Slippery or sometimes being washed out.

So those are considered things to consider depending on the climate and the weather you're going to be experiencing.

I look at my weather app anytime gonna hike to make sure I know if it's gonna rain or if it's gonna be super hot.

That impacts when I go.

And what I bring with me.

Wearing a hat is really important, the shield from the sun and the sunscreen.

Do a little bit of research what the weather's gonna be doing that day.

Are we gonna be in a red flag day?

Are we gonna be having a high heat advisory?

Is it gonna be raining?

All these things are gonna affect your ability to be able to stay safe and have a good time while you're hiking on the trails.

It's my passion.

I love being outdoors.

I love the fresh air.

I love the nature.

Um I love breaking the sweat and getting the exercise.

Getting away from the city and kind of in a quiet place.

I feel more centered.

It's a stress release.

Just gives you the space for yourself and for your brain to have a race from all the things that are going on in the world and to just look up and see, you know, the trees and the view.

So we're here at Pan Pacific Park in Council District 5, celebrating Earth Day with LA Sanitation and many of our city and community partners.

Earth Day is a time where we come together as a community, but also as a city as the sanitation and the Department of Public Works to help educate the public about the innovative approaches and the resources that are available to sustainability, composting, recycling, and so much more.

Today is the 10th anniversary of Earth Day LA.

We are big fans of protecting the environment, reducing plastic waste, and making it easier for people to live a sustainable life.

We're very excited here to invite the community to come and learn about all of the work that sanitation does, our wastewater treatment, our stormwater activities, our solid resources and recycling.

These are major programs that we do to help protect the environment.

We even have a bike repair clinic.

We even have a toy swamp booth as well.

We're giving away trees, we're teaching kids and families how to recycle and compost, and there's so much more that we're teaching the public and also promoting our application as well, Sword LA, where it teaches people how to throw away your garbage and your trash.

And then we're gonna flatten it on our hands.

So today I'm looking forward to all the kid activities, the happy children out here learning about how to be zero waste and their households because kids are so good at teaching their parents, and that is such an important factor for the future and for our city and how our neighborhoods look.

I think um keys are employed because uh you they help us eat and breathe better.

When you come to this event here at the City for Earth Day, we're gonna help you get free trees and learn how to use the mulch and you can go home and this is a family environment.

It's a great day, it feels good out here.

You're helping the environment to reduce for use and recycle.

The theme of our event is planet versus plastics.

We're really trying to outreach to the community and let them know that things need to be done to reduce the plastics that are produced.

We need to recycle the plastics that are in the everyday commodities that we use.

This is an annual event, so this means in addition to today, next year, and the following years after, for the subsequent Earth Days, we would love to have everybody continue to participate, to bring your friends, just to learn about individual work that they can do to make a contribution.

It's good to help the earth.

Through its historic telescopes, including the iconic Zeiss refractor, visitors can peer into the night sky, tracing planets, star clusters, and distant galaxies.

And inside immersive exhibits and the Samuel Ocean Planetarium transform complex scientific ideas into vivid, unforgettable experiences, making the vastness of space feel personal and immediate.

While the observatory offers vistas of Los Angeles, the city itself cultivates a vast array of cultural, athletic, and professional milestones that honor the diverse talents of all Angelinos.

LA remains dedicated to inclusivity.

From supporting city interns taking their first steps to embracing the vibrant colors of the spring holy festival.

The city even offers specialized soccer clinics to ensure our blind and visually impaired residents are fully engaged in LA's vibrant rhythms.

Today, we just launched this blind soccer season.

And it's just amazing to see all like how happy and hyper the kids are to play and get that energy out.

And seeing how they can actually play alongside people who are older than them, younger than them, and basically collaborate and connect with other people whom they might not otherwise be able to connect with.

Now we're gonna do side shuffles, side shuffle.

Because it's not just for people who are blind, it's for anyone who wants to play soccer in an inclusive way.

Because if you hear this, the ball, this has Rattle in it, so you can hear where the ball is at all times.

And that makes it so that you can pass and dribble and shoot just like anyone else at any time.

All the programming that we do in my mind serves one purpose at the end of the day.

And that purpose is to empower everyone.

When I lost my sight, I thought that I wouldn't be able to play sports like anyone else, or I wouldn't be able to have fun with my friends or do any activities.

And so I'm out here showing everyone that it's 100% not the case.

If your kid has a disability, what no matter what it is, is so that way they can go out there and know that they can do everything that their friends are talking about.

When I lost my sight when I was 12, I uh mostly stayed home because I didn't really think that I could do much.

Like I was like, oh, I'm blind, I can't play sports like everyone else, I can't do things like everyone else.

But when I started learning about adaptive sports, that's when I was like, wait a minute, I can play this sports like my friends.

So when my friends talk about soccer or basketball or archery or all these other sports or golf, I can connect with my sighted peers and non-disabled peers as well and understand what they're talking about and build connections that I otherwise wouldn't.

Because without these sports, the kids just gonna be staying inside, not really doing much and not being able to be active.

But with these sports, it gives the youth a chance to be able to connect with fellow youth their age, whether they're disabled or not disabled, and it gives them a chance to be active and participate in things that they otherwise might feel like they couldn't.

Today we're celebrating the Holy Earth Bloom music and dance celebration here in Lanark Park.

A vibrant celebration of the beginning of spring, and it celebrates Holy, which is an Indian American festival uh that welcomes the arrival of spring.

Los Angeles is a melting pot, and we know that the city is what it is because of the contributions of all the communities and cultures, and uh I think every future generation needs to know about the art and culture that makes the city so special.

It's our responsibility to pass on our culture, you know, and the best way to pass on our culture is to music and dance.

So what's unique about us today, the Holy Earth Bloom Festival is it's not just music and dance, it's not just culture and community.

It's really about sustainability and regenerative practices.

And so the whole idea behind today is spending time with each other, but also spending time with the Earth and remembering that we are part of nature.

We are nature.

It's not some place that we go to, it is some place that is inside of us.

Don't leave here with anything like I wish I had said or I didn't feel comfortable saying.

Today is an opportunity for a number of the pathway interns to get exposure, work experience, and knowledge of how the city operates, how it operates, and also how to become a civil servant.

This is the group, and this is the day.

This is an opportunity to network but also get to know the cohort of interns that are enacting change in LA and making an impact every day.

So it's an opportunity for me to also get to know how LA functions through the public sector.

Currently, I am pursuing a graduate program at Cal State Northridge for urban planning.

I'm getting to know people that are in my field and we can help each other out in the sense of connecting each other to other job opportunities, even just having friends relating on where we are in our career journeys.

I think with the City Pathways event, it'll be great for you to use as a reference to explore different types of departments here and explore like where I would like to go career-wise, since I'm still very much in this phase of like exploring.

I recently graduated from college, so I'm definitely trying to gauge what are my interests, what are my weaknesses and strengths, and how can I better use that to guide myself in my career.

My current major is urban planning.

There's a lot of policy that goes into it, a lot of engineering that goes into it.

Not only have I been able to talk to people, meet people in the industry, but I've also been able to learn more about what I want and like maybe what that job entails.

Now that they've had all these experiences to go through and understand the personnel process, it builds on an experience that they've had for the last several months working in public offices and working in the mayor's office and working in various departments.

This is like a better culmination than a graduation because it is an extension of your career path.

Treat this as the next day of your career.

The legacy of Bruffith Observatory is deeply intertwined with world history.

During World War II, its planetarium became a vital training ground where pilots learned the art of celestial navigation using the stars to guide them across vast and uncertain skies.

That role continued into the space age.

In the 1960s, the observatory helped prepare astronauts from NASA for the Apollo program, equipping them with the knowledge needed for humanity's first journeys to the moon.

From the beginning, the observatory was built on a radical idea that access to the cosmos should not be limited to scientists on remote mountaintops, but instead shared with the public.

And today, it continues that mission, offering free access to lectures, exhibits, and planetarium shows that bring the science of the universe within reach for everyone in Los Angeles.

That connection between city and sky is still celebrated, marking more than a century of public astronomy, the Los Angeles Astronomical Society has hosted community star parties at the observatory, inviting Angelinos to look up and experience the universe for themselves.

The Los Angeles Astronomical Society attracts the nerdiest herd animals in the finest city on the face of the earth.

That's you.

That's you.

Live it.

The Los Angeles Astronomical Society is celebrating its 100th birthday.

We were founded in 1926, and it being 2026, figure it's time to throw a party.

How are we doing, Los Angeles Astronomical Society?

Cheer louder, it's raining.

This is a hundred years of public service to the people of Los Angeles with telescopes, talks, outreach in schools, fighting against light pollution, and generally sharing the wonders of the sky with the people of LA.

One of our primary missions is doing telescope outreach.

And we do a star party here every month.

So we're doing the biggest version of what we normally do, and we're celebrating by having a hundred telescopes out here today for each of our hundred years.

I'm here with my college's science club.

We're really looking forward to seeing the different types of telescopes that are here because it seems like there's a bunch of really cool different things that are going on here, and I'm just really excited to learn more about space and the stars, especially with the Artemis mission that happened recently.

So yeah, it's very cool.

I think it's just a really cool place to come out, especially because it's free, so it's very accessible to people.

It's always best to learn more about the stars and the world around you.

Los Angeles is actually a really relevant site for astronomy.

Mount Wilson Observatory, they've housed the world's largest telescope twice with the 60 inch and the 100 inch.

Edwin Hubble notably discovered that our galaxy isn't all there is in the universe, and that the universe is indeed expanding.

That happened right up there on the hill.

There's a lot of astronomy happening right here.

Southern California is really important in the history of astronomy, and now we're going back into space, we're going to the moon, and I think it's an even better time to be celebrating.

Happy birthday, happy 100th, and let's hear it for another hundred years more of looking up.

We're here at the Los Angeles Festival of Books, and it's a really awesome time to see just so many varieties of books.

We started over here at the children's section, but we're going to move over to the adult fiction and just seeing so many cultures represented, so many amazing artworks, and just a great thing for LA to come together.

So we have two different activities going on.

We have the Lexicon Activity, which is a large 16 by 20 book that is essentially a living and growing book.

People are gonna come and they add a collage, they add a word, they can add their name, and then we also have a bookbinding activity.

It's more so just creating a little mini-sized book that people can walk away with, and they can decorate it, they can emboss it, so can just have fun and be creative and do whatever they want.

We've got three different booths going on.

Uh so we're signing people up for our commemorative Central 100 library card.

We're giving away our rotunda color by numbers coloring page with a custom 12-pack of colored pencils to complete the challenge.

We are giving away free books in English and in Spanish, and we're also celebrating the launch of our Papa book, Central Library Pops with Angel City Press.

They have uh authors here signing books.

So I can't wait to see Amy Tan and all sorts of other people.

First of all, it's a huge community gathering.

So people feel part of Los Angeles.

And the other is that we need to read books.

You know, there's so much on TV and all these other ways that are taking people's time.

And so to remind people that it's good to read books is a wonderful thing.

People love books.

No matter what they tell you, people still read.

But I think they still want information, they still need uh opportunities to find out new things, and books are a good avenue for those things.

There's so many authors here telling us about their work and how they do it and on various subjects that are of interest to everyone.

And what I know is in order to sell a book, in order to inform people that you have books, you have to actually trust the people.

You have to get out and talk to them.

And so they've done an excellent job of setting up booths, sending up different tips, setting up different opportunities for authors to get their word out about their works.

It opens up the possibility of kids being introduced to new books.

So anyone, any age, anybody is able to come in, kind of find what they're interested in.

That's how you find kind of books that you want to read.

We're hopefully going to see approximately 160,000 people.

Last year we saw 2,000 that came through our booth alone.

And I just think it's really important for DC to be out here because a lot of people still don't know what the Department of Cultural Affairs is, what we do, what we offer, and find ways to engage in the arts.

Reading is so important, especially if you have young kids.

I think it's something they should definitely be exposed to.

They have read alouds for all different ages.

Over here, they can do get a read aloud.

I just think there's something for everyone.

I think it's so beautiful that everyone's come together and really celebrate books and celebrate each other as a city.

It's free, it's easy to get to.

There's so many amazing things to see here.

Great talks, great artists.

So definitely recommend it for anybody next time.

Prom is just one of those events.

It's really the culmination of your K-12 education.

And it would be sad if a child couldn't attend prom because they couldn't afford a suit or a fancy dress.

We find that many of our families in the LA area can't afford the dresses and the jewelry and the suits that go along with this, so it gives us an opportunity to give back to our communities.

Costs of things are very high.

So giving them an opportunity to have that prom dream come true with a nice dress, it's always a good feeling.

We can kind of launch them on their adulthood with this special gift.

We're here to make sure they have an amazing prom.

Getting dresses for free, shoes for free, jewelry, makeup.

This is like a huge opportunity.

So many dresses and so many options.

I absolutely loved it, and I think it was phenomenal.

I got my suit, nice formal uh suit.

Uh it's been nice.

There were a lot of options, and it was really hard for me.

I was picking through dresses, you know, going back and forth trying to find a color scheme for my prom based on the um theme.

I got my dress, I got my makeup, I got my jewelry for that day, and I also got shoes.

When you see a mom come in with her daughter and share in this pivotal moment that both of them are gonna remember for a lifetime, that takes the cake every time.

I mean, not only does it support you know those who may not be able to afford a suit, but also to break the stigma between the, you know, officers and community.

Law enforcement is here to support you.

We aren't just here to solve crimes.

We are here to build a relationship and a partnership with our community.

This is a chance to give back, so we're here for it.

I love to be generous and donate the girls' faces when I see them in the fitting room and they're happy.

To me, that's the best thing.

Thank you so much for this event.

Um, the opportunity to come and shop for one of the important things in my life.

Thank you for the time you put into this, and just thank you for all of it.

I think what was so significant today is the commemoration and celebration of Arab American Heritage Month.

The contributions of so many city employees.

So this was really significant in recognizing it.

There were four honorees today from the Bureau of Engineering, street lighting, at least sanitation, as well as the Bureau of Contract Administration.

These are the hard-working, behind the scenes, talented people, and they have been a significant part in ensuring that we have a city that functions.

Just a testament to their work ethics and who they are as Angelinos.

Los Angeles is a city for everyone, and Los Angeles is a city of diversity.

The citizenships of the people who are living here are contributing to the well-being and to the flourishing of this beautiful city.

We don't forget where did we come from, but we cherish this, our roots, and you continue our future.

I am very thankful, very honored to receive the Arab American Heritage Award.

It means a lot to me because of what's going on in the world, especially in Palestine and Lebanon.

I am an Arab, a Palestinian American.

It feels great to be honored by the city of Los Angeles.

It's both humbling and powerful at the same time.

And this is an act, if you will, almost of courage to come out and say no.

We live with dignity.

We came here, we're building this country, we're building this city, and we should celebrate and recognize that.

Hey LA, check out these things to do.

Join LA City's Department of Recreation and Parks for its annual family festival, salute to recreation.

Head to the Northridge Recreation Center for three days of fun activities on Friday, May 15th, Saturday, May 16th, and Sunday, May 17th.

Activities include teen night, sports tournaments, senior dance, and battle of the bands.

There will also be food and drinks, a marketplace, beer garden, and fun for the whole family.

Find out more at recreation.parks.lacity.gov.

Los Angeles Public Library is celebrating the diversity of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities in Los Angeles and AAPI Joy.

This free festival for all ages will explore AAPI voices then and now.

Celebrate the city's rich AAPI heritage and help forge a shared future of acceptance and inspiration with the greater Los Angeles community.

The day long event includes performances, talks, crafts, and more with an opening line dance at 11 a.m.

Visit LA's Central Library for AAPI Joy on Saturday, May 16th, beginning at 11 a.m.

and continuing through 4 p.m.

Learn more at LAPL.org.

Wreckin Parks, along with the National Wheelchair Basketball Association, presents a wheelchair basketball skills camp on Saturday, May 16th and Sunday, May 17th.

Westwood Recreation will host youth and adult clinics made possible by the LA 28 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

There will also be special guest appearances by Team USA Paralympians.

Pre-registration is required as space for the camp is limited.

The play LA Wheelchair Basketball Skills Camp takes place on Saturday, May 16th and Sunday, May 17th.

For more info, go to Recreation.parks dot LA City.gov.

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

In many ways, Griffith Observatory is more than a landmark.

It's a bridge between earth and sky, past and future.

It has appeared in countless films and television shows, embedding itself into the cultural identity of Los Angeles.

But beyond its cinematic allure, it continues to fulfill its original mission to inspire wonder.

In a city defined by dreams, this hilltop institution reminds us to look up and imagine what lies beyond.

Its location within Griffith Park provides the ultimate outdoor view of the Hollywood sign, complemented by immersive exhibits exploring the wonders of space and science.

The Griffith Observatory is dedicated to transforming visitors into active explorers of our universe.

And here above the city lights, Griffith Observatory reminds us that no matter how vast the universe may be, it's always within reach.

If we simply take the time to look up.

Thanks for watching.

Catch these stories and more on LA City View Channel 35 or at LACity.gov forward slash TV.

And don't forget to follow at LA City on Instagram, Facebook, X, and YouTube.

Until next time, get out there and experience all the wonderful things that Los Angeles has to offer.

And then Okay, we should get a quorum in a moment, but I'm gonna go ahead and get us started with presentations.

I would like to wait for everyone for full quorum.

We have one more member coming in the door in just a moment.

Soy puro mexicano, nacido in este suelo, en esta hermosa tierra que es mi linda nación, mi Mexico querido, que linda is mi bandera.

Si alguno lo mancilla, le parto el corazón.

Oh, suelo bendito de Dios.

Soy puro mexicano y nunca me ha rajado.

Si quieren informarse, la historia les dirá.

Que México es valiente y nunca se ha rajado.

Viva la democracia, también la libertad.

Viva México.

Oh, suelo bendito de Dios.

Soy puro mexicano, por eso estoy dispuesto, si Mexico lo quiere, que tenga que pelear.

Mi vida se la fresco.

Al cabo que me ha dado.

Y como buen soldado, yo se la quiero dar.

Viva Mexico, Viva América.

Oh, suelo, bendito de Dios.

Viva Mexico.

Viva America.

Mi sangre por ti.

All right.

Good morning, everyone, and thank you all for being here for what I call my annual Cinco de Mayo celebration, where we come together to uplift and honor Chicano leaders and reclaim the significance of this holiday.

But let's start by thanking the amazing Mariachi Raices de Mexico Roots of Mexico for playing this great song and opening us up today.

So, colleagues, members of the crowd, and to those who are watching us online, I want to begin by reminding everyone that this program is something that I put together with a lot of intention.

Cinco de Mayo is an American-born holiday.

It's often commercial commercialized and misunderstood.

So in my time here, I'm making it something that I am forcing folks to watch and see how we redeem, reclaim, and redefine it.

Here in Los Angeles, we use this moment to celebrate US born Latinos of Mexican heritage whose contributions continue to shape not just our city, but their influence and contributions to the fabric of America and American culture across the entire country.

So to all the Chicanos out there, the Pochos and the Yosavo kids, this one's for you.

In past years, I've had the honor of recognizing individuals who have elevated Chicano culture in powerful ways.

From writers who brought visibility to the Latino Rockabilly movement, like Nicolas, to creators like Concrete and his father, who use humor and storytelling to reflect on the experience of the immigrant parent and our relationship with the Spanish language growing up.

And then let's acknowledge that for today.

But this year, we return with even more intention, reminding everyone that being Mexican is far more than those stereotypes that bother me.

The maracas, the panchos, the margaritas, or my least favorite donkeys painted as zebras.

It's time to cut that.

Today we brought together a diverse and dynamic group of honorees.

So we're gonna start, and unfortunately, colleagues, we had two that couldn't join us, but I still want to mention them.

We have artists, entertainment, entertainers, entrepreneurs, small business owners, and leading academics, each of who represent the debt, creativity, and leadership within our community.

So first, I would like to begin.

I believe we have a slide for this.

I'd like to begin with Ceci Valencia of 93.5K Day.

Many of you know her voice from the radio with over two decades in the entertainment industry.

Sisi has built a platform that inspires up lips and connects people through music.

We thank her for being a powerful voice on the airways and for keeping Latin music at the forefront.

Growing up in Los Angeles, SC is driven by the LA culture of hip hop and dominates midday airways again on 93.5 K day.

We thank her for her contributions, and unfortunately, she could not be here today, but we know she is watching.

We love you, and we miss you, Cece.

A round of applause for her, please.

In addition, we also had a surprise individual, our next person couldn't come either to unforeseen circumstances, but I want to recognize Patty Rodriguez.

She's an entrepreneur and producer, but she's most famously and respected as a best-selling author.

She recognized the importance of preserving our Spanish language and created a pathway for our next generation of kids to have access to it.

Little Libros came out of her struggle to find bilingual first concept books.

She could enjoy reading to her baby, and so she came up with the idea.

And despite doubts and people telling her it would never work, she managed to find a large community of people who were looking for the same.

So as co-founder of Little Libros, she has transformed children's literature by creating these bilingual books that not only remind us to how words are said in Spanish properly, but she is simultaneously celebrating culture, language, and identity.

Can we give her a round of applause as well?

And now to the honoree standing behind me.

He is someone that I met at a community event.

When he first saw me, he knew for very rare reasons that I don't understand.

He knew I was a council member, and he proudly introduced himself to me and shared with me the story of his business.

Today we honor him for bringing authentic Mexican flavor and culture directly to our community.

What he puts in the chorizo is something that actually you can't really find anywhere unless you go closer to the border or actually cross.

So when I first tried his food, it reminded me of the days when my father would have to drive to San Diego to bring back something that even resembled what we eat when we're in Mexico.

So Marcos, we honor you for being someone that was able to bring the Mexican flavor of true chorizo to Los Angeles.

So with that, we thank you for your contributions.

Where is he at?

Come on up.

On behalf of the city of Los Angeles, I give you this uh recognition.

Thank you so much.

Look how young he is.

He has a great story.

We hope you guys all come hang out and meet him in the forecourt.

But congratulations.

Thank you for being part of helping us redefine Cinco de Mayo.

He's so shy.

Hello everybody.

Um, Marcos, and I really appreciate not just Himelda hosting this and um honoring me, but truly having the support from the community, because truly without the community, I would have not been here, I would have not been nothing.

So I always gotta represent the community first because without them, I'm nobody.

And thank you guys, everybody that truly supported me.

That's chorizo that everybody liked, tried it out.

I understand, you know, Stor Chorizo is really greasy, nasty for your, you know, your system, and Chorizo's not healthy, but I'm saying Chorizo is a lot healthier than Stor Chorizo.

So just give us a try, and you can see why Imerda is saying it's so good, and it's uh representing Mexico to Los Angeles, because I truly care about quality and I truly care about your health, and I want you guys to enjoy your chorizo and burp to eat more, not to be burping in pain.

So thank you guys so much for recommending everybody to me and thank you so much, Imelda.

Next is probably for those of you who are social media watchers or active on social media.

We're going with Daniel Duno Lopez.

He is a content creator, podcaster, and comedian comedian who proudly represents his Mexican heritage and Echo Park roots.

Raised by his mother and three older sisters, Daniel built his platform through authenticity and humor, turning everyday experience into something millions can relate to by being unapologetic about his yo sabo bocho chicano story of Los Angeles.

For me, I tend to lean on him to better understand his generation.

He's doing a great job with that.

So today, he's touring the country and selling out shows.

We are proud to celebrate his success and his voice.

And Daniel, I can't tell you how much I love seeing your mom be happy here today.

For someone that grew up down the street, I hope you remember that su casa.

This is your city hall.

So welcome.

Congratulations, and thank you for elevating your generation and your experiences to redefine, as we continue to say, what Cinco de Mayo truly is.

Thank you so much.

So on behalf of the city of Los Angeles, this is your recognition.

You like it?

Thank you so much.

Yeah, of course.

Uh hi Los Angeles, how you guys doing tonight?

I mean, today in the morning, sorry.

I'm a little nervous.

Uh yeah, um, first and foremost, let's make some noise for you.

My lapadia, please, you guys.

You feel me?

Uh yeah, man.

I I mean it's dope seeing my mom here.

You feel me?

I grew up down the street, literally on first, in between temple.

I grew up walking distance.

I used to walk through here.

I would have never in a hundred years thought that I'll be here.

Um I'm 26 years old, I'm living live, I'm amazed.

Thank you guys for supporting, and shout out the city of Los Angeles.

I love you guys so much.

Thank you.

Okay, next, we're gonna honor, in my opinion, the most epic special guest here today.

Let's give a round of applause before I start my speech to the famous, the one and only Esteban Oreo.

Well, we can get you for the camera.

I don't think you guys know how bad I've wanted to honor him.

The way uh councilwoman Rodriguez feels so passionate about honoring uh all of her 80s bands.

I'm about the artists and the influencers.

So, but you were the one that I really wanted to bring in, so there's a big deal for me too.

He is someone that many consider Mr.

Los Angeles.

If you look at the screens, I'm sure some of you have seen these iconic pictures representing Los Angeles.

I have those fingers in front of my desk.

Esteban, for those of you, for those of us that are net the Netflix generation, you've probably watched the documentary LA Originals.

So you know that he embodies the hustle of Hollywood combined with a tenacious spirit to elevate and uh impose and show everyone what exactly the Chicano style is that is Los Angeles.

He is an internationally celebrated photographer, director, and urban lifestyle or entrepreneur whose work has captured the essence of who we are.

From documenting life on the road to shaping the visual identity of hip hop and Latino culture, his work bridges both the gritty the gritty and the iconic in a beautiful, dope, authentic way.

And what I admire most in his unapologetic pride of who he is, is that he never changed his name to Steven or Steve.

Never diluting his identity.

He is Esteban Orio, and he has helped elevate Mexican American culture as mentioned all over the world.

So to me, his recognition is way overdue in this building.

We're so glad that on Cinco de Mayo 2026, we can say that on behalf of the city of Los Angeles, Esteban, thank you for showing everybody who we are.

This is your recognition on behalf of the city of Los Angeles.

Please share a few words.

Thank you, everybody.

Thank you, Melda, for honoring me this uh award.

And um, this is the first time I've ever gotten anything like this, and uh very uh special to me, and also to have my father Ediberto right here.

Uh he's the one who gave me the camera that got me started on this journey, and uh I have my family here and uh some of my uh closest friends, but um I just want to thank the city because uh this is where it all started on born and raised here, and I represent the city to the fullest, and take it with me on my back everywhere I go, and thank you very much.

I'm gonna do a plug here too.

The first Friday of every month, you can see him at the comedy store for funkin' funny Fridays together with George Perez.

Who's gonna go?

Raise your hand, just kidding.

Alright, now I'm gonna shift from the entrepreneurs and the art and the um, you know, the the fun stuff, so to speak.

I'm gonna now transition to give a uh recognition to the Chicano nerds, so to speak, because I've always said that there is nothing wrong with being an academic, with being a nerd, right?

I tell that to kids every time I go uh speak at a school.

When I was young, I uh many of you guys know that I had three older siblings.

One brother ended up in jail, but I had two very academic sisters, and it was my older sisters who used to uh take care of and make sure that I chose their path versus what we saw with our brother.

And UCLA was the golden space for them.

So they both went to UCLA, got their undergrad, got their masters, and then they helped raise the little sister to make sure that I ended up going in that path.

But I remember one day I took a trip to San Jose, and I'm like, does Northern California have a UCLA?

And that's my story of why I chose to go to Berkeley.

But we're not honoring Berkeley today.

Today, I have two representatives representing UCLA.

Can I have Dr.

Amada and Dr.

Jose Amada Armenta and Jose Loya join me?

Dr.

Amala Armenta is an associate professor of urban planning at UCLA and the director of the Latino Policy and Politics Institute.

There's so many people in this building, very proud of you being here today.

I think you helped them with their own careers, and you're still helping them.

Thank you for being here.

Dr.

Jose Loya is an assistant professor of urban planning at UCLA, whose research um, wait, let me talk about yours first.

Because I've just talked about how everyone admires you.

But her research explores the intersection of immigration enforcement and the criminal justice system, and her work continues to shape important conversations about equity policy and justice today.

Thank you so much for being here.

And Dr.

Jose Loya is, as I mentioned, assistant professor of urban planning at UCLA, whose research examines inequality in housing and home ownership, particularly within Latino communities.

His work and his work is helping us better understand systematic barriers and push forward solutions for more equitable access.

Thank you both for being here and for being part of the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute, which is fairly new, but the research that's coming out of there is definitely helping to shape our place in policy here in Los Angeles and throughout the world.

So for that, we thank you, and we would love for each of you to say a few words too.

But on behalf of the city of Los Angeles, we have this for each of you.

Jose, congratulations, Amala, congratulations.

And for representing all of UCLA here and all of the work that UCLA is doing to get more uh Chicano Latino Pochoyosavo kids into higher education, because for everyone out there that is Mexican American, create, cook, take care of your mind, your body and your soul.

But what still applies, whether you're a creative or an entrepreneur, no matter what you are want for your future, what is helpful to everyone is read, get an education, because that is what's gonna put you in the rooms of power and give you the generational wealth.

Because that's technically my story, right?

We wouldn't have this presentation if I wasn't here.

And I'm here because I had sisters that shop for UCLA.

And because I'm here now, is why everyone behind me is here.

So I can't be here forever.

We need a future generation to continue to be in these halls and continue to honor our creatives.

But for that, enough about me.

Let's talk to our doctors.

Let's hear from our doctors.

Hi, thank you so much for this amazing honor and recognition.

I'm a professor, so I brought up.

Um I'd like to thank Councilmember Petty and her staff as well as the City Council for their service and for recognizing the contributions of Mexicans and Mexican Americans who have done so much to make this city and state great.

I'm here because of my affiliation with the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute, which is a team of brilliant researchers, staff, and students who are working every day to make sure that research and data reflects our lived experiences.

So use our data and our research for your policies, for your advocacy efforts, and know that there are a lot of people both in academia and across these organizations working to make Los Angeles and the state work better for all of us.

I'll hand it over to Jose, who I have known for over 15 years.

I'm so proud to be here alongside him.

Oh, uh good morning, everyone.

Um, my name's Dr.

Jose Loya.

I appreciate the timer.

Like most professors, I'm pretty good at going over them, so I will keep these remarks short.

Um research like mine and the research that we do at LPPI and other research hubs at UCLA, uh, provide cutting cutting edge and um and policy intervention studies that allow for us to make a greater impact for Latino neighborhoods and Latino communities, both at the local or across local, state, and and national levels.

Uh it's a great honor and privilege to be here with all of you because we have some of the not only are we one of the best public schools, uh, public universities in the country, uh, but we're one of the best institutions in the world.

And and we're and we we have the privilege of housing some of the best minds and students uh across the country, many of which uh come from our backyards here in Los Angeles, and so uh rather than talking about myself, I just want to say thank you uh for this recognition.

Okay, so now uh we actually have a surprise.

Um, we are also recognizing Mariachi Raizes the Mexico.

Could we have them stand up?

Stand up.

My God.

Ladies and gentlemen, it was very hard to keep this a surprise.

And the reason why is because uh Rudy Vargas, raise your hand, Rudy.

Everybody in LA County knows Rudy.

If you have ever gone to a quinceera or a wedding or gone to a mass where there is mariachi, chances are someone called Rudy to figure out how to get him there.

I don't know what your Fridays look like with everyone figuring out how you can maneuver folks all over town.

So if we could give Rudy a round of applause too and the Mariachi races at Mexico, this one is for you.

This is a surprise.

Of course.

Yes.

Um, do you want to say a few words, too?

I heard you were a little shy, but you can, you should.

As council members that council members said, by the essay, this is a huge surprise to me.

I had no idea this was coming.

Thank you.

But it's amazing to think that I've been doing this for 30 years now.

Um but it's not a one match show.

I I you need a good group of, you know, musicians, talented, dedicated musicians to give up their weekends, their Mother's Day weekends, their holidays, everything to stand by their uh your side in order to even have a chance at doing this for 30 years.

So uh I need to share this with my musician friends.

One of which is my son.

So the fact that he's here doing this, the same thing that I love doing is is something that's very special to me as well.

So thank you so much, Councilmember.

I appreciate it.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

And if you don't believe me, text your mariachi friends and say, Do you know Rudy Vargas?

They're gonna say, oh, yeah, absolutely.

So with that, um we conclude.

So thank you again to everyone for indulging me.

Councilman, we have some members on the queue.

There you go, of course.

Okay.

Well, there we'll be.

Uh, before we conclude, we have some members on the queue.

We'll start with Councilwoman Rodriguez.

Thank you, Councilmember Padilla, for bringing this presentation in.

You know, it was always it's always been a struggle uh addressing the issue around Cinco de Mayo and how it was exploited uh by other commercial interests.

But what I appreciate is your intentionality around reclaiming it and using it as one more opportunity to recognize and celebrate the positive contributions the Latino community makes to this country each and every day and the diversity of each of your respective fields in how you've done it, whether it's through the arts, whether it's through food.

I thought it was very uh apropos that we talk about chorizo making in City Hall, right?

No one wants to talk about.

Listen, no one wants to ever talk about how the quote sausage is made, they just want to know that it tastes good.

And so, apropos that we're having a conversation in the city of Los Angeles about how the Chorizo is made in City Hall.

So I want to thank you all for being here.

I want to thank you for all the important contributions that each of you make to celebrate the very best of who we are, and all the positive contributions that we make in this country each and every day.

And you know, to uh Edward James Olmos, obviously one of the pioneers in representing who we are on the big screen.

Uh, telling the stories that were so often uh how we were portrayed, helping to change that narrative in movies like Stand and Deliver.

Um, there was we we have done so much to make positive contributions in this country that sadly we've watched an attempt at erosion of that storytelling.

But I want to thank each and every one of you for continue to help be the tip of the spear in fighting that.

We are all the very best of what this country represents, and I want to congratulate and thank each of you for the contributions that you've made and the warranted honors that you receive today on behalf of this grateful city.

Congratulations, and thank you.

Councilman Padilla, again, thank you so much for bringing this wonderful presentation, so important, especially at these times when it feels like federal government is, you know, has made the Latino community under attack.

Uh so it is so nice to have this reclaiming of Cinco de Mayo and all the the positive energy that you're bringing to it.

So thank you.

And with that, I'd like to uh send it back to you to close.

Thank you.

So remember everyone, as um, you know, we can't do presentations on Tuesdays and Wednesdays anymore, so that's why we're here on a Friday, the 8th, not the 5th.

But every year when you celebrate on the 5th, remember that we are innovators, artists, storytellers, educators, entrepreneurs, academics.

We are leaders, and every single one of those stories can and should make it onto the TV and the big screen.

I'm proud to stand alongside all of these individuals who have elevated our culture and carry it forward with pride.

And also, I felt like saying this this year.

To all of our Central American cousins who get confused as Mexicans, we know that you also have a strong presence here in Los Angeles, and we want to let you know that the Pocho culture is yours too.

So again, thank you, everyone.

Happy cinco de Mayo.

Otra vez al mariache.

Adelante.

Make it up and he size.

Wonderful.

As they as they exit, we have a wonderful transition as we we're gonna move to our our next presentation in a moment that uh Councilwoman Padilla talked about making sure that the stories get on the big screen.

Well, the next presentation is all about that.

But before we actually get to that presentation, uh, because we didn't have quorum before, let's officially start this meeting by calling the role.

Clerk who would call the role.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Blumenfield, Harris Dawson, Hernandez, Hutt, Herado, Lee, McOscar, Nazaren, Padilla, Park, Price, Ramen, Rodriguez, Soda Martinez, Yaroslavski, 11 members, and a form, Mr.

President.

Great.

Uh first order business.

Approval of the minutes of May 6th, 2026.

Okay, Councilwoman Padilla moves.

Councilmember Hutt seconds next.

Commandatory resolutions for approval.

Okay.

Uh Councilmember uh Rodriguez moves, Councilmember Lee seconds.

Next.

Would you like to run through the agenda?

Let's do that.

Um, and folks, we're gonna have public comment taken in person in council chamber for today's meeting.

Uh let's go through the agenda.

Items one through five are items for which public hearings have been held.

Mr.

President, for item three, there is a request to continue the item to Wednesday, May 13th.

Okay, without objection, that'll be continued.

Item six is an item for which public hearings have not been held.

Item seven is a closed session item for which public hearings have not been held.

Ten votes are required for consideration.

Okay.

Colleagues, those items without objection are now before us.

Does anyone have any of these items they wish to call special?

Seeing no members on the queue, uh for item seven, I'm gonna move that the uh relative to item eight on today's agenda, council approve the recommendations in the confidential report.

I do that as the vice chair of budget, although that has not been heard by this body.

Uh so if someone wants to call special for um closed session, that is completely appropriate.

Is there a second to that motion?

Uh, the motion is to approve the recommendation in the confidential report on which is a budget item, but we can come back to that.

So let's uh just wanted to get that out there.

We can come back to that, but let's uh what's what's available to vote on now before public comment?

The council may now vote on items one through three and item five.

Okay, those items are before us.

One through three and item five.

Seeing no members on the queue, let's uh open the roll.

Close the roll, tally the votes.

Eleven eyes.

Okay, that's agreed to.

Uh now we can I believe we there's anything else.

We before we can go back to presentations.

Not at the moment, Mr.

President.

Okay, then great.

I will uh our next presentation, as I mentioned, is uh it's a great transition from our last one.

We're talking about getting the Latino voices on the big screen.

So we turn it over to Councilmember Hugo Soro Martinez for his presentation.

Welcome.

Thank you so much, Mr.

Chair.

Um, it is an honor to be here today uh with members of the Latino Film Institute, an incredible institution in our district, and one that has been giving a voice to Latino artists and filmmakers in Los Angeles and around the world for over a quarter of a century.

This month, they are preparing to kick off the 25th edition of their marquee annual event, the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival, or also known as La Leaf.

I've had the pleasure of getting to know La Leaf and the work that they do, and let me tell you, doesn't matter if you go to the festival, you go to see what work with the kids or any other staff, the work that they do is incredible.

Especially in a moment right now when we are grappling with the profound crisis facing the film industry in general, and I know this body is doing so much.

Councilmember Nazarian really leading the charts to make sure we revitalize Hollywood, but those challenges are oftentimes magnified when we talk about Latino filmmakers or other minority filmmakers.

Latinos make up almost a quarter of all movie ticket sales, making up the largest demographic of moviegoers per capita in this country.

Yet, despite that influence, on revenue, less than seven percent of lead roles in top films are held by Latino actors.

And if you look behind the camera, less than four percent of directors and producers are Latino.

Our people are hungry for our stories and characters that reflect that experience, and that's where the Latino Film Institute plays a major role.

La Leaf or the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival showcases authentic voices and connects our communities through the power of storytelling, and now for the second year.

They are officially an academy award qualifying festival.

That means that when Latino filmmakers win the in the Latino live action or let or animated shorts category, they will now have a pathway to Oscar eligibility.

That is incredible.

Yeah, clap that up.

But they also do so much more.

The Latino Film Institute also empowers young filmmakers and fosters an environment where aspiring artists feel inspired to create and show who they are.

Through their youth cinema project or otherwise known as YCP, the Latino Film Institute goes to actual schools, teaches filmmaking as part of their curriculum.

They learn how to write a story, storyboard, film, editing, all that stuff.

And the best part of these students is that they get an unforgettable experience of seeing their short films on the big screen as part of the festival.

The impact of this festival is tremendous, and I encourage everyone to make an effort to attend.

It will be later this month.

But in case you aren't convinced yet, I want to direct everyone's attention to the screens, as we are fortunate to be some of the first people to see this year's trailers for this year's festival.

It's my favorite festival.

It is exceptional.

We're pretty much family.

Since the inception of Lalif in 1997, we've been committed to uplifting our voices, experience film, music, animation, and our student film festival.

We're identifying kids that want to continue on into the industry.

Such a beautiful concept.

A really great way for creative people to tell the stories that need to be told right here, right now.

The largest U.S.

Latino Film Festival.

La Life is the future.

Welcome home, storytellers.

Now let me introduce someone who you may know from Blade Runner, Battlestar Galactica, Stand and Deliver.

And someone just called him El Merometro back here, and so much more.

He's also the founder and board president of the Latino Film Institute.

Please give it up for Edward James Omos.

It's okay.

We're bilingual.

Let me just say this.

What you've experienced right now is just the beginning of a reflection that has been growing for the last almost 30 years.

1997, we commenced this.

And uh in 1997, I said uh Happy Mother's Day.

I'm gonna say it again today.

Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers that are here, and especially when it's coming up here.

We did this event because we needed to have a voice that could be heard and seen and understood.

The audiovisual event is the single most important artistic event in the world.

Stronger than books, stronger than music, live theater.

Nothing attacks a subconscious mind more than the audiovisual event when it's projected.

Nothing.

And it stays in there.

So how important is it?

The most important.

And we've always been left out.

And I can honestly tell you that the Latino Film Institute and especially Latino International Film Festival here from Los Angeles, which I'm very grateful that we're based out of LA, because LA deserves the respect and the understanding of what we're giving to the rest of the world because this is something that I think if you haven't heard about it and you haven't looked into it, please do for yourself a favor.

Dive deep into what the Latino Film Institute is all about.

Because it's really changing the course of our future, and you'll find that out right now.

I bring to you the opportunity to listen to the person who right now has been really moving us forward in this trial of understanding our own human behavior.

We are push forward the understanding to the youth in a way that, like you saw and heard from uh Councilmember Sotomartines, it's moving towards the understanding of our youth.

And we start in the fifth grade and move through grammar school, junior high, and high school.

If any one of us that's sitting here right now, adult had been exposed to this when they were in the fourth and fifth grade and sixth grade and seventh grade, you'd be at a higher level than you are at the present time because your communication skills, your collaboration skills, your critical thinking, and your creativity would have been much higher than it is today.

I don't care.

I love the doctors that are here, but we're preparing kids to go in to see those doctors and get educated at the highest level with a much better understanding of life than we had.

And to make that possible, let me just uh give you an opportunity to listen to our CEO of Latino Film Institute, Mr.

Axel Caballero, who will bring you up to speed as to what we're doing.

Thank you, Eddie, and thank you, Councilmember Luzotamartinez and everyone here for listening to us and our presentation, a little bit about the Latino Film Institute.

I'm gonna give a broad strokes about what the organization is all about and how it connects those dots that Mr.

Olmos has rightly pointed out, and you'll hear from two key programs, both in education and industry that is really changing the landscape for our community in the industry.

The Latino Film Institute combines those two arms, the educational arm and the industry arm.

We know that in order to really create the pathway for change, we need to create our own reality.

I worked seven years at a studio at a major studio, uh, you know, looking at major film and major TV shows getting made, and I could tell you that the odds are stacked.

I can tell you that the opportunities are very slim.

And in order to break that is an understanding that it's not only about talent and skill, it's about access, it's about opportunity, and it's about creating a very strong pipeline and a very strong pathway.

And that's what we do at the Latino Film Institute.

We start with Youth Cinema Project, we're all over the state, but certainly here at LUSD as well.

And we go and move towards alumni pathways, towards fellowships that are created with the major studios themselves, including programs that culminate and that also launch at La Live.

You'll hear about La Leaf, and you'll hear about the Youth Synome Project in just a second in more detail.

But what is important to understand as we hear about this idea of fledgling productions in the city and in the state is that we're not looking back to our community and to saying that our community's here, they're ready.

We have the stories, we have the talent, we have the skill set, and we are the future.

The future is Latino.

And for and we're we're ready to step into that spotlight because the stuff because we've created that spotlight.

And certainly in this incredible city that inspires us, that motivates us, that acts as the base for us to think that the largest US Latino festival, the only Academy Award-winning, Academy Award qualifying festival, and the one that has changed the landscape for all Latino uh festivals and platforms is here in this city.

And it's it's incredible that for 25 editions, we've been able to break those barriers and to continue to grow that alongside with the programs, with the fellowships, with everything that the institute does, is creating a new narrative and it's creating a new pathway.

But in order to get a little bit more into uh detail, I would like to invite uh some of our staff to talk about the particular programs that is that are really uh creating that change.

Thank you so much.

Thank you, Axel, and good morning, everybody.

It's such an honor uh being here uh to share with all of you that uh the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival, La Live, as some of the most recognized international film festivals around the world, is fundamental to the industry's ecosystem.

Uh we operate in two ways that are uh interconnected with each other.

On one hand, we bring film, television, new technologies, VR experiences to the audience, to the city, to everybody for everybody to enjoy.

There's a film, there's a TV show.

There's an experience for uh every taste for anything that people are looking for, uh horror, comedy, romance, drama, documentary.

There's something for everybody at La Leaf.

And on the other hand, through La Leaf Connect, Market and Creative Forum, we are a platform uh where business is done in the industry.

This is the space where we bring together financiers, buyers, sales agents.

We put them in front of producers, directors, writers, as well as people working on all below and above the line positions in the industry.

We bring them together, and it is incredible to see the things that happen with the in these spaces and with this type of platform.

I am fortunate enough to have working film festivals for a long time.

And I love to see how at La Live projects get made.

These conversations, these spaces turn into actual real content that we all can enjoy.

And as we, as you know, Axel and Mr.

Almos have mentioned, we are at the forefront, and we want to bring our community to the forefront of the new technologies, the evolution and changes that are happening in the audiovisual industry.

And that's what we do during these five incredible days of the festival.

So we hope to see you all there.

And once again, I want to reiterate that the future is Latino, and we're here to celebrate that.

Thank you.

Good morning.

And the pathways and opportunities that the pathways and opportunities that Diana spoke about start long before the festival in the classroom.

The Youth Cinema Project, as my mom would put it, is the pride and joy, or as we call it, the heart of the organization.

And we're bringing filmmaking into the classrooms and transforming them into creative studios through a very intentionally designed curriculum.

Students then get to tell their stories.

We're empowering young people to then use their voice through this process through the filmmaking process.

Some of what you saw on the trailer begins in the classrooms as early as fifth grade.

So our 10-year-old filmmakers are telling their stories, and this gets showcased at La Live through YCP at La Live.

Students and alumni bring their work into the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival and gain that real world experience on a national platform.

They're screening their films, they're participating in Q<unk>As and master classes, they're entering the same space where those industry connections and opportunities start to take shape.

Then when those students complete the course with YCP, they can continue with us to and through college and into the industry through our YCP alumni pathways opportunities.

This is how we build the future pipeline by connecting education directly into real-world opportunities and platforms like La Live.

Thank you so much for your support and for allowing us to share our work today.

Everything that we do is deeply rooted in Los Angeles and in the belief that our stories really matter.

I'd like to pass the mic back to uh Councilmember Sorto Martinez.

Thank you once again.

I want to thank all of you, but especially I'd like to thank Councilmember Soto Martinez for bringing us to this level of understanding.

And to all of you that are here, please understand that this is the future.

The future is in the technology that we have and AI and everything that's come about has brought about a bigger understanding of that.

And our students need to know.

We do not just pertain ourselves to being quote unquote for Latinos.

We are here for the humanity of this country, the state, and the world, because basically we educate kids that are black, white, brown, yellow, and red.

We're in public school systems, we're in a situation that will turn around the future for these kids.

I'm telling you now, there's nothing like it in the United States of America.

Now, George Clooney and quite a few other people have been trying to get this started.

We've been doing it for almost 29 years, and we brought ourselves into a position of understanding it better than any single place.

When the American Film Institute came to see the program, the number one institute in the world today on film, number one, when they said they saw this, the everyone that was there, all of the administrators, all the producers, all the production staff, everybody that was there that saw it.

Many were crying when they saw the children and what they were going through and what they were doing.

And they also understood it to the point of where they asked us to give them the right to present this and to advance it.

And we turned to them and we said one thing, excuse me, no, this is not the American film institute's production.

This is a Latino film production, and there's a reason for that.

We do not get credit as a culture, and now this will resonate itself not only in the United States of America but around the world because the system really works very well.

As Stanford University escape, look at go online and see what they say about this program.

You're you've been exposed to something that if you don't dig deeper and help this understanding grow, all I can tell you is Los Angeles deserves our attention to this.

I was born and raised here in Los Angeles 80 years ago.

I've been doing my work for 61 years.

More than most of you have ever been alive.

And I can tell you now, it's a long time coming, but I hope that AI can keep me alive for at least another hundred years.

Because it's going to take a couple of hundred years to get past what is happening to this country.

And I gotta tell you right now, I thank so much Councilmember Soto Martinez for bringing us here and giving us this opportunity to speak to all of you and to the city.

Los Angeles is a beautiful space and place.

I'm so proud of being a part of this.

I was born and raised here.

Like I said, went to grammar school junior high and high school college right here at Wentee Stelle Community College, Cal State LA.

I'm born, I am a true example of public school systems of America.

I have 13 doctorates.

That's all I'm gonna say.

People say, well, they're honorary.

Yeah, try to get one.

No, I'm serious.

Try to get Harvard to give you one.

Try to get Columbia to give you one.

Try it.

It's you can't ask for it.

They gotta call you up and say, uh, we think you deserve this.

Oh, are you kidding me?

Thank you so much.

I'm born and raised here.

I gotta tell you right now, I'm passionate about this for one reason.

This is us.

We're the future, and I mean humanity.

I'm not talking about culture, I'm talking about humanity.

Because one thing I will say, and also the last thing I'm gonna say.

There's only one race, ladies and gentlemen, and you all know it, and that's a human race, period.

There's no black race, brown race, yellow race, red race.

No, white race, no.

One race, human race.

And inside of that, there's beautiful ethnicities, there's beautiful cultures.

God bless you all, thank you.

Councilmember Sotomartine.

Councilmember, before you close, we have a few members on the queue.

Okay, I'd like to uh call on Councilmember Roman for some comments, followed by Councilmember Rodriguez.

Thank you so much.

Councilmember Soto Martinez, thank you for bringing this presentation here.

And uh, Mr.

Olmos, thank you for your passionate words and for the work of Lale.

It's I actually worked in an organization before I was um in this role that was trying to bring more diversity into the film and television industry, and we learned about the work that this film festival did and your work in schools, and so I've known about it for a long time and have admired it very deeply.

So I'm just really excited to see you here to see the work that you've done for almost three decades now being recognized.

Um I know that unless you are able to open these pathways at a young age to make it possible for people who are in schools in middle schools and high schools, for them to think that these pathways are their own.

Sometimes those doors are closed off to people forever.

And so the work that you do is so integral, and it transforms how you can tell stories and what stories are on the screen.

So I just I really wanted to express my gratitude and to say that your reputation precedes you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Councilwoman Rodriguez, followed by Councilmember Hutt.

Thank you, Councilmember Soto Martinez, for this presentation.

Sadly, when you're around City Hall as long as I have been, you know the originations of when you actually embarked on this work.

And it's wonderful to see this 25-year milestone of this incredible work.

Because sadly, this industry has largely been accessible for the privileged.

It's wasn't very welcoming to the diversity of voices that could tell our own stories.

And so I want to thank you and congratulate you because sadly, we still don't see the level of space that's been created for communities like ours.

We continue to have to fight to make that space, but I want to thank you for your commitment and your diligence and work to continuing to expand it.

It's sad that we have to still fight to continue to have one inch of space in this industry.

But my hats off to you for continuing to use the voice that you uh were gifted to have to take the space that you were afforded and continue to expand it so that more members of our community could actually tell their own stories and to teach the young people about the power that they have to be able to tell their own stories.

Sadly, we've been programmed to think that we, you know, someone else could do it.

No, we're capable, we're talented, we've got the work ethic, and so all they needed was the opportunity and the access to do it.

So thank you so much for making that space for prying those doors open and keeping them open.

Uh we sadly are being demonstrated, shown every single day that we still have to do that for one another.

And so uh my hats off to you, my deep appreciation, and it's wonderful to continue to see this work uh evolve.

I remember you know, back, like I said, when you're in this building, as long as I've been start, you know, started back in 1994 as a young staff member, but was around when you know when you were uh embarking on doing all of this work, and so I'm incredibly grateful to see this uh continued ascension and the progress.

It's wonderful to see, and uh congratulations on this well-deserved recognition.

Thank you.

Councilmember Hutt.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair, and thank you, Councilmember Sado Martinez, for reminding us how important contributions are.

The arts is how we tell our story.

This is how we document history, and this is how we remind people of what we shouldn't do.

So being able to have an organization that you're keeping, you're holding on to language, you're holding on to culture, and you're not letting it be grabbed by big corporate.

I appreciate that so much.

Thank you for bringing that them to our attention and honoring everybody today, and thank you for your hard work and remembering how important children are in the equation and giving them a way to express themselves and also know that they could be behind the camera.

So thank you so much.

Thank you, Councilmember Hutt.

Back to you, Councilmember Toto Martinez, to close.

Thank you so much, Mr.

Chair.

Thanks, everyone, colleagues, for your wonderful kind words.

Uh, and again, I just encourage folks to understand more the work of Latino Film Institute, especially the Youth Central Youth Youth Cinema Project, it's incredible creating that pipeline.

But uh today we're celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival, and on behalf of the City of Los Angeles, like to present this to the entire LFI staff for all their incredible work, and here's for 25 more years.

Thank you.

All right.

Alright, as they head back to the media room, we'll call up Councilmember McCosker for another special presentation.

Councilmember Desarian, for what purpose you rise?

I didn't want to make a comment, but while Councilmember McCosco is coming up, I'll take an opportunity to say I really appreciate what my colleague did, Councilmember Soto Martinez.

In fact, I was very inspired because for a long time, a lot of our immigrant communities have tried to break in, break into these industries.

And some of the things I did when I was in the state legislature was try to bring pathways of below the line production, IATSI members to local universities or college, community colleges, to have students learn and figure out who to talk to, how to get those, you know, 30 days or however much the requirements are met in order to get into these jobs.

And by focusing on this, what I'm gonna do is probably ask another similar organization, ARPA Film Foundation, or the Armenian Film Society, that for the last 30 years have been doing the same things, providing film festivals and bringing young talent to introduce to the industry.

Thank you for doing this and giving me the idea to also highlight other components and voices within Los Angeles.

And thank you all for being here.

I appreciate it.

Thank you, Council President, for the recognition.

Absolutely.

Okay, now we turn it to Councilmember McCosker.

Thank you so much, Mr.

President and colleagues.

On this day where we are celebrating Los Angeles as having so many close ties to cultures around the world and certainly our great Latino culture here that built Los Angeles, we are really happy to celebrate two more celebrations.

First, I want to begin appropriately with Dobro Yutro.

Dobro Yutro.

Colleagues, it's my honor to be standing here today to celebrate the beginning of Croatian American Heritage Month.

I have the distinct honor of being joined by Consul General of the Republic of Croatia in Los Angeles, Rene Paya, and our esteemed guests from the 1-5 today as we kick off our month of celebrating Croatia's independence and their deep and lovely heritage.

Croatian heritage is very important to Los Angeles and to San Pedro and the harbor area in particular.

As we are home to one of the largest diasporas outside of Croatia, with over 30,000 people claiming Croatian heritage in our area alone.

Some days I claim that heritage, so I don't know if that number is actually correct.

Anyone who grew up in the San Pedro area or in anywhere in the harbor area has at least one, but probably more Croatian relatives or a Croatian-American friend.

San Pedro first became home to Croatian immigrants in the early 1900s.

And the majority of those who arrived were from the Dalmatian coast for our area along the Dalmatian coast.

The early 1900s also coincided with the founding of the port of Los Angeles, and many Croatians found careers related to the port as fishermen, cannery workers, workers on the docks, and now as executives in the Harbor Department.

And folks who are just important to the business and cultural community of the whole entire harbor area.

This period planted the seeds of Croatian culture in the 1-5 as our port and our city because of the port flourished.

Our distinct district is home to many Croatian cultural assets, including the Croatian American Club and the Dalmatian American Club.

And one of those great assets is Franny Yukrovic, president of the Croatian Club, who's with me today and will be speaking in a moment.

In a moment.

In addition, the Dalmatian American Club just celebrated 100 years of being in existence this past Saturday.

Fran A and the Consul General and I and several others, probably everybody behind me was there for a beautiful celebration of 100 years and 450 people packed in the room, and it was 450 because we couldn't get 451 to fit inside.

The Croatian Club and the Dalmatian American Club, and just folks sitting around the table at restaurants and bars across the harbor area who celebrate Croatian culture.

Both of these clubs are a beacon of Croatia in our community and provide a home for the rich Croatian history in our district that lives on forever.

But first, before we talk about the clubs, I want to bring a dear friend of mine to the podium, the consul general of the Republic of Croatia of Croatia, René Peya.

Hello, Council President, Council members.

It is my distinct pleasure and honor to be here today to celebrate Croatian American Heritage Month.

This is our third year, and it's wonderful that we can do that here every year as we have more and more events this month.

We are actually celebrating Croatian National Day at the end of the month, and throughout the month, we have many different cultural events.

It was a short documentary and won at the festival.

And the theme of the movie was a person who was selling fish at the fish market.

So how appropriate for for this event and this day.

And also the winds are very similar.

So there are so many things that we can learn from each other and teach each other and cooperate on so many different levels, and I was really inspired that by that.

It also reminded me of why all these Croatians came to this part in particular, because it reminded them of Croatia, of their homeland.

And not only that they came here, but they basically built an industry in fishing and canning and both building and working at the port.

And now they are integral part of this community, building it up even further and being very successful and very well integrated.

For instance, we have a person who was born here, whose father came from Comija from the island of Vies, was here in San Pedro as a fisherman working as a fisherman, and this person, Mr.

John Martinis, became a Nobel Prize winner this year for physics.

Went to San Pedro High, too.

Exactly.

So it's really astonishing how many people we have that have built lives here and thrived and also built bridges between Croatia and Los Angeles area.

I'm going to stop here.

I don't want to take it too long, but I would like to say for uh for the end that we are very proud to be one of the first countries to open uh or to sign an agreement uh about a Croatia House for the Olympics in two years, and also uh hopefully, we'll be playing in the World Cup in LA.

For now, we know we're playing in Dallas, but we're uh keeping our fingers crossed.

We'll we can play in LA with all of the support we have here.

Thank you so much.

Uh, it was an honor, and I hope you enjoyed the rest of the day.

Thank you.

Thank you, Consul General.

It is true when you drive the Dalmatian coast, it's very much like driving from Santa Monica down to San Pedro through our coastal regions.

We have the Santa Ana winds and you have the Bura.

Yes, we do.

And it drives it drives those, it drives those fires sometimes.

We also have a filmmaker here.

I'm going off script a little bit, but we're talking about films today.

We have a dear friend of mine, a San Pedro resident, a first generation American, Jack Baric.

Jack is a filmmaker here in our area, and he covers uh all kinds of things, but is working on a special film about the Croatian basketball team right now.

But I'm not going to ask you to speak, Jack.

I'm gonna ask my other dear friend, the president of the Croatian American Club in San Pedro, Frane Yerkovich.

Frane.

Thank you.

Thank you, good morning.

Uh Council President, uh Council members.

One five Councilmember Tim McCosker, Consulate General of the Republic of Croatia, René Peya.

I'm honored to be here again to celebrate with the city of Los Angeles, which has officially declared May as the Croatian American Heritage Month.

As president of the Croatian American Club in San Pedro, I want to thank you for your continued support of our community.

San Pedro is home to one of the largest Croatian populations outside of Croatia, and we are proud to host our 36th annual Independence Day Street Party on Sunday, May 24th, during Memorial Weekend.

While this event commemorates Croatia's statehood and maintains cultural ties, it's also a celebration for our entire San Pedro community.

Because of so many Croatian Americans in San Pedro and LA County, this celebration a big part of the local identity as we welcome all cultures in celebrating the rich heritage that make our district unique.

We invite the general public to experience Croatian culture through food, music, and dance.

We appreciate the city of Los Angeles for its support of our event and our community.

Again, I want to extend Croatian communities' gratitude to the councilman of the 15th District, Tim McCosker, and Consulate General of the Croatia, René Pea, for organizing and promoting various activities during Croatian Heritage Month.

Thank you and God bless.

Thank you, Frane.

A hot tip if you're in San Pedro on Wednesday, do not make lunch plans.

Go to the Croatian Club and for a very low price, and don't tell Franny the price is too low.

You get a fabulous lunch right there in their club.

Wednesdays, right?

Wednesdays, okay.

And get there early because they sell out.

Thank you so much.

In a few weeks, the streets of San Pedro will be filled with the famous red and white checkered jerseys in anticipation of the 2026 World Cup.

We're hoping we're gonna do well.

It starts in June, and we are glad that to report that when Croatia makes it all the way, the West Harbor Waterfront Project will be hosting an official FIFA fan zone for the finals.

And so we're hoping we're gonna be there cheering on Croatia.

Fans will be able to come to the waterfront to watch the games outdoors on a big screen.

I'm also very excited that San Pedro, as the Consul General said, will be hosting Croatia House during the LA 28 Olympics, which will be home to Croatian athletes and guests and dignitaries.

It is a privilege to represent the Croatian American community, we have members on the 1-5, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to highlight their heritage.

I now would like to present a certificate, if one is handed to me.

Oh, I bet we do.

Thank you.

Go right ahead.

Okay.

Uh Councilmember Rodriguez.

Thank you.

I just wanted to thank you, Mr.

McCosker, for this presentation and welcome you all to uh City Hall Chambers again.

I'm looking forward to finally rescheduling my trip to the Dalmatian Club.

I haven't been in a while.

Uh it's actually been some time, but it's it's such a beautiful uh show of community connectedness and how the diaspora has really been so active in the San Pedro neighborhood and community, and uh it's just it's always wonderful to have you all here.

I was very proud to uh work with Councilmember Hernandez to dedicate a square in the community of Angelino Heights, Echo Park, in celebration of the contributions of our dear friend Mary Anhayashi, who is a beautiful example of the uh gifts that the Croatian community brings throughout beyond the San Pedro area to the community of Los Angeles.

So, just want to thank you all for being here today and continuing to uh allow us to celebrate the contributions that your wonderful community makes to the city of Los Angeles.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And thank you, Councilmember Bukaskar, for bringing this really important presentation to us today, and I would like to give the floor back to you for to close.

Thank you.

And I want to thank Councilmember Rodriguez for pointing out that we have a beautiful Croatian community throughout the entire region, and we have a close relationship with St.

Anthony's downtown.

I know in San Pedro we always think about just San Pedro, and we think we're so special with all of our great Croatian heritage, but it really covers the entire Western states.

And I want to present to the Council General and who was joined here by her community with the recognition of Croatian American Heritage Month this third year.

We're looking forward to more and more years as we move forward.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

And now we transition.

Now we transition to another special celebration, Europe Day.

Can we bring our Councillor Corps here to the to behind me?

We go through this way as we celebrate Europe, Europe Day.

You know, I will say, I will just riff.

This seems a little unfair.

Croatia gets a month and Europe gets a day.

But we'll fix that, I suppose, right?

Thanks for the courtesy laugh.

Colleagues, today we are recognizing another significant European milestone, known as Europe Day.

Europe Day is observed every May 9th.

It marks the anniversary of the Schumann Declaration in 1950.

Come on in, everybody come on in.

The Schumann Declaration in 1950, an historic moment that led to the establishment of what we know today as the European Union.

The declaration steered Europe on a path of peace, unity, and cooperation.

And here in Los Angeles, we are proud to be home to so many European cultures that have also defined our city.

Europe Day is not just about celebrating the Schumann Declaration, but it's also about the connection between the United States and I will say Los Angeles and Europe.

As we prepare to host the World Cup and LA 28, our international relationships are more significant than ever.

And I think it's important to note that when LA 28 comes here, it's gonna be the first Olympics ever where every single delegation on Earth has a home field advantage because they will have their people here.

And this might be the most difficult thing I do in a long time.

From Croatia, we have the Dean of the Councillor Corps.

Right there, Rene Peya, Council General Renee Peya.

From Austria, we have General Counsel, Christine Moser.

Christine from Belgium, we have Council General Sophie Hatat.

Correct.

Correct.

From Finland, Deputy Council General, Hannah Kumpasalo Tuya Lov.

From France, Deputy Council General, Dimitri Damanin Damaniko, Dema Nianko.

Demonienko.

Thank you.

From Greece, Consul General.

I guess everybody worries that I'm gonna blow this one.

Christina Vala Sopulu.

Perfecto.

And from Italy, a friend of ours who was just here with us.

Consul General Rafaela Valentini.

Rafaela Valentini.

I mean, Germany and Poland.

Hold on.

Oh, yes.

Yes.

Lithuania, Council General.

Sandra Briketa.

Romania from Romania, Council General.

Raluka.

Iwana Radulesko.

From Poland.

Council General.

Paulina Kapusinska.

Brava.

Brava.

And this I'm going to have need help with pronunciation of this one.

From Ireland.

Yes.

Dominic, oh, the Vice Consul General from Ireland, Dominic Berkeley.

Dominic.

We need some Germany.

And from Germany, Andrea Sassen.

Oh, yes, of course.

So tonight, City Hall will be lit yellow and blue in honor of the colors of the European Union flag.

Let's wave our flags.

I would like to now present this resolution right here.

To the entire core from Europe for European Day.

And this is from all of us on the City Council.

And as the Dean, Brene, I would like to present this to you.

On behalf of all of your colleagues.

Thank you so much, thank you so much, Ms.

McKasker.

We have uh one more presentation.

We're going to transition to.

I could ask Council Member Lee to head to the podium.

K Expo recognition.

Colleagues, today I am proud to recognize and celebrate K-Expo USA 2026.

This is going to be an exciting international platform that continues to expand the global reach of Korean culture, creativity, and innovation.

As one of the world's leading centers for entertainment technology and creativity and cultural diversity, Los Angeles is the perfect place to host this important global event, and I'm proud to share that this is the first year that K-Expo is being held in our amazing city.

K-Expo represents far more than entertainment.

It highlights the strength of Korea's creative industries and the globe growing global influence of Korean content across many sectors, including K-dramas, animation, gaming, web tunes, AR, VR, technology, beauty, fashion, and music.

K Expo has continued to grow since its launch in 2022, building meaningful international partnerships and creating opportunities for companies to expand into global markets.

The fact that K-Expo is making its Los Angeles debut reflects not only the worldwide popularity of Korean culture, but also the strong connection between Korea and our city.

Los Angeles is home to the largest Korean communities outside of Korea, and Korean Americans continue to make tremendous contributions to our economy, culture, and civic life.

K-Expo represents the power of cultural exchange and international collaboration.

It creates opportunities not only for economic growth, but also for stronger global connections and mutual understanding.

We look forward to seeing its continued success.

Hopefully, always here in Los Angeles.

And before I introduce next speaker, I believe we have a video to show and share with all of you.

And in 2026, that journey continues in Los Angeles.

Welcome to K-Expo USA 2026.

Discover the world of K-Content, from games and web tunes to globally loved streaming content.

K-Beauty, now part of everyday life.

Experience the latest trends in products firsthand.

K-Food, loved around the world, from Kimbop and Tokwaki to the iconic Han River Ramyo.

Feel the energy of K-pop.

Live on stage.

K-pop cover dance festival, U.S.

chant.

J Park.

P1 Harmony.

Long shot.

K-Style today, shaping tomorrow.

K Expo USA 2026.

At the heart of K Culture.

Content expands organically into food, beauty, and beyond.

Be part of what's next.

And now please join me in welcoming KOCA Acting President Yu Hyun Suk for opening remarks.

KOCA is the Korean creative content agency which supports and promotes Korea's creative content industry around the world.

Good afternoon.

My name is Yu Hyun Sug.

I flew in from Seoul, South Korea for this opening remarks.

First, I would like to extend my sincerest gratitude to Councilman, Councilman John Lee, Commissioner Steve King, and all City Council officials for making today's meaningful occasion possible.

I would also like to thank all guests who have joined us despite their busy schedules.

Today marks a truly significant moment as we open a new chapter in cultural exchange between Korea and the United States.

In particular, today's proclamation ceremony carries even a greater meaning as it has been made possible through close collaboration between the Government of the Republic of Korea and Los Angeles City Council.

It is a great honor to officially proclaim the launch of 2026 K Expo USA here in this symbolic and historic place.

K Expo USA is a collaborative expo led by Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, together with five Korean government ministries and six affiliated organizations, including Ministries of Agriculture, Oceans and Fisheries, Health and Welfare, and Venture and Startups.

We will showcase the many different charms of Korea.

Through the business expert consultation meetings, we will support companies expanding into global markets.

And through K-pop and Taekwondo performances, we will bring excitement and energy to audiences here in Los Angeles.

We invite you to come and experience the K content beauty to food and performances all firsthand at the event.

Thank you very much.

Thank you, Mr.

Yu, for traveling all the way to Korea to be a part of this presentation.

Now I'm going to introduce someone who is no stranger to any of you.

I'd like to welcome Adam Burke, President and CEO of the Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board.

And that influence can be seen across every aspect of Los Angeles, from revolutionary cuisine by Roy Choi and Ki Kim to entertainment icons like Randall Park and Steffi Bake, sports stars, Song Hunming, and Chloe Kim, fashion designers, Mi Jung Park and Carolyn, and so much more.

And of course, we cannot wait for the sold-out BTS reunion tour coming this fall.

Both and that's worth give it up for that.

Both Angelinos and visitors alike know that K-Town is LA's vibrant 24-hour epicenter of pop culture, food, fashion, and nightlife, and our long-standing relationship is also reflected in bilateral tourism and the strong people-to-people exchanges between our destinations.

K Expo represents the very best of that exchange, bringing together culture, commerce, and community, while also inspiring future travel and deeper connections between Korea and Los Angeles.

Korea is one of our most important international markets with more than 300,000 highly engaged visitors, and we expect that number to increase this year, who significantly contribute to our local economy, supporting vital jobs and businesses across every council district.

At LA Tourism, we are committed to strengthening our relationship with Korea across travel, business, and culture, ensuring Los Angeles remains a welcoming and world-class destination for Korean visitors because in our city of Angels, we know truly everyone is welcome.

We're grateful for the opportunity to host K Expo and excited about the opportunities it represents for continued partnership and growth.

Congratulations on the official launch of K Expo USA and thank you again for the opportunity to be part of this important moment.

Thank you, Mr.

Burke, and I'm honored to uh introduce uh maybe I'm a little biased, but uh my favorite council general and the coolest council general here in the city of Los Angeles.

I'd like to uh introduce Council General Kim Young-wan.

And yeah, they're all hung up for me.

Thank you very much for nice introduction, John.

So you're my honor.

Uh Mr.

Council President and uh City Council members, uh, together with uh Kokoa and K-Culture team here with us.

I thank you for holding this wonderful ceremony celebrating Korean culture.

Your recognition of Korean culture today on a city level has a really special meaning, not only to Angelinos and Koreans, but also to the fans of Korean culture of all ages, ethnicities, and backgrounds.

Los Angeles, the city of Angels is a symbol of global pop culture.

With official recognition and celebration, LA has once again proved to be a shining example of what it truly means to embrace multiculturalism.

Korean Expo will serve as a platform to celebrate diversity and unity in the city of Angels, encouraging cultural exchanges, and deepening bonds with people from different backgrounds.

The city reinforces the energy of unity, K Expo generated to reach out to every corner of the city.

Again, I extend my sincere gratitude to each council member for providing this excellent opportunity to celebrate the Korean culture and people and organizing this planned ceremony.

Thank you very much.

Come on, and please let me welcome Lee Heedon, director of the Korean Cultural Center here in the city of Los Angeles.

Yeah, I'm very delighted to join this launching ceremony in here, the city council of the 2026 K Expo USA where Korea's latest and hottest lifestyle, cultures, content, and products will be showcased.

First, I would like to extend the mic sincere credit to acting president Yu Hun-so of the Korea uh creative Content agency and all the government institutions and the companies of Korea who will have worked to make this event possible.

I also express my heartfelt thanks to the city of Los Angeles and the citizen for their continuous support and love for Korean culture and products.

As you know, the strong national brand created by Cultural Power supports businesses and serves as a pulpful advantage in the global market.

Zero 2026 KS for USA.

Korea's cultural content and products will also again highlight the value and attraction of Korea to LA audiences.

The Korean Cultural Center LA will continue to widely introduce the diverse value and beauty of Korean culture and works as a stepping stone to bring inspiration, creativity, and innovation to the Korean and the U.S.

economy.

Lastly, I wish great success to the 2026 KS by USA and you all health and happiness.

Thank you.

And I'd like to present this city certificate resolution on behalf of all the city council members.

Thank you so much for holding the question.

Before you before you close, Mr.

Lee, we do have members on the queue.

So before well, take your photo and then I'd like to call Councilwoman Hutt to say a few words.

I know, we need to do one, we can sorry, Councilman.

Thank you security.

Okay, but before you depart, before you depart, sir, Councilwoman Hutt.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair, and thank you, Councilmember Lee, for bringing this delegation in to talk about the launch of the K-Expo.

I'm the councilwoman of Koreatown, and I'm looking so forward to this expo.

It's not just going to bring people downtown, but it's going to bring them to K-town, where the best food in the city of Los Angeles lives.

So I'm looking forward to May for you coming out, all the folks that are coming in town, and thank you for reminding the city how important this diversity is.

Today we have celebrated the tapestry of Los Angeles, and I'm really excited about what this brings to the city.

Thank you and congratulations, Comsami Da.

All right.

Thank you so much, Councilmember Lee and everyone for this presentation.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And we will all see you, whether you're a fan of our music, you know, movies, TV shows, and especially as Councilmember Hutt mentioned, our food.

We hope you all join us at K Expo USA 2026.

Thank you, everyone.

Okay.

If you could read that into the record and call some names.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Uh, for people providing public comment when it's your turn to speak, please state uh which of the agenda items you'd like to speak to.

You have one minute per item, up to two minutes total because there are only two items on the agenda open for public comment.

Um, 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 can't tell whether you're on topic, you'll get one brief warning from me or the president.

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

If you don't do so, unfortunately, you'll forfeit the rest of your speaking time and we'll move on to the next speaker.

The items that are open for public comment are items six and seven.

That's six and seven.

Um, members of the public may also speak for up to one minute for general public comment.

During the general public comment period.

Members of the public may speak to any of the items or anything else within the city subject matter jurisdiction.

We'll tell you when your time's up.

I have a couple of more announcements before we begin.

Um, and I'd ask the interpreter to please make this announcement aloud to the room.

If you require a Spanish language interpreter, please make sure you pause every few sentences so the interpreter can interpret.

And we will pause your time during the interpretation so you'll have the same amount of speaking time as everyone else.

Additionally, if you've made a uh an accommodation request under the American with Disabilities Act with the clerk's office, or would you like to make one today in order to make use of the wireless handset?

Um, after you hear your name called, please raise your hand so that sergeants can provide you with the wireless microphone.

And with that, we are ready to call some names for public comment.

Do we have the names?

I'd like to call up Gordy, Jerry C, Joey L.

Casey, and Leslie.

And if you've heard your name called, please go to your left to provide public comment.

Hi, which items or general public comment did you want to speak on?

General public comment.

Please go ahead.

You have a minute.

Good afternoon, City Council.

I want to wish all those in the political race a fair chance to hold office.

Those fighting for the major job and the ones looking for a city council position or otherwise.

We don't know about tomorrow in an uncertain world, so let's be decent citizens and volunteers of Los Angeles.

Thank you.

Hi, Mr.

Morris.

Good morning, sir, good morning.

Well, how many items are available for public comment?

It's only six and seven.

So it's the bid in the Achilles settlement or general public comment.

That's good enough for me.

Uh first of all, thank you.

I want I really really enjoy days like this when we have uh Mr.

McCoska bringing Europe to us, and they live all around us.

When Miss Padilla brings uh her community to us, uh it makes this city council, this is why we come here.

I know I'm going into general uh into general public uh comment.

Uh I'm not gonna talk uh be negative about Mr.

Lee.

Uh, but I want to honestly, I'm grateful to Miss Rahman for challenging the mayor.

I don't know who I'm gonna vote for yet, but at least she had the guts to challenge.

And so I want to thank her for that.

And then also uh the candidates for governor.

I don't know who I'm gonna vote on that, but I'd like to send Mr.

Virgosa a little uh message with respect.

You know, there's a scene from The Godfather where Marlon Brando tells um uh James Conn, never ever let anybody outside the family know what you're thinking.

I say to Mr.

Virgosa, you know, attacking Mr.

Barcera about this illegal, all these kids being uh hurt.

Uh Mr.

Virgosa, please don't spread mega lies.

Don't spread mega lies.

Thanks, Miss Maris.

Next speaker.

Hello.

Hello, Leslie Mesa, General Comment.

Great.

Please begin.

I am here today to share some important findings regarding flying food group.

Two renowned labor standard experts, Lance Compa and Deborah Greenfield recently co-authored an independent an independent analysis of flying food groups labor practice.

Lance Compa is a senior lecturer emerist at Cornell University.

Deborah Greenfield is a former deputy general of International law labor Organization with the ILO, which is the body of the United Nations of sets of international labor standards.

There are 31 comprehensive page analysis, which I will share, draws upon workers' interviews, declarations, and affidavits and complaints.

Investigations and citations on the record from various agencies that have issued citations of flying food group over the last several years, including the Borough Contract Administration, Kaosha and California Labour Commissioner California Highway Patrol, and the National Labor Relations Board.

The authors conclude that despite flying foods lip service to international labor standards, the company has systematically failed to uphold human rights and labor obligations at its flying food facility.

Your time's expired.

Yes, hello, my name is Yamila.

I am a member of Flying Food Group.

I've been working there for a year and a half, and recently my co-workers and I had a banded together.

Hi.

Hello, Council members.

My name is Oscar Turcio.

I've been a flying, I've been a dishwasher at Flying Food Group and I have worked there for two and a half years.

We are the invisible backbone of air travel, and we want to ask you.

They violate the human rights commitments to workers who feed passengers traveling through LAX.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I'd like to call up Oscar Tercios, Daniel Sosa, Michael Ackerman, Danny M, David A, and Danny N.

Okay, so if you've heard your names called, please go to your left to get to the podium.

Doesn't matter what order you come to the podium as long as your name was called.

Hello, which items are general public comment do you want?

Uh my name is Daniel Sosa, and I'd like to speak at general public comment.

Please begin.

Um I just want to continue to emphasize that the cannabis industry needs lower taxes in conjunction with the tax amnesty program.

They should be lowered to 0.1%, which is what every other business pays in the city.

Even if you cut them in half and lower them from 10% to 5%, we will still be paying 50 times the tax rate as other businesses, while still competing against an illicit market that is larger than we are, an illicit market that the city promised they would deal with, but have proven unable to do so.

So for reasons of public health and safety, for reasons of equity and fairness, and the stated goals of the social equity program, and for reasons of just plain making this industry economically viable, we need our taxes lowered as low as possible, preferably to 0.1%, just like everybody else.

Thank you.

Before the next speaker begins, I'll call up a few more people.

Michael Orion Day, Ernie S.

Veronica, Mr.

Ottilano, Mary Ann, Tino, Johnny G.

Gordy.

Hi, Speaker.

Did you want to speak on general public comment?

General comment.

Please begin.

I want to re-emphasize that you need to seek opposing advice.

If that means getting personal legal advisors, then that's what you have to do.

It's apparent that someone has been trying very hard to convince you to just keep what you're doing regarding non-police oversight, regardless of the increasingly obvious disastrous results.

As I said at the last police commission, the chief's weekly report of crime statistics simply ignores broad categories, including arson, bribery, extortion, kidnapping, prostitution, and promoting prostitution.

And again, it's unacceptable for you to have secret discussions.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And before the next speaker, if there's anyone here who there's a lot of names on the list, but if there's any, I'm not gonna I want to stop reading the names.

If there's anyone here who came to speak who has not spoken yet, please line up on the left side of the chamber, house left, stage right, and uh we will uh give you time to speak.

But uh we don't need to read any more names.

Thank you.

Hi, Speaker.

Um, did you want to talk to an item or general public comment?

Six and public comment.

Okay, so you start with six, you have a minute, and then an item or one minute for general.

Please begin.

So I don't know what's a coincidence.

We have another business improvement district uh motion.

So I don't I'm kind of curious why this is not being dealt with by the chamber of commerce because typically they should be dealing with things like these.

But um my humble recommendation is not to have another smoke shop, liquor store, or any of those kinds of things, especially since it is in an area where there are schools, so that's just my humble advice to the councilman's district.

Um, yes, I'll move to general public comment.

Okay.

So, yes, uh, first and foremost, I want to rescind any criticism I had for Mr.

Blumenfield's office.

They have been very nice.

They did respond to uh whatever issue I brought to them, so kudos to them.

I do want to bring up, of course, all of you know what happened on Wednesday, and I'm very happy that the federal government stepped in and cleaned up what's like MacArthur Park.

I used to work near that area.

I worked for LA Care Health Plan for about 18 months.

Anyhow, it's like a no-go zone.

You can't go there, you can't walk there, you can't do anything over there.

It's like crazy.

So I'm happy that they cleaned that area up.

And yeah, thank you again.

Bye.

Thank you, sir.

Hello.

Uh, which items are general public comment.

Did you want?

Hi, good afternoon.

Yes, uh, just general comment today.

Great.

Go ahead, you have a minute.

Yes, sir.

Thank you, Council.

My name is Bran Antaliano.

I just want to say uh thank you again, and it was a pleasure having this uh opportunity coming in to see all these um Los Angeles natives, local celebrities and speak.

But uh yes, I just want to mention the Olympics really, and just mention how you guys are doing a phenomenal job at um uh preparing the streets for the Olympics and for our future um Angelinos.

Uh yes, the streets could use a little bit more work, guys.

Gavin Newsom, he did put in an order last year, but um we we could help them too and keep the streets clean.

Um when I say keep them clean, I mean like yes, let's be that nation now that offers free health care.

Um let's be that nation that cleans the streets when there's a piece of gum on it.

So um it's your city, guys.

You have all the power, the money, more money than what we need, if you must know from me, but yes, thank you.

Thank you, sir.

And I believe our last speaker.

Um, did you want to speak to an item or general public comment?

General public comment.

Please begin.

My name is Michael Day, and uh I wanted to address the council regarding uh the Department of Water and Power and their arrears, the way they handle their arrears program with people that are on public assistance or disabled.

That's absolutely ridiculous.

And um I'm I my services are turned off.

Basically, the Department of Water Power is gonna make me homeless.

And that's weird.

I've tried really hard to pay the money, they won't take anything less than a ridiculously large amount.

It takes me three years to save up that much.

And I just wanted to maybe bring it to your attention so that maybe in the future people that are in my situation won't be in my situation because basically I'm gonna be thrown back out of the streets because they want a ridiculous amount of money.

And uh I tried going to them and say, Here's what I have, I can pay you guys 200 bucks a month, and they won't even work with me on that.

And I just wanted to make a comment because I think people in the future that are in my situation, shouldn't be you guys are supposed to be trying to end homelessness, you know what I mean?

So I just wanted to come and make a public comment about that because I'm gonna be back on the streets, and that's ridiculous.

So I don't even know who to talk to.

There's nobody that can help.

Nothing like that.

So is that me?

All right.

Thank you for coming down.

Thank you.

Okay, that concludes public comment.

Uh what's before us?

The council may now vote on item number six.

Okay, the items before us.

Let's open the roll.

Close the roll.

Tally the votes, 10 ayes.

And Mr.

President, the ordinance for item six will be held over to Friday, May 15th, 2026 for second consideration unless reconsidered with 12 members.

Okay, and for item seven, it's next.

Uh, I'm gonna move that relative to item seven on today's agenda that the council approve the recommendations in the confidential report.

Is there a second to that motion?

Uh Councilmember Park, second set.

And this is this is the item that was going that could be heard in closed session.

If any member wishes to hear it closed session and speak now, uh, and we can we can certainly go into closed session.

But seeing no members uh asking for that closed session, I think we can vote on the recommendation put forward.

If I may, Mr.

President, may I just read the recommendation?

Yes, please.

For item seven in the case entitled Greg Akeeley et al.

or City of Los Angeles et al.

There's a recommendation to expend up to 287,626.44 cents in settlement.

Okay.

Any member wish to be heard on this item?

Seeing no members on the queue, let's open the roll.

Close the roll and tally the votes.

10 ayes.

Okay, that measure is approved.

What's next?

Council has motions for posting and referral.

Without objection, they are posted and referred.

The desk is clear, Mr.

President.

Okay.

Colleagues, are there any announcements?

Oh, uh, we there's been a request to send uh item seven forthwith.

Without objection, item seven is sent forthwith.

Uh Councilwoman Ron.

Thank you.

I had an announcement for tomorrow at the Griffith Park uh playground.

We are going to have a um dog adoption event called Pazapalooza 2026.

It's a community celebration with a purpose.

It's going to bring together dog lovers, local vendors, rescue organizations for a day centered around loving our dogs, dog adoption and giving back.

Last year, a couple of staff members from our office attended and left with their own furry forever friends.

So I'm excited for the public to join us and hopefully adopt some lovely furry friends of their own.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Are there any other announcements?

Okay, and it's my understanding we have uh one additional motion that is being posted and referred.

Is that correct?

Has that motion been posted and referred?

Okay.

So without objection, that motion is also posted and referred.

Okay.

With that, we can uh see.

Are there any members wish to adjourn in memory?

Looking to my left.

Looking to my right, I see no adjourning motions.

Therefore, this meeting uh is adjourned.

Go out and serve the city well.

Thank you.

Warner Lawrence is one of the most powerful fireboats and can discharge thirty-eight thousand gallons of water per minute.

These fireboats ensure that the port and the fire department maintain a high level of service for many years to come.

We are back at the Los Angeles Maritime Museum.

We hope you enjoyed your virtual harbor tour at the port of Los Angeles.

Perched high above the sprawling city, Griffith Observatory stands as both a beacon of science and a symbol of Los Angeles itself.

Since opening its doors in 1935, the observatory has welcomed millions of visitors, not just as spectators, but as participants in discovery.

By day, the observatory offers sweeping views of Los Angeles, stretching from the downtown skyline to the Pacific Ocean.

But as the sun sets, its purpose comes into focus.

A gift from the city from philanthropist Griffith J.

Griffith, the building was founded on a simple but powerful idea that astronomy should be accessible to everyone.

And to this day, admission remains free, inviting anyone with curiosity to look deeper into the universe.

So whether you travel the cosmos or are local to the neighborhood, we're glad that you're here.

Welcome to Los Angeles.

The Griffith Observatory stands watch over Griffith Park, the largest municipal park in the United States, bringing with cultural landmarks, miles of trails and wilderness.

For locals and tourists, hiking the park's vast terrain remains a beloved tradition and one of my favorites.

It's the ultimate destination to leave the urban bustle behind and discover a protected wilderness on the very threshold of Los Angeles.

To capture unrivaled views of the entire LA basin, visitors can hike from the observatory to Mount Hollywood, the park's highest peak.

An adventurers can traverse a comprehensive 53-mile network of scenic paths, bridal trails, and fire roads.

If you live or visiting Southern California, this is probably one of the best places you can choose because it's accessible.

If you do run into any kind of trouble, there's going to be people around.

If you're new to hiking, it's a very safe place to start.

I would say if you want to choose Griffith Park, the reason you would do it is because you're getting history.

You can see the Hollywood sign, you can see the Griffith Park Observatory, and if it's a clear day, you can see downtown LA, see Tree City, out to the ocean at times.

They've even got down below.

There's a cave that they filmed the Batman car.

And you know it when it drove out for the Batman movie.

So you can just, if you want something short, you can park there and just walk off and be like, hey, this is where a movie was made.

So super fun.

One of the basic do's is you definitely want to stay on trail.

These trails are maintained, so there's a less likelihood of you getting hurt on the trails, as opposed to off the trail.

So you can see the path right here.

There's a sign posted caution rattlesnakes and the little no footpath sign.

Uh, this is actually an animal path.

So the animals form this path, and over time people start walking over to that.

Those paths, we do not maintain them.

They're very uneven, and you're also stepping into basically the homes of the animal wildlife in here.

So we're trying to keep people on the trails and off of the animal paths because you're starting to basically invade the animals' territory, disturbing their homes, and there's a higher likelihood of you getting lost or getting injured off the designated trails.

You do sometimes see a snake, and I'm never afraid of them.

They're always at the side of the road.

They don't like me, they hear me stomping along.

So they just head off into the bushes.

If you encounter wildlife in the park, you have to be mindful that you're in their home.

This is their habitat.

We're the ones that are visiting.

So if you see any wildlife, just let them be, let them do their thing.

Bring your dogs, just make sure that they're on leash.

The last thing we want for them to do is to see a squirrel running across or a coyote and try to chase after them, and then they're lost.

And also be mindful of the weather conditions.

If it's really hot and you're gonna take them hiking on a trail, the floor is a lot hotter on the trails than it is on grass or anything else, and so there is the possibility that you're gonna end up burning your poor animals' paws, then they overheat, get dehydrated.

Um, so just be mindful of the weather conditions and just make sure that your animals are hydrated and they're on the leash.

Oftentimes even off into the evenings, it keeps your LAFD pretty busy.

But you can rest assured that the Los Angeles City Fire Department is very well prepared and ready to assist anybody that may become sick or injured on one of these trails.

Um, anywhere from airborne assets like our helicopter rescue teams to uh ground assets like brush patrols, um, fire engines and firefighters.

So typically what we'll do is we'll have firefighters come on foot and they'll coordinate rescues with helicopters uh to assist on uh rescuing anybody that may be hurt or injured or sick on that trail.

So if you find yourself having a little bit of difficulty in the middle of the hiking, you know it's gonna complicate your ability to get off of that trail and make it back to your vehicle safely.

There's an acronym that's called stop, right?

You want to stay put, you want to think, you want to observe, you want to plan.

So stay put, don't move because when you move, it makes it difficult for rescuers to be able to access where you're at.

You want to think about where you're at and how to articulate that information.

Observe your area before it starts to get dark on you.

So if you have any landmarks, you can communicate that to potential rescuers and then start coming up with a plan, right?

If you need to maybe come up a cliff or you need to assist yourself and helping get rescued, come up with the plan.

So that's an acronym we like people to try and memorize if they find themselves in a precurious situation.

You want to make sure if you're gonna be hiking in peak season, like in the spring or summertime, consider hiking in the morning when the weather's a lot cooler or in the afternoons when it's not as warm.

If you're gonna be hiking in the fall or winter, be assured that it's not gonna be raining on you at some point when you're on that trail because uh that brings a whole nother element uh to your ability to get on and off that trail, such as uh water, rock and debris flows, uh making the trails a lot slipperier, sometimes being washed out.

So those are the two things to consider depending on the climate and the weather you're gonna be experiencing.

I look at my weather app anytime gonna hike to make sure you know if it's gonna rain or if it's gonna be super hot.

That impacts when I go and what I bring with me.

Wearing a hat is really important, the shields from the sun and the sunscreen.

Doing a little bit of research what the weather's gonna be doing that day.

Are we gonna be in a red flag day?

Are we gonna be having a high heat advisory?

Is it gonna be raining?

All these things are gonna affect your ability to be able to stay safe and have a good time while you're hiking on the trails.

It's my passion.

I love being outdoors.

I love the fresh air.

I love the nature.

Um I love breaking the sweat and getting the exercise.

Getting away from the city and kind of in a quiet place.

I feel more centered.

It's a stress release, just gives you the space for yourself and for your brain to have a race from all the things that are going on in the world, and to just look up and see, you know, the trees and the view.

So we're here at Pan Pacific Park in Council District 5, celebrating Earth Day with LA Sanitation and many of our city and community partners.

Earth Day is a time where we come together as a community, but also as a city, as a sanitation and the department of public work to help educate the public about the innovative approaches and the resources that are available to sustainability, composting, recycling, and so much more.

Today is the 10th anniversary of Earth Day LA.

We are big fans of protecting the environment, reducing plastic waste, and making it easier for people to live a sustainable life.

We're very excited here to invite the community to come and learn about all of the work that sanitation does, our wastewater treatment, our stormwater activities, our solid resources and recycling.

These are major programs that we do to help protect the environment.

We even have a bike repair clinic.

We even have a toy swamp booth as well.

We're giving away trees, we're teaching kids and families how to recycle and compost.

And there's so much more that we're teaching the public and also promoting our application as well, SORT LA, where it teaches people how to throw away your garbage and your trash.

And then we're gonna find it in our hands.

So today I'm looking forward to all the kid activities, the happy children out here learning about how to be zero waste in their households because kids are so good at teaching their parents, and that is such an important factor for the future and for our city and how our neighborhoods look.

I think um K-I'm plan because uh they helped us eat and and breathe better.

When you come to this event here at the City for Earth Day, we're gonna help you get free trees and learn how to use the mulch, and you can go home and this is a family environment.

It's a great day, it feels good out here.

You're helping the environment to reduce, we use the recycle.

The theme of our event is planet versus plastics.

We're really trying to outreach to the community and let them know that things need to be done to reduce the plastics that are produced.

We need to recycle the plastics that are in the everyday commodities that we use.

This is an annual event, so this means in addition to today, next year and the following years after, for the subsequent earth days, we would love to have everybody continue to participate to bring your friends just to learn about individual work that they can do to make a contribution.

It's good to help the earth.

Through its historic telescopes, including the iconic Zeiss refractor, visitors can peer into the night sky, tracing planets, star clusters, and distant galaxies.

And inside immersive exhibits and the Samuel Ocean Planetarium transform complex scientific ideas into vivid, unforgettable experiences, making the vastness of space feel personal and immediate.

While the observatory offers vistas of Los Angeles, the city itself cultivates a vast array of cultural, athletic, and professional milestones that honor the diverse talents of all Angelinos.

LA remains dedicated to inclusivity, from supporting city interns taking their first steps to embracing the vibrant colours of the spring holy festival.

Today we just launched this blind soccer season.

And it's just amazing to see all like how happy and hyper the kids are to play and get that energy out.

And seeing how they can actually play alongside people who are older than them, younger than them, and basically collaborate and connect with other people whom they might not otherwise be able to connect with.

Now we're gonna do side shuffle, side shuffle.

It's for anyone who wants to play soccer in an inclusive way.

Because if you hear this, the ball.

progreso entrenamiento tras el entrenamiento.

When I lost my sight when I was 12, I mostly stayed home because I didn't really think that I could do much.

Like I was like, oh, I'm blind.

I can't play sports like everyone else.

I can't do things like everyone else.

But when I started learning about adaptive sports, that's when I was like, wait a minute.

I can play the sports like my friends.

So when my friends talk about soccer or basketball or archery or all these other sports or golf, I can connect with my sighted peers and non disabled peers as well and understand what they're talking about and build connections that I otherwise wouldn't.

Because without these sports the kids just gonna be staying inside not really doing much and not being able to be active.

But with these sports it gives the youth a chance to be able to connect with