, the city council members, but we need support.

We need um collaboration more to be able to empower and then support the immigrant communities in the the black uh immigrant communities in particular in African myself.

I was a refugee.

I came to the United States 1516 years ago, and uh have been you know fighting and organizing in our our communities, not only here in Los Angeles, but across the country, working with you know a number of you know, members of you know Congress and then other uh elected officials.

So we're asking you, we're demanding you to support us now, to condom in what's going on in this in the in the in the country.

You know, with that I'll say thank you to the councilman and his staff and all of you here for your leadership and commitment to support our community, and thank you so much.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you for that.

All right, um, now we'll move to presentations.

Thank you, Mr.

Price, and thank you to the representative that came.

Our first presentation will be led by council member Hernandez of the first council district, uh please join us.

Thank you.

It is my pleasure to recognize Barbara Romero, the general manager of Los Angeles Sanitation and Environment.

This city moved because of our workforce, which includes the 3,800 dedicated workers of LA San.

Since 2021, they have been led by someone who understands that sanitation and environment aren't just about trash collection, uh trash trucks and collection bins.

It's about people, it's about public health, and it's about quality of life.

Long before she became general manager, Barbara served the city in different capacities.

Planning commissioner, Board of Public Works Commissioner, and Deputy Mayor of City Services.

And at every step, she pushed the city to think bigger about equity, sustainability, and infrastructure.

Under her leadership, LA Sand became the gold standard for the targeted local hire program.

She saw potential in everybody, giving a real uh shot to people with experience of incarceration and homelessness.

Because of her, more Angelinos have union jobs, pensions, and a pathway to the middle class.

That is equity in action.

Barbara has fought for the future of our city's water supply.

She played a role in the safe in the safe clean water program, securing more than 250 million dollars for stormwater and greening projects.

She championed Pure Water Los Angeles, an effort with LADWP that will eventually recycle up to 200 million gallons of wastewater every single day.

And when the state mandated organics recycling program came about, Barbara implemented implemented a citywide program serving 750 households.

And if you look up at the screen right behind you, you can see how happy she was about overseeing one of the largest green vehicle fleets in the nation.

She launched pilots to transition the city's collection program toward electric electrification.

But anyone who knows Barbara knows she brings more than titles and accomplishments.

She bleeds Dodger Blue.

She makes chilakiles that can end debates in this chamber, which we ought to get some of those because you know, just sometimes we go long.

And she lights up when she talks about her teenage son, Brady, who's excelling in school, hockey, and baseball.

Colleagues, as you as you may know from personal experience, Barbara leads with commitment, creativity, and heart.

And Los Angeles is better because of the work she has poured into it and the teams that she has built.

Barbara, your family and friends should be beyond proud of the incredible work you've done for this city.

I know that, and I see you.

I hope you know that.

To keep this celebration going, I'd love I'd now like to invite my colleague, Councilmember Adrina Zieran to share a few words.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilwoman Hernandez.

Um, today we celebrate 13 years of outstanding leadership.

Barbara Romero's impact on Los Angeles is undeniable.

Through her leadership at LA Sanitation and Environment, she's helped move our city toward a cleaner, more sustainable and more resilient future.

She has consistently led with integrity, clarity, and a deep commitment to equity, bringing a people-first approach to every level of public service.

And I, for one, appreciate her work as a former advocate, a staffer, and for the past few years, a general manager very much, because during that time we worked very closely together to always benefit Los Angeles, but also our San Fernando Valley.

So beyond the programs and policies, Barbara has shaped the culture of public service itself for the betterment of all Angelinos.

Thank you, Barbara, for 13 remarkable years of service, leadership, and dedication to the city of Los Angeles.

And thank you to my wonderful colleague for wanting to do this on Barbara's behalf.

Thank you all.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilmember.

Now let's hear from the person of the hour, Barbara Romero.

Hi, uh Barbara Romero, uh Director and General Manager.

Um, first I just want to say uh thank you for this recognition to the council, um, to the council members.

Uh, this this uh coming 13 years ago, some of you were here in different capacities, but um, when we talk about uh the work, it sometimes takes decades.

Um, when I came to the city, my son was sitting here in diapers uh with the bottle.

And as you heard, he's now a teenager, and the reason he's not here is because he has two tests that he can't miss.

Um so um we gotta look at at our service in that way.

Um, that it is, you know, it is not for the faint of heart.

This and that it it takes um a whole village of people to support the work that we do here.

And I know my family, it will get me back for a little bit because the 24 hour operation that we do at Sanitation is it has a price to it.

And I just want to think I want you to know that coming here 13 years ago, I made a commitment to council then that I was that I was wanted to be a leader to all those kids, a kid from the east side, to be able to see that they could become the run a department, the second largest department in the country.

And that you could do it with finesse, you could do it with uh integrity, and most importantly, you can do it with a team of execs, but also uh a lot of the people that are not here today.

Uh, no matter what the conditions out in the city, what we're going through day in and day out, our staff are out there serving the city of Los Angeles, and I could not have done anything that I had done today without their support.

So I I want to again thank the workforce.

It has been the last couple six weeks in talking to staff about getting their thank yous and their, you know, the recognition that I've received from them in different celebrations.

Um what has been the most humbling and the most quite frankly, the most uh proud that I'm you know that I am is how I impacted them personally, how whether they they realize that they want more, they realize that they I could be, you know, that I was a mentor, an advisor, something that I said, something that I did in a meeting, you know, before you in our private discussions, um, that that's what makes the difference.

The people, those of you that know me as I'm people focus, and this work, the most meaningful was those relationships with staff and seeing their commitment to ensuring that we deliver services.

So, with that, I just wanted to um I'm just feeling the gratitude because at the end of the day, all these accomplishments don't mean anything.

Um, it was a gift.

These 13 years have been a gift to me.

Um, and I thank you all for your partnership in um in this endeavor, and I look forward to um I don't know what uh is next.

I do the only thing someone asked me earlier, what are you doing next?

I'm gonna go, I'm going to Mexico City to see Bad Bunny.

So, but I what I do know is that I will I will come back in some capacity and we'll you know we'll lean on all of you because you are doing some of the toughest work that is out there, and I know that um it doesn't always feel that way, but I can tell you that there's hope in the work that you do, and I want you to to remember that what you're doing is you're doing this um this public service work is is um is admirable, and I just want to uh say that I I'll look forward to the many ways, and please reach out to me because I I know there's plenty of other work that I can support all of you uh individually in your efforts in your district.

So thank you again uh for the recognition today.

All right, thank you so much, and uh congratulations.

Uh Ms.

Romero Romero, you got a lot of speakers on the queue, as you might imagine, beginning with Councilmember Rodriguez.

Thank you.

Barbara, you know, you and I started at the same time, and I remember you had just you were you you were a brand new mom.

And we were sitting in this front pew awaiting to get confirmed, doing something that the city had never historically done.

Any no mayor in the history had ever replaced an entire board of public works in their term, and we were the first to do that, and when we did it, we came in together, and we were all determined to work together to change things for the better.

And when I look back on how we've all since migrated into different roles, it really was grounded in that first moments of us coming together, focused on how are we gonna make city services prioritize the needs of the people, and that's what you've always been about.

And that's what you've always been about.

That's what we've all been about from when that we took first took that uh, you know, sat here before that council and made that commitment.

But even before that, you have had such a remarkable career.

Going back to being part of the conservation corps, MRCA, everything that you have done.

This is a culminating part of really your biggest story, which has always been rooted in environmentalism, in park equity, in access for our community, and stemming back to those east side roots.

I really want to say that I'm really proud to call you a friend, to have called you a colleague.

And when I look at your team, and I remember even when Pepe, when we were doing some of the work out in the field, from Bob Potter, everybody that's here, Alex, people that have been engrossed in this work for decades, all respected you and appreciated the leadership that you brought to sanitation when you came on board when you were appointed.

And that speaks volumes.

That speaks more than any flippant decision that anyone else makes that is not is it just doesn't understand.

You are an incredible leader for having earned the respect of the very people who serve the people of the city each and every day, day in, day out, rain or shine.

And so, my friend, I just want to say thank you so much for the integrity that you exude in the leadership that you've delivered, and what I know will just be you know, this was just one stop in your longer story.

There where you will continue to give back, you will continue to show up and be that example that we are all proud of.

So, congratulations, thank you for your service.

Um I think it's uh it's sadly um at this juncture, we will be impacted, not for the better by your departure, and um, but I know that you leave with an incredible team still in place to help carry on the important work that I hope will be honest about what we have to do to ensure the best quality service delivery for the people of the people of Los Angeles.

So thank you, and I wish you the best, and I will always be here for you.

Councilmember Coster.

Thank you so much, Council Colleagues, for bringing Barbara in.

Barbara you have been remarkable to lead with strength and integrity, such a gigantic department.

There are so I don't think folks appreciate there are so few departments that are so large, so diverse, run 24-7.

Not every department runs 24-7, and touches the lives of every single Angelino every single day.

It really is a remarkably important department, and it runs so well that in places people don't even think about it.

You know, they only know when there's a problem, which is so infrequent.

I just want to thank you for for you being that leader that exemplifies what sanitation does every day and being 24-7.

I don't know how many times I called you on holidays and middle of the night, and you answered every single time.

And I appreciate you.

Uh I agree with my colleagues' comments that your service to this you know, this great region uh doesn't end here.

Uh enjoy Mexico City, the one of the greatest cities in the world, and come back refreshed, and we look forward to working with you in some other capacity.

Thank you.

Thank you so much, Councilmember Price.

Thank you.

Uh Council Councilwoman for bringing uh real Asia in to see us.

Uh Barbara, you know, you I'm a little kind of a little perturbed because uh I thought they were just my calls as you answered at all times of the night.

You're answering everybody's calls.

But that's just the kind of you are accessible, available, committed to uh to the community, you know, sanitation is certainly the basic quality of life issue in our community, and so the services that you and your team provide are valuable and life-changing.

So again, we're gonna miss you continued success, whatever you do, you we know you're gonna make a big impact.

Uh, you're gonna continue being an AU in the city.

Congratulations.

Thank you.

Councilmember Padilla.

Uh thank you to Councilmember Nazarian and uh Hernandez for bringing this together.

Uh, very well deserved, very excited for you.

I wish I was going to Mexico City, but I hope that you also get to hear some broken español and maybe some bandana, just bad bunny.

Bad bunny comes sele enough.

You know, go get something unique.

Which is my opinion.

But anyways, uh, I just want to make sure you know that how much I appreciate you.

Um, not just from you know the limited time that I've been here on council, and you're here running, as Mr.

McCosker mentioned, a very big, very important 24-7 um agency, but and all of the things that we've also done in the past in the work related to environmental justice, and you know, um I'm always trying to figure out why people fall in love with this building.

You know, this is the kind of building where either you you're here for a long time and you wonder what the heck did you do while you were here, and then there's those who come in, shake things up and make things happen.

And I think your story, your legacy is gonna be one of I got here, I knew where the future needed to take us, made some moves, and got it going.

Um, and you know, that's really important as we're going, we've the last 30 years have been environmental justice, recycling, reuse, uh, you know, always changing, always related to the sustainability of how we consume and what we do with our consumption, you know, uh, and where it lands.

And uh applaud you for being somebody that was able to take those kind of complex human existence um conversations to the next step.

So appreciate you and the foundation of everything that you're leaving behind with your teams and everyone that has worked with you throughout this process.

So, congratulations.

Have fun.

I know we're not gonna stop seeing you.

So, best of luck in whatever's next.

Thank you.

Councilmember Park.

Thank you, Council President, and thank you, colleagues, for bringing this Romero in.

Um, Barbara, like others, I wish you success in your next steps and adventures.

But I'm not ready to say goodbye, and I don't want to see you go.

Um the time that we've had together has been too short, and you have been such an incredible friend and a remarkable partner.

You know, so much of the work improving quality of life on the ground on the west side has been us with our sleeves rolled up, making it happen.

I have been with you under extraordinarily challenging and stressful circumstances at Hyperion during storms when both of us were worried and scared about what we were seeing happening in real time.

We have really complicated projects and efforts underway because of our incredibly sensitive environment in Council District 11, and your work and your leadership on in the community, especially on things like the VAP that are so necessary, has been extraordinary.

You've moved an entire community from no to yes because of you and the work that you've put in on this.

Um, after the Palisades fire this year, the lift that you personally and your team have put in to the aftermath and the recovery and the work that we're doing to modernize and upgrade to meet the modern demands, have really just been nothing short of remarkable.

Barbara, we're gonna stay friends for a really long time.

I'm gonna continue to lean on you, and I'm gonna miss you very much.

On behalf of a grateful West side of our city, I want to say thank you, and I'm incredibly grateful for the time that we had.

I'm gonna be right here with you, whatever's next.

Thank you.

Thank you so much, Councilmember Park, Councilmember Bloominfield.

Thank you.

Uh colleagues, thank you for bringing uh Ms.

Romero here.

Uh Barbara, it's it's sad to see you moving moving on.

You've been such an integral part of the city.

You know, you and I share so much.

We were both to some extent forged in the cauldron that is the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, uh, both being alums of that great organization.

Uh and you being here, you've done so many different things, whether it's the planning commission, deputy mayor, and obviously the first uh female, uh first female general manager of sanitation.

Uh but through it all, you've always kept integrity, you've kept a focus on the environment, which I really appreciate.

And you've always had that North Star of also how do we do this in a way that's effective for this city?

It's one of the reasons it's made you such a great general manager and and really a great steward of this city.

And I want to just take a moment to thank you for that because it doesn't go without notice.

We see the work that you've done in all these different capacities, uh, and and the way you've done it and the reasons that you've done it, and it's just uh the city as a whole, and everyone in the city owes you a debt of gratitude.

And I just wanted to thank you for your service so far and wish you great luck in your continued service to this city and this nation.

Thank you.

Councilmember Yarsovsky.

Thank you, Council President.

Um Barbara and I have known each other for I think 25 years.

Uh, she was one of my first bosses uh when I was in law school, and we helped uh build a park together.

And um it's just been an incredible honor and pleasure to get to know you and to be your friend and to be a collaborator with you in the 25 years since.

And um I have a lot of admiration and love and respect for you and your commitment to all the communities of Los Angeles, uh, to environmental sustainability, to complicated collaboration across different sectors, making people work together around multi-benefit, um, smart infrastructure.

Um, and um it's a sad day for LA.

Uh it's a sad day personally, um, but I'm really looking forward to seeing what your great things you're gonna do next.

And um, and and thank you for all of your incredible dedicated service to the city of Los Angeles and the people of Los Angeles.

Um, and I hope you get some well deserved rest.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilmember Jurado.

Thank you, Council President.

Thank you, Councilmember Hernandez and Azarian for um honoring Barbara Merrill.

Um, you know, a girl from Boyle Heights who ended up making a life's work in sustainability, showing that labor and sustainability and city service couldn't be at odds, and then leading a department to make sure that we deliver city services.

I think you make the district so proud.

Um, you know, and making sure that you gave back.

I mean, our recent work with the uh Hollandbeck Park was just emblematic of who you are, what you're doing for the community you came up from, and how you continue to give back.

And so, yeah, today is a very sad day, and thank you for all that you've done, and I know you will continue to do and wherever you do it.

So, thank you.

Councilmember Hutt.

Thank you, Mr.

President, and thank you, Councilmember Hernandez and Nazarian, for uh giving us all the opportunity to thank Barbara for her public service.

Barbara, you know, um, I want to echo all my colleagues where they talk about how you've really changed the infrastructure in our city when it comes to sanitation.

But I want to thank you personally for showing up.

You know, when we do local cleanups with our neighborhood councils, you're right there in a pair of jeans and a bucket and a broom, ready to do it.

And I think that makes a difference in what leadership looks like where you lead amongst everyone.

And I appreciate working with you.

I'm looking forward to the next part of your journey.

I I want to wish you rest and repeat, rest and repeat, and enjoy Bad Bunny.

But I really appreciate the partnership, the collaboration, the relationship, and you being boots on the ground.

Thank you.

Councilmember Lee.

Barbara, I I believe the culture and responsiveness of a department starts from the top and works its way down.

Uh you've always been someone, at least for me, that I never hesitated to call.

If there was an issue I need taken care of, I I never hesitate to call.

And it was said before, you always pick up that phone.

I when I talk about it working its way down, you know, every year I go to my yards and you know, at five in the morning before they go out on the shift, you know, let them know how much I appreciate them and bring in some donuts.

I always think that they're just, you know, they're gonna take the coffee, grab a donut, say thank you, head out, they're out.

So many of them when they're speaking to me, are pointing out issues in the city that affect how they do their jobs, as little as like how potholes may have may affect the trucks that they're driving in, specific ones that they had, you know, ingrained in them about this needs to be fixed, you know, please.

This is an expensive truck.

That the way they care about not only the department, but the way they care about the city, and you've always been a big part of that because you're not seen as someone by staff, and you said that this was important to you because it's true.

And you've always been a big part of that because you're not seen as someone by staff, and you said that this was important to you because it's true.

You're not seen as someone in some ivory tower somewhere.

You're seen as someone one of them.

And that's so incredibly important as our general manager.

Uh you know, you and I have had such a wonderful work and relationship over the years, and I just want to say thank you for your time here in the city of Los Angeles, and again, look forward to working with you in whatever capacity, new capacity come back to us.

All right.

Thank you so much.

And uh I want to associate myself with all the comments of all the members.

They they covered it all.

Uh, I will just say to you, uh, you've been particularly special to us as someone who represents a district who leans on sanitation even more uh than a lot of the districts around the city.

Uh you've always stepped up to the plate and and faced those challenges head on, and uh tried to work with all of us to do the best we could uh to provide the kind of cleanliness in neighborhoods that uh our residents deserve.

And so uh we are sad to see you go, uh, but also elated at the example you've left for exemplary service to the people of the city of Los Angeles.

Thank you so much.

Councilmember Hernandez and Nazarian.

Thank you, Council President.

Uh, thank you to all the colleagues, the family, the friends of Barbara O'Marillo for joining us today.

Thank you, colleagues, for all the kind words.

And here on behalf of the city of Los Angeles, we have a resolution uh commending and congratulating Barbara O'Marillo for 13 years of service, her loyalty to this city, and wishing her the best.

Um, but don't go too far because we're gonna need you.

Thank you so much.

Okay, okay.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

All right, our next presentation will be led by Councilmember Lee of the 12th Council District.

Thank you.

However, I can be called.

It is my honor to help recognize someone whose artistry and spirit have touched generations across the world and across our city.

Someone whose music has been the soundtrack of celebrations, milestones, and memories of millions.

Today, we honor a ref Arefkiah.

For more than six decades, a ref has been one of the most defining figures in our in Iranian pop music.

Known as the Sultan of Hearts, he is celebrated for his remarkable ability to blend melodic pop with heartfelt poetic lyrics.

His songs are not merely hits, they are cultural treasures that continue to resonate with listeners of every age.

Through his music, a ref has carried the emotion, poetry, and cultural richness of a people who have preserved their identity through joy and loss through distance and time.

He has captured universal feelings of longing and love, hope and heartache, celebrations and nostalgia, all in a way that speaks across borders and generations.

His voice has really become a bridge for Iranians all around the world, for those who grew up listening to his early songs, for young people who are just discovering his music today, and for families who may be separated by distance or circumstance.

His music gives people a place to come together.

It creates a shared sense of comfort and familiarity, a feeling that no matter where you are, you are still connected.

What makes a ref so extraordinary is not only the longevity of his career, but the depth of his impact.

His music has brought joy to weddings and reunions and comfort in moments of hardship for so many in our Los Angeles community, home to one of the largest Iranian diasporas in the world.

A ref's music is more than just entertainment, its memory, its identity, and most importantly, it's a piece of home.

A ref's contributions to Iranian culture are immeasurable.

He represents the resilience and beauty of a community that carries with it its heritage and pride and passes it forward with love.

His work reminds us of the power of art to uplift, to heal and connect us to one another.

So today we celebrate not only an artist but a cultural icon, a voice that has comforted, inspired, and united millions across continents and across generations.

A voice that continues to remind us of where we come from and of the ties that bind us no matter where life takes us.

Mr.

Arefkia, on behalf of the city of Los Angeles, thank you for the joy that you have brought to so many, for the culture you have preserved, and for the lasting impact that your music has had on the communities here around the world, and especially here in the city of Los Angeles.

Thank you, Roger.

I'd like to bring on my council colleague, Councilman Nazarian to say a few words.

Thank you, Councilmember Lee.

Good morning, colleagues and guests and friends all joining us today.

Today is my great pleasure to join Councilmember Lee in celebrating an iconic figure in global music, Aref Arefkia.

Los Angeles has long been a home of dreamers, creators, storytellers from every corner of the globe.

It is a city where diasporan communities have built new lives where preserving the deepest parts of their heritage is important.

Today, as we recognize Aref Arefkia, we also celebrate what Los Angeles represents, a creative and supportive hub where artists displaced by conflict, history, or circumstance can continue to share their voice with the world.

Born in Tehran in 1940, Aref discovered music early listening to radio broadcasts and absorbing Western and Persian influences that would later shape his remarkable sound.

Before he ever stepped on a stage, he studied at the Tehran Industrial School of Art and even worked as a teacher, a reminder that great artists often are grounded in quiet dedication before their talent takes flight.

In the 1960s and 70s, at a time when the popular musical language of Iran was shifting, he introduced a new sensibility by blending Western romantic melodies with Persian lyrics, farsi lyrics, in a way that spoke directly to the youth of a changing nation.

For many years, youth magazines named him among the most famous and influential pop icons in Iran.

And the Iran of today is very different than the Iran of 50, 60 years ago.

But Aref's importance goes far beyond chart-topping songs.

He gave voice to the aspirations, loves, and heartbreaks of a generation.

After the 1979 revolution, Aref and his family, like so many artists, were forced into exile.

Here in this city, he continued to record, to perform, and to remind a scattered people of the cultural home they carried within them.

And I so appreciate Councilmember Lee's comments, because home is where you make it yourself.

So when a disparate group of people who are still in shell shock after having been displaced come together, it's these warm sounds and the smells of the food and the cultural ties that bring everything together and create a new home.

Through hundreds of songs, Aref kept alive not just melodies, but memories.

For Iranians around the world, his music remains a bridge to the past, to identity, and to each other.

Los Angeles is proud to be the city where that bridge was preserved, where diaspora artists can continue creating, where communities can gather around the sounds that shape them, and where cultural legacies are not only remembered, but celebrated.

On behalf of the countless Angelinos whose lives have been touched by his songs, and on behalf of a city that believes deeply in the power of art to carry heritage forward, we thank Aref Arefkia for his lifelong dedication to music, to community, and to the spirit of creativity that defines Los Angeles.

Hold on, hold on.

No, I have another speaker.

Okay.

So I'd love to bring uh his daughter Nasli to say a few remarks about her father.

Good morning, President, City Council, distinguished guests, and family and friends.

Today is truly one of the greatest honors of my life to stand here and speak about a man who has been a lie to millions and the greatest inspiration to me, my father R.F.

For more than six decades, my father's voice has crossed borders, languages, and generations, carrying joy, hope, and emotion to people around the world.

One of his iconic songs gave him a title that so many cherish, the king of hearts, a name he earned because of the love he gave and the love he received from the people.

But to me, he's even more than that.

To me, he is the king of kindness, the king of humility and the king of our home, the man behind the music, whose warmth, compassion, and gentle spirit are the true foundation of his greatness.

This this proclamation is more than an award.

It's a recognition of a lifetime devoted to art, to culture, and to connecting heart across the globe.

On behalf of our family, I want to express our deepest gratitude for honoring his legacy and for showing that true artist three never fails.

It continues to inspire generation after generation.

Dad, we are so proud of you.

Congratulations.

I love you so much.

Special thanks to dear.

Um sorry about that, I got so emotional.

I wanted to say special thanks to Mayor Karen Best, special thanks to Mr.

John Lee, 12th district, to Mr.

Edwin Nazaryan, second district, to Bob Bloomfeld, third district, and a special thanks to my dear John Ardonan to make this happen.

Thank you for everything you did.

Thank you for our family and friends and for being here.

If you don't mind, I'm gonna speak in Farsi if it's okay.

Okay.

And now Mr.

Please, if you could share some few words.

Council President, I believe you said someone was on the queue.

Mr.

Blumenfield.

Thank you.

Congratulations on a career that has spanned six decades.

And that's no easy feat in a world that is constantly changing and always looking for the next big thing.

From Tehran to right here in Tarangelis.

You have been singing for 12 years, you know, since you were 12.

We don't want you to stop now.

You have a beautiful voice.

You know, LA, it's it's filled with with many multi-hyphenates, people who have a whole list of talents, and you embody the spirit, a singer, an activist, a movie star.

You've really you've done it all.

And uh we here in Los Angeles appreciate that.

So Merci Aref.

Uh thank you for all you've done to uplift the Persian community all over the world.

Thank you, uh colleagues for bringing him in today and and my friends in the in the Persian community, the Arlons, everyone else for for supporting this.

Uh, congratulations, and the city honors you.

Thank you.

Thank you so much, uh, Mr.

Blumenville, and thank you, Mr.

Lee uh for this uh presentation.

The gift of song is one that we all enjoy all across the earth, but we especially love when the most creative people on earth make their way to the city of Los Angeles and makes this the the entertainment and creativity capital of the world.

So thank you so much to your gift to the world, but especially to those of us Angelinos.

Mr.

Rafka, there wasn't anyone that I bumped into in the last couple weeks of Persian descent.

When I mention your name, the immediate the smile that comes on their face and the memories, because you bring that peace home to them.

On behalf of the city of Los Angeles and the full city council, I'd like to present you with this city proclamation honoring your lifelong career.

We can go to the back, yeah.

We can go to the back for more photos.

Uh Led and facilitated by our council president pro Tim, Mr.

Bob Blumenfield of the Third Council District.

As folks, good things can't last forever, unfortunately.

And after 25 years, Wendy Butts is retiring from the LA Conservation Corps.

The Conservation Corps is one of my favorite organizations, and I've been involved with them for years when I was in the State Assembly.

Wendy was their CEO for more than a decade, but believe it or not, she has lived many lives before LACC.

Wendy was a United States Peace Corps volunteer in Ecuador, corporate compliance officer at Queen's Care, Queen's Care Family Clinics, helping underinsured Angelinos, and has held many hats before becoming the CEO of an organization of which she really helped transform in so many ways.

Her passion for her work and the environment is evident in every conversation with her, but it can also be seen in the lives that she's touched, and so many young people who she has just helped transform.

She's helped this group grow, exponentially increasing their impact and helping shape every program in every corner of this city.

It is a greener, cleaner, and better place because of Wendy, because of the work you've done because of the Corps.

I'm like, no, I want the Corps to be housed in my office.

We got the the uh uh an extra office in the within the uh office building, so the corps could be there to be doing the work locally.

Uh and it's and I know you do the same kind of thing in every district, but I mean for me, it's the strike force that that makes the difference in the community.

So I sincerely hope you enjoy some well-deserved retirement.

And I know you'll be watching from the sidelines as LACC continues to grow because of the foundation that you have laid and you have built.

So, congratulations, Wendy, and uh I would be honored if you would say a few words.

Thank you, Councilmember Blumenfield, for this truly meaningful recognition.

I'm deeply honored to be here today.

For more than 25 years, nearly half my life, the LA Conservation Corps has been my professional home.

And standing here, I'm reminded of just how essential our partnership with the city has been.

The Corps relationship with the city is one of those rare, genuine win-wins.

The city gains a dedicated workforce, improving neighborhoods, parks, and public spaces, and young people gain skills, confidence, and opportunities that can change the trajectory of their lives.

Our corps members have been able to step into real hands-on work because this council and previous councils believed in them.

Your support creates the meaningful job experiences that opened doors for many of them to long-term careers.

And for me personally, the connection I've had with many of you and your predecessors over the years made all the difference.

Your willingness to listen, to collaborate, and to champion our mission, sustained the corps through challenges, and helped it grow into a regional, statewide, and national leader that will keep and will keep it strong well beyond its 40 years.

I also want to acknowledge the corps members who inspire us every day.

Their resilience is the reason that the Corps exists.

And my former colleagues, the staff and board members here today, thank you for your dedication and your faith in what the Corps can accomplish.

This commendation is incredibly meaningful to me, but it belongs to all of us who have worked together, the city, the core, and the young people of Los Angeles, to make our communities cleaner, greener, and better.

Thank you again for this honor and for your continued support of the LA Conservation Corps and the Corps members who power its mission.

Okay.

Wendy, would you accept this token of appreciation signed not just by me but by the mayor and every member of this council in recognition and appreciation of you and all that you've done?

Congratulations.

Thank you so much.

Thank you so much, Mr.

Blumenfield, Conservation Corps, and Ms.

Butts.

Thank you.

All right, our next presentation will be led by Council District 10.

Councilmember Heather Hutt.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Good morning, colleagues.

Today is a bittersweet day for my office and all of council district 10.

As we say goodbye to our senior field deputy and dear friend Jeff Camp.

Jeff has dedicated the majority of his adult life to the people of Los Angeles.

His extensive experience includes working for two former council presidents, which is a testament to the trust and capability he earned at the highest level of city government.

For 15 years as president of the UNNC Council, Jeff tirelessly fought for civic engagement, spearheading initiatives that strengthened neighborhood councils and built community power from the ground up.

In Council District 10, Jeff's work was the backbone of constituent services.

He helped countless residents solve complex problems, making government more accessible for his neighbors.

His commitment to direct community engagement is unparalleled.

Jeff is a respected voice in South Los Angeles, a compassionate leader who always seeks to uplift the people around him.

I first met Jeff while working on Quiet Skies Initiative, where he pushed the FAA to respect the residents of South Los Angeles.

You never guessed that someone so gentle and thoughtful could also be a fierce and unwavering when it came to fighting for his community.

But that's exactly who Jeff is.

His passion extends beyond policy and paperwork.

He consistently showed up for constituents, plan local events, community efforts, and bridge partnerships with neighborhood organizations to connect residents with opportunities and resources.

He wasn't just committed to doing the job, he wanted to build trust, listening closely and uplifting the voices of all who called Los Angeles home.

When juggling the complex demands of council work, having Jeffrey Camp on your team is an indescribable advantage.

His combination of sharp intellect, undeniable charisma, and impeccable fashion sets a standard for us all.

Now, Jeff, we know you're returning home to the state of Oklahoma, but we never want you to feel like you were not a part of Los Angeles.

We want to send you off and remind you that no matter where life takes you, you'll always have a place here.

Thank you for your service.

Thank you for your service to CD 10 and C D2.

The city is better because of it.

Thank you.

Pack light, Jeff.

We're about to lightweight.

Certificate.

Come closer.

Thank you.

All right, now we'll go to uh public comment.

We'll ask the city attorney to prepare us for that.

Uh and Mr.

President, for the record, uh the personnel and hiring reports for item 37 as well as for um item 45 has been submitted and uh circulated and is before council now, sir.

To people providing public comment, when it is your turn to speak at the podium, please state which of the agenda items you'd like to speak to.

You will have one minute per item, up to three minutes total for the items open for public comment.

Members of the public may also speak for up to one minute for general public comment.

During general public comment, members of the public may speak to any of the items or anything else within the city subject matter jurisdiction.

We will tell you when your time is up.

When speaking on the agenda items, you must be on topic.

Our goal is to get through as many speakers as we can.

If you're not on topic, or if we cannot tell whether you're on topic, you will get one brief warning from me or the president.

At that point, you need to get immediately and clearly on topic.

And we will move on to the next speaker.

The items open for public comment today are items one through fifteen, fifty through fifty-one, fifty-three to sixty-one, sixty-three to eighty-two, ninety-five and ninety-six through ninety-nine.

Again, that's one through fifteen.

And if I could get the translator to transmit translate this part of the programs to speakers uh needing a Spanish translation translator, we ask that you pause after every few sentences so that the translator can translate for you.

We will pause your time and you will be given as much time as any other speaker.

Thank you.

A couple more announcements really quick.

Um, if you've requested an accommodation request with the clerk's office, or if you would like to now and make use of the wireless handheld microphone for your public comment, please let the sergeants know once you hear the name that you signed up under, called aloud by raising your hand.

If you raise your hand at that time, they'll do their best to get you the handheld wireless microphone in a timely manner.

One final announcement.

The order in which the names are called is at random.

That is to say it is randomly generated.

So once you hear the name that you signed up under called aloud, you can line up in any order on your left-hand side of the council chambers.

Thank you.

I will begin by calling the following names.

Vindy, Danielle Williams, Tom C, Jason Enright, Leslie Chan, and Terry.

Which items would you like to speak to?

General.

Speaker, which morning city council.

Merry Christmas to all.

I want to thank all those involved in the reconstruction of Van Eyes Airport.

I am very impressed with the quality leaders in the valley who have made a win-win touchdown at the municipal airport of Van Is, including Miss Padilla.

Ms.

Pedilla, it's up to you and other politicians to create bigger and better ideas for the future of Los Angeles.

Once again, keep looking up to the skies for a better tomorrow.

God bless and merry Christmas to all.

Actually, hold on, wait until your clock is started.

Why is there benefit project talking for number one that says all this smoke and scan.

Smoke and skin.

For this number two, number three, number four, number five, number six, smoke and scan.

Fuck your mothers.

Todo por corazon estos cavrones no escuchen nadie in aquí de ustedes porque son putos ellos.

Mr.

Herman, you know the rules.

You need to address the body, not the audience.

I say everything with heart because these assholes don't listen to any of what you guys say.

Okay, so hold his time.

This is not on the agenda.

Again, you're here almost every day.

So if you want to continue on the items, then speak to the items.

If not, you're more than welcome to move to general public comment.

In fact, if you get off topic again, I'm gonna move you to general public comment.

Go ahead.

Hey.

I will go.

I'm speaking on item number 70, I believe, for the record.

No.

Matter of fact, let's put it on 71 dealing with the civil rights equity immigration fucking bullshit.

Donald J.

Trump does not support immigration, and I support Donald J.

Trump.

Yeah, Donald J.

Trump and I believe that building prices.

So you have been warned already.

You have failed to adhere to that warning.

I'm gonna move you to general public comment.

You have one minute.

Go ahead.

Jingle balls, jingle balls.

LA sucks by Dick.

Dick Dick asked Terry who put her name on the key.

Ho jingle bow smoking scan.

Look at this stupid asshole.

He took my time because I'm all right, and they know it's the truth.

Smoking scan, smoking scan, smoking scan.

I know the truth.

You need to speak to something that's been the subject matter jurisdiction of the city.

Or else you're gonna forfeit your time.

This is your last warning.

42 USC 1983, motherfucker.

That's the topic here.

18 USC, the color of law, 242 and 245.

Fuck you, motherfucker, in the name of Donald J.

Trump.

You fucking retard with that stupid haircut you have.

Thank you, smoking can.

Thank you, everyone is smoking scan for pointing out that fucking pumpkin head, pinchy puto, madre de mía de cabron met mendigo bavoso abogado.

Please translate.

Yeah, thank you, pumpkin head, stupid dumbass fucking lawyer.

Next speaker.

General comment.

Good morning, you have one minute.

If you actually read the Brown Act, you can see that there are ways to deal with people like Mr.

Herman without violating the constitutional rights to speech and petition, which is what you've been doing when you disregard council rules and when you depend on our dysfunctional law enforcement to disregard those same rules.

What you should have done is gone to court and obtained a consent decree for new rules instead of just ignoring ones you don't like or making new ones without proper review.

We have to assume, however, that the courts are under the same stresses which have impaired other parts of the government.

So my plea that you appeal to the governor still stands.

And I again invite you to go to my Twitter and set me straight if you think I'm getting something wrong.

It's at M A C K E R M2.

And that invitation goes to anyone here, and anyone on smoke and scan.

Before the next speaker begins, I would like to call up Juana Sotelo, Boxer, Justin Maser, Catherine Vier Houston, and Brad Marlowe.

Good morning.

Which items?

Uh item 80 and the amendments to item 40.

Okay, so the amendments to item actually.

Okay, you have two minutes for the items and one minute for general.

Go ahead.

Thank you.

My name is Jason Enright.

I'm a resident of Council Circuit and an LA Ford community member.

I'm asking council to support item 80, the Hernandez Blumenfield Harris Dawson motion to build a bench of service fighters that can help the city expand its unarmed crisis response program citywide over the next uh five years.

And to oppose any amendments to the recent financial status report to increase LEPD funding by 4.4 million for a total of 410 recruits in fiscal year 2526.

Simply put, the city cannot afford these recruits.

We are in a budget deficit, need to spend every penny wisely.

Every one of these new recruits is a job or a service we'll have to cut elsewhere in the budget.

Furthermore, these new hires will lead to additional 33 million in ongoing salary costs added to future budgets.

While the city is requesting that all other departments identify 5% reductions in their staffing and services next year.

Instead, the city of LA should continue to fund and expand the unarmed model of crisis response citywide.

In the areas it operates, UMCR has led to a 5% reduction in police calls while costing 40% of what traditional police response costs.

UMCR is the most efficient and inexpensive service to increase public and community safety.

The 33 million dollars needed to cover these additional police salaries next year could be better invested in expanding the UMCR program citywide.

Can we hold this?

So item 80 and no on the FSR amendment.

Thank you.

And just wanted to say for general public comment.

Okay, one minute.

Thank you, everyone, for listening this year.

Um, you know, I've been coming here a lot to talk about Larso, talk about all these issues affecting our city.

Um I hope you all have a happy holiday.

Um and I hope as we move into next year, we can all, you know, dream bigger.

We can fund things like UMCR, we can expand our city's public safety in thoughtful ways.

Um so thank you all for listening this year, and I hope you have a happy holiday.

Before the next speaker begins, I would like to call up Gord, Veronica, uh Condito, Luis, Jeanette Lopez, Corey Martins, David Evans, and Jennifer.

Good morning.

Which items would you like to speak to?

Hi, I'm speaking on items of 80, the amendments to item 40, and then general comment.

Okay, so we have two minutes for the items and one minute for general.

Go ahead.

Okay, great.

Uh hi, my name is Danielle Williams, and I live in the Beverly Grove neighborhood of Council Member Yarv Slowski's district.

I'm also a community member with LA Ford.

I'm here today in support of item 80, which would build a bench of service providers who can help the city expand its unarmed model of crisis response programs citywide.

We know that UMCR saves capacity, saves money, and saves lives.

LAPD Chief McDonald himself said that unarmed service response programs reduced LAPD calls by 5%, increasing officers' capacity to respond to more critical calls.

This is a tremendous saving since a response from a UMCR team costs 59% less than the equivalent LAPD response.

$35 versus 85 per the CAO's office.

Supporting UMCR and making sure that the bench of service providers grow so that the UMCR can save lives citywide is both the moral and fiscally responsible path forward.

Speaking of fiscal responsibility, or rather lack thereof, I will now comment on item 40, which would give the LAPD an additional 4.4 million or over 1 million via Council Member Yaroslovski's amendment, because LAPD leadership has chosen to actively ignore their budget in the months since it was approved and are on track to hire 410 recruits, which is 170 more than what their budget allowed for, without seeking any approval from the city council for the additional funds.

The LAPD's fiscal irresponsibility is particularly galling because many of LA city's budgeting issues stem from liability costs resulting from their reckless actions and inability or unwillingness to de-escalate situations appropriately.

As the city is projecting another rough budget year with the mayor already requesting 5% cuts across all departments, it is Angelinos who will bear the brunt of LAPD's fiscal irresponsibility, either due to a degradation in services, due to layoffs or city workers, or an additional increase in fees, likely a combination of both.

This isn't just a budgeting issue, it's a governance issue.

And now the financial consequences threaten essential city services that millions of Angelinos rely on.

General public comment.

General comment is just by the way, if the council rewards the LAPD's bad budget behavior, I hope that other city departments take it upon themselves to exceed their budgets without regard for council approval.

Because it would be amazing if the Bureau of Engineers sidewalk division could just disregard their annual budget and hire an additional 170 workers.

It might reduce the 10-year wait time to get a broken sidewalk fixed in this city.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next speaker.

Good morning.

Which items would you like to speak to?

So item 39 is not open for public comment, but you can speak to it during general.

So you have one minute.

Go ahead.

Yes.

Good morning, council members.

I am my name is Juana, and I am uh speaking on item 39.

I am proud of a member of United Workers, local 8599.

Here to ask for your vote and support for the 2024-25 private ambulance service rate adjustment and for a strong no vote on any attempt to deregulate private ambulance service.

The ILA created the private ambulance ordinance 30 years ago to ensure everyone had access to safe, reliable service regardless of economic status, raise for religion.

This is a 30-year public service.

Now we risk the deregulation by greedy insurance companies.

We cannot let insurance companies get this vital public service.

Speaker, your time has expired.

So thank you, Speaker.

We have to move on to the next speaker.

And if you run out of time during your public comment, please keep in mind you can always leave additional written public comments at la councilcomment.com.

Again, that's LA Council Comment.com.

You can find that at by either doing a quick Google search or by looking at the top of every council agenda.

Thank you.

Good morning.

Which items would you like to speak to?

Uh good morning.

Um I'd like to speak on item 45.

You said item 45?

Uh-huh.

So, same thing.

Item number 45 is not open for public comment, but you can speak to it during general.

So you have one minute.

Go ahead.

Okay.

My name is Jeanette Lopez, and I'm a member of the homeless action committee for the League of Women Voters of the Greater Los Angeles.

We recommend that the council and the mayor approve this motion, which outlines the staffing plan, responsibilities, and priorities of the new Bureau of Homeless Oversight within the Los Angeles Housing Department.

Aligned with the league's position statement on homelessness policy.

This effort constitutes a first series of steps to centralize leadership, data, and resources to launch effective performance management within the city's homelessness response system and to standardize accountability and transparency so that all of us can be assured that the most val valuable Angelinos are getting the services and housing that they need in a timely manner.

Given the process precarity of the uh city's budget, uh, however, we urge you to identify ongoing funding streams to stand up and expand the bureaus over time.

Uh, particularly in supporting a strong director of housing and management of this new agency.

Thank you, Speaker.

Next speaker.

Uh speaker, if you can just give me 30 seconds.

I want to uh yield the floor to Mr.

Blumenfield for a quick announcement.

Okay.

A little bit more than 30 seconds, but not much more.

I I have two interns that are here uh briefly.

They're from my district office, and they're they've been amazing, and I want to just to acknowledge that they're here.

Come on up, guys.

Uh Jacob Abagian and Serena Nomay.

Uh Jacob has has lived in several areas throughout Los Angeles.

Growing up, he's always been drawn to history and politics.

His Armenian heritage has played a major role uh in with his people story being deeply connected to political struggle and resilience.

Uh, and he has started Glendale Community College, now a current student at UCLA.

Uh he has talked about his internship as being very positive, and he really recognizes the importance of public service.

He plans on earning his JD and continuing his path from there.

We're very grateful to you, Jacob and Serena as well.

Uh Serena Nome describes herself as a true valley girl, which is a very positive thing for those of you who are not from the valley.

Uh having grown up in the San Fernando Valley, where early experiences in community service and stewardship have shaped her dedication to public service.

She attended Westmont College in Santa Barbara, recently graduated with degrees in psychology and political science, a combination that reflects both her interest in human behavior and her commitment to governance.

She serves as a strong advocate for wildlife, and she recently traveled to DC, where she met with congressional offices supporting the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

And she also plans to pursue a career in law with an ambition of advocating for a community and really the world around her.

Thank you for indulging this quick moment here.

I wanted to give you each a certificate of appreciation.

So thank you so much, and we can go back to public comment.

Thank you, Mr.

Mr.

Council President.

Mr.

Blumenfield, speaker.

Great morning.

Which items would you like to speak to?

Item 41 and public comment.

Item 40, sorry, 41.

41.

Okay.

So you will have one minute for general public comment.

Go ahead.

Yeah, I mean, it really is about the same topic.

My hope is that the council does not uh lower the allowable rent increase so uh that that cur as it currently stands.

Um we're all here for the same objective to keep fellow Angelinos housed.

However, it feels that like low-income housing providers like myself are often being attacked at every opportunity.

I have served I have several Section 8 units, a program that needs uh a lot more support.

My average unit is at 60 percent of market rate.

All I want to do is to provide a fair service to my tenants.

However, it's becoming increasingly impossible to do so when insurance rates, trash, water, and repair costs more than doubled over the last few years, while uh their while our tenants um rents were frozen in effect for at least the last for at least five years.

Many of my tenants, most of my tenants, uh their income did not get impacted negatively by the pandemic, um, and their wages continue to increase, which is a good thing overall.

I appreciate I'm sorry, we have to move on to the next speaker.

So you can finish one your last sentence, but then we got to move on because we have to give everybody the same amount of times.

Go ahead.

No, I just appreciate the carve out for the folks that have under 10 units.

I think that a better formula would be based on the uh rent, how close the rents are to market rate.

Thank you, speaker.

Next speaker.

Good morning.

Which items would you like to speak to?

In item 39.

Okay, so you have one minute for general public comment.

Thank you.

My name is Catherine, legislative coordinator for United Steelworkers District 12 and member of local 12911.

I'm speaking in support of the 2024-2025 private ambulance service rate adjustment.

I thank the committee chairs and members for their work on this item, and to all of you for your continued leadership and commitment to protect good union jobs and family sustainable wages.

As you are aware, insurance companies have been trying to get LA's private ambulance ordinance and continue to battle against the service rate adjustment.

They've attempted to wear us down in the hope that we will give up, but we will not and cannot give up because this is far too important to EMS workers, working families, and community members.

The ordinance created 30 years ago ensured that everyone has equal access to safe reliable service regardless of their socioeconomic status.

Our members are honored to do this work, and I respectfully ask for you to vote yes to stand with workers and working families, stand with EMS workers, stand with the community, not with insurance companies who who put the welfare of the people behind profits.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next speaker.

Which items would you like to speak to?

Uh general public comments since you took 41 off the you know document.

Okay, so you have one minute.

Go ahead.

Yeah, hey, I like to thank Los Angeles Business Journal for uh posting uh my uh recent op ed.

Interestingly enough, it's been easier to get an audience with them than it has been some of our esteemed city council members.

Uh so for decades, Los Angeles has championed 10 uh protections, and in many ways rightly so, but in its push to safeguard renters, the city has created a new class of casualties, the small independent housing providers who make up the backbone of our rental market.

These mom and pop owners, many of them immigrants and minorities and longtime community members have been regulated into financial and operational districts.

The city council's most recent vote to cap rent increases for rentabilized units at 4% in some cases 1% was hailed as a win for tenants.

But for most housing but for small housing providers, it is another blow.

Over the past five years, these owners have allowed to have been allowed to raise rents only twice for a combined several percent, while their operating costs have skyrocketed it, utilities have doubled.

Speaker, your time has expired.

Next speaker.

If you need to talk to the sergeants, please do so at the sides or in the back.

Thank you.

This is your first and only formal warning.

Do not disrupt this meeting.

Good morning.

Which items would you like to speak to?

Uh all items.

Uh number 72.

Number 72 is a motion, Harris Dawson McCosker in resolution relative to the issuance of revenue bonds for the 75 unit multifamily rental housing development located at 2657 But Long Avenue.

It's uh an adoption of to the accompanying terror resolution to allow the California municipal finance authority to issue revenue bonds or notes in an amount not to exceed 18 million dollars to finance and or refinance the acquisition, construction and improvement, renovation, furnishing and equipment of 75 unit multifamily affordable housing development.

In my opinion, this item should receive a no vote unless wording is added that will include funding for an investigation of what these incompetent clowns of the sleeze council did when the city was burning to the ground, and another investigation of where the billions in homeless funds were siphoned.

And in my opinion, a no vote if criminally insane indicted and on trial, criminals, current price, poverty pent Heather Hutt, Bob Genocide Bloomfield, and Sleazy Marquisi Dawson are allowed to vote.

Item number 7 motion by Sotom Martinez and Price relative to the rescinding the council action from October 7.

Item 35 transferring up to 20,000 dollars from fund number 904/14, account number 14 council district 13 affordable housing to the Bureau of Engineering Special Fund number 682 slash 50.

In my opinion, this item should receive a no vote unless wording is added that will include funding for an investigation of the Sleazy Council when the city was burning to the ground, and another investigation of where the billions in homeless funds were siphoned.

And in my opinion, a no vote of if criminally insane indicted and on trial criminals, current price, poverty pimp Heather Hutt, Bob Genocide Bloomfield, and Sleazy Marquisie Dawson are allowed to vote.

Public women hire clowns, you get a circus.

Last week, Hernandez and Soto Martinez were cheesing on Channel 35, standing on the street corner giving away bags of food, talking about giving to the community.

The Chinese counterparts of the Sleezy Council and County Boards are promoted based on how much of an increase in commerce and thereby increase in jobs, an increase in overall community well-being they bring to their community.

Improvement, increase in commerce people.

The problem is that none of these incompetent council people know how to increase commerce.

They only know standing on street corners, liquor licenses, placing liens on the public, and straight up current price marquise Dawson, poverty pent hut, incompetence and corruption while collecting their over $20,000 per month salaries.

Public, we need a new system.

The Attorney General, the FBI, and the IRS currently in a massive investigation of our sleazy city government.

Misappropriations of billions.

Thank you.

Next speaker.

Before the next speaker begins, I would like to call up Jesus Rojas, Josh Parker, and Pat Barrett.

And before the next speaker begins, I I realize that we've had quite a few speakers come up already, but just to reiterate to everybody, the items that are open for public comment on the agenda are items 1 through 15, item 40, item 41 through 51, item 53 through 61, items 63 through 82, and item 95.

Good morning.

I assume all items in general public comment.

Three minutes for the items and one minute for general.

Yes, thank you.

Um so uh it's kind of hard.

I've been trying to work on myself, but it's kind of hard not to come up here and be just really angry.

I don't want to call it righteous anger because I don't believe I'm self-righteous in any way.

Uh I'm flawed, I'm a sinner, I'm a human.

But when it comes to these items here, um it's hard not to be upset when you have uh I believe it's item 70 something.

Uh it's moving money from the affordable housing account into like the Bureau of Engineering to test soil.

I mean, is it do we have more than enough money for affordable housing or something that we can just use it for other shit?

I don't think so.

Uh there's a lot of REAP items all over this.

Uh, it's cool to see that there are removals from because I don't think it should be trying to shake down all the homeowners around the city and property owners uh because you can't manage your own budget.

So it's good to see removals from REAP, especially because REAP, the way it works is that uh if the landlord or the uh owner doesn't meet their obligations, well then the money they're supposed to get just goes into a little count, and then when and if they meet those requirements, they just get the money anyway.

So it's not really a penalty.

Um you have uh you have item 72, which is an 18 million dollar bonds for a quote unquote affordable housing projects uh over 70 units.

But affordable housing is kind of a bullshit word.

Um it doesn't mean anything.

All the housing is affordable if you have enough fucking money.

Um, and I've tried to get into affordable housing.

Some of them require you that your income be like 120% AMI.

That's like average, I think like average median income or some shit.

That's crazy.

If I can afford more than the average person, like I don't need affordable housing, like that's crazy.

Um it's not lost on me that a lot of these developments are getting exemptions through we had a program recently, the ULA thing, and it sp specified specifically that those developments will have um a tax exempt status.

So I'm guessing this would be a development like that, which is kind of bullshit.

Um 75 is to get the city to be made a uh officially accredited menopause friendly city.

Now, I don't know what the fuck that means.

If you're not gonna let a chick take the day off because she's having hot flashes, you're not a menopause friendly city.

So, really, the only thing you need to do is if a woman or whoever's having menopause is having is having a really serious problem that day, they should be allowed to just call out and you give them that paid day.

That's it, no questions asked.

You don't need to do no report and all this to figure out how do we make menopause friendly city?

Yo, don't tell the chick that's having hot flashes to come in at seven in the morning, they'll work till 7 p.m.

or whatever the fuck you're gonna do.

Okay, that's all you have to do.

It's not that complicated.

You don't need to do a big report or whatever, whatever this officially accredited menopause friendly city stuff is, it just sounds like more bullshit.

Um, I think general public comment.

Yep, general public comment.

Um, it's really disrespectful how y'all have all your side convers.

Excuse me.

Uh how you have all your side conversations and talking and looking at your phones while people are having their public comment.

You interrupted somebody else about to speak, so you can have another presentation.

What where even is that council member that had that presentation?

Uh you have John Lee over here talking, you have all these little sidebars, Hugo and Yaroslavsky talking about God knows what.

It's ridiculous.

It's hard not to be just like just fucking enraged.

But that's their goal.

They feed off of hate because they they're like demons.

And we need to not hate them.

We need to just forgive them, love them, and like a parent, sometimes you have to just grab your kid by the wrist and take away their toys and tell them that they've been misbehaving.

And you know, it's not be controversial, but you know, I only got spanked once as a kid, and I learned my lesson.

You know, maybe this council needs to be spanked.

You know, the state has a monopoly on violence, and that's why they get to carry on with all this bullshit.

And uh Isabel, you were all sitting in a police car while you had people uh being uh cleared out, and care plus program is a sham.

Speaker, your time has expired.

Thank you.

Speaker John, over time.

Good afternoon.

Which items would you like to speak to?

Yes, sir.

Uh all items and public comments.

Okay, so you have three minutes for the items and one minute for general.

Go ahead.

Here's the agenda, and I want to thank whoever.

Look at this, it's in big bold print.

Uh and I want to apologize to Miss Esther back there, wherever she's at.

Uh, I have to put in 25 names just to play your game so that I can hopefully get my name called once.

So we owe her an apology because she's sitting over there.

This is a good idea.

During general.

No, I need you to stick to Mr.

Candido.

You hear often.

I need you to speak to the agenda items.

You can speak to this during general.

Just speak to the agenda items first.

I'm telling you, it's not.

So this is your last opportunity.

I'm gonna move you to general public comments.

All right.

Uh so uh let me just do this.

I really want to thank the officers for allowing me and giving me this agenda because the officers here for over a year, over a year.

You have protected the people in here so that we can speak.

Mr.

Candido, I have asked you politely.

And we've had this conversation before.

This is silly.

Again, this is I'm giving you one final warning.

Stick to the items.

Well, you can speak to this in another two minutes and 23 seconds.

This is a good one.

Otherwise, I'm gonna move you to general now.

So move me to general.

Okay, so you have one minute.

Go ahead.

I wish everybody a uh happy holidays, Merry Christmas.

I hope you can come back next year uh and uh some of you have done a great job, others need some work.

Uh Mr.

McCosker, you've impressed me.

Um thank you for being on this council.

Ms.

Harado, uh you've really knocked my socks off.

I mean, you've come a long way, Mr.

Natus.

There's a few Miss Rodriguez, my guy, Miss Rodriguez.

I think uh I should nominate her for mayor.

I mean, she's really she's really uh she's really producing.

Uh but again, uh to the officers who keep us safe, and I would ask Chief McDonald, please listen to the protesters.

Please, you're the most qualified individual to ever hold this office.

And as I told you last time when we were back there in 2009, God had a special plan for you to be before this council, and that was to make this city safe and to be great.

So please, Mr.

McDonald, Chief McDonald, would you please please listen to those protesters?

Thank you and have a happy Merry Christmas.

Happy holiday.

Hello, Council people.

This my name is Pat Barrett, and I'd like to speak on public comment 35 and 40.

Um I would like to have one minute for item 40 and one minute for general.

So go ahead.

Okay.

I would like to thank you for considering the approval of 4.4 million dollars for funding for hiring new police.

The investment is essential for enhanced enhancing public safety in our city.

Currently, the facts are concerning.

Here are some comparisons with three of the largest cities in the United States, which I have learned during the time in the citizens.

Los Angeles Police Academy.

New York City covers 472 square miles with 33 officers.

Chicago covers 234 square miles with 12,000 officers.

Los Angeles covers 469 miles with 8700 officers.

In downtown Los Angeles, including Chinatown and this whole area, we only have seven cars that go out at night.

Given the increasing threats, drones, cyber issues, trafficking, and the World Cup, the Olympics is approaching.

General public comment.

In downtown Los Angeles, including areas like Chinatown, Little Tokyo, and the Arts Central City, South Park, Fashion District, and Skid Row District.

We have just seven patrol cars on duty during a shift with an additional two to four cars.

And for our period, given the increasing threats, we face drones, cyber attacks, issues, theft trafficking, and bomb threats.

We do not have enough officers to protect the citizens, especially with major events like the World Cup and the Olympics.

We are subject to burden right now.

We are a target today and will continue to be if we do not approve the funding.

The 4.4 million dollars for hiring new police officers is not just an investment on law enforcement.

It is investment for the safety of the community.

Thank you.

And I live in District 14.

Thank you.

Next speaker.

Hi.

Hi.

So you have one minute.

Go ahead.

Thank you.

Jesus Rogue for AGLA.

We urge the Housing Homeless Committee to take up the issue of an additional 1% increase for mom and pop owners with 10 or fewer units as soon as possible so that it can be added to the ordinance prior to the new formula being implemented implemented.

Without this necessary lifeline, small owners will be forced out of business by skyrocketing costs, and their long-term renters will be displaced.

Small owners provide some of the most affordable RSO housing with rents 16% below average RSOs per bedroom.

They also provide units with more bedrooms that are desperately needed by working families.

Thank you.

Council President, that's all the speakers for the allotted time.

All right.

All right.

That is all our speakers for the uh regular meeting.

Uh Madam Clerk.

I want to Mr.

President, would you like to recess the regular meeting and uh and convene the special meeting, sir?

Yes.

Okay, I shall call the roll, sir.

Bloomfield, Harris Dawson, Hernandez, Hutt, Hierado, Lee, McCosker, Nazarian, Padilla, Park, Price, Raman, Rodriguez, O Martinez Yaroslavski, 15 members present in the corner, Mr.

President.

All right.

We can go to public comment for the special meeting.

Yes, sir.

May I run through the agenda and see if there are any items called special first?

Okay.

So items 96 is uh item held uh where public comment has been held.

Items 97 through 99 are items which public comment has not been held.

And it does not appear that there are any specialist members going once, twice, three times.

All right, there are no specials.

We can go to public comment.

Uh I'm sorry, sir.

Uh Ms.

Hernandez.

Councilmember Hernandez.

Like to move the CAO report on item 99, please.

Is there a second touncil may now go into public comment, sir?

All right, public comment.

So, members of the public who are here to provide public comment for the special meeting agenda.

We are now going to open up public comment.

Please keep in mind that this is only for the items that are on the special agenda.

Again, that is items 96 through 99.

So, because this is a special agenda, there is no general public comment.

So you will be limited to discussing items 96 through 99.

You will have up to one minute per item, up to three minutes total.

So just as we did during the regular meeting, if you could please let us know which items you'd like to speak to uh once you get to the podium, we would appreciate it.

Thank you.

There are only two um speakers for this special items.

Listed.

I'd like to call up smoke and scan.

Sorry, hold on.

Members of the I I I can see some of our regulars are upset.

Because you're our regulars, you know how this works.

You need to sign up at the kiosks in the back, and then your name, you will be eligible.

Hold on, you'll be eligible to speak during the uh special meeting.

So please do not yell out.

If you have concerns, let the sergeants know so that they can let us know.

Thank you.

I'm sorry, can you can continue reading names?

Yes.

Uh I would like to call up smoke and scan and Celine LA.

Yes, Mr.

Termin, you have three minutes.

I assume all items.

So you have three minutes for the items.

Go ahead.

Oh, I signed up as smoking scam at the tribe.

I had to rewatch Herman.

Funny.

Okay.

So I'm on smoking scan, okay?

So in smoking scan, we can't speak in number 95 because Lee's an asshole.

So a number item 77, Bloomfield and Noodle Doodle Noodle Noodle Noodle Noodle.

Thank you, smoking scan.

Uh, we have a view drive bulkhead capital project.

Now, what that means is that we're to establish a fucking Pacific View fucking bulkhead capital fucking project for the fucking annual work, fucking struct them to fucking begin to pre-design fucking work for that fucking president up there scratching his neck for existing resources.

Number 99 is about my probation, smoking scam.

So, yeah, uh at the tribe.

I thank you for your comment at the tribe.

Me and Smoke and Scan appreciate you signing in the at the tribe.

99.

Justice Crime Prevention Probation Department, reentry, juvenile re-entry.

Well, fuck juveniles.

Do your job, kids.

Stay out of fucking trouble.

Smoke and scan.

Remind these motherfuckers.

Get the fuck out of LA and you won't get in trouble.

Number um 99 still has uh submit any other necessary agreements for the documents related to the implementation of the fucking asshole city attorney as to the form and legality.

Wall fucking pumpkin hit.

Let's negotiate.

El Central de Pueblo.

Fucking homeboy industries, fucking pumpkin head on page 10, you dickhead.

Can you read?

Um solo dad enrichment, fucking pumpkin hit.

I'm still on the item.

I'm talking about Watts, Nickerson Garden.

Yeah, all this information is to improve the negotiate of the adoption of the 2,400,000 to the at the tribe.

Yeah, I like that that email at the tribe because I'm gonna request on behalf of smoking scam a grant fund under XXX-46, dumb dumb Biden for the request.

I believe you've exhausted your time on item 99.

Please move on to another item.

Oh, okay.

Um, hold on.

Can you hold my time?

I need to get my agenda.

Your time is still running.

Huh.

Thank you.

Is the clock?

Why is the clock running?

Your time is still running.

What the fuck?

Smoke and scan.

Thank you.

Next speaker.

I would like to call up Esther, Ronnie J, Johnny G, Elma, and Michael Friedman.

Good morning.

Which I thank you.

Which items?

Are you uh just for real quick?

You had said 96, but it says public hearing has been held for that.

Is that available?

So uh the all of the items that are open that are on the special agenda are open for public comment.

Just making sure.

Uh all items and uh officer Duarte should have badge removed.

So you have three minutes for the items.

Go ahead.

Thank you very much.

So we have here item 96 is a plum uh committee report, and it's amending the ch uh the municipal code for uh building standards.

Now this is funny because when the city wants to do something, a lot of times uh the mayor would just enact an executive uh I'm sorry, not executive order, an emergency directive, and it just like supersedes everything.

So I don't even know what the point is of these I kind of items are when the mayor can kind of just act like the president and sign orders that just completely invalidate all like municipal code and don't have to be followed, including building uh requirements and things like that.

Sorry, uh the bureau of whatever.

Sorry, officer Duarte fucked me up.

I'm not gonna lie, he got under my skin a little bit.

Um so I don't understand what the point of municipal code is when we can just invalidate it with emergency directives.

Um we got item 97.

It's for a uh it's for a capital project.

Um it says to begin pre-design work with existing resources.

Uh it doesn't mention anything about a financial impact.

Um there's no community impact statement submitted because I have a feeling that the council and the respective council offices didn't actually reach out to any neighborhood councils about this.

Um they usually don't.

And usually neighborhood councils find out like a couple of days before, if not after different items are voted on.

So uh that's why you don't see a community impact statement for that item, most likely.

Um item 98.

Uh personal services agreements with C R and R.

I don't know what that stands for.

Uh ecology all our parts for hauling services for municipal solid race waste transportation.

Um in that fund, and they're gonna uh take 1.2 million out of it for this purpose.

Uh the city buildings are pretty messy when they're not being used, so you guys need a lot of help cleaning up your properties, so I hope you put that money into good use.

Item 99 is um this is something that actually uh means that to me a lot.

This is for um these juvenile programs.

And um when we talk about alternatives to crime uh I don't know what the word is, like solutions and stuff.

This is what we're talking about.

It's like putting kids through programs so they can either learn skills and or help clean up the city, shit like that.

And that's that's good.

There's nothing wrong with that.

Um as long as you guys, you know, take those kids out of there and then maybe even reserve them little spots in your cushy little council offices instead of ha instead of like you know, pulling people from each other's offices and had and and pulling people that were from your campaigns to work for you as aides and things like that, administrative assistants.

Instead, y'all should be bringing these kids from these juvenile programs into your little mock uh youth city council bullshit and actually mix that up.

You know, y'all used to bust kids around so they can interact with each other, and now y'all segregate us even more.

Thank you.

Officer Duarte, he's a bitch.

I would like to call up Cando and Duarte.

Good morning.

Which items?

Uh 40.

I'm here to okay.

So speak run.

I I'm sorry.

So we're in the special meeting, and so the only items that are open for public comment right now are items 96 through 99.

Public comment during the regular meeting has already been closed after we took about an hour.

So you didn't call my name then, but you called it now.

So can I can I go ahead and speak for it now?

We can't we have to enforce the rules.

We we have to enforce the rules equally.

The only items that are open for public comment right now are items 96 through 99.

Okay, why wasn't my name called for public comment?

I the I can't have a discourse with you right now, but as explained to the room earlier, the order in which the names are called is at random.

That is, they are randomly generated.

So it is not necessarily in the order in which everybody in the order in which you sign up.

With that, if you're not here to speak on items 96 or 99, I'm gonna need you need to move on to the next speaker.

Understanding Mr.

Candido, do not disrupt.

Hold on, speaker, Mr.

Candido, do not disrupt this meeting.

This is your first and only warning in the special meeting.

I'm sorry.

We can't make an exception for you or anyone else on this.

Mr.

Candito, you are not at the podium and your time is not running.

So hold on.

You have been warned already.

So you will have an opportunity to speak, but do not speak before tell you before you get to the podium.

Which items would you like to speak to?

99 and just 99.

So you have one minute.

Go ahead.

The rejuvenal uh the re-entry juvenile program.

One of the areas that this city has done a great job is uh the juvenile programs.

Uh for someone who knows it.

Um more than I would like to know it.

I've seen what the changes have been and what these uh nonprofits and these groups in our communities have done for the the juvenile uh that had hard times uh and also uh the penal system and how their programming has helped change a lot of young men uh and women's lives.

So uh we need to continue to uh to uh fund these programs to support these programs and you know since it's the holidays, uh Mr.

City Attorney, I want to get thrown out by the finest uh LAPD officers.

You were wrong, sir, and denying Esther her first amendment rights.

Okay, this is not on the agenda.

Stick to your item, or I'm gonna move you.

Has been denied her right because you make me put in a bunch of names.

Okay, your time has expired.

Mr.

Candido, you're excused from this meeting.

Mr.

You've been warned three times.

We'll ask you to exit Mr.

Chambers immediately.

Mr.

Candito, you've been excused from this meeting pursuant to rules seven and twelve.

Mr.

Candido, you have been warned multiple times and excused from this meeting.

Please exit the room.

For everyone who is here, I would note that when people sign up under multiple names, it does create issues and takes away from other folks.

So I would ask while Mr.

Candido is listening to please not sign up under multiple names.

In fairness to everybody who would like to come here and provide public comment.

Good morning.

Which items?

My name was called, but I'm not here on any of the special items.

If I could just speak to some of the staff from district eight, I would appreciate on behalf of my clients who lose this property.

Okay.

So I think as you you understand now, we can't have you speak now, but if you wait at the side, I'll we'll see if someone's available.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Are there council president?

Um, all the names have been called for the special item.

All right.

Uh that concludes public comment for the special meeting.

Uh Madam Clerk, what items are before us?

Uh Mr.

President, council may now vote on items 96 through 99, sir.

All right.

Let's open the roll on those items, close the roll, tabulate the vote.

59.

15 ayes.

All right, what's next?

Um, would council like all items on the special to go for twist, sir?

Without objection, that'll be the order.

Uh thank you.

Uh, would council like to adjourn the special meeting and reconvene the uh regular meeting, sir?

Yes.

Okay.

Uh then I will call the roll to reconvene the uh regular meeting.

Bloomingville, Haristasin, Hernandez, Hutt, Hieraro, Lee, McCosker, Nazarian, Padilla, Park, Price, Rahman, Rodriguez, Son Martinez, Yaroslavsky, 15 members present in the court, Mr.

President.

All right, what item is before us?

Uh that would be item number 40, sir.

There are several amendments that are before council.

Uh the city attorney would like to clarify the um the voting process for number uh 40 since there are several amendments.

All right, Mr.

City Attorney.

Yes, so with item number 40, there are multiple amendments.

What I would ask is that everybody play close attention before, and we'll go slow so that we can call the votes methodically.

But some of the amendments are in conflict with each other.

So again, just as what happened with the other day, if all of the items are approved and there is a conflict, ultimately it is the last motion that's approved that will control.

So just be cognizant of that when you're voting that if there's a conflict, you you likely want to take that consideration when you're voting on the subsequent motions.

Thank you.

Uh the first vote is on amending motion 40 C like cat 40 C, and that is amendment.

And that is amendment.

Yaroslavski.

Rodriguez McCosker.

All right, before we go into these, I think it's six uh amendments for six amendments.

I want to call the CAO forward to just kind of explain to us what's before us and what the process has been leading up to this.

Good afternoon.

Hello.

Yep.

Good afternoon, Mr.

President.

Uh Matt Zabo, City Administrative Officer.

The the question is regarding the question around police hiring, correct?

All right.

So the issue which was raised in the financial status report that is before you is the trajectory of hiring for LAPD.

The adopted budget authorized 240 hires of six classes of 40 officers.

LAPD has hired uh at a greater rate than what was adopted.

And uh although our the financial status report uh provides information up through October through the end of October, uh we now can project that uh based on the December class, uh which was 56 recruits, uh, that the uh the department will have exhausted the authority uh provided uh in the adopted budget.

So in the in the financial status report, we provided the uh the budget committee with four options.

Um option A would be to limit the re limit the hiring of additional officers to what was approved in the budget at 240.

Uh that would uh mean essentially that there would be no additional hiring uh for the remainder of the year.

Um there was uh option B was uh 360 officers, uh option C 410, and option D 480.

The uh the cost impact for that that additional hiring uh for this current fiscal year uh is provided in the in the report.

Uh it is also the cost impact, the ongoing cost impact for fiscal 2627 uh is also uh included in the report, as well as the potential reserve fund impact if that additional hiring is authorized without other funds uh identified uh to cover the cost for uh for this fiscal year.

Um as it relates to the reserve fund impact uh we uh we do not recommend that uh additional hiring be authorized uh from uh the reverse uh funded by the reserve fund.

So to the extent that uh the desire of the council is to authorize additional hiring, uh additional funds would need to be identified uh from other accounts that have already been appropriated that would not have uh a reserve fund impact.

Um that is essentially where we are, the budget committee uh adopted option A, which is uh no new hiring uh right now, um, but instructed my office to come back in January as early as possible in January to report on funding options uh to continue hiring in a manner that would not uh trigger layoffs, that would not have a reserve fund impact, and that would not affect um public works operations.

And so where you leave off with this council is you were asked to go find resources, you found resources, and that's part of what's before us today.

Uh there are uh in one of the amendments, and I'm sorry, uh Mr.

President, I don't have the number of the amendments, but one of the one of the amendments uh which lists uh six sources that could fund uh the 4.4 million, which would be required to hire an additional 170 officers that would bring the total amount to 410.

Uh that would have a uh an impact for this fiscal year of 4.4 million.

Uh we identified six sources where we are projecting there will be uh year-end savings that we could reduce uh and transfer to the police department for that hiring.

That is reflected in the motion, uh, the amendment, I believe, from council member Lee.

All right.

Uh I got a few members on the queue starting with Councilmember Hernandez.

Councilmember McCosker.

Oh, you're on here.

You don't have to speak if you don't want to.

No, no, I was just gonna ask about that.

Thanks very much, uh, Mr.

CIO.

So we do have the three amending motions, um, and the one you referred to is 40 B, uh, which has the six categories.

Um the categories are a million dollars from human resources benefits fund, uh 400 grand from the innovation fund, 700 from the leasing fund, 500,000 from general purposes and C D 12, 1.5 million dollars general service uh general purposes for embrace LA, 300 grand for general city purposes, heritage month celebration and events.

Um I was going to ask really about the about financial policies.

I mean, we do have a financial policy.

It has been said in conversation that using one-time funds would violate financial policies.

I don't know if that's entirely the case.

Financial policy number four says a city will avoid using one-time revenues to fund ongoing operations or services, the use of unencumbered funds, et cetera, et cetera, and it defines what one-time funds are.

It doesn't say that they're prohibited from being used.

We are instructed to we instruct ourselves to avoid using them, and I think we do use one-time funds quite often, sort of at the end of the year when we find ourselves in a pinch.

Uh what's unusual about this is using one-time funds to grow a program in response to the budget note.

And if I misspeak, just let me know.

But the budget note or the budget motion that we have says that uh, and I'm looking at motion number 35, uh Lee Rodriguez, that says that um in its pertinent part that we have put into the budget six classes totaling 240 police officers, but the department is authorized to recruit and hire up to 480 and re this is an important part, and restore civilian positions.

Let's not forget civilians.

Uh identified for layoffs, contingent upon funding availability as reported by the CAO in the second or third financial status reports, um, and subject to the city council and mayor's determination that the additional hiring is responsive to the department's needs.

I think that's pretty clear.

That's clear to me anyway, and to the city's financial fiscal condition.

I think that's the one that's unclear.

So I don't know that using one-time funds is prohibited, it's discouraged, we are to avoid it.

But the real issue becomes next year.

What do we do?

What do we do to continue these positions?

If we do the full 480, I think that number is 33 million dollars in next year's budget.

Is that correct?

That's correct.

Not really a question.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Uh I have Councilmember Jurado.

Thank you, Council President.

Um CAO, thank you for being here.

Uh I just had a question because when we're faced with trying to fund represent LA, uh, and we asked her department to find funding because I believe in a holistic public safety approach that includes undocumented immigrant folks in our city.

And so investing in those communities, helping them to through this tough time.

I mean, various council offices from their own funds have been providing money for food distribution, rental assistance, on armed crisis response.

But when we asked to find money for represent LA, which is the legal defense fund for our immigrants and the family source centers, you found zero pockets of money for it.

But here, there's money available everywhere.

And so what was the difference?

Why couldn't you find the money that for our immigrants and their public safety then the difference uh council member really is the is the calendar?

Um we are now uh six months into the fiscal year, and we are in a better position to make an assessment on various accounts that may have year-end surpluses that we weren't we weren't in that position to to make that assessment at that time.

Um of the items is a reduction in the human resource benefits fund for police health and welfare.

At that time, we did not um uh have the information that would lead us to uh believe that attrition for LAPD would be higher than planned.

The the additional uh dollars, the million dollars that we cite um for the human resources benefits fund uh will be savings as a result of that higher attrition.

We know there's gonna be higher attrition now, and so we can um confirm that there will be savings in that account.

The same goes for the for the leasing account.

Uh in fact, it was just um yesterday at the uh municipal facilities committee that it was determined there would be uh savings in that account.

So it really is um has nothing to do with the subject matter, it has to do with we're now um uh towards the end of December, uh, and we have better foresight as to what would likely be your end balances that could be reduced without service impact.

So if I had created the motion last week, then this you would have found the money now because it's a different point in time in the calendar.

Uh the the availability of your end balances is much clearer now than it was if so uh yes, that that wasn't available, that information wasn't available to us then.

It just it just wasn't.

Okay.

The second thing I want to bring up is you know, it seems like this pot of money that folks are looking at is also special events.

And in the District 14, we have many major events that go through our district.

We are aware of First Amendment protests happen a lot, especially now during you know the civil unrest with this Trump administration, and continually we found that uh First Amendment protests have been denied because of lack of LA DOT staffing, and as a result, LAPD has been staffing those events.

I think partially from the goodness, I mean, you know, in Eagle Rock for a Veterans Day event, I saw LAPD sworn officers putting up and putting down, you know, those A stands for the event and really being safety patrol for it, even though that wasn't what they were supposed to do that day.

And so to me, that doesn't seem like the best use of our resources, right?

Especially, you know, when these LA uh special events permits get denied for First Amendment, which actually don't need their approval or otherwise, my district has been asked to frontload those costs.

For example, um today, the Lady of Guadalupe, uh, which was held by Cheerla had a working group for over two months to get this approved.

It was denied and absent my office's intervention and paying 25,000 for their peaceful protest, um, they weren't gonna be allowed to do it even though they were committed.

Secondly, I think a month and a half ago, my office paid 20,000 for the sixth street bridge action, speaking against the cruelty of the Trump administration.

Prior to that, they had a march from El Pueblo down to the Metro Detention Center, which we tried to get permitted, but they were outside the timeline.

And during that event, LAPD then arrested the Ornaleros, the musicians there, and then used many reset officers to really prepare for um arrests because what they said was they were unlawfully on the street and blocking the street.

And so to me, it would be financially prudent for the city to pay for LADOT uh office uh LADOT to help support these special events moving forward so that we wouldn't have to use LAPD officers to do that when it ends up in arrests that are just um bad.

Oh, the other thing is also the liabilities that come from LAPED staffing First Amendment.

Can you tell me how much this year the city has paid for LAPD related lawsuits?

I I mean how much LEPD related lawsuits have caused liabilities for the city.

Um council member, I don't have that information in front of me in terms of the It's 45.3 million dollars.

It's half of every liability dollar we have spent.

One department is responsible half of the legal damage to the city, and that should stop the city in its tracks.

When I calculated 8,700 officers, we pay their salary and per officer for this 45.3 million liability, we're spending $5,000 per officer as an incoming cost for additional liability that we didn't predict.

Now you're asking for 410 officers times 5,000 per head for let's expect more liabilities to continue.

That's additional, I think 2 million or 3 million or 4 million dollars that we're gonna expect in liability that's not predicted.

And I think for this body, when we look at other departments, the city attorney included, who is running up nearly 20 million and outside console overruns, we as a body say that's too much.

You can't go further than what we've asked for.

So let's let's let's let's make it make sense for everything.

If the LAPD and the city attorney are driving the city into a financial ditch, and our constituents are the ones getting over, then we need to make sure that we have to some accountability there.

And if we don't demand accountability from one department, we must demand it from both.

And you know, I am consistent in that public safety must come with accountability.

And so I'm supportive at the end of the day of council member Yaroslavsky's um 40 C motion, which includes some funding for represent LA and special events, because I do think it's gonna improve public safety, and I think it talks to kind of the needs of my district, which are diverse in nature all over.

And so at the end of the day, I think we can't let um departments like the city attorney and PD bankrupt our city services when our families are begging us, but I do understand that it is a tough balance, and so I'm supportive of 4DC, which calls for holistic approach to public safety, um, which is what my constituents are asking for.

Thank you.

Councilmember Raman.

I had a clarifying question about the numbers, hiring numbers for LAPD.

I think from the press releases that we've seen, as well as any available public data, we are not at the 240 cap yet.

And the reason why I ask is because we're having this conversation about authorizing more funding without I think having a more fulsome conversation about where the funding for long-term ongoing costs for staffing is going to come from for new recruits.

The budget committee asked for that conversation to happen in January, which made sense to me.

And I am just wondering why we're doing this today when based on the press releases that I have seen.

I think there's been about 170 recruits coming through the recruiting classes, which puts us quite a ways off from the total 240 cap and gives us a little bit more time to do the work that we need to do in order to make the right decision for the city.

I think everyone here wants to get to a safer city.

We want to make sure that we have the tools to do it, but we also know that if we make the wrong decisions today, we're gonna be looking at layoffs in our next budget cycle, which is bleaker than the last.

So um, as it relates to the numbers, um council member, on um on July 12th of 2025, there was a class of 31 officers hired.

On uh August 9th, there was a class of 27 officers hired.

On September 6th, there was a class of 32.

On October 4th, there was a class of 33.

On November 1st, there was a class of 31.

And on November 29th, there was a class of 30.

Um, the current December class, uh, which is scheduled for the 27th of December.

Uh there were 56 offers made.

Um, if all 56 and all 56 are likely to graduate.

I can't do that.

Because we that would be 20 six more or 23 more than the highest number that we've seen so far.

Yes, I can't I can't address why the number is higher.

I can I'm just providing the information.

I I guess I was asking, are all like all 56 likely to graduate?

It it it varies.

Um in the July class, there were 40 offers made.

Thank you.

I'll defer to LAPD on this.

Thank you.

And I'll ask our general manager personnel to come up as well, because this is a shift in um when we made this decision, the numbers were significantly lower per month than what we're actually seeing now.

So I I there we need some light on one.

Is this is what we're seeing temporary and likely to go down?

Because I I think you know, Councilmember Raman's point is right.

We haven't gotten to the 240.

Why should you know what is the basis for believing that we would make it to 400?

Um, especially when we haven't even met the number for the mid year.

And and also just want to clarify here, we want to have this conversation in January.

And I'm sure that everyone on the budget committee would be very happy to have the conversation as early as possible in January.

So if we are going to be at, you know, we want to make this decision before the next class comes in and puts us over the 240, we're not there yet, and it doesn't feel like based on our past numbers that we're likely to get there before January.

Before January.

Yeah, if I could just offer we we hired uh what was the final number?

420, exactly.

And so we have reached what uh what we told to I'm sorry.

Is that right?

We are at the 240, sir.

The class of 56 starts on Monday the 15th.

Yeah.

December 15th.

So with that class, that 56 brought us to exactly 240.

And that 56, it's likely to be 56 at the end.

I'm sorry, ma'am, I can't hear you.

I'm just saying, is it likely to be 56 once we've already hired 56?

They all attended orientation this week and they are starting the Academy Monday morning.

Okay.

Those 56 are already hired.

That is our our December class, ma'am.

And is it likely that future classes are going to be at 56, or is it much more likely that they're gonna be at the 25 to 30 number, which we've seen consistently?

We've seen, I mean, literally, there's only one month where it's been over, it's been one.

We had major problems in the in the ability to be able to hire in personnel.

They have been rectified for the most part, and we're very optimistic that each month now we're gonna be able to process uh sufficient numbers of people to be able to reach whatever financial uh uh abilities we have from uh from the council to to entertain going month to month.

How would you run any business month to month?

It's like running a marathon, and every mile you get asked for more air.

It doesn't make any sense.

Yes, and I guess I would just say in response to that, you know, we have been asked to we were asked at the end of the last budget cycle to plan ahead for an increase in officers.

You can't make a decision when you're planning for a business to have an ongoing cost that you don't have the funds for in the next budget cycle.

So what I'm asking is not that we don't do the hiring, but that we do the financial um the we do our due diligence, financial due diligence to make sure that we can continue to pay individuals past the next past this fiscal year.

And if we want to make sure that we can continue to pay them, that we don't have to do that by laying off employees across the rest of the city, which because we only have a finite sum of money, and that money is not going up.

So I mean that that's just where I'm at.

So it's it's I'm really not asking questions about you know uh to undermine the the improvements that you guys have made, but really to say how do we do appropriate fiscal oversight over this process.

Oh my my goal here is to be able to just share uh public safety perspective as your chief of police, and I look at trying to be able to operate month to month.

We lose people in the process because they time out, and if we can't ensure that we have an ongoing hiring process, then we're gonna lose people.

Many of those people won't continue, they'll go with another department.

So that's one concern there, certainly.

Um the testing issue, I think that needs to be uh addressed more here.

But as we go forward, I'm I'm aware of 94, I believe, people who are gonna retire from the LAPD in January.

And so we're looking at uh having 550 to 600 people leave the organization in the next year.

We're looking here hat in hand, trying to hire 410.

That's a almost a 200 person deficit, best case scenario that we can hope for, two and a half years out from the Olympics.

That is incredible to me that the city is in a position where we're we're looking at trying to trying to come up with uh 170 bodies to meet the 410, and that still leaves us with the deficit that we have at this stage in you know the world events.

So I would ask that I don't I'm not an expert on where to find the money throughout the city.

Right, but I can tell you from my perspective that the need is not something we're throwing out there that we that we aren't very serious about.

If if you knew, I guess what I knew know about the potential threats in the years ahead, uh we wouldn't be having this conversation today.

Right.

So I I also just I wanted to get back to the numbers again, because I'm looking at um the uh newsroom, the the press releases that the LAPD is putting out.

Yep for December 11th, 2025, the recruit officer graduation ceremony for class 6B is 24 police officers, which is lower than any number that you stated before, um Mr.

Zabo.

So I'm just that's why I'm confused because I'm looking at the math and I'm not seeing the conduct to that.

I'm not seeing where the we're getting to 240.

So those numbers, ma'am, are including the attrition and the academy.

So there's a different number depend every class has a different size as you heard from Mr.

Zebo, and every class has a different attrition rate.

So I know but the graduated numbers, the graduated numbers are different than the numbers going in because of attrition.

So this is the graduation number, correct.

But that's not that's the number that we're gonna have to pay for, correct?

Is it going to be lower than the 240?

Because we are at a 14% attrition rate fiscal year to date for the current classes.

So that's so that's exactly what I'm that's exactly what I'm saying.

So if we have a lower number that graduates, that's a lower number that we're obligated to pay for, and every single number I believe that you shared has a lower number of people who actually graduate from the class.

Yes, ma'am.

And so to hit our 240, we have at least I think a couple more months.

And I think it just gives us an opportunity.

Again, I'm not saying I'm opposed to doing additional hiring.

What I'm trying to understand is why are we making this decision right now if we're not actually hitting that cap yet?

So that exact number would be 26 that have a trident um this fiscal year.

So it's the 240 minus the 26.

So 240 were hired, 26 have a traded out of those 240.

I I'm again, I'm I'm just looking at your the press releases, and my math looks different.

I I have something around 167.

Just from your press releases.

So I'm not, and maybe I'm doing the math incorrectly, but here's my numbers for the classes.

21, 29, 16, 23, 27, 27, and 24.

That's all of those are lower significantly than the numbers that you provided.

The classes that have graduated this fiscal year, though, were hired six months prior.

So for every class that's graduated, they you you have to back up the six-month window.

So the classes that have the classes currently hired for this fiscal year have an attrition rate of 26 officers, which is 14 percent of the 240.

So the classes that you're looking at could be classes that graduated that were hired prior to this fiscal year.

Council council member, no.

The the numbers, what I read off are the actual hires that were actually made on those dates.

This fiscal year's budget authorized LAPD and funded LAPD to make 240 hires.

Uh-huh.

As of the December class, they've exhausted that that authority and that funding.

So if there is to be additional hiring, it must be authorized by this council and funded by this council.

And that number of hiring you're saying is a different number than the number of recruits who are graduating the recruit academy that you put out every month.

There's that six-month gap.

So the class of 56, we won't know their attrition rate until June.

Okay.

All right.

Well, look, I'm I'm I'm having trouble understanding this math here.

Right, the math feels it.

Math isn't math and right at this moment.

Yes.

And I just want to say, like, if we're looking at this, then we would have known last year in the spring, how many people were gonna be hired now.

So again, I'm just curious about why this is a surprise, you know.

I don't council member, it's not it's I don't think it's confusing.

We this well it's confusing to me.

This budget authorized 240 hires to be made this year.

Yeah.

240 new hires.

It was funded for 240 new hires spread out over the entirety of the fiscal year.

The Los Angeles Police Department has hired 240 officers as of the time we sit here today.

If we need, if there is a desire to fund beyond that, additional hiring needs to be authorized by this council, and additional funding needs to be authorized by this council.

The alternative is that there would be no more hiring for the remainder of the fiscal year.

Ms.

Mr.

Zable, let me see if I can restate this because I share some of Ms.

Robinson's confusion on the it just doesn't add up.

I guess what's the relationship between a class and who actually gets hired?

Because it they don't the numbers you give us don't match up with that.

So I if somebody any and doesn't matter to me if it's personnel at the police department that explains the relationship between those two things.

Because when you say to me you have a class of 56, I think, oh, that means you're hiring 56 people.

It sounds like you're saying that's not the case.

Something some other number is the real number.

And the question is, how does the council know what that number is?

Or and how do you know what that number is for that matter?

Madam CLA, come on up.

I mean, anybody I'll answer the question.

So council member, I think what the CAO was saying was we had authorization to hire 240 starting on July 1st.

The numbers that you read off for the graduating classes in July, August, September, those classes were hired in January.

So they were hired in January of last year, they graduated in June.

So let's say the first number was 22 recruits that graduated.

That those 22 recruits were not part of the 240 brand new recruits that we hired starting on July 1st.

Right.

So you're saying we hired the 240 based on the classes from last year.

We hired 240 cents July 1st of last of this year.

The the confusion uh is when we're when we're talking about hires, we're talking about hiring into the academy class.

Correct.

But that doesn't the academy class.

But if the hiring into the academy class doesn't translate into people staying on in the police force because it's a lower number, because there's always attrition, right?

A number of people join the academy, and then a smaller number are going on into the force.

When we have that's what happens every year.

Sorry, if I could just finish my sentence.

What you're telling me is that you put in 240 people into the academy class, but there we're not sure how many of those will actually get hired into the force because consistently more people are in the academy than are hired.

So that's why I'm saying I don't based on my understanding of how this works, which I actually don't think is different from what you said, we haven't hit our cap yet.

And that we have another month to just look at the data and make a decision that is fiscally prudent and that doesn't cut arbitrarily other civilian positions before we make this decision.

Again, I'm not saying let's not do this, I'm just saying let's think about it and make sure we're doing the right thing.

So council member, if I if I may.

When the budget was put together, um, it is based on the number of positions that are hired into the academy.

So when we approve the budget, it anticipated 240 entering the academy.

The attrition is actually calculated in a separate bucket.

The LAPD, we anticipated that 510 would a trit out of LAPD.

That included recruit attrition as well.

Okay.

So the attrition is calculated elsewhere.

So in a sense, the budget has achieved the 240 that were hired into the academy.

You are correct in the sense that there are numbers in the recruit academy that will attrit out, but that number is calculated separately, and it's part of the attrition number.

Hence, the 510 that we anticipated in attrition for LAPD, LAPD is now estimating it's 552.

And it may precisely be because there is attrition coming out of the academy because they've hired more folks, that there may be some additional attrition, and so now their attrition numbers are up.

So the attrition is handled in a separate bucket.

But the 240 that the the budget was based on of hiring has been achieved.

It will be achieved with the December class that starts on Monday.

It's the January class that is pending that will put them over the 240 in accordance with the budget instructions that were adopted.

Anything above the 240 of recruits hired into the Academy would require subsequent approval by the mayor and council.

Was that clear?

Yes, thank you.

So uh and thank you so much.

Um CLA, that was clear.

Uh the clearest.

Um so I guess uh I'll go back, or maybe we'll stay with you, Madam CLA.

So when the statement is made, oh, it's going to cost 33 million dollars more next year.

Is that based on the people that are coming into the academy or the people that you guess?

Because it's because what you've explained to us is it's just a guess on who's gonna how many people are gonna get hired.

Is that based on the guess of who's gonna get hired based on 240 academy recruits?

That it's based on 240 actually graduating.

So when the CAO made the projection of the 240 additional uh recruits being hired between January and June, they're annualizing the cost of those 240 additional people that would be hired, and that would be based on the number I don't believe it included attrition, but I believe it was the entire 240.

Granted, there will be attrition in that number, and I think that um in the budget and finance committee report, it also recognized that attrition would be occurring in the classes that have been hired since June of this year, and that attrition will be happening, and that's why um their report recognized that to the extent that there is greater attrition than what was anticipated, that additional cla uh officers could be hired to make up for that attrition.

So I think the the the attempt was to get to a bottom line number as of June 30th.

So our clear.

I'll report uh the report in front of you.

The projections on the numbers uh include the assumption of attrition.

We've updated the numbers based on the assumed higher attrition rate, and that's why if you look at uh the table on on page 19, um we lay out the scenarios for each of the level of uh each level of hiring.

Um that if we didn't do any additional hiring, we'd be at 8386 officers.

If we hired 480 officers this year, uh an additional 240, we would be at uh 8,626.

That is a that is a number, and the corresponding full impact for fiscal 2627 is is included in that number, but that number does include attrition.

Got it.

Uh council member Rodriguez, you want to help us out on this.

Yeah, no, I just I and I you know, Sharon, you got us there.

Um, but I feel like there was a conflation in delivering the on the uh or responding to the questions that Ms.

Raman was asking, and that is that there's a differentiation.

Uh yes, officers are hired the minute they go into the academy, the minute they get that offer letter to come into the academy, they are hired.

But that doesn't equate to being sworn and having completed that process.

So thank you, Sharon, for explaining that and differentiating those two things.

That being said, when you talk about the calculations of the attrition and what we have allocated and budgeted, what is the delta between what we expend in financial resources given how many people fall out?

What is the delta of that uh of that how how much is not expended in the budget that were given for the hiring of those officers?

So when we when we say 240 officers, if 150 fall out, then what is the remaining if they didn't complete and they fall out, what is the actual cost?

What is the what is the difference between what like because they're because essentially you don't have the salaries, you're you're not paying the salaries, depending on when they when their attrition out, you're tracking that separately.

So when you track it separately, you're still taking the money as if they're still going through and completing the academy.

So what is the delta?

What is that difference?

Well, one way to look at it, and I know that there's been a lot of attention focused on you know um for these 240 officers, but we have to remember that the delta is going to be very small when you think about it, because um recruit officers, I mean, even to hire the 200 the 240 that was mentioned here in the report is only gonna cost the city about roughly six million dollars.

So the delta is very small, even if we didn't hire any of them, right?

So there will be a savings to the budget.

It's because recruit salaries are much less than the cost of a regular office.

Right, because there's all the delta is very, very little.

So I I don't know if I answered the question.

No, that's fine, but I think I guess my concern is so, like, for example, you had a graduation today.

How many actually graduated versus how many started in the academy?

24 of our folks graduated, and then as well, school police, uh port police, and airport police.

I don't know what the number was that started the academy, but we average about a 14% attrition rate.

So you I'm sorry, so we have 24 new officers, right?

Okay, and so we're only I mean, I know we're training the others, but in terms of what we're when we budget for sworn, we're budging for our officers, not how many go through our academy per se, correct?

Right.

Okay.

So if we are we had 24, but you had a class that started of how many?

29.

29.

29.

And then the next projected class in January.

Well, tomorrow uh Monday one starts or Monday, okay, December.

Okay, so and that one is 56, yeah.

Monday.

56.

Okay.

So I you know, I think we're we're everyone just given the conversation the just the way procedurally how things have happened.

There's not a resistance in wanting to do this, but we got to do it right.

Right now, as we had conversations about how staff is being leveraged.

Uh, when we talk about the strain across not just the police department, all departments.

Uh, frankly, let's hire a thousand more officers right now.

Sadly, they're gonna be working in the dark in the streets because the lights don't work.

So we've got a lot of challenges that are confronting us, and I think for you know, and speaking for myself, the elephant in the room that we never get a hold of in terms of the expenditures that we're not taking kind of control of or having a very comprehensive conversation around public safety and how dollars are used is we gotta look top to bottom at everything and what our priorities are, and that's not happening.

Everything's happening in isolation, and all of a sudden, like boom, we're right here the day before we or the day of um, and it's you know, it's political theater.

I get it.

I know what I know where I work, but that's just not financially prudent when we have to really have thoughtful conversations around the people's money, and that's the problem.

It's just it's you know, the I look at these all of the amendments.

I mean, it's three card Monty, everything that was approved, and now we're moving it over here, we're gonna move it over here.

No one really understands what the implications are of the decision decisions being made.

And it's really just a reckless political theater, and it's awful because the what what's being gained here is this idea that we're trying to uh prohibit hiring, and that's further from that's the furthest from the truth.

Everybody wants to ensure the maximum deployment of resources.

It's why we've also had very hard conversations, Chief, about what is the reorg look like.

How are we maximizing the civilians?

And we know that the implications of the decisions that we make will affect our ability to retain civilians in the next fiscal year.

And so, are we just gonna hire additional sworn personnel to now put them in the seats of where civilians were?

Those are real conversations that we need to talk about.

And yes, we need to hire.

Yes, we need to start ramping up all of the academy classes to maximize the amount of funding that we're providing to ensure that we can actually catch up.

We know you know, we know in our numbers are down, but we're asking for the respect that this body deserves to have a conversation, and and that's that's what's problematic here, and I understand everyone's here responding to a letter that came from across the hall.

I got it.

But there's but the reality is that it's disrespectful to this body and the obligations that we have to have really thoughtful and comprehensive conversations about accountability and the use of public dollars, and I and and that's where to me all we're asking for, I think for some of us, is just the respect to have the conversation and understand how we can thoughtfully build out this department as expediently as possible, but not to the detriment of some of the other responsibilities that we have to provide in the city that ensure public safety.

Because I'll tell you, doing the job in the dark doesn't help us.

So how do we do it all?

And all we're trying to say is we're partners with you to help figure out how to do it all.

But we have to make sure that we're not doing so to the detriment of being able to sustain some of the civilian employment that we know we need that we're in a need.

And and like let's talk about all of it.

And that's all we're asking for.

And so I think the idea of even asking for this conversation to say, look, what can we give you to help get us through to allow us to engage in a much more deeper conversation in January is I don't think asking for a whole lot.

And that's that's my piece.

Councilmember Blumenfield.

So the way I see it, the difference between the two amendments, Mr.

Lee's amendment and Mr.

Yaroslavski's amendment, has nothing to do with the number of cops.

It has everything to do with where the money comes from.

And I think that's important to understand.

Uh, from my perspective, look, I want to see, I want to see all the police academies full.

I want us to be uh put the gas on hiring.

I think it's extremely important for all the reasons the chief has outlined prior to the Olympics.

We need to, we need to get as many officers trained as we possibly can.

But to just kind of arbitrarily pick these different sources, including cutting the innovation fund, which is something I've worked on for a long time, uh, and we just all of a sudden, with no vetting and no discussion, we're gonna just cut that innovation fund and use that to uh to fund this.

That's not thoughtful.

That's just using one-time money to plug this hole.

What we need to do is find ongoing money to plug this hole.

Um, but I get it.

We also want to make sure that at the beginning we're not if we need time to do that, but that we do we don't do anything that will slow us down from my perspective.

That's why Councilwoman Yaroslavsky's motion puts enough money of one-time sort of or shell game money as as Councilwoman Rodriguez said, we're moving around some one-time funds, it gets us going so we don't have to slow down.

So her her motion gets us moving, it allows a January class to move forward.

Uh I was told it gets us, you know, about four months.

Uh, and it allows us time to get as a budget, go committee, go back and figure out where should this money really come from?

How do we fully fund our officer recruitment uh in ways that are going to be sustainable that are not going to take away from uh ultimately from civilian hiring as well, because you gotta think about the two together.

The chief knows this.

I mean, they go hand in glove.

We need we need a thoughtful approach.

This is not a thoughtful approach on uh with all due respect on Mr.

Lee's motion because it's just it's just grabbing some one-time money to to plug the immediate hole.

I'm uh supportive of Councilwoman Yaroslavsky's motion because it takes enough money out of out of one-time funding to get us going to not slow us down, to keep our foot on the accelerator, uh, but it allows for discussion to do this in an appropriate way.

Uh so that's why I'm supporting Councilwoman Yaroslavsky's uh motion ultimately to move forward, but I want to make it clear that again, it is it is not about the number of cops, it is a false narrative.

When I hear people and I see uh press releases and and stories talking about the councils deciding how many officers to support, I don't think that's what this is about at all.

Because I'm I'm a maximalist.

I want to see us support as many as we can, but I want us to do it in a responsible way.

So please, colleagues and public, don't buy into the false narrative that the choice between these two amendments is about how many officers there are.

The choice between these two amendments is about where we get the money from and whether we do it in a responsible way and go back to committee and figure out a way that's actually long-term that has uh you know not just using one-time money and doesn't not just sweeping funds like the innovation fund that really uh shouldn't be swept without a conversation.

Maybe I'm the only one here who really believes in the innovation fund, but I don't think that's true.

I think a lot of you do, but we haven't had that conversation.

Uh and to just to just sweep it, I don't think is responsible.

Uh, and that's why I'm I'm supporting the uh substituted motion or the amending of motion from Councilman Yaroslavsky.

All right, I got uh Councilmember McCosker.

Councilmember Yaroslavsky.

Thank you, Council President.

Um colleagues, we face a really clear question today.

Do we follow a budget process that's grounded in honesty and fiscal solvency, or do we set aside our process to meet an entirely manufactured deadline?

Or do we set aside our process to meet an entirely manufactured deadline?

I support hiring more police officers.

Many of us here, most of us here support hiring more police officers.

The disagreement before us is not about public safety.

The disagreement is about the future health of the city and the process we use to make those decisions.

On June 7th, the mayor signed a budget funding 240 new police officers.

On the same day, she announced an agreement with the council president to identify funding, new funding for another 240 within 90 days.

Fourteen of us learned about that promise from a press release.

Those 90 days passed, then another 90 days passed, no source of ongoing funding came forward.

Meanwhile, LAPD hired at an accelerated rate.

All 240 officers funded in the adopted budget are now on the pipeline.

And I want to acknowledge the work that went into repairing the pipeline.

It was really good and important work.

But at the current pace, the department would reach hiring levels never approved by this council or the mayor in the adopted budget.

And that matters, colleagues.

This week, during review of the second financial status report, we finally received a cost estimate for additional hiring.

The figure before us today, today is $4.4 million.

But the ongoing annual cost is closer to $24 million.

If we were to hire to $480, it would be $33 million a year in ongoing annual costs.

Once hired, those costs repeat every single year, adding directly to our structural deficit for next year.

The only funding source presented for this this before this week, um, sorry, the only funding source presented uh this week at Budget and Finance Committee as a way to pay for these new officers was the reserve fund.

We only recently rebuilt reserves about above 5%.

The reserve fund exists for emergencies.

It does not exist to fund ongoing operations.

Drawing it down also increases our borrowing costs at a moment when the city is preparing to borrow billions of dollars for major capital projects, including the convention center.

I've heard the argument that the $24 million problem or the $33 million problem belongs to next year's budget.

And that gives me serious concern.

The mayor's proposed budget last year included funding for 480 new officers, but it was paid for by laying off roughly 400 LAPD civilian staff.

Those staff perform important work, like crime scene photography, DNA analysis for rape kits, and police report processing.

Many of those roles could not have been backfilled, and eliminating the rest means taking cops off the street to do desk work.

Colleagues, 200 of those employees in the police department are still slated for layoff.

They're in positions that are going to expire at the end of this fiscal year.

I want to repeat that.

As we discuss this proposal to hire more officers, we are at the same time talking about laying off 200 plus LAPD employees that do critically important public safety work on the civilian side.

It's like firing air traffic controllers to pay for more pilots, then sticking pilots in the control tower and paying them three times more money.

It makes no sense.

And to a certain extent, these are policy disagreements, and we can argue the merits.

But what makes me most frustrated today is the manufactured emergency created this week to bypass our established process.

Process protects the integrity of this body.

Process preserves independence, accountability, and checks and balances.

Process allows informed decisions in the best interest of our constituents and the duty we all have as stewards to this city.

The budget committee has been treating this issue with urgency for some time.

In the 188 days since the budget was signed, my office and others reached out to the mayor's team and the council president's office to work collaboratively towards a solution.

We asked the CAO and the police department for information when hiring first outpaced budgeted levels in October.

We pressed for details during review of the first financial status report a month ago.

We continued pressing all last week and this week during our review of the second FSR.

Then, Wednesday night, one night after our committee meeting, we received a letter and heard public statements through the press.

Now here we are, considering an unvetted funding proposal none of us saw until this morning, and all of this lands on the final meeting of the year.

I would have loved this level of urgency over the past six months.

We are told with that without immediate action to fund the full 4.4 million dollars, the January Academy class will not move forward.

The implication is that this vote determines whether we hire more officers at all.

It's false.

We do not have to lock ourselves into a $24 million structural deficit today at the cost of hiring more police officers.

It's a false decision.

The CAO has confirmed that with our amendment, the department can move forward with January's class, return in the new year with funding and operational options, including options for retaining some or all of the 200 plus LAPD civilians who are still slated for layoff in this year's budget.

Allow time for committee review, allow council debate, and still have sufficient time to hire the remaining officers this fiscal year, should this that be the will of this body.

What concerns me is the framing that unless we decide everything today, responsible hiring becomes impossible, or that it's somehow the fault of this council for not acting.

And that is false.

What this false urgency seeks to do is force this body into a rushed budget decision without analysis or consensus.

We cannot keep doing this.

This is no way to run a city.

We're here having this conversation today because the required work didn't happen sooner, and we're stuck holding the bag.

I would love to be voting on a vetted, thought-out proposal today that had gone through the committee process, through public safety, through budget and finance, and anywhere else, and had ongoing funding identified so that in four months, when the mayor's proposed budget comes out, we're not having this conversation all over again.

That didn't happen.

This council adopted an amendment offered by Councilmember Lee, authorizing LAPD to hire up to 2480 officers, but it was contingent on funding availability as reported by the CAO in the second or third financial status report.

It was also contingent upon a determination by both the council and the mayor that additional hiring responds to department needs and the city's fiscal condition.

That amendment mattered, Mr.

Lee.

It was a good one.

It was deliberate, and I was proud to support it.

It respected public safety and fiscal discipline.

It required data.

It required funding.

It required time for this body to exercise judgment.

That process began this week because we only just started to get information we requested months ago.

I'm almost done.

The Budget and Finance Committee has directed the CAO as of Tuesday's meeting.

This is the direction coming out of budget and finance.

The Budget and Finance Committee directed the CAO to return in January, three weeks, with options that do not rely on reserves or cuts to core services.

That report, along with an operational plan from the chief, is what this council needs to make a responsible decision about the rest of the year.

What we are being asked to do today bypasses that framework entirely and ignores the conditions this council already set for itself.

It replaces deliberate policy with last-minute pressure.

I don't take pleasure, colleagues, saying any of this, but I say it because the stakes are high and the people of Los Angeles deserve honesty.

Honesty also requires acknowledging where real progress has been made.

As I mentioned earlier, the mayor's office, the personnel department, the police department, the personnel committee, and the public safety committee have done really important work to repair the police hiring pipeline.

I deeply respect and value that work.

Strong hiring systems matter.

I want to protect that progress through responsible funding.

But we must also respect and value the work of the Budget and Finance Committee, the CLA, and the CAO.

Safeguarding our city's solvency, especially at this moment is not optional.

Protecting core services is not optional.

Following adopted fiscal policy is not optional.

Right now we're staring at the bottom of our bank account and pretending otherwise risks doing serious long-term harm.

All of that being said, I still believe compromise is possible here because most of us share the goal of hiring more officers.

I've offered amendment C to the Budget and Finance Committee report that would authorize funding for a January class, with the clear understanding that the CAO and the police chief will return in January with a comprehensive funding and operational plan for the remainder of the year.

That plan must identify a sustainable ongoing funding source for additional officers, protect civilian positions, and allow this council to evaluate the department's needs alongside the city's fiscal condition before any further hiring is approved.

A note of caution is necessary.

The dollars identified in Council Members Lee's motion, amendment B, are not from the reserve fund, but they remain one-time funds.

The underlying structural issues remain unresolved.

Additional hiring adds roughly 24 million dollars to the city's structural deficit on an annual basis.

The full cost would be reflected in the mayor's proposed budget, and it cannot be paid for by laying off city workers or reducing a central city services.

As long as I serve as budget chair, which is a great honor, that approach does not move forward.

Clarity now avoids repeating the same conflict in four or five months.

Public safety is about more than police.

It's about fixing street lights so they actually work.

It's about repairing sidewalks before they cost us millions in liability payouts, and it's about having enough money to paint our own damn crosswalks and not having rogue volunteers doing it for us and then getting arrested and ending on the news.

So thank you.

Um I'm gonna have uh I'm gonna have a change to my amendment C.

I'm gonna ask that we actually rescind 40 C, and I'm gonna propose some amendments on 40 B when that comes before this body.

Um, thank you, colleagues.

Thank you, Council President, for the time.

Mr.

Lee.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

You know, I I really hope that everyone here that's made that statement has the same energy when it comes to item 45.

Item 45, which I believe, I assume that this council is about to approve later on for the new Bureau of Homelessness Oversight.

Let me read to you what it says.

The recommendations in this report do not comply with the city's financial policies because one-time funding is used to fund an ongoing program.

So I really hope that when it comes to that item, you guys take the same same approach that you're doing to this item, which is about hiring more police officers.

Colleagues, my my ask is simple.

That you support my amendment that properly identifies funding so that LAPD can continue to hire for the remainder of this fiscal year.

I hear your arguments.

But some of us recognize the challenge before us.

Our police department continues to face historic attrition, shrinking academy classes, and there are growing demands on public safety resources.

If we're serious about stabilizing staffing and meeting the needs of our communities, we have to do more than express support through words, we must fund this.

The mayor, CAO, my office, we heard the instructions from the budget and finance committee.

Do not pull from the reserve fund.

The amendment before you pulls from idle accounts, draws from savings due to attrition, and includes discretionary funding from both the mayor's office and $500,000 from my own office.

Thanks to the leadership of Mayor Bass through Executive Directive 14, the city has modernized and streamlined LAPD recruitment to improve processing times and strengthened outreach.

It has finally given us a solid foundation for hiring, and we cannot afford to go backwards.

I don't care what anyone says here, this does affect more having more police officers on our streets.

So we can continue rebuilding the ranks and delivering the level of service that I believe our Angelinos expect and deserve.

Chief, I was wondering if you could just a little more in detail.

If we go month to month, talk about post requirements.

How would this affect our ability to stay on track for the numbers that we want?

If we're going to take this month to month, if we put this funding aside, and you we have to go to month to month.

Well, we continue to test people, and then when we provide a job offer, we have to be able to do that far enough in advance to plan for the class.

How many people do we have?

How many people are in different phases of the selection process?

So that's not something that's a month-to-month thing.

Post requires that people complete certain parts of the selection process within a year.

And as the process move on, people are falling out of that.

Some of them will continue will come back, retest, which is at expense to the city, and others then will not.

And that many of the many of the people that we've lost to other departments is because this process has taken up to a year.

We've come to a place now where we can complete the selection process, we believe, in six months.

That's a game changer for us, and I'm thankful to the personnel department for their work in doing that.

As far as um the whole idea of uh the urgency from our standpoint, and I completely respect this body and the challenge before you and where do you find the money from?

My hope is to create a sense of urgency or an awareness of our urgency that we're bleeding out, that we're not we're preparing for the games, and we're going in the wrong direction.

We're 1400 down right now for sworn officers, and best case scenario, if we were to get 480, we're still looking at a substantial loss uh in officers from where we are.

We're attribuing more than we're even looking at hiring here, even best case scenario.

So that is my concern that uh at a time when we should have been building for some period of time, we have not.

We've been going in the other direction for a number of different reasons.

So my ask today is for your consideration to be able to help get us through uh this fiscal year in a in a steady process so that we can plan appropriately and not lose people to other departments while we're going month to month.

Everybody's watching what we're doing.

If I'm a candidate, I'm watching, and I don't know that I'm gonna be hired or not, I'll go apply somewhere else.

And we could potentially lose some of the best and the brightest.

That if we hire them, we have them for 30, 35 years.

That's an investment that you really can't put a price on.

I know everybody wants to be an LAPD officer, but this is a seller's market, if I'm correct.

Every agency, every law enforcement agency is out there hiring right now.

Right.

So what you're saying is that if we have to tell recruits, hey, we haven't heard from the council yet, we're not sure if this budget comes on, they've already waited eight months.

And if they're their background checks, their psych evaluation, if those things happen to the lapse over a year, right, if I understand correctly, they have to go through the entire process again, which I'm guessing at that point they move on to another department.

Yeah, that's accurate.

Again, colleagues, this is this is about public safety.

You know, I my views I know differ from some people in this room, but for me, the health and safety of our constituents is number one.

This will help us start growing back to the number where I believe that this city needs to be, especially on the on the cusp of hosting two worldwide events in our city that if those people don't feel those visitors from other countries from around this country do not feel safe in the city of Los Angeles.

We again will not be heading in the right direction.

Public safety, public safety, public safety.

I always believe should come first.

Thank you, Chief.

I appreciate it.

I urge an I vote on my amendment and a no on the other one.

Thank you.

Council Member Park.

Thank you, Council President, and thank you, Councilmember Lee, for standing up for our police departments, our police officers, and communities all over the city that are begging for more police presence in their communities.

You know, the hiring scenario that was ultimately approved during the budget deliberations at 240 was a lowball cap and essentially a cut to the department.

And it was one of the many reasons that I voted no on the budget.

And LAPD sat right here at the table and told us that they were going to exceed that hiring cap.

In 2022, they hired 433 officers.

In 23, it was 396, and last year it was at 390.

So we already knew that LAPD would easily and that they desperately needed to hire past that 240, which is consistent with the prior direction that they've been given, and the work that we've done across multiple policy committees to get them where they are.

We're already seeing the impacts of a smaller sworn department during multiple emergency events that we had this year.

LAPD has been spread way too thin from the fires on January 7th to the civil unrest to today.

We've watched them see struggle to balance everyday needs with those concurrent commitments to staff multiple ongoing events and emergencies.

We have major world events coming.

Residents and businesses all over the city are begging for more police resources.

Our 911 and emergency response times are already abysmally low.

So, Councilmember Lee, moving forward with 40B is the right thing to do, and it's going to help us better address the attrition.

So I look forward to supporting you on that effort because those hiring decisions are being made right now.

And if we don't demonstrate commitment to those recruits, people who are coming trying to come here right now to work for our city, we're gonna lose them and we're gonna lose future classes too.

Thank you.

And I ask for your I vote on council members, council member Lee's motion for ADB.

All right, uh uh members, uh I got one question, and then I think we can begin our process of voting.

Uh Mr.

Zable, just just uh I think I understand more clearly today um why it's overly complicated and frankly not intellectually useful to mix the conversation about recruits and actual officers, especially in future years.

But but I do have a question because uh in the category of the math, not mathing.

So every number I've heard says that even if we get to 480, even if that happens, more officers will retire than the the retirement number will exceed 480, is my understanding.

So you guys correct me if I'm wrong.

How is it that replacing officers with a higher salary with less fewer officers with a lower salary creates a situation where we have a budget increase of 33 million dollars?

So again, this is part of the process that goes into developing the the budget that that you ultimately see.

Uh that is that is baked in.

So when we um when we're talking about uh hiring, we're isolating the costs to what the hiring will be.

Sure.

For this year and for next year, we at before we even have the conversation about what more needs to be added, we reset the the budget based on what the assumed attrition is.

So that's already that's already baked in.

Um and when we start when we start the conversation for next year, we we have an assumed number of uh an assumed starting deployment, and if that number is below the assumed starting deployment, uh then that would be a savings to the budget.

So we would we would lower the number, the required number for the budget.

Um it's it really is just a matter of of uh categorizing what we're looking at.

Are we looking at what the actual cost is for the next year?

Um, or are we looking at the at the total cost after we do the after we do the hiring?

So we do need to isolate these um these decisions.

Um I could just say the the bottom line is that those costs, those cost savings are baked in.

They're baked into our long-term uh projections, they're baked into the projections for the for the incremental increase.

Um we would, by the way, I mean, to your point if we uh the issue is everything that we're talking about is a net is a is a net increase other than other than that additional attrition, but we o the budget only assume 240 hires.

So anything over and above that, anything over and above the the uh starting deployment of 8,336 is gonna be a net increase uh to next year's budget.

And so that's why you see the the incremental cost.

It goes from that baseline of what our adopted budget actually approved, and it and it only approved a starting uh uh storm deployment of 8,336 going into next year.

So anything above that would be would be a net increase.

The 410 would bring the department up to 8,556.

So the delta between those two is the net increase.

Got it.

So the the only way you don't end up with an increase is if you shrink the department.

It sounds like that's what you're saying.

Or leave the budget.

If you shrink the department below what was assumed in the budget, correct?

So it is it is going down circumstances.

So when you argue for keeping the number the same, you're arguing for cheap for shrinking the department.

Yes.

Got it.

I just wanted to be clear about that.

Uh so look, uh, members, uh, you know, this has been uh a fun last day of school before Chris for before holiday break.

Um a lot of back and forth, a lot of legislating, a lot of uh deal making as reflected in our uh uh motions before us.

Uh just a few things I I want to offer um to this body before we start to vote.

Um you know, as I have strong opinions about this, and I I don't want to sit here and pretend like I don't particularly about some of the characterizations that have been made about my my role, which I deeply resent.

But I just want to context here.

Arguments between the mayor and the council over police hiring have been happening for the last half a century.

So what we're going through today is consistent with the way the city of LA runs.

You know, again, I'm only on no old enough to remember the argument between the 7th District Council member, uh council president Padilla and Han.

But I know they they they happened a lot with Bradley and the council president.

I know it happened with Villaragosa.

I know it happened uh with Garcetti, and and we're in this position now.

It is always, always, always a tough question.

It's our most important function, it's the thing we spend the most money on.

It's one of our biggest departments in terms of of personnel.

So it's gonna be uh a tough um, it's always gonna be a tough discussion, and it should be a tough discussion, and we shouldn't uh we shouldn't try to duck that um and you know act as if we had more time, it would be different, or if you know people had different sets of conversation, it would be different.

It's just tough.

And and we all are here, I think folks are doing their level best uh to face the tough questions in uh with their best sets of uh their best sets of values.

Like I I'm gonna support um council member Lee's uh motion.

I will note, which no member has done, uh, that he put up resources from his own district, and he didn't put the resources up and say these officers can only be in district twelve.

He put them up for the city of Los Angeles, and I think that that uh is worthy of recommendation, uh recognition, given that he's trying to help us solve a problem.

Um and so uh Mr.

Lee, again, uh from the president, I want to thank you for that.

Um I do not think the idea of voting at least three more times on police hiring is a good idea for this council, especially when we have the opportunity to take care of it today.

Just like we could come back and debate police hiring again, and it can go like it's going today, which I suspect it would.

We could also come back and debate the other categories.

We could debate the innovation fund.

We could debate uh Embrace LA, which I was one of the original makers of the motion for Embrace LA before most of the council was even here.

We could I'm happy to come back and debate those issues.

I think that is a smarter path for this council than coming back to debate police hiring, which I think is a foregone conclusion.

I I I just want to be straightforward.

I we can talk about scenarios, we can talk about um ideas, we can talk about fiscal responsibility.

This council in a majority will fund the police department chief.

So you should just expect that.

Um the idea that we take the thornier, more important issue and bring that back at least three times, we're talking about, and it probably will be more.

Um, as opposed to bringing back less controversial issues, I think is is wrong-headed and not a good idea for that body.

But we are we are people have made uh their amendments and the and the votes will be what they will be.

So with that, I'll ask the uh clerk uh to begin the process of calling the role in these various on the amendments as we have it in the order that is appropriate.

Yes, sir.

So for the record, amendment 40 C like Cat Yaroslavsky, Rodriguez McCosker has been withdrawn.

So what is before council now is amendment 40 BSM boy, and that would be motion Lee, Harris, Dawson, and Park.

All right, let's Councilmember Yarsovsky.

Thank you, Council President.

Um, I have a substitute motion for 40 B that is substantially the language in 40 C with a small revision, and that would be to remove um the language in 40 C that reads, and it's little it's three little I little I little I so down here so you can see it, clerk remove strike the language that reads direct the CAO to transfer 263,132 from General City Purposes Fund number one zero zero slash five six heritage month celebrations and special events, mayor's account number 000948 to LADOT special events fund in the third financial status report.

So in all other ways, the the language from 40 C the ask is that we substitute that language into 40 B.

And I ask that we um take a vote on that amendment.

Uh is there a second to Councilmember Yaroslavsky's uh uh Ms.

Mr.

By Council Member Yarosovsky, but I am confused.

Uh sorry, who auto uh made by Councilmember Yarsovsky.

So Mr.

Lee, you have a motion before the council for a vote, and a member has asked to change it.

We take a vote on whether or not to substitute.

My understanding from the city attorney's office is the correct procedure.

Mr.

Lee.

Yeah, my understanding is that as I read this, I just just came on my desk.

Is that we again go month to month, if I'm not mistaken, Councilmember Yaroslovski.

Still month to month, correct?

No, it's funding the January class and then asking in January that they come back with the plan for the civilians that are about to get laid off, and then the remaining of what's left of the additional hires, and we can proceed.

We can do this the second week of January in budget and finance, figure out how we're gonna save the civilians or not, hire all the sworn or not, and figure out where it's gonna come from for the rest of this fiscal year and what the plan's gonna be so that we're not facing a 33 million dollar deficit when the mayor gives us her budget in April.

Yeah, well that's the ask.

Well, I believe the major duty is when put out the budget is to identify those funds.

Colleagues, I'm still urging a no on the amendment.

Let's allow the police department to do they do best.

Let them, we finally fix the problem of hiring, let them hire the officers, let's get them on the streets, let's create a safer Los Angeles.

All right, so let's open the roll on substitutions to substitute.

Uh there's a motion by Councilmember Yaroslovski to substitute the language in Mr.

Lee's motion, 40 B is in boy.

Um so let's if you want to replace uh or amend uh Mr.

Lee's uh motion with language before by council member Yaroslavsky, you will vote yes.

If you do not want to do that, you will vote no.

Mr.

Lee is asking for a no vote.

Councilmember Yarosovsky is asking for a yes vote.

Let's open the roll.

Madam Clerk I'm sorry, madam clerk.

Are we ready?

Yes.

All right, so let's open the roll.

Close the roll, tabulate to vote.

Ten ayes, five no's so uh that means at this point it is the uh motion Yaroslavsky Herado that is before council, and that is to change parts of 40 BS and boy.

All right, let's open the roll on that item.

We just voted to substitute it.

No, you didn't voted to substitute 40 Psycho.

And the second vote is to the budget finance reports.

That's correct.

Yeah, this is why I was confused.

You had a you had a motion here that you could have amended.

You chose to amend Mr.

Lee's.

So we have to vote on Lee's as amended, yes?

Yes.

Just making sure.

This is possible.

Lee motion is as amended.

We're not gonna be talking about uh thank you.

Uh it is 40 B as amended.

Can you tell us what the difference between 40 B as amended is and 40 B that we that Mr.

Lee put forward?

What is deleted?

So I don't want to speak on behalf of the council member who introduced the amendment to the amendment, but my understanding, and I'll ask Councilmember Yarzlovsky to correct me if I'm if I am wrong, is that the amendment was to remove the language or take the language from 40 C Romanette 3 and add it in to what was previously amendment 40 B.

Is that correct?

No.

It is to substitute for 40 B all of 40 Ccept for three this little part that I'm little II.

The language, it's all of it except direct the CAO to transfer 263,000 from GCP, blah blah blah.

Okay.

So uh Madam Clerk Mr City Attorney this is entirely confusing.

So Mr.

Lee is being denied a vote on the amendment he put forward because someone came and amended it yes to something else like that's the council.

So uh before the council was uh motion 40 B which was introduced by Councilmember Lee.

Now there was a uh substitute introduced by Councilmember Yaroslavsky which in turn takes the entirety of the previously withdrawn 40 C and removing the last Romanette the three I's and the vote taken by council was whether to substitute that 40 C which was withdrawn without the Romanette 3 and then replacing that as the new 40 B and I believe the vote was uh 10 five 105 so uh before the council is now 40 B as amended by Yaroslavsky Horado which which is the 40 C without the last Romanette.

So the next vote that the council will take would be then to approve that 40 B as amended which would amend the budget and finance report so that that eliminates one through seven that is brought up on 40 B that's she said replace in its entirety.

One through seven yes yes um from 40 C lowercase I and lowercase B low lowercase I and lowercase the the number two double I's so this is 40 C correct we are only striking from it this last part I that says direct the CAO to transfer 263001 correct and I think the clarification is lower one I and double lowercase I replaces what items one through six on 40 B all of 40 V has now been replaced with this entirely except for this which we're striking okay so 40 C so I just want to know what now is what does that replace on 40 B is it one through six 40 B is gone okay and and so instead of taking the motion 40 C and deleting number three it's it was a request to replace 40 B with the the language from 40 C.

Mr Lee So Council President if I understand correctly can I take the language that I have and substitute that for 40A Mr City Attorney I mean 40 B is no longer my amendment this is like just they want to vote yes and say we know I voted yes on Councilman Lee's amendment Councilmember there's nothing prohibiting you from introducing a substitute motion on 40 A correct substitute you have to declare.

All right so uh Madam Clerk I believe we're be we're voting on 40 B as amended which has John Lee's name on it but is not in fact his amendment I got it but but the the the problem madam clerk is 40 B without any of Mr Lee's language is still going to have Mr Lee's name on it according to what you just said that that is correct Mr.

President it is a Lee motion that has been amended by Yaroslavsky.

It is a Lee motion that does not reflect Mr.

Lee's point of view on the matter that is before us.

Can we change my council member Padilla to no please on the previous request reconsider reconsideration to reconsider the substitute the substitute so for the record uh council member Padilla is changing her question whether to substitute vote to a no so that means the uh question whether to substitute uh vote is nine eyes six noes uh the question whether to substitute still um is still goes forward all right mr lee i i just would like to know i i i don't want my well i understand procedurally so now their amendment motion is now my motion it has my name on it my name is on the motion that completely i'm it's not amending it it just completely changes the sub like i i don't understand so how does that get recorded madam clerk withdraw can you talk yeah step on it um with council member your slavsky's substitute the motion

So now their amendment motion is now my motion.

It has my name on it.

My name is on the motion that completely it's not amending, it it just completely changes the sub like I I don't understand.

So how does that get recorded?

Madam Clerk.

I'll step on it.

Um with council member Yuroslavsky's substitute, the motion in compilation will be recorded as um motion uh Yuroslavsky Horado uh amending uh motion Lee Harris Dasen.

Lee Harris and Park.

All right, uh what's next?

40 B as amended.

All right, 40 B as amended is before us.

Mr.

Lee, who made the motion is asking for a no vote.

Councilmember Yaroslavsky is asking for a yes vote.

Let's open the roll.

Mr.

Blumenfield?

No, I I want to make it clear what we're voting on.

We it's what you said, but a no vote on this says that we don't put any money to uh moving in the recruits.

A yes vote says we put the one million moving forward so we fund the January-February classes.

If you vote no on this, you are voting against funding the January-February classes.

So I would urge you, even if you supported Mr.

Lee's motion to vote yes on this so that we have money for January and February.

To be very clear, if you vote no, there is no money moving forward other than going back to the committee.

So even if you didn't like it, vote yes now if you want to see January-February funded.

Mr.

Lee?

Mr.

President, that's not true.

We're going to amend 40A to do the funding.

So well, you can vote no on this and then vote yes on 40A to give them the funding that they need.

48 does not come up next.

40A has been.

I want to procedurally, 40A has been amended.

If you're 40 A has 40 A is not before us.

You can you can have a substitute to the substitute and put yours back and try for that if you want a clean vote.

But that's the way you would do it.

But if you'd if you vote no on this one, I don't want us to lose the funding for January, February.

Voting yes on the substitute motion keeps the money there.

So what I don't what I don't want to happen is just voting no on everything, and some people may want that, but I want to be clear what we're voting on.

If we vote no on on this, then we have we are not funding January-February classes.

Uh so I want us to vote yes on the council.

I would like to rescind amendment A.

And I'd like a second.

Oh God, I got that.

So I got the popcorn.

So I will ability to amend.

Matt, Mr.

City Attorney, Mr.

Lee is asking the question is if he has the ability to amend his own amendment.

You can you amend this substitute, so not your own motion.

You're saying amend the substitute motion.

With my original motion.

Well, okay.

So it would substitute.

Yes, you can introduce a substitute, but it wouldn't be an amendment.

Sorry, we're gonna go slow.

It would not, it would have to be a substitute motion because withdraw would 40 A has been withdrawn by the maker.

But yes, you can introduce a substitute motion.

Okay, so we will substitute this motion.

I'll do a verbal motion if we can, Mr.

City Attorney, it's okay to take my original motion and substitute that for A, so people do have the option to vote no on this and still fund them by voting yes on A.

I've already withdrawn it.

Is there a second to Mr.

Lee's uh rescinded it?

Yeah, seconded by council member park.

It was rescinded.

He's amending his own motion.

No, he's not.

He's amending 40A, which was mine.

So do yeah, my substituting B for yes, uh members, we're gonna go into a recess so we can get clear on this.

Mr.

Lee has a motion he wants to vote on.

Uh, I think it looks like some other things are going on, which I'm not entirely clear about.

So we're gonna take a five minute recess to clarify what's available to members as options.

Padilla Park Price Raman Rodriguez on Martinez Yaroslavsky, fifteen members present and corn, Mr.

President.

All right.

Uh back at it again.

Uh we've got Madam Clerk, and you apprise us of what's before us.

Yes, Mr.

What Council is going to vote on next is whether uh the question to substitute motion Lee Haristason Park for motion.

Forty B as amended by Yahwislavski.

So we already voted on substitution, is that right?

She withdrew forty C.

And then that became that forty C with with which was withdrawn was then amending forty B, which forty C is actually the same as the substitute.

And just to restate what that amended looks like, it's forty C with the last Romanette removed.

Is that correct?

With uh to take his original forty B and to substitute the matter.

And we would need a second.

So it's been duly introduced and seconded, and I believe the vote is up to the council.

All right.

So we will now take up Mr.

Lee's substitution of his forty B with the language from his original forty B.

The council has already voted to substitute the entirety of 40 C for 40 B.

So were his amendment to fail, it would go back to 40 C minus uh Roman numeral III.

That's in uh 40 C.

All right.

So we're gonna open the roll on substituting Mr.

Lee's motion with Mr.

Lee's language.

Close the roll.

Tabulate the vote.

Six ayes, nine no's.

All right.

Mr.

Lee.

Uh Mr.

President, I'd like to urge everyone to vote for it.

Now that my amendment has lost, I would like I'm recommending we all vote yes so that the LAPD at least has January funding.

Got it.

All right.

So let's open the roll.

So this again is 40 B as amended.

All right.

So let's open the roll.

Close the roll, tabulate the vote.

Thirteen ayes, two no's.

All right, what's next?

Oh no, there was no.

And for the record, 40A was withdrawn.

So the next vote is going to be on motion Nazari and Lee, and that is to vote on uh recommendation E as an Edward of the budget and finance report.

All right, let's open the roll, close the roll, tabulate the vote.

Eleven ayes, four no's called before the council.

Um I believe Councilmember Nazarian made a motion to bifurcate uh recommendation E out of the budget and finance report.

So this action would basically separate the recommendation from the rest of the report, and council will need to the vote that was taken was actually to um approve that action.

So we've bifurcated that question, so where does that leave us, madam clerk?

The council has voted to bifurcate.

So um you the council may now vote on what to do with uh recommendation E from the budget and finance report.

Council I meant to bifurcate, I wanted to bifurcate it.

I think we could change your vote, right?

We're not voting on the recommend just so I'm clear.

We're not voting on the recommendation itself, we're voting on the bifurcation, is that right?

The bifurcation vote has passed, and now before the council is to vote on the recommendation itself.

Now we're voting.

That's correct.

Okay, or there the council will need to make a determination on what action to take with recommendation E.

Just on E.

Just on recommendation E.

Currently there is no direction.

Um the council can move to adopt E or what action they would like to take.

All right.

All right, so recommendation E is before us, Councilmember Judato.

Fine question before.

I understand the last vote we just made was regarding the bifurcation.

Um that was an amendment by councilmember Nizarian.

What was the question before us prior to that?

Was that only for the amendment that was substituted for 40 B as substituted by Yaroslavsky Horado?

And only for 40 B, not the overall item.

No, the the overall item will be before us after we vote on this one item we pulled out.

Okay, just making sure.

Because we bifurcated it.

Got it.

All right, Madam Clerk.

So now the vote is on recommendation E as and Edward for um the budget and finance committee report.

All right, let's open the roll, close the roll, tabulate the vote.

Nine ayes, six noes.

So uh recommendation E is approved.

And the final vote now is on item number 40 as amended.

All right, let's open the roll on item 40, close the roll, tabulate the vote.

13 ayes, two no's.

All right, what's next?

Mr.

Councilmember Hernandez would like re be recorded as a no vote.

Uh so then for the record, it is 12 ayes and three noes.

The uh item 40 still passes.

All right, what's next?

Next would be the uh items.

There's several items that Mr.

Price is requested to be recused on.

Uh the first one is on items 20 to 21.

Mr.

Price is recused, and that was also called special uh by councilmember Rodriguez for a separate vote.

Yes, council member, would you like to vote on them together or separate?

Okay.

So we've got with Mr.

Christ recused.

We've got 20 and 21, then we got 41, and then we got 42 and 76, and in that order.

Got it.

Okay.

So uh items 20 and 21 are before us, call special for a recusal by Mr.

Price and a separate vote by councilmember Rodriguez.

Let's uh council member Park.

I just had a question for the city attorney on the RSO.

All right, city attorney, RSO.

Or not that's not the item.

This is 2016.

We're not on it yet.

Please.

Councilmember Park, um, it what is it that it you just real quick question?

What is the effective date of the ordinance?

It's not we're not on that item.

Council President just asked me to ask the question, so I asked.

So what's the date of the ordinance?

Randomly having conversations.

The uh effective day would be uh it would be well it's 30 days from assuming a mayoral approval is given and is posted as 30 days from the date of the city club posting.

There's no urgency clause.

Okay, thank you.

All right, so we're on 20 and 21.

Uh again, call special for recusal by Mr.

Price uh and Councilmember Rodriguez for a separate vote.

Let's open the roll on 20 and 21, close the roll, tabulate the vote.

13 ayes, one no.

All right, did everybody get their no vote in for this?

Just check in, making sure.

Making sure.

I thought there were more.

Uh all right.

Now uh with Mr.

Christ still ref recused, 41 was called special for the recusal and a separate vote by Mr.

Lee.

So let's open the roll on 41, close the roll, tabulate the vote.

12 ayes, two no's.

All right, everybody get their noes in.

All right, Mr.

Councilmember Judato.

Yes, thank you.

Um Madam City Clerk for item and city attorney for item 40 uh recommendation e I like to be recorded as a no vote.

It doesn't change the outcome of the vote, but I just want to make sure the recording reflects my true intention, which is a no.

At this uh for the record, the vote final vote for 40 E as an Edward with the change of vote by Councilmember Herado is now eight to seven.

Uh 40E still passes.

Thank you.

Thank you.

All right.

Now we're at 42 and 76.

Call special only for recusal by Mr.

Price.

He's recused.

Let's open the roll on 42 and 76.

Close the roll, tabulate the vote.

14 ayes.

Um all right.

We'll bring Mr.

Price back into the meeting for the remainder of the votes.

Uh and umce is back, madam clerk.

If you can tell us what's before us.

Mr.

President, what is before council now are items two through 15, 37, 50, 51, 53 through 61, 63 through 72, 74, 75, 77 through 79, 81, 82, and finally 95.

2 through 15 37 50 51 53 through 61 63 through 72 74 75 77 through 79 81 82 and finally 95 all right let's open the roll on those items close the roll tabulate to vote 15 ayes all right what's next next would be item one and that was called special by council member rahman but I understand her questions have been addressed no you're okay vote on items one and 44 together unless council member Nizarian has comments on item 44 all right there's uh one was called special by you for uh questions and 44 for a separate vote are you you're good to I want to take a separate vote on both of them both of them okay all right so items one and forty four are before us called special by council member raman for a separate vote let's open the roll close the roll tabulate the vote 14 ayes one no all right what's next question next would be item 35 and that was called special by council member soto martinez for comments mr soto martinez we can we can we can it's been a long day all right let's open the roll on 35 close the roll tabulate the vote 15 ayes all right what's next next would be item 39 and that was called special by an amendment and that is motion bloomenfield mcosker all right let's open the roll on this item as amended close the roll tabulate the vote 14 ayes one no all right what's next next would be item 45 and that was called special by council member lee for a separate vote all right let's open the roll on this item call special by mr leaf for a separate vote council member mcosker for comments get mr mcosker's mic going thank you very much um i at the start of the meeting um i had made a motion to uh adopt the recommendation from the personnel committee and when the recommendation came forward I think the clerk has omitted one provision so for clarity on a day that has had little clarity uh the recommendations are all accurate except it does not include recommendation two B2B which um would say recommendation eight from H from H and H would be included to add three new positions including two senior housing planning and economic analysts and one data analyst two so just for clarity the motion at the committee was to have at include that language amending and approving uh the H and H report thank you all right let's open the roll on this item close the roll tabulate the vote 13 ayes two no's all right one more no is there another no council member Park no vote I think Rodriguez is already no Rodriguez two your no on this yeah okay so we have more no votes than are on the record let's uh do this again madam clerk all right let's open the roll on this item close the roll tabulate the vote eleven ayes four no's all right what's next next would be item 73 and that was called special um by uh council member soto martinez for a separate vote all right I got okay they went away um this let's open the roll on this item called special by Mr.

Soto Martinez for a separate vote let's close the roll tabulate the vote 13 ayes two no's all right Mr.

Nazarian just a change in vote in the bifurcation uh whether or not to bifurcate whether or not to bifurcate I think I mistakenly pressed no I'm just changing it to yes for item four that was my own motion got it uh four zero bifurcation forty bifurcation of forty e is an elephant right right just on the bifurcation okay thank you let's give the clerk a minute to make sure that doesn't change any outcomes okay all right uh city attorney says we can move on I believe that takes us to item number eight zero uh and just for the record um mr nezarin your question to bifurcate you already voted no oh you want to vote yes he wanted to vote yes it was his it was his amendment okay so then for the record the um vote is 12 ayes and three no's okay council member hernandez on item number 80 yes thank you

Uh, and just for the record, um, Mr.

Nazaren, your question to bifurcate.

You already voted no.

Oh, you want to vote yes.

He wanted to vote yes.

It was his, it was his amendment.

Okay, so then for the record, the um vote is 12 ayes and three no's.

Okay.

Councilmember Hernandez on item number 80.

Yes, thank you, Council President.

Colleagues, every minute spent on nonviolent mental health, uh, every minute spent on a nonviolent mental health call is a minute taken away from a serious emergency.

That is why the unarmed model of crisis response is necessary and the numbers prove it.

In 2024, we launched six teams operating 24-7.

These teams are made up of mental health professionals, community workers, social workers, and more.

The teams so far have responded to over 16,000 calls.

And the result, 96% of those calls were resolved without needing a single sworn officer.

No arrest, no use of force, no escalation, and not really that expensive.

We have proven that the model works, but we cannot build permanent safety on temporary contracts.

This motion before you authorizes the next step, a long-term five-year procurement process to secure the future of this work.

Thank you so much to Councilmember Blumenfield and Council President Marquis Sarez Dawson for your leadership on this.

There's a smart fiscal policy and a smart public safety strategy.

So let's make this model last.

I urge an eye vote on this.

Thank you, colleagues.

All right, thank you.

Councilmember, let's open the roll on this item.

Close the roll, tabulate the vote.

15 ayes.

All right, what's next?

Uh the uh next would be item 90, and that is um uh as amended by Motion Yarzowski and Bloomenfield.

All right, let's open the roll on that item.

Close the roll, tabulate the vote.

15 ayes.

All right, what's next?

75.

Council may now vote on item 75, sir.

All right, item 75 is before us uh with no comments and no special votes, it's just here.

Uh so let's open the roll, close the roll, tabulate the vote.

15 ayes.

All right, what's next?

Mr.

President, council has motions for uh posting and referral.

At 2 31 p.m., the motions are posted and referred.

The desk is clear, sir.

All right.

Announcements.

Councilmember Rodriguez.

We're announcements, so you don't have to stand up quite yet.

I know everybody's eager to go.

Well, this one might be worthy of uh of a standing uh ovation.

So sadly, uh colleagues, I'm sure many of you already know that uh Christina Flores is uh moving on to the private sector.

And um, yeah, I know we're not happy about it.

None of us are happy about it.

Um Christina came and joined my team three years ago and started off doing communications and was of course brilliant at that.

Uh when we had an opportunity to make some changes in the office, she was eager to take a stab at policy, and you want to talk about finding their niche.

No one, I think, has been more effective at breaking down whether it was her staffing on budget, whether it was her staffing on public safety, uh, and in and even in Sean's absence during his paternity leave.

Uh helping to really lead our policy team and all of the work that uh I'm so proud of.

You know, you're only as good as your team.

And Christina Flores is the very best of that team.

And uh we're all sad that she's going, but she's not gonna be going far.

Uh, she will be joining the team at NBC Universal.

Um, incredibly proud of her because I've watched her blossom as a professional.

I know she's earned the respect of so many of the council staff deputies, the CLA, and the CAO's office.

She's as smart as they come, but she's as hard working as they come.

And I couldn't be more proud that not only she was a member of my staff, but she's still a constituent.

She's still from the 7th District.

And she's gonna keep calling.

I know, she's gonna keep us all on our toes.

And God bless you.

I hope you don't have to watch meetings like the one we had today.

But I know that you are going to continue to ascend incredible professional heights.

And I only look forward to when you return to this building to help be part of the change that we all know we aspire to have in the city.

So I'm just I'm incredibly proud of you.

We're gonna miss you, and uh congratulations on this great new opportunity.

I know you're gonna do beautifully.

We're very proud of you.

Bravo.

All right, uh, congratulations and thank you for your service.

Uh Mr.

Blumenfield.

Thank you.

Chris, colleagues.

I'm sorry, but yeah, as we end this year, I have to reluctantly, and it is very reluctant, announce it's also the end of an era for one of our council's own, Chris Espinosa.

The chief legislative analyst office is an extension of this very council, and he works to advise all of us and inform us on city policies, help effectuate council duties and the role of oversight by coordinating with all of our city departments.