Los Angeles City Council Regular Meeting - June 26, 2026
Los Angeles City Council Regular Meeting - June 26, 2026
The Los Angeles City Council convened a regular meeting on Friday, June 26, 2026, with 15 members present (Bloomfield, Harris-Dawson, Hernandez, Hutt, Jurado, Lee, McOsker, Nazarian, Padilla, Park, Price, Raman, Rodriguez, Soto-Martinez, Yaroslavsky). The meeting included a special session to address a local emergency declaration related to the Boyle Heights warehouse fire. Key actions included approval of numerous consent items, a presentation celebrating Bolero music, recognition of a retiring city employee, and a contentious vote on Measure ULA eviction defense contracts.
Consent Calendar
- Items 4 through 9, 17 through 20, and 22 through 24 were approved unanimously (12 ayes).
- Item 21 was approved unanimously (12 ayes).
- Item 11 was approved with 12 ayes and 2 noes.
- Items 27, 30, and 32 through 34 were approved unanimously (14 ayes).
- Item 2 (lighting assessment district) was noted and filed after the weighted majority of no votes (79.29%) resulted in failure of the proposed district.
- Item 16 was continued to July 1, 2026.
- Item 26 was continued to August 4, 2026.
- Item 28 was continued to July 1, 2026.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Rose Cotto (homeowner, CD 11) alleged that the City Council violated the Brown Act by secretly altering ballot tabulation protocol for the streetlight maintenance district, and that property owners were not properly noticed.
- Lauren Harper (Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles) spoke on behalf of Stay House LA, noting that four ULA eviction defense contractors have worked for three months without executed contracts, and requested expedited payment.
- Dr. Cutie Ken Mark (scientist) proposed emerging early-stage wildfire detection technology during general public comment.
- Deshaun Duncan (real estate licensee) offered services to house the unhoused.
- Clara Solis (Highland Park resident) voiced support for Councilmember Jurado’s resolution regarding the Arroyo Seco water reuse project, citing over 4,000 petition signatures and opposition from the neighborhood council.
- Pilar Reynaldo opposed the same resolution, stating it was based on disinformation and that the city has no jurisdiction over Pasadena.
- Multiple speakers on item 2 expressed confusion about the streetlight ballot and requested removal of their ballots.
- Herman gave profanity-laced comments alleging Brown Act violations and discrimination, and was warned for disruption.
Presentations
- Día del Bolero – Councilmember Raman led a presentation recognizing August 1 as Día del Bolero in Los Angeles, celebrating the 10-year anniversary of Boleros de Noche. Founder Roberto Carlos spoke, and a musical performance by Los Rebeldes Románticos was given. Councilmember Padilla expressed support for preserving Latino culture.
- Retirement of Carlos – Councilmember Jurado honored Carlos, a retiring city employee with over 30 years of service in transportation projects (including $4 million for Griffith Park safety improvements and multiple traffic safety projects). Carlos thanked the council and his family.
Discussion Items
- Item 31 – ULA Expenditure Plan and Eviction Defense Contracts – The council debated an amendment to authorize payment for eviction defense services provided during April, May, and June 2026 (after contract expiration). Key points:
- Councilmembers Lee, Rodriguez, and Park opposed, citing lack of transparency and failure to provide detailed data on how funds were spent.
- Anna Ortega (LAHD Assistant GM) stated that services were not interrupted and that monthly reports have been received, covering 29,000+ tenants assisted. She expressed no fear of federal audit.
- Councilmembers Jurado, Soto-Martinez, Hernandez, and Nazarian supported the measure, arguing that the work has been done and payment is urgent to prevent homelessness. Jurado noted that reporting has improved and that the city should apply the same scrutiny to internal departments.
- Councilmember Padilla highlighted inequitable distribution of funds across districts and called for better rules.
- Councilmember McOsker sought legal clarification on whether payment can be made without a new contract. A friendly amendment was added requiring compliance with the City Charter.
- The council voted 10 ayes, 3 noes to pass item 31 as amended.
Special Meeting – Boyle Heights Fire Emergency
- The council recessed the regular meeting and convened a special meeting to vote on a resolution declaring a local emergency for the Boyle Heights warehouse fire.
- Public comments included complaints about the six-day duration of the fire and demands for better monitoring and water testing.
- The resolution passed unanimously (15 ayes).
Key Outcomes
- Lighting assessment district failed due to weighted majority opposition (79.29% no votes).
- Item 31 approved – $X million (amount not specified in transcript) in ULA funds authorized for payment to eviction defense contractors for April-June 2026, with a requirement that new contracts comply with the City Charter.
- Special meeting emergency resolution adopted unanimously for the Boyle Heights fire.
- Día del Bolero officially recognized on August 1, 2026.
- Carlos honored with a certificate of recognition for over 30 years of public service.
- Several items were continued to future meeting dates: Item 16 (July 1), Item 26 (August 4), Item 28 (July 1).
- The meeting was adjourned in memory of Vera Milton, longtime Kaiser Permanente employee and grandmother of council staffer Jonathan Mitchell.
Meeting Transcript
And teachers and nurses, and we need to be out here supporting them and making sure they are accepted and that we stand with them. We see you, we hear you, we're here to fight alongside with you. Pride is not just this month and this day, but we're here to fight for the rights of every single person and the dignity of all people, LA is for all. I'm extraordinarily proud and grateful that this is going on and that I can be a part of it. We all have each other's backs. Um, and we are, in fact, a community, and we're not going to let them divide and conquer us. We're a united front. It takes things like pride to remind everyone of how far we've come, but how much farther we still have to go. We've had people for decades fighting for equality and equity, and it's just become abundantly clear that that fight has to continue on. We were pleased to give $500,000 to the downtown women's center. This grant supports the most basic of important needs and the most long-term of needs that help end homelessness. And on the basic level, that means a safe place to have a meal and a shower. Things that most Angelinos take for granted. The LA Repair Program is participatory budgeting at its best. Repair stands for reforms for equity and public acknowledgement of institutional racism. Participatory budgeting is when real people get real power over real money. It is a program where $8.5 million is going to nine of the most impacted neighborhoods in our city. The city is providing the check, but the people provide it's a votes for these dollars to be spent with the downtown women's center. We want as a city to support the people who support the people. So I'm really grateful for this money that's coming to us. It'll help me reach the ladies I need to reach. I mean, sometimes these ladies all they need is like a pair of pants. We help them with hygiene. We link them to various other resources. Um I have ladies getting jobs now, and I'm working with ladies through permanent housing goals. So this money is very helpful to help us continue our efforts. I've been doing this work for 25 years, and I constantly hear a tone that implies that homelessness is the fault of the individual. But I think that's unacceptable when you see 75,000 across Los Angeles experiencing homelessness. How can 75,000 people just like it be their faults? To us, it's a systems problem. There's not enough affordable housing. Folks cannot obtain employment that pays for housing anymore. It's out of reach. The level of disability that people experience compounded by homelessness in and of itself, making people more sicker makes it even harder to access housing and employment and just the basic of needs. We have a systems problem, and with Downtown Women's Center's advocacy and with our partners for years, we've been addressing systems issues while we're also meeting women one-on-one with their needs as they come today. One thing the Downtown Women's Center does offer is a sense of community, a place to go. And that's one thing me with my own lives experience. I actually was in the day center one day, and I've been through a RISE program. This whole environment is so encouraging for women who have lost a little hope. And we're a beacon of hope. Los Angeles recognizes the history, resilience, achievements, and ongoing contributions of LGBTQ IA Plus Angelinos, and reaffirms its commitment to keeping Los Angeles a city where everyone can live openly with pride. The city of Los Angeles has designated significant historic and cultural sites. And during June, it honors and uplifts LGBTQIA Plus community members, talents, and leaders who continue to inspire. Welcome, welcome, welcome to the people's house. Happy Pride Month, Los Angeles. Woo! For generations, LGBTQ people. We're told that spaces like this weren't built for us. And yet here we are, queers, not only in the room, but taking over it. In the LGBTQIA Plus community, it's not uncommon to show up and show out in your most fabulous look.
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