Los Angeles City Council Meeting - September 1, 2026
Los Angeles City Council Meeting - September 1, 2026
The Los Angeles City Council convened on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, with 10 members present forming a quorum. The meeting included approval of routine items, public testimony on multiple agenda items, separate votes on a convention center financing measure and a cannabis regulation matter, and announcements regarding state legislation and city services.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of the minutes from August 28, 2026, and commendatory resolutions were passed unanimously (11-0).
- Items 2, 3, 5, 6, and 7 (items for which public hearings had been held) were approved without discussion.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Harriet Elliott promoted a book ("War at the Speed of Light") and made remarks about directed energy weapons during general public comment.
- Travis Miller (social equity applicant, Council District 15) spoke in opposition to Item 21, arguing that his cannabis license application had been improperly sent back, causing financial harm. He urged the council to affirm the Cannabis Regulation Commission’s approval.
- An unidentified speaker (Ms. Moses) spoke against multiple items, calling Item 1 (liquor license) worthless, criticizing Items 9 and 10 as inadequate, accusing Councilmember Dawson of incompetence and corruption, and opposing Item 14 as vote-buying. She also made general comments about city bankruptcy and LAPD funding.
- Daniel Gus (public commenter) spoke on Items 11 (Care Team operations – questioned cost and duration), 13 (Todd Sargent appointment – noted lack of transparency in council file), 15 (security cameras – linked to non-functioning cameras at chambers), and 21 (cannabis regulation – questioned reassertion of jurisdiction, criticized the commission). In general comment, he threatened a lawsuit under SB 707 for lack of Zoom at committee meetings and highlighted animal services issues.
- Caller 1881 supported Item 14 (beautification), linking it to safety, and in general comment raised concerns about racism toward African Americans in the city.
- Caller 1403 gave profanity-laced opposition to Items 1, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 16, 20, 21, and 22, and expressed support for Items 9 and 11. In general comment, he accused Councilmember Tracy Park of criminal activity and referenced drug dealing in CD 11.
- Caller 4610 gave general public comment urging unity and community organization, stating that if the council does not listen, citizens may need to take physical action.
Discussion Items
- Item 4 (Convention Center continued financing) – called for a separate vote by Councilmembers Yaroslavsky and Rodriguez. The second reading passed with eight votes in favor and three against.
- Item 8 (substitute motion by McCosker and Hernandez) – approved as a substitute (11-0) and then the substitute motion itself approved (11-0).
- Item 21 (amending motion 21A by McCosker and Hutt) – approved as amended (11-0). This item involved reasserting council jurisdiction over actions of boards and commissions, including the Cannabis Regulation Commission.
- Item 19 was continued to September 16, 2026, without objection.
- Items 1, 9–18, 20, and 22 were voted on together and approved (11-0).
- Motions for posting and referral were approved without objection, and Items 8 and 21 were ordered to go forthwith.
Key Outcomes
- Passed (8-3): Item 4 – Convention Center continued financing (second reading).
- Passed (11-0): Consent calendar items, Items 1, 9–18, 20, 22, Substitute motion for Item 8, Item 21 as amended, and all motions for posting/referral.
- Continued: Item 19 to September 16.
- Announcement: Councilwoman Rodriguez urged Governor’s signature on AB 2319, a state bill supporting post-production film tax credits, noting its importance to Los Angeles’ economy.
- City service note: After adjournment, an announcement reminded residents to report brush fire hazards to LAFD via email or phone.
Note: The transcript included extensive promotional segments about Los Angeles landmarks and services (e.g., Watts Towers, library resources, backpack giveaway, National Night Out) that were not part of the council meeting proceedings. Only the council meeting portion is summarized above.
Meeting Transcript
There are things in every city that speaks to the heart and soul of every community. In San Francisco, it is the Golden Gate Bridge. In Chicago, it's the bean. In New York, it is the Statue of Liberty. In South Los Angeles, it's the Watts Towers. Hi. My name is Rosie Lee Hooks. I'm director of the Watts Towers Arts Center campus. Come visit the Watts Towers Arts Center campus where you'll see exhibitions, the Watchtowers of Simon Rodia, our garden studio with turtles and tortoises, and California natives. This massive man-made sculpture is made of steel, covered with mortar, and embellished with mosaic tiles. Glass, clay, shells, and rocks. The Watts Towers are truly unique and receive cultural heritage monument status from the city of Los Angeles in 1963. Like the community, the Watts Towers have a strong foundation and recycles different types of materials to create something breathtakingly beautiful. The Watts Towers Arts Center is the guardian of the Watts Towers. It provides programs, design for cultural enrichment and museum and art education to the Los Angeles community and the world at large. With the recent adaption of the South Los Angeles and Southeast Los Angeles community plans, the Watchtowers Art Center community will continue to shine and serve as the pulse of the community. Los Angeles is constantly evolving, driven by bold ideas, diverse voices, and the people who call this city home. In every corner of the City of Angels, you'll find visionaries, change makers, hidden gems, and unforgettable experiences waiting to be discovered. So whether you're visiting for the first time or you've lived here your entire life, there's always another side of Los Angeles to explore. Welcome to LAUCH, from the vibrant tales of our communities and our city, we are discovering the passionate individuals strengthening the spirit of Los Angeles. Explore with us as we reveal the unique narratives uniting and transforming every corner of Los Angeles. The public library is much more than books. Connect people with services. Like for housing, for transportation. This program began to address the uh pressing needs of patrons in our community, and the vendors have really stepped up. Many local organizations are here providing their services. There's just so many resources out here that are for everyone, regardless of who you are. They typically also may experience other barriers such as mental health issues, physical health issues, and other barriers to living and staying successfully housed in LA County. I'm with the Midnight Mission. The Midnight Mission is a nonprofit organization that has been around since 1914, providing human services to anybody that comes into the midnight mission. Those services are from emergency services, like three meals a day, place to shower, clean clothes. We also have a recovery program both for men and women based off of the 12-step approach. Over at Homeboys, we have training, you know, so that a lot of people are looking for jobs that they don't really know if they have the skills, any skills, but we're there to give the skills. So it's a plus win-win situation, and um I'm so happy and grateful to be a part of it. Many of our service providers uh do speak many community languages, so that includes uh Spanish, Chinese, Thai, uh ASL, even I'm formerly incarcerated, so one that I'm actually established now, I have a job, I have residency, I have a steady income, I have my medical coverage and everything, and that was all made possible through resources. I was connected with and or two through the library. The library is the right platform for all the service provider. Um, the library has already a name. He has a location known by everybody, but also has the resources that we need. You can cruise through, maybe you get a free pen, and in the process, you can learn about services that maybe you didn't even know you needed. The Central Library is just a great place to be, you know. We've got air conditioning, restrooms, charge your phone. Just look at the fact you have people out here who love you, who are generally concerned about you, who've been down the same path that you're navigating right now, and we're here to help. So no matter how bleak it looks, no matter how bad, there's people here to help you like me, and uh we're gonna get it, we're gonna get it done. You know, and with the resources being available, we're gonna get you connected. That's what my job is, that's what my passion is, and I think I speak for the vast majority of these people here at the source today too. That's why they come every last Tuesday of the month. Today we're here in Lincoln Heights in Council District 1, hosting our third annual backpack giveaway where we're giving out 1,700 backpacks to families across the district. We know that coming into the new school year gets expensive, right? You gotta buy new shoes, new pants, new uniforms, backpacks, pencils, paper.
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