The Los Angeles City Council held its regularly scheduled meeting on Friday, February 27, 2026, at Van Nuys City Hall. The council approved the minutes from February 25, 2026, adopted a consent calendar of 17 items, and passed a resolution proclaiming March 8, 2026 as LA Marathon Day in honor of the race's 40th anniversary. Councilmembers debated and approved motions addressing utilitarian street lighting, graffiti abatement reform, and a ceremonial community square designation. Public comment focused primarily on governance and operational concerns at Van Nuys Airport.
We recognize that. I want to remind our community that there is strength in numbers, and there are uh so many of us here in Los Angeles, and where government isn't able to intervene or support. We have wonderful partnerships with the consul generals from all the different Latin American countries, from our nonprofit organizations, from our labor unions. This is what they're trying to erase and stop us from doing. They're trying to prevent us from being authentically who we are. And this event with everyone that's turned out is a reflection that we are in fact here and we will stay here. Right now, one of the most powerful things we could do to protect our families here in Los Angeles is to build community. It's to know who your neighbor is, is to have their phone number and call and can call them in case of an emergency. Events like these are what help build relationships with communities so that we can survive these tough moments, and that's what helps the government do the right thing. That's what overcomes these moments is community power people power. 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 way, welcome to the city of Los Angeles, where technology, sustainability, and innovation converge to enhance the lives of nearly four million Angelinos. Beyond the city limits, the greater LA region is home to nearly 13 million people, an interconnected, ever-evolving community. In a world linked by technology, whether you're joining us in person or tuning in from afar, welcome to LA This Week. Across downtown Los Angeles, modern landmarks like the Department of Water and Power Headquarters echo the forms and forces of nature. The skyline was further redefined in 2003 with Frank Gary's Walt Disney concert hall. It's sweeping exterior said to capture the motion of a conductor's baton. Its interior, meticulously crafted to elevate every note. The city is investing in its future by expanding science and technology education, weaving innovation into young lives, and inspiring the next generation to lead in these essential fields. Today, the Hidden Genius Project is here with a host of partners putting on an event called Tech Slam. In partnership with Leaders Up, we're creating an opportunity for young people to explore career pathways, skills, networks all related to sports and technology. I've been participating in NGS projects since last summer. It's been really cool. It's been a really great experience. I've learned a lot, uh, met a lot of new people. So many of our young people love sports, so many of our communities love sports. Oftentimes we make a mistake and we say, well, it's not realistic to have a professional sports career. And so we want to make sure our young people get to understand what's possible for them and that they can pursue their dreams, even if those rooms are related to sports. They're very realistic, and technology is a great way to get there. It's very important for youth to be exposed to technology and industries that aren't typically available for them. And so our Tech Slam is allowing them an opportunity to be exposed. So today we have AI workshops, we have robotics and Legos and a lot of expo partners as well that are teaching them and exposing them to technology. We're just really trying to expose them to the intersection between sports, tech, and business, and help them understand that if you love basketball, there's so much opportunity for a career that maybe isn't just being on the basketball court. If you love, you know, F1, there are so many things you can do other than maybe just drive the car. Have these kids understand that you can have a pro sports career without maybe being a pro sports athlete. The most exciting thing that I've done with the Hidden Genius Project will probably be today to be able to enjoy all the benefits and opportunities that come with the program. Since I was little, I know I always wanted to do something I had to do with tech. Joining the Hidden Genius Project really helps solidify like what I want to do. They're teaching us new stuff that would just help me and better like my resumes for college, my better resumes for job applications, all that different type of stuff. So it's been a really good help overall. Even though it is a long program and it takes a lot of work, it's definitely worth it. And it's been really fun. So Leaders Up has launched the LA Economic Empowerment Alliance that is really ensuring that we center young people and designing a roadmap for their own economic empowerment. We know that 18 billion dollars will be spent in this region because of major sporting events. We want to ensure that a billion of those dollars are spent on internships, mentorship, career pathways, skills development, and real jobs that will help young people be included in our regional economy.