Los Angeles City Council Meeting - March 24, 2026: Housing, Street Lighting, Smoke Shops, and Recognitions
Los Angeles City Council Meeting - March 24, 2026
The Los Angeles City Council met on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, with 11 members present. The meeting covered a range of issues including recognition of labor leader Gary Herrera, adoption of an interim control ordinance for smoke shops in Council District 15, approval of a street lighting assessment, and implementation of SB 79 for housing near transit. Multiple votes were taken with detailed debate.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of minutes of March 13, 2026.
- Commendatory resolutions.
- Items 6-9, 11-12, 14-15, 17-25, 28-29, 31 were approved unanimously (15 ayes).
- Item 8 (forthwith) approved.
- Item 13 (Government Efficiency report) approved 15 ayes.
- Item 62 (ordinance dated March 24, 2026) approved.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Item 30 (Street Lighting Assessment): Speaker from VICA urged amending to remove non-core items; others (Spectrum, LA Latino Chamber) opposed the broadband-related provisions and tax increase, urging focus on street lights. One speaker expressed support for the assessment as a public safety need.
- Item 5 (Smoke Shops ICO): Alicia Baltazar (Wilmington resident) described negative impacts of smoke shops near schools, including a 10th grader reporting cheap vapes. Irma Lara Venegas also spoke in support of the ICO.
- Item 3 (Speed Safety Cameras): Damien Kevitt (Streets Are For Everyone) urged faster implementation, noting LA's traffic fatalities.
- Item 4 (SB 79 Implementation): Numerous speakers supported Option 3 (including Inner City Law Center, Act LA Coalition, Faith in Housing Coalition, Abundant Housing LA) for more equitable housing, while some supported Option 1 (LA Conservancy, Westside Neighborhood Council, Carthay Circle HPOZ) for preserving neighborhoods. Several speakers urged urgency in addressing housing crisis.
- General Public Comment: Speakers addressed various topics including fast food workers' rights, Cesar Chavez, Scientology, LAPD misconduct, and other concerns.
Discussion Items
- Recognition of Gary Herrera: Councilmembers praised Herrera's service as ILWU Local 13 president, and introduced four motions related to worker impact frameworks at the Port of LA.
- Item 5 - Smoke Shops Interim Control Ordinance (ICO): Councilmember McCosker introduced the ICO for CD 15, citing unregulated smoke shops selling to youth. An amendment was added to study citywide expansion. Approved 14 ayes.
- Item 30 - Street Lighting Assessment: Councilmember Lee clarified that Bureau of Street Lighting does not intend to become an ISP. Councilmembers debated the tax burden vs. need for lighting. Approved 13 ayes, 1 no.
- Item 4 - SB 79 Implementation: Multiple amendments were considered. Councilmember Blumenfield introduced 4A (Option C1), which exceeded minimum requirements. Councilmember Soto Martinez introduced 4E (Option C2) which failed (4-9). Other amendments 4D (mailing notices) and 4C (improving corridor transition program) were approved. Final 4A as amended passed 13 ayes. The motion also includes a future local alternative plan.
- Item 26 - Economic Development Study: Councilmember Soto Martinez introduced a motion for a citywide economic development strategy. Approved 14 ayes.
- Item 27 - Small Business Fast Pass for LA28: Pre-certification process for local businesses to compete for LA28 contracts. Approved 14 ayes.
- Item 34 - Substitute Ordinance: Approved 14 ayes.
- Item 51 - (Comments): Approved 14 ayes.
- Item 10 - Councilmember Price recused, approved 13 ayes.
Key Outcomes
- Item 3 (Speed Safety Pilot Program): Adopted as amended (14 ayes). LA will implement speed safety cameras.
- Item 5 (Smoke Shops ICO): Adopted (14 ayes) with a directive to study citywide ICO.
- Item 30 (Street Lighting Assessment): Approved (13 ayes, 1 no). The assessment will fund street lighting maintenance and operations.
- Item 4 (SB 79 Implementation): Approved (13 ayes). The council adopted Option C1 with amendments to improve the corridor transition program and to explore funding for public notices. The city will develop a local alternative plan by 2030.
- Item 26 (Economic Development Study): Approved (14 ayes). City departments to report back on best practices.
- Item 27 (Small Business Fast Pass for LA28): Approved (14 ayes). Pre-certification process for local businesses.
- Item 34 (Substitute): Approved (14 ayes).
- Item 62 (Ordinance): Approved (14 ayes).
- Adjourning Motion: Meeting adjourned in memory of Tommy Amalfitano.
Meeting Transcript
The Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery is located at Barnsdahl Art Park. The park has five different entities. We have the Hollyhawk House. We have Residence A. We have the Junior Arts Center. We have the Gallery Theater, and we have the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery. So the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery was established in 1954. And they had a number of exhibitions in here until 1971 when the current building was constructed. And this 10,000 square foot gallery is now able to exhibit even more artists. We actually predate LACMA in becoming a museum of art. We are always changing exhibitions. All the exhibitions at the Municipal Art Gallery is dedicated to exhibiting the art of Los Angeles artists. We have summer, fall, and spring. Every year we also exhibit the annual Cola Exhibition, which is the Department of Cultural Affairs award to mid-career artists.org or following us on Instagram at Lamag Barnesdall. We are very prominent on uh social media. Welcome to the city of Los Angeles, where history and culture meet at the last of the great railway stations. Standing here at Union Station, we are reminded that Los Angeles is a hub of constant motion and connection. Beyond these iconic walls, our city of nearly four million people continues to evolve linked by a shared vision of progress. Did you know Union Station was first commissioned in 1933 and was completed just six years later. Upon opening, it serviced 66 trains and saw about 7,000 passengers daily, making it the largest train terminal in the Western United States. So whether you're arriving to party or just along for the ride, welcome to LA This Week from Union Station. Open in 1939 as a result of decades-long effort to unite several competing rail lines into a single terminal, Union Station blended Spanish colonial mission revival and Art Deco styles. Its construction in the heart of Los Angeles marked the final great railway station built during America's golden age of rail travel. And just as Union Station was built to bring people and ideas together, Los Angeles continues to move forward through the vision and leadership of the people who share our city every day. What women's heritage month means to me is having the opportunity to show future generations what kind of roles women can play, not only within their family, but within their community. Women's History Month is just a chance to honor those women who do the work day in and day out. My mother. And Wonder Woman. I love Wonder Woman. I've always been interested in public safety and emergency management, going back to my days as a Girl Scout. And so when the opportunity came up to transfer to a division that gave me the experience, I jumped at it. In the generating station, people don't see the work that we do in order to make the lights turn on every day, the cars charge, and your cell phones, and I get to be a part of that magic in the background that makes it that makes it possible to operate on a day-to-day basis. My perspective as a woman inspires everything that I do in City Council from children have a place to play and seniors have a place to enjoy their retirement. For other women out there that maybe want to make a difference, I would say take a chance. We are thrilled to be celebrating Women's History Month and so many women across Los Angeles County who are making history right in our own communities. My fabulous sisters across LA County. Get yourselves a round of applause. We are celebrating, recognizing some remarkable women who have dedicated most of their careers to helping and advancing the well-being of women in Los Angeles County. Our job as commissioners is to recognize to identify who these women in LA County are that are doing great work for our community that are doing great work for women. The nominations come from the community members themselves. We then go through a selection process. There's so many remarkable women, but of course, we can only identify limited number. You know, we've got so many leaders that are up and coming, and we're paving the way for young women, young girls like my granddaughter Luna to also excel and make a difference in the communities that we serve. We're also commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Los Angeles Commission for Women. The commission has been in existence for 50 years, and the supervisors that Los Angeles Board of Supervisors just declared their commitment to support another 50 years. Leadership is about making sure that we use our tools to make a difference in the lives of others. Remember that what we do for our community is what matters, right? We have a system that says, oh, go, you know, get that award, get whatever. But what really matters is is how you help other people. Women who brought their own chair to the table, stand up.
openpublica.com