>> Council President: GOOD MORNING EVERY ONE AND WELCOME TO THE MEETING OF LOS ANGELES CITY COUNCIL. TODAY IS FRIDAY APRIL 4, 2025, I'M COUNCILMEMBER JOHN LEE AND WE'RE ABOUT TO START THIS MEETING. SO IF EVERY ONE CAN QUIET DOWN A LITTLE BIT. PUBLIC COMMENT WILL BE TAKEN IN-PERSON IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER ONLY FOR TODAY'S MEETING. MR. CLERK, CAN YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> Clerk: YES, MR. PRESIDENT. BLUMENFIELD HARRIS-DAWSON HERNANDEZ HUTT JURADO LEE MCOSKER NAZARIAN PADILLA PARK PRICE RAMAN RODRIGUEZ SOTO-MARTINEZ YAROSLAVSKY. 10 MEMBERS PRESENT AND A QUORUM MR. PRESIDENT. >> Council President: FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS. >> Clerk: APPROVE AWFUL MINUTES OF APRIL 2, 2025. >> Council President: COUNCILMEMBER SOTO-MARTINEZ MOVES AND COUNCILMEMBER RODRIGUEZ SECONDS. NEXT. >> Clerk: COMMENDATORY RESOLUTIONS FOR APPROVAL. >> Council President: COUNCILMEMBER McOSKER MOVES, COUNCILMEMBER HUTT SECONDS. MR. CLERK, LET'S RUN THROUGH THE AGENDA. >> Clerk: 1 THROUGH 3 ARE ITEMS FOR WHICH PUBLIC HEARINGS HAVE BEEN HELD. >> Council President: ALL RIGHT. WITHOUT OBJECTION, THAT WILL BE THE ORDER. NEXT? >> Clerk: WOULD COUNCILMEMBERS LIKE TO CALL AN ITEM SPECIAL? >> Council President: ARE THERE ANY SPECIALS TODAY COLLEAGUES? >> I. Padilla: I WOULD LIKE TO CALL ITEM 2 SPECIAL FOR AMENDMENTS. >> City Attorney: I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S BEEN CIRCUMSTANCE LATED YET. >> Council President: OKAY, WE'LL HOLD ON TO ITEM NUMBER 2 FOR RIGHT NOW. WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL TAKE 1 AND 3 THAT ARE NOW BEFORE US. SO ARE THOSE ITEMS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO VOTE ON? >> Clerk: YES, SIR AND FOR CLARIFICATION, THOSE ARE ITEMS 1 AND 3 OPEN FOR ROTE. >> Council President: MR. CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL ON THE ITEMS. CLOSE THE ROLL, TABULATE THE VOTE. >> Clerk: 10 AYES. >> Council President: ALL RIGHT, WE ARE STILL WAITING FOR THAT ITEM NUMBER 2 TO BE CIRCULATED. >> Clerk: MR. PRESIDENT, THE COUNCIL MAY PROCEED TO PRESENTATIONS. >> Council President: OKAY, LET'S PROCEED WITH PRESENTATIONS, NUMBER ONE, I BELIEVE WE HAVE COUNCIL DISTRICT 7. COUNCILMEMBER RODRIGUEZ DO YOU HAVE A PRESENTATION FOR US? AND BEFORE WE WOULD GET TO THAT PRESENTER, WE WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE ONE OF OUR FORMER COLLEAGUES. WELCOME TODAY. BEFORE WE MOVE TO CD7, COUNCILMEMBER PARK DO YOU HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT? NO OKAY. >> M. Rodriguez: WE'RE GOOD? GOOD MORNING, EVERY ONE. >> GOOD MORNING. >> M. Rodriguez: MAN, WELL FIRST OF ALL IT'S A GREAT DAY IN LOS ANGELES 'CAUSE TODAY IS A CELEBRATION ABOUT THE YOUNG PEOPLE OF LOS ANGELES AS WE RECOGNIZE TWO REALLY MONUMENTAL EFFORTS. A WOMAN WHO HAS DEDICATED HER LIFE WHO HAS, I'VE DUBBED HER THE PATRON SAINT OF YOUNG PEOPLE, MS. OLIVIA MITCHELL AND OF COURSE ANOTHER ICONIC ORGANIZATION. YES. [APPLAUSE] A DEDICATED 50-YEAR CAREER TO SERVING THE MOST CRITICAL GROUP IN OUR CITY, YOUNG PEOPLE, AND OF COURSE L.A.'S BEST. WE'VE GOT TWO REALLY OUTSTANDING PRESENTATIONS THIS MORNING. MAN, THIS IS THIS IS BITTERSWEET. OH GOSH. SO I KNOW WE ALL HAVE A LOT TO SAY AND I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE OLIVIA MITCHELL FAN CLUB THAT HAS SHOWED UP TODAY. EVERYBODY IS IN THE HOUSE. EVERYBODY IS IN THE HOUSE! YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT, ANY ELECTED OFFICIAL WOULD KILL TO HAVE THE KIND OF INFLUENCE AND IMPACT THAT THIS WOMAN HAS HAD OVER 50 YEARS IN THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES STARTING BACK WITH THE HONORABLE MAYOR TOM BRADLEY. I TOLD OLIVIA, I SAID YOU KNOW, I WAS RUNNING OUT OF THE HOUSE THIS MORNING I FORGOT TO BRING THE LETTER THAT I RECEIVED BACK IN 1992 ON THE LETTER HEAD OF TOM BRADLEY A MS. OLIVIA MITCHELL ASKING ME TO PARTICIPATE IN STUDENT GOVERNMENT. IT LITERALLY CHANGED THE COURSE OF MY LIFE AND FOR THAT, I'M FOREVER GRATEFUL. [APPLAUSE] I, I HAVE THE HONOR OF FIRST, I WANT TO DO THIS BECAUSE WE NEED TO START WITH THIS AND THEN I'M GOING TO ASK ITA TO RUN THE VIDEO THAT WAS PREPARED BY CHANNEL 35. MS. MITCHELL, I HAVE THE INCREDIBLE HONOR AND I WANT TO THANK YOU ABBY FOR PROVIDING ME THIS INCREDIBLE HONOR. I HAVE YOUR 50-YEAR-OLD PIN, I'VE NEVER SEEN SO MANY DIAMONDS! [APPLAUSE] [LAUGHTER] >> LOOK AT THAT. >> Council President: I MEAN I THINK SHE WAITED FOR ALL THESE DIAMONDS AND IT'S A SCREW ON BECAUSE, YOU KNOW THAT AIN'T CHEAP. YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT A WELL-EARNED PIN. THIS IS A WELL-EARNED PIN. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IS ON THERE TIGHT. BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL. [APPLAUSE] I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE SOME OF THE INCREDIBLE LEADERS THAT ARE HERE AND HAVE JOINED US. I KNOW FORMER CITY CONTROLLER AND FORMER COUNCILMEMBER WENDY GRUEL IS HERE WHO REMINDED ME THAT OLIVIA MITCHELL WAS HER FIRST BOSS WHEN SHE WAS WORKING FOR MAYOR TOM BRADLEY. MY BEAUTIFUL FRIEND LABONGE WHO HAS A LONG HISTORY GOING BACK WHEN TOM WORKED FOR MAYOR BRADLEY AND PART OF WORKING FOR JOHN FERRARO. OLIVIA, AND I KNOW, FORMER COUNCILMEMBER RUTH CALANTE. THERE YOU ARE! ANOTHER INCREDIBLE LEADER DID A LOT FOR LOS ANGELES, IT'S WONDERFUL TO SEE YOU AND YOU KNOW, IT IS JUST, THIS IS THIS IS A DAY THAT I AM JUST SO BLESSED THAT I GET TO SERVE IN THIS ROLE. I WAS BLESSED WHEN I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY AS A MEMBER OF THE CITY COUNCIL TO FIGHT FOR THE CREATION OF THE CITY FIRST YOUTH DEPARTMENT BUT TO DEDICATE AND TO CREATE A YOUTH COUNCIL IN YOUR NAME, THERE IS NO ONE ELSE THAT HAS EARNED THAT TYPE OF RECOGNITION MORE THAN MS. OLIVIA MITCHELL AND FOR THAT, I AM FOREVER GRATEFUL TO BE IN THIS ROLE AND I APPRECIATE YOU, MY FRIEND. BUT COLLEAGUES, I WANT, I KNOW MAYOR BASS WAS NOT ABLE TO JOIN US THIS MORNING BUT WE DO HAVE A VIDEO THAT WOULD I LIKE TO ASK ITA TO PLEASE PLAY. >> I'M OLIVIA MITCHELL AND I AM RETIRING FROM CITY SERVICE AFTER MORE THAN 50 YEARS. SO HERE I AM READY TO STEP OFF THE STAGE. WHEN I JOINED THE CITY, I WAS A PART OF MAYOR BRADLEY STAFF. I CAME TO WORK WITH THE MAYOR ON CREATING A YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL AND TODAY OVER 50 YEARS LATER, I'M REALLY PROUD OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE PARTICIPATED IN MY PROGRAM BOTH AS YOUNG PEOPLE AND AS COLLEAGUES. >> Mayor Bass: IT'S WITH GREAT PLEASURE THAT WE RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF OLIVIA MITCHELL. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU'VE DONE FOR THE YOUTH OF OUR CITY. >> THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO CONTINUE TO SAY TO ME, OLIVIA, YOU'VE GROOMED PEOPLE TO BE ELECTED OFFICIAL. AND I SAY NO I DID NOT. I TAUGHT THEM CIVICS. I'VE ENJOYED INTRODUCING THEM TO CIVIC SERVICE THAT IS MY LEGACY THAT I AM LEAVING BEHIND. >> IN THE SUMMER OF 1992 I WAS HOME FROM SUMMER BREAK FROM COLLEGE AND ONE DAY I WENT TO CITY HALL TO SEE WHAT WAS HAPPENING AND THROUGH A LOT OF DIRECTIONS, ENDED UP WITH OLIVIA MITCHELL WAS AND SHE HAD HER YOUTH COUNCIL AND OTHER ACTIVITIES DESIGNED FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO GET INVOLVED WITH. AND I MET HER THEN AND I FELT THE WARMTH OF HER ENERGY AND ENTHUSIASM THAT SHE HAD FOR GETTING PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE CIVIC PROCESS. NO ONE ASKED HER TO DO THAT WORK, SHE SAW THE NEED, FILLED THE NEED BUILDING GENERATIONS AND GENERATIONS OF STRONG ANGELINOS THAT BUILD THE CITY OF THE FUTURE THAT WE DESERVE TO LIVE IN. >> I CREATED ALL OF THESE PROGRAMS TO BRING KIDS TO CITY HALL. SO WE HAD BOY SCOUT DAY IN GOVERNMENT, YOUTH IN LAW DAY. WE HAD STUDENT DAY IN GOVERNMENT WHICH IS WHERE WOMEN RODRIGUEZ CAME INTO MY UNIVERSE. >> M. Rodriguez: TO ME IT WAS THE ULTIMATE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT LESSON THAT I GOT WHEN I WAS 18 YEARS OLD AND I'LL NEVER FORGET THAT. IT REALLY UNLOCKED WHAT WAS POSSIBLE. THAT WAS THE GREATEST GIFT FOR ME, BECAUSE THEN I KNEW WHAT I WANTED TO DO WITH THE REST OF MY LIFE. >> I WAS ACTUALLY A MEMBER OF HER TEAM, SHE WAS MY SUPERVISOR AND SHE JUST REALLY TAKES THE TIME TO INVEST IN THE PEOPLE THAT SHE SUPERVISES, LEADERS THAT SHE HELPED CULTIVATE. >> I. Padilla: WHAT I WAS JUST 18 YEARS OLD I JOINED THE YOUTH COUNCIL AND SHE WAS RUNNING THE PROGRAM. SHE WAS MOTIVATING A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE, YOUNG PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF TO CARE ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY. >> M. Rodriguez: SHE HAS TOUCHED SO MUCH LIVES, CREATING A YOUGT YOUTH COUNCIL IN THE NAME OF MS. OLIVIA MITCHELL IS ONE OF THE GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT. >> SHE HAS HELPED CREATE THE SERVANT THAT I AM HERE AND HAS HELPED ME TO DEVELOP AS A LEADER IN THE CITY AND FOR THAT I WILL ALWAYS BE GRATEFUL TO HER FOR. >> I. Padilla: THE WORLD WOULD BE A BETTER PLACE IF WE HAD MORE OLIVIAS IN IT. >> M. Rodriguez: SHE CARES TO DO ENOUGH WHAT OTHERS DON'T DO, AND THAT IS INVEST IN OTHERS. AND FOR THAT, OUR CITY IS BETTER FOR IT. [APPLAUSE] [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] >> M. Rodriguez: I'M TELLING YOU, THERE IS NOT A SINGLE POLITICIAN THAT IS NOT JEALOUS RIGHT NOW. AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, SHE JOINED THE STAFF OF TOM BRADLEY. FROM THAT MOMENT FORWARD, SHE BECAME A TIRELESS ADVOCATE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE, DEVELOPING PROGRAMS THAT TOUCHED THE LIVES OF MORE THAN 2000 YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGH HER DIRECT AND INDIRECT MENTORING AS I MENTIONED MYSELF INCLUDED. IN 1995, OLIVIA WAS INTERIM DIRECT FOR THE CHILDREN YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES WHERE SHE BEGAN TO LAY THE FOUNDATION FOR PROGRAMS THAT CONTINUE TO BENEFIT YOUNG ANGELINOS TODAY. OVER THE YEARS, OLIVIA'S LEADERSHIP EX PABD TODAY VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS INCLUDING THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT WHERE SHE MANAGED YOUTH PROGRAMS TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SERVICES. HER WORK ALSO SPAN KEY INCLUDING THE COUNTY PROBATION COMMISSION AND THE COMMUNITY BLOOM INITIATIVE HELPING TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF GENERATIONAL POVERTY IN LOS ANGELES. BUT IT WAS IN 2021 WHEN I INTRODUCED THE MOTION TO CREATE THE OLIVIA E MITCHELL YOUTH COUNCIL THAT WAS ONE OF MY FAVORITE MOMENTS OF MY CAREER. BECAUSE SO OFTEN COLLEAGUES, AND WE KNOW THIS, IT'S NOT OFTEN THAT WE GET A CHANCE TO GIVE EVERYBODY THE FLOWERS THAT THEY DESERVE. THIS LADY HAS DEDICATED SO MUCH OF HER LIFE TO IMPROVING THE ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO HAVE A VOICE IN THEIR GOVERNMENT, BECAUSE IT IS THEIR GOVERNMENT TOO. AND THE FACT THAT SHE HAD THE FORESIGHT AND TENACITY TO KEEP THAT DOOR OPEN FOR SO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE IS WHY SOME OF US WERE ABLE TO GET ELECTED TODAY. AND FOR THAT, I AM FOREVER GRATEFUL FOR KNOWING YOU, MS. MITCHELL. BECAUSE YOU HAVE BEEN MY PATRON SAINT AND I APPRECIATE YOU IMMENSELY. [APPLAUSE] OLIVIA'S WORK RERERBIRATE NOT JUST THE LIVES SHE TOUCHED BUT NOW CELEBRATING HER COMPLETING WHAT THE SECOND COHORT FOR THE OLIVIA YOUTH COUNCIL. SO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT, HOW IT CONTINUES TO REVERBRATE, WHAT A LEGACY, IT'S REMARKABLE WHAT YOU DO, WHAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO, HOW MANY INDIVIDUALS YOU'VE TOUCHED. HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE GONE ON TO SERVE IN PUBLIC SERVICES AS A RESULT OF YOU JUST CARING ENOUGH TO OPEN THE DOOR AND ANSWER QUESTIONS. GOD BLESS YOU OLIVIA MITCHELL I'M GRATEFUL FOR YOU EVERY SINGLE DAY. AND NOW I WOULD LIKE TO PASS THE MIC OVER TO MY COLLEAGUE COUNCILMEMBER PADILLA WHO ALSO SHARES DEEP AFFECTION AND APPRECIATION FOR ALL YOU'VE INTRODUCED TO HER. [APPLAUSE] >> I. Padilla: WELL GOOD MORNING, EVERY ONE. I'M HONORED TO HONOR THE LIFE OF GREAT OLIVIA MITCHELL. AS MENTIONED, I ALSO MET MS. OLIVIA MITCHELL WHEN I JOINED THE YOUTH COUNCIL. SHE WAS PART OF THE STAFF BUT TO ME AND OTHERS, SHE WAS WAY MORE THAN THAT. SHE QUICKLY BECAME A MENTOR, A GUIDE AND SOMEBODY WHO TRULY INVESTED AND CARED ABOUT THE POWER OF YOUNG PEOPLE. SHE PLAYED A FOUNDATIONAL ROLE IN HELPING ME UNDERSTAND HOW GOVERNMENT WORKS AS MENTIONED IN HER VIDEO, I JUST TAUGHT THEM CIVICS, THAT'S WHAT SHE DID. HER GUIDANCE HELPED ME FIND MY PATH IN PUBLIC SERVICE AND GAVE ME CONFIDENCE TO USE MY VOICE FOR THE ISSUES THAT MATTERED MOST. I REMEMBER MY OLDER SISTER CARMEN WHO WAS DEPUTY TOLD ME ABOUT THE YOUTH COUNCIL AND I WAS INCREDIBLY HAPPY TO JOIN. I JUST KNEW IT WAS WHERE I BELONG AND WHERE I WANT TODAY DO A LOT OF MY COMMUNITY SERVICE SO I CAN HAVE THAT COMPETITIVE STORY WHEN I APPLIED TO COLLEGE. MY STORY IS JUST ONE OF MANY THAT REFLECT MS. MITCHEL'S IMPACT. AND MY CORE MEMBER PREWHEN I WAS THERE AT THE L.A. YOUTH COUNCIL, LET'S BE HONEST IT ATTRACTED A LOT OF YOUTH LIKE ME, WE WANTED THE STORY TO BE LOOK GOOD ON OUR APPLICATION, THOSE STRAIGHT A STUDENTS, NERDS, LEGIT, THE NERDS, THE FUTURE LEADERS. HOWEVER, I WAS A LITTLE DIFFERENT, BECAUSE A LOT OF THESE NERDS, LIKE MYSELF, THESE YOUNG FUTURE LEADERS, WE WERE PLAN TO GO PUT TOGETHER TOWN HALLS THROUGHOUT LOS ANGELES AND THEY WERE GOING TO BE THEMED. WE WERE GOING TO HAVE ONE RELATED TO YOUNG PEOPLE BEING SICK AND TIRED OF CRIME IN THEIR COMMUNITY. YOUNG PEOPLE GETTING TIRED OF THE DRUG USE, THE TRASH, YOU KNOW, IMPROVING OUR PARKS. BUT I REMEMBER, I USE IT USED TO URK TO HEAR THE NERDS TALK DOWN TO THOSE WHO JOINED GANG. AND I REMEMBER VIVIDLY, ALL ARE TALKING ABOUT THE COMMUNITY PRIDE BUT DON'T YOU HAVE RELATIONSHIPS IN WITH YOUR GANG MEMBERS THEY HAVE JUST AS MUCH PRIDE AS WE DO, THE STRAIGHT A STUDENTS. AND LET ME TELL YOU THE LOOK ON MS. OLIVIA'S FACE WHEN I SAID THAT, TO HEAR A YOUNG PERSON DEFEND THE GANGS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, WAS A CORE MEMORY OF MINE THAT I WILL NEVER FORGET BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T REPRIMAND ME THE WAY A COLLEGE COUNSELOR MAY HAVE, INSTEAD SHE LOOKED AT LIKE THIS IS A BRAVE ONE AND CRITICAL THINKER AND INSTEAD EN KAOURNLD ME TO CONTINUE TO TALK LIKE THAT AND ADVOCATE LIKE THAT AND BRING THAT TO WHEN WE HAD OUR SET OF FIRST TOWN HALL WHICH IS WHERE OUR VERY CLOSE FRIEND MANNY VERY DASH VERY --DEVELOPVELS QU*U EZTALKING ABOUT ALSO THOSE THAT ARE FALLING THROUGH THE CRACKS. SO THAT IS MY CORE MEMORY, I THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LETTING ME AND EN KAOUSHLGING ME TO BE BOLD IN WHO I HAVE BECOME. NOW THAT RAOUR GOING TO RETIRE I'M SO EXCITED, I IMAGINE YOU READING BOOKS AND RESTING AND WATCHING ANY MOVIE YOU WANT AND MOST OF ALL, ENJOYING YOUR FAMILY. AND LIKE I SAID IN THE VAO, THE WORLD WOULD BE A MUCH BETTER PLACE IF WE HAD MORE OLIVIAS WITH US. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE] >> M. Rodriguez: THANK YOU, AND AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE THE WOMAN OF THE HOUR, MS. OLIVIA MITCHELL. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] >> OKAY, I SEE THIS TIMER IN FRONT OF ME AND I THINK IT'S FOR ME. >> M. Rodriguez: YOU GET ALL THE TIME YOU WANT. >> WHAT I SAID TO MY STAFF AND COLLEAGUES AND FAMILY SOURCE SYSTEM IS NOW I GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO STAND ON THIS SIDE OF THE ROPE AND COME IN AND HARASS ALL OF YOU. [LAUGHTER] ME AND WHAT IS HIS NAME WITH THE PUPPET. SO WHENEVER SOMETHING ABOUT CIFD OR THE FAMILY SOURCE CENTER DV OR COMING UP, I WILL PROBABLY SHOW UP TO SAY SOMETHING BECAUSE WHAT ELSE DO I HAVE TO DO WITH MY TIME? I APPRECIATE ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO CAME THIS MORNING TO SUPPORT ME, BECAUSE THEY ARE A JOURNEY THROUGH MY LIFE AND REMIND ME OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE DONE. ALL THE WAY FROM ALL PEOPLES CHRISTIAN CHURCH WHICH IS WHERE MY BROTHER AND SISTER AND I LANDED WHEN WE CAME TO LOS ANGELES WE WERE INTRODUCED TO ALL PEOPLE'S AND ITS COMMUNITY SERVICE AND THEY'VE BEEN A PART OF MY LIFE EVER SINCE. I'M ASHAMED THAT I MISSED THE LAST SERVICE ON SUNDAY BUT I WAS NOT FEELING WELL SO THEY WILL NO LONGER HAVE RELIGIOUS SERVICE THERE BUT THE SERVICES THAT THEY PROVIDE ARE JUST FANTASTIC AND THEY WERE WHEN I CAME. IN THE MID-50s. I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT MY FAMILY IS HERE AND WHEN YOU DO THIS KIND OF WORK YOU GENERALLY SACRIFICE YOUR FAMILY ON MANY LEVELS. WHEN YOU'RE AT THE MEETING, YOUR KIDS ARE AT HOME ALTHOUGH MY SON, I HAD A GANG MEMBER WHO SERVED AS BABYSITTER, THOSE ARE THE BEST, NOBODY IS MESSING WITH THEIR KIDS. I CAME HOME ONE DAY AND I CAME HOME AND HE WAS SHOOTING MY SON HOW TO SHOOT CRAPS. MY SON JUST RETIRED FROM RECREATION AND PARKS IN NOVEMBER. SO HE RETIRED BEFORE HIS MOTHER. [LAUGHTER] BUT I'M GLAD OF HIS SERVICE. BUT HE'S HERE AND MY TWO GRAND DAUGHTERS THAT I CALL THE ELDER GRANDDAUGHTER WHO IS 45 AND THE YOUNGER WHO IS 29. AND I WAS TELLING PEOPLE WE JUST HAVE TWO NAMES, WE JUST RECYCLE, BECAUSE MY SON IS AARON AND SO IS MY GRANDDAUGHTER, ERIN, AND I'M OLIVIA AND SO IS MY GRANDDAUGHTER OLIVIA. SO IF YOU SAY THE NAME, SOMEBODY WILL ANSWER. I CAME IN 1974, MAYOR AQUANETA FROM FONTANA. WE PULLED IT TOGETHER JUST AS GANG RESURGENT I USED A GANG EXPERT USING AGAIN THE SAME KIND OF KIDS THAT EMILIA IS TALKING ABOUT. USING THE KIDS THAT WERE DOING OKAY, TO HELP US WITH THE KIDS THAT WEREN'T. TOM BRADLEY, DIDN'T INVITE ME TO HIS STAFF, I DIDN'T KNOW HIM. THE PERSON THAT I KNEW WAS BILL JENKINS AND PASSED ON AND HE BROUGHT ME IN BECAUSE HE KNEW MY WORK WITH YOUNG PEOPLE. SO THERE ARE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE PART OF THAT YOUTH COUNCIL THAT WE CREATED WHO ARE HERE. THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE BECAUSE TOM BRADLEY INSISTED THAT HIS STAFF BE ACTIVE IN THE COMMUNITY. SO I WAS A PART OF BLACK JEWISH CONGREGATION, THE LATINA BLACK IN WHICH I TEASE MY FRIEND, WHO I KEEP CALLING TONY VELAR WHO IS RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR NOW. WE WERE CO-CHAIRS AND IT TOOK US A TIME TO TO KNOW WHAT TO CALL IT. THERE ARE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE PART OF THOSE INNER GROUP PROGRAMS. I KNOW THAT HEATHER AUBREY IS HERE WHO IS A CITY ATTORNEY, DEPUTY CITY ATTORNEY, HER BROTHER PULLED US ALTOGETHER IN HUMAN RELATIONS AND THAT'S A LOT OF WHAT WE DID IN EARLY TIMES. SO MY, MY 20 YEARS WITH TOM BRADLEY IS REPRESENTED HERE. THE YEARS THAT I SPENT WITH THE COMMISSION FOR CHILDREN YOUTH AND FAMILIES IS HERE AND THEN MY SOLE, GROUP THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT WHICH I TELL PEOPLE, THE SAME GROUP OF PEOPLE, STAFF AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THEY'RE THE SAME FOLKS, SOME OF WHOM I KNEW BEFORE CAME TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND WHO I KNOW AND ADMIRE TODAY. SO THERE IS ALL OF THESE RELATIONSHIPS AND THEY'RE HERE AND I CAN LOOK AND SEE THAT. I TELL PEOPLE THAT THE YOUNG PEOPLE KEPT ME MOVING AND ANXIOUS AND INSPIRED SO DO THE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR US NOW. PART OF MY JOB IS TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT WE ARE GROOMING STAFF MEMBERS TO CONTINUE THE JOB. SO FOR ME, THE FACT THAT ABBY WAS ON TAPE, JACKIE RODRIGUEZ IS HERE, THEY WERE PART OF OUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TEAM AND I THINK TO HAVE JACKIE WHO WAS A PART OF MY TEAM AND ABBY PART OF MY TEAM, NOW BE MY BOSSES, ABBY IS A GENERAL MANAGER, JACKIE IS CHIEF OF OPERATIONS AND THEN A WOMAN THAT I MET IN THE 80s SHARING A COMPLEX WITH SC O.C. WHEN I WAS ACTIVE WITH THEM AND ON THE BOARD OF SEXUAL ASSAULT CENTER, THAT THAT WOMEN IS NOW MAYOR. I THINK IT'S TIME. SO I'VE GOT SOMEBODY I KNEW WHO IS MAYOR, I HAVE SOMEBODY THAT I WORK WITH WHO IS NOW THE BOSS, AND THEN AS I SAID TO SEVERAL PEOPLE, COVID WE WERE TELECOMMUTING I COULD NOT COME IN AT ALL BECAUSE I WAS OVER 60 NOW WE'RE BACK ONCE A WEEK AND NOW THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT TWICE A WEEK, SOY --SO I NEED TO RETIRE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> Council President: MS. MITCHEL, WE HAVE A COUPLE OF COUNCILMEMBERS ON THE QUEUE. I WOULD LIKE TO CALL ON COUNCILMEMBER PRICE. >> C. Price: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. I WANT TO THANK MEMBERS PADILLA AND RODRIGUEZ FOR BRINGING THIS ANGEL, THIS ANGEL TO OUR COUNCIL CHAMBERS TODAY. OLIVIA, WE ARE JUST SO PROUD AND SO HONORED TO RECOGNIZE YOU AND TO JUST HONOR YOU, YOU'VE BEEN A SOURCE OF PRIDE AND INSPIRATION. NOT JUST FOR YOU BUT FOR SOME OF THE OLDER FOLKS AS WELL. WE APPLAUD YOU AND WE ABSOLUTE YOU. AND IT'S WHETHER IT'S CITY HALL, THE CITY HALL FAMILY OR YOUR MOTHER OR AUNT OR JUST A GOOD FRIEND, WE JUST LOVE YOU AND APPRECIATE YOU. AND OLIVIA YOUR LEGACY IS GOING TO LAST LONGER CERTAINLY THAN YOUR PRESENCE HERE AND OUR PRESENCE AS WELL. IT'S GOING TO ALWAYS BE A LEGACY FOR THE CITY OF L.A. THE FACT THAT YOU SERVED AND GAVE AND INVESTED AND YOU BELIEVED NOT JUST IN YOUNG PEOPLE BUT IN PEOPLE IN OUR CITY. SO THANK YOU OLIVIA, WE LOVE YOU CONGRATULATIONS. >> Council President: COUNCILMEMBER HUTT? >> H. Hutt: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. AND THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER RODRIGUEZ AND PADILLA FOR BRINGING OLIVIA, A POWERHOUSE, IN TO CELEBRATE HER. WHEN MY MOM WORKED IN THE BUILDING AS WELL I MET OLIVIA, AD BEING IN PLACED WITH A SINGLE MOM, YOU GET TO HEAR STUFF, OOH, OLIVIA IS MOVING TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE YOU HAVE A BIG NAME AND IT'S STILL A BIG NAME. AND WE'RE SO HAPPY THAT IT WILL BE IN PERPETUITY IN THIS COUNCIL OFFICE. AND IT'S A CLICHE BUT LOOK AT OUR FUTURE, LOOK AT IMELDA, IT'S GREAT TO SEE THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE. WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THE FAMILY FOR SHARING YOU WITH US AND ALL THE BEST THOUGHTS ABOUT WHAT WE SHOULD DO. WE'RE GOING TO MISS YOU, I'M NOT, BECAUSE I'M GOING TO CALL FOR HELP BUT OTHER PEOPLE MIGHT MISS YOU. WE APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> Council President: COUNCILMEMBER HARRIS-DAWSON. >> M. Harris-Dawson: THANK YOU SO MUCH OLIVIA MITCHELL, WE TO HONOR THE SERVICE THAT YOU'VE DONE FOR THE CITY, YOU KNOW, LIKE COUNCILMEMBER PADILLA AND HUTT AND RODRIGUEZ, I'M ALSO A PART OF OLIVIA MITCHELL COALITION. WHEN AFTER 19 92 CIVIL UNREST I WAS A YOUNG PEOPLE AND WANTED GET INVOLVED AND THE PEOPLE AT MY CHURCH SAID, GO TO CITY HALL. AND I SAID WHAT HAPPENS? AND THEY GO, LOOK FOR OLIVIA MITCHELL, SHE'S A GOOD PERSON, YOU FIND HER AND YOU GET THE PATHWAY. AND I WILL TELL YOU I CAN REMEMBER IT LIKE IT WAS YESTERDAY. OUT IN THE HALLWAY OUT THERE, I RAN INTO A MAN NAMED WILLFRED MARSHAL AND MIKE HERNANDEZ AND I SAID I'M LOOKING FOR MS. OLIVIA MITCHELL. AND THEY SHOWED ME HOW TO GET TO YOU AND SHE INTRODUCED ME TO THE YOUTH COUNCIL WHICH RESULTED IN ME GETTING INVOLVED WITH SOME RADICAL LEAD BY A NAME CALLED KAREN BASS COALITION. I APPRECIATE THE WARM SPIRIT THAT YOU HAD WHEN I MET YOU. I MEAN, I WAS JUST A KID. YOU DIDN'T KNOW ME FROM A CAN OF PAINT BUT YOU BELIEVED THERE WAS SOMETHING WORTH WHILE INVESTING IN ME. FOR EVERY PERSON THAT SPOKE, THERE IS PROBABLY ANOTHER 50 OR 100 PEOPLE WHO'S LIVES YOU'VE TOUCHED AND THEY'RE MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN PLACES AS FAR AWAY AS FONTANA, WE HAVE THE MAYOR OF FONTANA I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ACKNOWLEDGE OUR SENATOR, RON WRIGHT THERE IN THE FRONT ROW. AND SO MANY OTHERS, AND I HAVE BECAUSE I GOT CALLS FROM OTHER ELECTED OFFICIAL WHO DON'T SERVE IN THE CITY BUT WHO'S LIVES YOU ALSO TOUCHED, THEY WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT THEY'RE WATCHING TODAY. AND I HAVE THIS CERTIFICATE FROM OUR SUPERVISOR HOLLY MITCHELL AND REPRESENTS DISTRICT 2, SHE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I PUT THIS IN YOUR HAND TODAY IN RECOGNITION OF YOUR SERVICE. THANK YOU SO MUCH, OLIVIA MITCHELL. [APPLAUSE] >> Council President: THANK YOU MS. MITCHELL THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTION AND MARK YOU'VE MET. COUNCILMEMBER? >> M. Rodriguez: AGAIN, THANK YOU COLLEAGUES SO MUCH. OLIVIA, YOU HAVE MADE A LASTING LEGACY AND IMPRINT IN THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES THAT WILL REVERBERATE FOR US. NOTHING BUT GOOD TROUBLE THAT YOU TAUGHT US THAT YES WE COULD AND THAT WE HAD A SPACE HERE AND THAT'S WHY, THAT YOUTH COUNCIL HAS YOUR NAME ALL OVER IT. BECAUSE NO ONE HAS COMMITTED SUCH DEPTH OF THEIR LIFE AND THEIR COMMITMENT TO THE YOUNG PEOPLE OF LOS ANGELES, LIKE YOU HAVE. AND FOR THAT, I AM FOREVER GRATEFUL AS ARE EVERY FUTURE YOUTH COUNCIL MEMBER AND EVERY YOUNG PERSON IN THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES. GOD BLESS YOU, WE ARE BETTER FOR KNOWING YOU. CONGRATULATIONS ON A REMARKABLE CAREER AND WISHING YOU THE BEST IN RETIREMENT. [APPLAUSE] >> Council President: OKAY, I BELIEVE OUR NEXT PRESENTATION IS FROM COUNCILMEMBER HERNANDEZ. BUT BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO COUNCILMEMBER HERNANDEZ THERE IS A SHORT INTRODUCTION THAT COUNCILMEMBER PARK WOULD LIKE TO MAKE. COUNCILMEMBER PARK? >> T. Park: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. I AM REALLY EXCITED TO TAKE A MOMENT THIS MORNING TO WELCOME TO THE JOHN FERRARO COUNCIL CHAMBER THE LAX COASTAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. FOR OVER THE LAST 17 YEARS, THEY HAVE PROVIDED A SIX-MONTH LAIDER SHIP ACADEMY FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN HELPING PROPEL THE REGION FORWARD AND TRIBUTE TO THE PROGRESS OF THE LAX COASTAL COMMUNITY BUT THE BROADER REGION AS WELL. THE LEADERSHIP ACADEMY ENGAGES LEADERS AND DEVELOPS LASTING PROFESSIONAL CONNECTIONS. THE LEADER ACADEMY NURTURE SKILLS ALL THE WHILE EXPLORE LOCAL AND RICH HISTORY OF THE AREA AND OUR CITY. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNICATION, CIVIC INVOLVEMENT, GOVERNMENT POLICY AND SO MUCH MORE ARE AT THE FOR FRONT OF WHAT THE LEADERSHIP ACADEMY DOES. SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL OF THOSE FROM THE 2024-25 COHORT WHO ARE ALL WITH US TODAY. WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO ACKNOWLEDGE DR. KEVIN WALSH OF GLOBAL COMMUNITY ENRICHMENT WHO HAS FACILITATED THIS PROGRAM. AND ALSO ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF ACADEMY DAY TRIP LEADERS, DEBBIE HARRIS. AND KRISTIN PRINCIPAL AT NEIGHBORHOOD'S FORWARD. ALSO A SPECIAL HELL O TO MY FRIEND CHAD MANDER, THE PRESIDENT AND CE O OF COASTAL CHAMBER. THANKS GUYS, AND I'LL SEE YOU IN THE BACK. [APPLAUSE] >> Council President: THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER PARK. COUNCILMEMBER HERNANDEZ? >> E. Hernandez: THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN. COME ON, JOIN ME. THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE EVERYBODY ON BOARD? COME ON, COME IN THE FRONT. WE HAVE SOME GREAT SPEAKERS THAT HAVE JOINED US TODAY. RIGHT OVER HERE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND GOOD MORNINGS COLLEAGUES, I'M EXCITED TO KICKOFF A SPECIAL CELEBRATION THAT HAS BEEN A LIFE LINE ACROSS THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES FOR OVER 35 YEARS. [APPLAUSE] I SAY IT'S A LIFE LINE BECAUSE THEY ARE MORE THAN JUST AN AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM. THEY ALSO HELP ADDRESS FOOD INSECURITY AND PROVIDE AN ENRICHMENT ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR STUDENTS. AND I KNOW THIS BECAUSE I'M AN ALUMNI. I ATTENDED L.A.'S BEST AT MONTE VISTA ELEMENTARY AT HIGHLAND PARK, AND NOT ONLY DID IT HELP MY DAY GET TO GO PLAY OUTSIDE WITH MY SPORTS BUT ALSO GAVE MY MOM AND FAMILY A LITTLE BIT OF RELIEF WHEN THEY HAD TO GO TO WORK AND COULDN'T PICK ME UP WHEN THE BELL RANG AT 2:00 OR 3:00 P.M., BUT THEY HAD A THREE HOURS BUFFER WHERE THEY KNEW I COULD BE SAFE AND THEY COULD PICK ME UP. IT ALSO HELPS OUR FAMILIES IN LOS ANGELES. I'M JOINED TODAY BY L.A.'S BEST PRESIDENT MICHELLE. AND ALSO I'M JOINED TODAY BY THE PRINCIPAL OF MY ALMA MATER, MONT VISTA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, DR. LUCY HUNT. AND PARENTS AND STUDENTS WHO YOU WILL HEAR FROM SHORTLY. BEFORE WE GET STARTED, I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT. COUNCILMEMBER MONICA RODRIGUEZ SHE HAS JOINED ME TODAY AND SHE IS GOING TO BE JOINING ME TODAY TO HONOR L.A.'S BEST BUT ALSO NEXT WEEK WHEN WE LIGHT UP CITY HALL. WE HAVE A LOT OF L.A.'S BEST STAFF HERE AND I WANT TO THANK THEM ESPECIALLY SALVADOR AND CHRISTI FOR WORKING WITH MY TEAM. COLLEAGUES, LIKE I SAID I'VE SEEN THE WORK FIRSTHAND, NOT ONLY BECAUSE I'VE LIVED IT WHERE I SAW KIDS ALL OVER THE PLACE LEANINGER HOW TO CUT FOOD AND LIKE, ENJOY HEALTHY FOOD. THEY'RE MAKING ROBOTS, THEY'RE OVER HERE DESIGNING BOARD NAMES. SOY LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU ALL HERE TODAY WHEN WE CELEBRATE THIS MILD STONE WITH THE RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING TODAY L.A.'S BEST DAY. NOW I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE, THE PRESIDENT OF L.A.'S BEST MICHELE BROADNEXT AND PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THIS PROGRAM. PLEASE JOIN US TO SAY A FEW WORDS. THANK YOU. OH YOU'RE RIGHT HERE, ACTUALLY, SORRY, APOLOGIES, I THOUGHT THAT THE COUNCILWOMAN WAS STILL IN THE BACK. SORRY THE GLASSES, I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE COUNCILMEMBER MONICA RODRIGUEZ TO JOIN US FOR A FEW WORDS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP. >> M. Rodriguez: OF COURSE, THANK YOU SO MUCH COUNCILMEMBER HERNANDEZ, LIKE I SAID IT'S ALL ABOUT KIDS TODAY AND YOUNG PEOPLE. WHEN YOU GROW UP HERE FOR BOTH OLIVIA MITCHELL BUT ALSO THE ORIGINAL EFFORT TO CREATE L.A.'S BEST WHICH STARTED DURING THE TENURE OF MAYOR BRADLEY. WE RECOGNIZED VERY EARLY ON IN THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES THAT THIS GOVERNMENT KOPT WORK IF WE DIDN'T INVEST IN YOUTH AND MAKING SURE THAT WE SUSTAIN THAT WORK AND SUSTAIN THAT INVESTMENT THERE IS SO MANY INCREDIBLE AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND INDIVIDUALS THAT PROVIDE CRITICAL SERVICES THAT SUPPORT FAMILIES AND MEET THEM WHERE THEY ARE. L.A.'S L.A. IS AMONG THOSE AND HAS GONE TO SOME OF THE MOST IMPOVERISHED NEIGHBORHOODS AND FILLED A VOID FOR WHAT KIDS NEEDED IN ORDER TO HAVE A SUSTAINABLE AND HEALTHY LIFESTYLE. SO FOR THAT T I'M GRATEFUL TO PARTNER WITH YOU. I REMEMBER SOME OF THE WORK THAT I DID AROUND MONT VISTA BACK WHEN I WAS A STARTING OUT FIELD DEPUTY IN CD1. THE WORK IN L.A.'S BEST TOUCHES EVERY SINGLE COUNCIL IS IN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD ACROSS LOS ANGELES AND YOUNG PEOPLE IN L.A. ARE BETTER FOR L.A.'S BEST. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY AND CONGRATULATIONS ON A BODY OF WORK. [APPLAUSE] >> WHAT AN AMAZING DAY TO REPRESENT L.A.'S BEST. I AM SO EXCITED TO BE HERE. MY NAME IS MICHELE, I AM THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF L.A.'S BEST AND ON MAF OF OUR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES AND AMAZING STAFF, AMAZING STAFF, IF I CAN SAY THAT! I WANT TO EXPRESS MY DEEPEST GRATITUDE TO COUNCILEMBER HERNANDEZ, AS WELL AS COUNCILWOMAN RODRIGUEZ. COUNCILMEMBER HERNANDEZ IS A WONDERFUL ADVOCATE FOR L.A.'S BEST AND HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLE SUPPORT TO ME AND THE TEAM AND SO WE WAINT TO EXTEND A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO HER AS WELL AS COUNCILMEMBER RODRIGUEZ WHO IS LIGHTING UP CITY HALL ON APRIL 9th, WE WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT. AND TO THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL THOSE AVAILABLE AND HERE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR UNWAIVERING COMMITMENT TO THE CHILDREN OF LOS ANGELES AND FOR PRIORITIZING INVESTMENTS IN THEIR FUTURE. WE HAVE SEEN FIRSTHAND THE COMMITMENT OF THE THE PERSON WHO IS PREVIOUSLY CELEBRATED AND HER DEDICATION TO CHILDREN AND WHAT IT MEANS AND WHAT IS HERE TODAY AND WE'RE EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT WORK AS L.A.'S BEST. AS PART WHAT YOU SEE ARE REPRESENTED ON THE SCREEN IS L.A.'S BEST COMMITMENT TO THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES. AS COUNCILMEMBER RODRIGUEZ MENTIONED, WE ARE IN EVERY SINGLE DISTRICT IN THE CITY. WE REPRESENT THE ENTIRE CITY AND THE CHILDREN OF THE CITY. WE ARE PART OF AN ECHO SYSTEM OF CARE AND SUPPORT FROM WORING FAMILIES AND YOU'LL HEAR FROM ONE OF OUR FAMILIES SHORTLY BY PROVIDING A SAFE, SAFE AND ENRICHING SPACE FOR CHILDREN. WE HELP PARENTS MAINTAIN ECONOMIC STABILITY, WE INVEST IN L.A.'S BEST, CHILDREN AND WE INVEST IN THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING THESE SERVICES. ONE THAT IS STRENGTHENS OUR ECONOMY WHERE ALL CHILDREN HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUCCEED AND WE KNOW THE BENEFIT OF THAT. THE LEGACY AND IMPACT OF L.A.'S BEST IS PREVIOUSLY STATED, DATES BACK TO MAYOR TOM BRADLEY IN 1988 WHICH REPRESENTS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES AND UNIFIED DISTRICT AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND THAT COMMITMENT REMAINS STRONG TODAY. WE ARE STILL HERE, WE ARE STILL DOING GREAT THINGS IN THE COMMUNITY AND WE CONTINUE TO GROW. FOR OVER THREE DECADES, L.A.'S BEST HAS BEEN A TRUSTED PARTNER FOR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES OFFERING NO COST ABSOLUTELY FREE SERVICES TO ALL OF OUR STUDENTS AND OUR FAMILIES AND THEN THIS TIME, AND WHAT WE'RE FACING ECONOMICALLY AS A CITY AND AS A COUNTRY, OUR SERVICES ARE CRITICAL. ABSOLUTELY CRITICALLY IMPORTANT. EVERY DAY, OUR DEDICATED STAFF MEMBERS INSPIRE AND EMPOWER STUDENTS THROUGH ACTIVITIES AND ACADEMICS, ARTS AND HEALTH AND WELLNESS AND SOCIAL AND DEVELOPMENT. WE'RE CONTINUING TO MEET THE NEEDS, THE EXPANDING NEEDS OF FAMILIES ACROSS LOS ANGELES, RECOGNIZING THEIR EVOLVING NEEDS WE'RE NOW OFFERED IN 13 SCHOOLS PROVIDING EVEN MORE STUDENTS WITH A SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE START TO THE DAY. WITH YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT, WE CAN EXPAND THESE EFFORTS AND ENSURE THAT MORE CHILDREN ACROSS LOS ANGELES HAVE THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT THEY DESERVE. WE WANT TO PARTNER WITH EACH OF YOU TO ENSURE THAT EVERY CHILD IN LOS ANGELES HAS A CHANCE TO THRIVE BECAUSE WHEN OUR FAMILIES ARE SUPPORTED, OUR KIDS SUCCEED AND OUR CITY PROSPERS. I CAN SHOW YOU BETTER THAN I CAN TELL YOU. SO THERE IS A VIDEO THAT YOU SHOULD SEE SHORTLY THAT POPS PICKUP. >> FOR THOSE WITH THE FEWEST RESOURCES AND THE GREATEST AT A CIT TIME TIME IN THEIR LIVES WHERE EVER CHILD DESERVES THE CHANCE TO EXPLORE THEIR INTERESTS, BE INSPIRED AND FEEL ENCOURAGED. WE ARE AN ORGANIZATION WITH THE UNIQUE STORY IN ONE OF THE GREATEST CITIES IN THE WORLD. WE ARE L.A.'S BEST AN EXPANDED LEARNING PROGRAM FOUNDED BY MAYOR TOM BRADLEY IN 1988 ENGAGING THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN IN DISTRESSED NEIGHBORHOODS AT NO COST TO THEIR FAMILIES. IN LONGSTANDING PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES, THE LOSS UNIFIED DISTRICT AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR WE HELP OUR STUDENTS EXPLORE ENRICHING ACTIVITIES IN ARTS, STEM, LITERACY SPORTS AND MORE. EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR STUDENTS WITH PROVEN RESULTS EVERY DAY WE ENSURE OUR STUDENTS HAVE A SAFE PLACE AFTER SCHOOL WHERE THEY NOT ONLY GET HELP WITH THEIR HOMEWORK AND NUTRITION MEAL BUT BUILDS ENGAGEMENT THAT TURNS THEM INTO ENTHUSIASTIC LEARNINGS AND ACTIVE CONTRIBUTORS FPT WE HELP THEM STRENGTHEN THEIR PURPOSE, DRIVE AND SELF WORTH AND BUILD LIFES FULL OF CHOICES, BECAUSE THIS IS OUR CITY AND THESE ARE OUR KIDS. LEARN HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED. >> AGAIN ON BEHALF OF OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING THE ESSENTIAL ROLE OF L.A.'S BEST THAT WE PLAY IN THE LIVES OF SO MANY CHILDREN ACROSS LOS ANGELES. NOW I'M HONORED TO INTRODUCE DR. LUCY HUNT, THE PRINCIPAL OF MONTE VISTA STREET ELEMENTARY WHO SEES THE IMPACT OF L.A.'S BEST EVERY SINGLE DAY. DR. HUNT? [APPLAUSE] >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEMBERS, MY NAME IS LUCY HUNT AND I AM THE PRINCIPAL OF MONTE VISTA UNIFIED SCHOOL IN LAUSD. THANK YOU FOR TALKING ABOUT L.A.'S BEST IN OUR STUDENTS AND SCHOOL COMMUNITY AND FAMILIES. I WANT MY PARENTS TO KNOW THAT THEY CAN DROP THEIR STUDENTS OFF AT 7:30 IN THE MORNING AND PICK THEM UP AT 6:00 P.M. AT NIGHT AND THEY WILL BE SAFE AND SOUND. AND NOT ONLY WILL THEY BE SAFE AND SOUND BUT THEY WILL EXPERIENCE A CHALLENGING HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATION, NOT ONLY COVERING THE BASICS OF READING AND MATH BUT ALSO EXPERIENCING EXCITING PROJECT BASE LEARNING THROUGH FILM AND COMMUNICATION. AS THE BELL RINGS AT 2:13 P.M., OUR STUDENTS CONTINUE THEIR LEARNING AND EVERY ONE IN EDUCATION KNOWS EVERY MINUTE IS PRECIOUS AND THE FABT THAT I HAVE A WONDERFUL PARTNERSHIP, WE HAVE A WONDERFUL PARTNERSHIP WITH L.A.'S BEST AND WE KNOW THAT PHENOMENAL LEARNING IS GOING TO CONTINUE IS PRICELESS. IN L.A.'S BEST STUDENTS ARE PROVIDED NOURISHMENT, HOMEWORK SUPPORT, CLUB TIME, FREE PLAY, SPORTS AND MONTHLY CELEBRATIONS WHICH REALLY ARE PARTIES THAT THE KIDS LOVE. FORMER DIRECTOR, VANESSA PARAAND CURRENT SITE DIRECTOR THROW A MEAN PARTY, KIDS LOVE IT. FULL DECLARATION AND FOOD AND KIDS LOVE IT. AND IT KEEPS STUDENTS COMING TO SCHOOL AND ATTENDANCE IS SO IMPORTANT IF OUR KIDS ARE NOT AT SCHOOL, WE CANNOT TEACH THEM. MOST OF ALL THEY LEAVE FEELING LOVED AND CARED FOR AND GUYS, THAT IS THE MOST PRECIOUS THING RIGHT NOW IS THAT CONNECTION AND RELATIONSHIP THAT MY STUDENTS EXPERIENCE. AND THEY COME BACK THE NEXT DAY, READY TO LEARN AND DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN. WELL OVER HALF OF OUR PARENTS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS PROGRAM. IT IS A MASSIVE PROGRAM. I FEEL LIKE SOMETIMES MY KIDS DON'T LEAVE AND I WORK REALLY LATE SO I'M STILL WORKING AT 6:00 O'CLOCK AND HANGING OUT WITH EVERYBODY. HAVING CHILDCARE COVERAGE FROM :30 TO 6:00 P.M. IS A LIFE LINE FOR OUR WORKING PARENTS. THIS IS NOT JUST CHILDCARE BUT PRECIOUS QUALITY TIME WHERE LEARNING CONTINUES IN A SAFE STRUCTURED AND ENGAGING ENVIRONMENT WHERE STUDENTS IMPROVE THEIR CONFIDENCE, ASSOCIATE SKILLS AND ACADEMIC PFS. OUR STUDENTS ARE BEACONS OF LIGHT FOR THE FUTURE AND RIGHT NOW WE NEED LIGHT. L.A.'S BEST IS AN INVESTMENT IN OUR STUDENTS AND THE FUTURE OF LOS ANGELESPLEASE CONTINUE PRIORITIZING SUPPORT AND FUNDING FOR THIS CRITICAL PROGRAM. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND COMMITMENT TO THE CHILDREN OF LOS ANGELES. [APPLAUSE] >> GOOD MOANSINGER I'M MARIA RIOS AND IEMENT PROUD PARENT OF RUBY GONZALEZ WHO PARTICIPATE. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE HOW L.A. BEST HAS POSITIVELY IMPACTED MY CHILDREN'S LIFE AND FAMILY. L.A. BEST HAS PROVIDED A PEACE OF MIND, IT SHOES THAT MY CHILDREN 11 YEARS OLD ARE IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT STRENGTHENING OUR FAMILY STABILITY. MANY FAMILIES LIKE OURS RELY ON L.A. BEST BECAUSE AFTER SCHOOL CARE IS EXPENSIVE AND DIFFICULT TO FIND. WITHOUT L.A. BEST MANY PARENTS WILL FACE DIFFICULT DECISIONS ON CHILDCARE. BEFORE L.A. BEST I WAS WORRIED WITH MARCH CHILDREN WILL GO. L.A. BEST HAS GIVEN RUBY AND LOUIS A SAFE PLACE TO BEFORED CONFIDENCE WITH CARING MENTORS AND FRIENDS. IT OFFERS SUPPORT SUCH AS TUTORING AND ASSISTANCE WHICH IS CRUCIAL FOR MANY CHILDREN AND ALSO PROVIDES ACCESS TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES LIKE ATTENDING EVENTS LIKE FOR EXAMPLE LAKERS GAME THAT MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE AT HOME. BEYOND ECONOMICS HELPING CHILDREN BUILD FRIENDSHIP AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS. MY KIDS HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THE EVENTS LIKE THE ANNUAL HIGHLAND PARK PARADE LEARNING ABOUT COOPERATION AND RESPECT FOR OTHERS. THE MENTORSHIP FROM L.A. BEST STAFF IS TRANSFORMATIVE INSPIRING CHILDREN TO DREAM BIG AND SET AMBITIOUS GOALS. RUBY ASPIRES TO BECOME THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES WHILE LOUIS DREAMS OF BEING A SCIENTIST. THIS IS THROUGH OPPORTUNITIES AND SUPPORT L.A. BEST PROVIDES, IT'S NOT AN OPTION IT'S A NECESSITY FOR FAMILIES LIKE ME. IT HELPS KIDS SAFE AND ENGAGED AND PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE WHILE SUPPORTING WORKING PARENTS. WITHOUT CONTINUED INVESTMENT THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN CAN LOSE ACCESS TO THIS VALUABLE RESOURCE LEADING THEM AWAY FROM SUCCESS. I'M DEEPLY GRATEFUL FOR THE HARD WORKING STAFF WHO DEDICATED THEIR TIME, ENERGY AND RESOURCES TO ENCOURAGE EVERY CHILD HAS A OPPORTUNITY TO THRIVE. PLEASE CONTINUE SUPPORTING L.A. BEST SO THAT EVERY CHILD IN LOS ANGELES HAS ACCESS TO A SAFE AND ENRICHING AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND COMMITMENT TO LOS ANGELES FAMILIES. I WILL NOW INTRODUCE MY DAUGHTER RUBY GONZALEZ WHO WILL SHARE ABOUT WHAT L.A. BEST MEANS TO HER. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEMBERS MY NAME IS RUBY GONZALEZ AND I AM A PROUD STUDENT AT MONTE VISTA ELEMENTARY. THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SHARE HOW L.A.'S BEST HAS CHANGED MY LIFE AND WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT FOR KIDS LIKE ME. I WANT TO THANK MY MOM MA RAY AND MS. VANESSING A FOR BRINGING ME HERE FOR THIS INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY. FOR INSTANCE, L.A.'S BEST HAS GIVEN ME MANY CHANCE TO SEE PARTICIPATE IN EXCITING FIELD TRIPS, FOR INSTANCE WE ATTEND AID LAKER GAME AND A MILE-RUN AT DODGER STADIUM. THIS HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT AND PROJECTS. THEY ALSO ORGANIZE KLUNZ AND WAUN OF MY FAVORITE CLUBS IS FOOTBALL. IT'S AMAZING TO SEE THAT FOOTBALL IS NOT JUST A SPORT FOR BOYS BUT ALSO FOR GIRLS. THIS REALIZATION HAS INSPIRED ME TO BELIEVE THAT I CAN ACHIEVE MY DREAM OF BEING THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. ROBOTIC IS ALSO SOMETHING THAT IS OFFERED AT SCHOOL AND I WANT TO TRY THAT NEXT. MY PARENT WORK LATE AND L.A.'S BEST GIVES THEM A PIECE OF MIND KNOWING I'M IN A SAFE PLACE FOR PEOPLE WITH WHO CARE ABOUT ME. IT HELPS ME DO MY HOMEWORK SO I FEEL SAFE IN CLASS. IT GIVES US OPPORTUNITIES WE WOULD NOT HAVE OTHERWISE. EVERY KID DESERVES A BEST LIKE L.A.'S BEST AND I HOPE YOU CAN CONTINUE TO SUPPORT IT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND SUPPORTING STUDENTS LIKE ME. L.A.'S BEST IS MAKING A DIFFERENCE AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN KEEP IT FOR YEARS. AND NOW IT'S MY HONOR TO INTRODUCE SARAH AND WILL RECITE A POEM RECITATION. [APPLAUSE] >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEMBERS, MY NAME IS SARAH TORRES AND I'M A PROUD STUDENT AT ELEMENTARY. THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SHARE HOW L.A.'S BEST HAS CHANGED MY LIFE AND WHY IT MEANS SO MUCH TO ME. HERE'S A POEM THAT I WROTE MY POEM IS CALLED DRAWING DREAMS AT L.A.'S BEST. L.A.'S BEST I DRAW AND READ MY COACHES HAVE THE THINGS I NEED, I SKETCH THE WORLD WITH BRAND NEW FRIENDS AND WISH THIS FUN WILL NEVER END, I FEEL TO FREE TO DRAW THE THINGS AROUND ME. I HOPE L.A.'S BEST IS HERE TO STAY, A PLACE TO LEARN TO LAUGH AND PLAY. WITH PENS AND PENCILS DANCING. AND IT'S MY HONOR TO INTRODUCE UNISSES HERNANDEZ WHO'S SUPPORT MEANS SO MUCH TO KIDS LIKE ME. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> E. Hernandez: AMAZING. ANOTHER HUGE OF ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR THE PARENTS HERE TO SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCE OF L.A.'S BEST AND THE TEAM AND DR. HUNT, THANK YOU. NOW I ALSO WANT TO THANK AGAIN, EVERY ONE FOR COMING INTO THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE, THANK YOU SARAI FOR REMINDING US THAT INVESTING IN L.A.'S BEST IS ALSO AN INVESTMENT IN THE L.A. CITY. NOW I'M HONORED TO INTRODUCE THIS RESOLUTION, AS L.A.'S BEST DAY. I'M GOING TO HAND IT TO YOU ALL TO HOLD. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] LET'S GO RIGHT HERE TO THE FRONT A LITTLE BIT. THANK YOU. >> Council President: THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER HERNANDEZ AND CONGRATULATIONS TO L.A.'S BEST. I BELIEVE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A PRESENTATION FROM COUNCILMEMBER HUGO SOTO-MARTINEZ. [APPLAUSE] >> E. Hernandez: WANT TO NOTE FOR THE RECORD HERMAN WAS DISRUPTIVE AND IT MADE IT HARD FOR ME TO HEAR AND OTHERS TO HEAR. >> Council President: HERMAN WE'RE GIVING YOU YOUR FIRST WARNING, PLEASE DON'T DISTURB THE MEETING AT CITY COUNCIL. THAT IS YOUR FIRST AND LAST WARNING. >> H. Soto-Martinez: THANK YOU SO MUCH MR. PRESIDENT, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH TO EVERY ONE HERE. I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE FELIPOs PARENTS AND STUDENTS HERE. I'M JOINED HERE BY THE COUNCILMEMBER FROM THE SECOND DISTRICT MR. NAZARIAN. AND WE ARE HERE TODAY TO CONGRATULATE THE ROSE AND ALEX ARMENIAN SCHOOLS BASKETBALL TEAM ON WINNING THE 2025CIF SOUTHERN SECTION CHAMPIONSHIP! PLEASE GIVE THEM A HUGE ROUND OF APPLAUSE. THIS IS PELIBOS FIRST BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP A TESTAMENT OF INCREDIBLE WORK THAT THEY'VE PUT IN IN THE PREAND POST-SEASON AND ALSO MAKING HISTORY FOR THEIR SCHOOL AND ALSO THE 55th YEAR ANNIVERSARY. BUT IT WAS A TRUE EFFORT BY THEM, WITH THREE OF THEIR PLAYERS SCORING IN DOUBLE DIGITS WHERE THEY USED AN 11-0 RUN WINNING BY A HUGE MARGIN. OF COURSE WE KNOW THAT WINNING ISN'T ANYTHING AND EACH ONE HAS A BRIGHT AND WONDERFUL FUTURE IN ACADEMIA BUT WE SHOULD NOT UNDERSTATEMENT THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT MAKES DEDICATION TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. AND I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THIS WAS NOT ALSO A POINT OF PRIDE FOR CD13 BUT FOR THE ENTIRE ARMENIAN COMMUNITY. IF YOU EVER GO TO PELIBOS, YOU WILL SEE FOLKS COMING FROM ALL ACROSS THE REGION. NOT ONLY DID THEY MAKE CD13 PROUD BUT GOOD EXAMPLE FOR ALL THE LOS ANGELES. I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME MY COLLEAGUE COUNCILMEMBER NAZARIAN WHO HAS BEEN A FIERCE ADVOCATE FOR THE ARMENIAN COMMUNITY. AND WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, COUNCILMEMBER NZARIAN. >> A. Nazarian: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN, I APPRECIATE YOU RECOGNIZING A WONDERFUL SCHOOL THAT I'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE A CROSS TOWN RIVAL WITH. FIRST AND FOR MOST, WHEN THE COUNCILMEMBER CALLED, I JUST JUMPED AT THE OPPORTUNITY. I'M THE ONLY SECOND ARMENIAN AMERICAN TO SERVE IN THE CITY COUNCIL. SO TO BE HERE AT A TIME WHEN THERE IS A SCHOOL THAT IS WINNING THE CHAMPIONSHIP, CIF CHAMPIONSHIP GIVES ME GREAT HONOR PERSONAL HONOR BUT ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY TO REFLECT ON HOW MUCH THIS MIGHTY YET SMALL COMMUNITY IS ACHIEVING CONTRIBUTING AND PAYING FORWARD. SO PAYING BACK AS WELL AS PAYING FORWARD. SO I WANTED TO TAKE A MINUTE AND SAY, THANK YOU CONGRATULATIONS, I'M EXTREMELY HONORED AND PROU OF ALL OF YOU WHETHER IT'S, TALIA LARA, SAVANNAH AND THE REST OF THE LADIES, YOU ALL HELPED THIS TEAM WIN. GIVEN THE CIRCUMSTANCES, THE CHALLENGING CIRCUMSTANCES BUT I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE SOMETHING THAT OUR COLLEAGUES COUNCILMEMBERS HARRIS-DAWSON AND HUTT MENTIONED A LITTLE WHILE AGO, AS THEY WERE THE YOUNG ONES GROWING UP IN THE COMMUNITY AND HEARING ABOUT OLIVIA MITCHELL AND THE WONDERFUL WORK THAT SHE WAS DOING. YOU GUYS ARE NOW SETTING THAT STANDARD OF HAVING OTHERS WANT TO RISE UP TO THE OCCASION TO STEP UP AND CONTINUE THE CHAMPIONSHIPS, CONTINUE THE PROGRESS, CONTINUE THE ACHIEVEMENT AND BEAT YOU IN THE RECORDS THAT YOU HAVE NOW ESTABLISHED. AND THAT'S WHAT YOU ALWAYS WANT. YOU WANT IT CREATE THE BASE SO THAT OTHERS COME AND CHALLENGE AND SURPASS YOU. SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND IT ALSO GIVES ME A GREAT PLEASURE AS AN ALUMNI OF FERAHIAN, THE CROSS TOWN RIVAL TO BE STANDING HERE TO SAY THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS TO ALEXFILOBOS. THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER. >> H. Soto-Martinez: THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCILMEMBER NAZARIAN, I'M SO SORRY THAT YOUR RIVAL WON THE CHAMPIONSHIP. NEXT UP, THE PRINCIPLE DR. SUESIE O HANIAN. >> THANK YOU, THANK YOU EVERYBODY, IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE AND EVERY ONE WHO IS GATHERED HERE TODAY. I'M PRINCIPAL ARMENIAN SCHOOL IN THE HEART OF HOLLYWOOD. IT IS AN HONOR TO BE WITH YOU ALL. AS THEY CELEBRATE AN EXTRAORDINARY ACHIEVEMENT BY OUR BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM. THIS VICTORY IS A TESTAMENT NOT ONLY AND THE SKILL OF DEDICATION OF YOUNG SCHOLAR ATHLETES BUT ALSO THE TEAM WORK AND CHARACTER THAT THEY HAVE DEMONSTRATED THROUGHOUT THE SEASON. WITH WITH OUR DEVOTED COACHES AND OUR ATHLETIC DIRECTOR. THIS CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE REFLECTS THE COUNTLESS HOURS OF PRACTICE, COMMITMENT AND SACRIFICE THAT THEY HAVE ALL MADE. REPRESENTING WHAT IT MEANS TO SET GOALS AND PUSH THROUGH CHALLENGES TO REACH THEM. TODAY WE ARE NOT JUST CELEBRATING A TROPHY, WE'RE CELEBRATING THE VALUES OF SPORT MAN SHIP AND EXCELLENCE. THEY HAVE SHOWED THAT WITH DETERMINATION ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE. ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY, I EXPRESS GRATITUDE TO COUNCILMAN HUGO MARTINEZ FOR OUR SUPPORT. IT IS THROUGH PARTNERSHIP LIKE THIS THAT WE ARE ABLE TO INSPIRE AND EMPOWER OUR YOUTH. AND THANK YOU FOR THIS GREAT OPPORTUNITY, WE ARE HONORED TO BE HERE TODAY AND THANK YOU FOR CARLA MARTINEZ, ART AND NICK BARNIS FOR ORGANIZING OUR VISIT. THANK YOU IT'S AN HONOR TO BE HERE. AND HAVE A GOOD DAY. [APPLAUSE] >> H. Soto-Martinez: THANK YOU, DOCTOR. NOW WELCOME TO THE PODIUM, THE COACH OF THE VARSITY GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAM AMEEN. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEMBERS AND EVERY ONE IN THIS BUILDING. DOCTOR COVERED A LOT OF THINGS I WANTED TO SAY. BUT ONE THING I WANT TO SAY IN PARTICULAR. EVERY DAY WE TAKE THINGS FOR GRANTED BY THE COMMUNITY THAT WE'RE IN AND I THINK THIS YEAR, WE KIND OF HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE WHAT KIND OF OPPORTUNITY WE HAVE AND HOW GRATEFUL TO BE IN A COMMUNITY THAT IS SO SUPPORTIVE. IN A TIME WHERE, WITH ALL THE FIRES AND EVERYTHING GOING OB, WE WERE UNCERTAIN WHETHER A SEASON WOULD CONTINUE OR NOT SINCE A LOST SCHOOLS HAD THEIR SEASON CUT SHORT. AND TO BE GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE THE SEASON AND GO TO THE END OF THE SEASON, IT WAS AN UNBELIEVABLE EXPERIENCE. AND THERE IS NO ONE ELSE TO THANK BUT THIS COMMUNITY AND THE AREA THAT WE COME FROM FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR US. SO THANK YOU FOR, WE'RE HONORED TO BE HERE. THANK YOU FOR HAVING US. [APPLAUSE] >> H. Soto-Martinez: THANK YOU SO MUCH, COACH. AND NOW FINALLY FROM THE CHAMPIONSHIP WINNING BASKETBALL CHAMPION TEAM, A 5-5 GUARD, AVERAGED 15 POINTS AND 5 REBOUNDS AND TWO STEALS, SENIOR NANAR. >> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU FOR HAVING OUR TEAM HERE TO SHARE OUR SCHOOL'S FIRST CIF CHAMPIONSHIP. SOME MAY TAKE IT FOR GRANTED BUT WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THE DAY-TO-DAY THING YOU DO TO KEEP A SAFE ENVIRONMENT. WE'RE SO GLAD TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REPRESENT OUR SCHOOL AND PEOPLE. WE GENUINE' APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS IN RECOGNIZING OUR TEAM'S HARD WORK AND I'M SO PROUD OF WHAT WE ACHIEVED TO GO AS A TEAM FOR OUR COMMUNITY. THIS IS ONLY THE BEGINNING OF GREAT THINGS AHEAD. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> H. Soto-Martinez: THANK YOU AGAIN TO EVERY ONE FROM THE PILLBOS, AMAZING INSTITUTION. OH. ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES, WE WANT TO GIVE YOU THIS BASKETBALL SIGNED, YOU RECOGNIZE THE COLORS, REALLY GOOD COLORS FROM THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL AND WE HAVE PERSONAL CERTIFICATES IN THE BACK. I KNOW WE HAVE SOME WORDS. >> Council President: COUNCILMEMBER WE HAVE COUNCILMEMBER RODRIGUEZ THAT WOULD LIKE TO SAY A FEW COMMENTS. >> M. Rodriguez: THANK YOU, I JUST WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU WOMEN. ONE OF MY FORMER STAFFERS WAS AN ALUMNI OF THE SCHOOL WHO WAS ALSO ACTUALLY THE I BELIEVE, THE STUDENT BODY PRESIDENT NESHAN. SO I WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU BECAUSE THE SCHOOL HAS A WELL-DOCUMENTED AND CELEBRATED ACADEMIC HISTORY IN TERMS OF WHAT YOU ALL, WHAT YOU'RE ALL ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH. AND YOU'VE HAD A TREMENDOUS ALUMNI BUT TO BE ABLE TO ALSO SHOW THE VALUE OF SPORTS WOMENSHIP IN THIS ROLE AND COMPETE SO SUCCESSFULLY, I JUST WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU. IT'S THE FULL PACKAGE, THE ROUNDING OUT OF REALLY IMPORTANT LESSONS THAT YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE TO GARNER WHEN THEY'RE IN SCHOOL. SOY WANTED TO CONGRATULATE YOU LADIES FOR A REMARKABLE ACCOMPLISHMENT. CONGRATULATIONS, THESE ARE THE MEMORIES THAT YOU WILL CARRY WITH YOU FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE. THERE IS NEVER AN EASY WAY TO WINNING. AND YOU CAN CELEBRATE THE INCREDIBLE VALUE OF THE LESSONS THAT YOU LEARNED ON THE COURT AND I JUST WANTED TO GET UP AND RECOGNIZE YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION AND THIS REMARKABLE SUCCESS IN YOUR, IN THIS COMPETITION CONGRATULATIONS. >> A. Nazarian: BY THE WAY, COUNCILMEMBER RODRIGUEZ FOR THAT RECOGNITION AND REMINDING ME, SHAME ON ME, WITH US, MY SENIOR LEGISLATIVE DEPUTY IS LILLIAN WHO IS A GRADUATE OF THIS SCHOOL. SO JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I PLUGGED LILLY AS WELL APPROPRIATELY, EVEN THOUGH SHE HATES THE RECOGNITION BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. >> H. Soto-Martinez: THANK YOU SO MUCH ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES, I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT THIS BALL AND WE HAVE PERSONAL CERTIFICATES IN THE BACK. PLEASE GIVE IT UP ONE MORE TIME. [APPLAUSE] >> Council President: CONGRATULATIONS LADIES ON WING THE CHAMPIONSHIP. NEXT WE HAVE A PRESENTATION FROM COUNCILMEMBER MARQUEECE HARRIS-DAWSON TO HONOR OUR VERY OWN. IN BETWEENTHAT, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE THE SHERMAN OAKS CENTER FOR ENRICHED STUDY FROM OUR COUNCILMEMBER BLUMENFIELD WHO IS ENABLE TO BE HERE TODAY. STUDENTS WAVE AT THE CAMERAS. THESE STUDENTS ARE HERE TO DEEPEN THE UNDERSTANDING OF GOVERNMENT. IT'S MY PLEASURE TO WELCOME THEM TO COUNCIL CHAMBERS, WELCOME EVERYBODY AND CONGRATULATIONS. [APPLAUSE] >> M. Harris-Dawson: SO I'M GOING TO TALK FOR TEN MINUTES AND THEN YOU CAN TALK. >> IT'S YOUR SHOW. >> M. Harris-Dawson: CONGRATULATIONS TO THIS MORNING'S HONOREES. I'M EXCITED THAT THIS COUNCIL HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO AFTER 47 YEARS OF SERVICE, HONOR AND RECOGNIZE THE SERVICE OF MR. CHARLIE ROUJ WHO IS ANNOUNCING HIS RETIREMENT TODAY. LET'S GIVE HIM A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] AS YOU SEE, A LOT OF HIS COLLEAGUES JOINING ME. HE'S HAD A DISTINGUISHED CAREER IN THE PLUM DEPARTMENT, IF YOU HAD TO SERVE AT THE PLUM COMMITTEE, YOU SAW HIM SITTING AT THE TABLE MAKING THE CASE ON BEHALF OF THE CITY FOR PROTECTING NEIGHBORHOOD, OUR ENVIRONMENT AND INTEGRITY OF OUR CITY. HE STARTED WITH THE CITY DECADES AGO WORKING FOR COUNCILMAN OF THE SECOND DISTRICT JOEL WAX AND EVENTUALLY MOVED FROM THERE TO THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT IN 1984 AND SERVED A VARIETY OF ROLES, FOR THE CITY ASSISTANT, CITY PLANNER FOR DIFFERENT SECTIONS OF OUR CITY. CHIEF ZONING ADMINISTRATOR, ASSOCIATE ZONING ADMINISTRATOR AND ENDED HIS TIME AS A ZONING ADMINISTRATOR. AND FOR THE PUBLIC, THIS IS A VERY VERY IMPORTANT ROLE THAT ALL OF US FEEL BUT WE OFTEN TIMES DON'T SEE. IF THERE IS AN OIL DRILLING SITE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, OR A BUSINESS THAT IS BUSINESS THAT ISN'T LIVING UP TO THE CITY CODE WHERE WE HAVE A PROCESS WHERE WE DO THAT ENFORCEMENT. WELL THE OWNER OF THAT LAND HAS THE RIGHT TO COME AND MAKE THIS CASE AND THEN THERE IS A PERSON THAT LISTENS TO THE FACT AND MAKES A DETERMINATION AND THAT'S WHO CHARLIE HAS BEEN TO US FOR SO MANY YEARS. I GOT A LIST OF AWARDS HERE MR. LEE THAT IT'S SO LONG, I'M GOING TO SAY THEY CAME FROM NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, STATE ORGANIZATIONS, LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS AND EVEN INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION. THAT HE'S RECEIVED BECAUSE OF HIS WORK. BUT AFTER 47 YEARS, WE ARE PROUD OF THE WORK THAT HE HAS DONE, WE ARE GREAT FM FOR THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE AND EXAMPLE THAT YOU SET FOR SO MANY PEOPLE AS YOU SEE, HOW MANY OF HIS COLLEAGUES CAME HERE THIS MORNING TO STAND WITH HIM. WE WANT TO CONGRATULATE AND HONOR AND RECOGNIZE THE ONE AND ONLY MR. CHARLIE ROUJ. [APPLAUSE] ALL RIGHT, NOW WE'LL HERE FROM MR. ROUJ HIMSELF. >> IN DEED. GOOD MORNING, CHAIRMAN LEE, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. YEAH, I STARTED WITH JOEL WAX, IN 1976 THE BICENTENNIAL YEAR AND HE HAD JUST BEEN MADE THE CHAIR OF THE WATER AND POWER COMMITTEE IT WAS CALLED AT THE TIME. HE DID NOT LIKE THE ASSIGNMENT SO HE DECIDED TO BECOME A PAIN TO THE WATER AND POWER AND IN FACT, HE LEAD THE FIRST AUDIT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER AND POWER CAME THROUGH MR. WAX. THAT'S RIGHT. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT JOEL HAD ME DO WAS DEPARTMENT OF WATER AND POWER WAS THINKING OF BUILDING A NUCLEAR PLANT AND HE WANTED IT ME TO WRITE A RESOLUTION FOR THE COUNCIL TO OPPOSE THIS AND IT WENT TO THE FLOOR AND BERNIE IMMEDIATELY GOT IT AND CHANGED IT TO SUPPORT RECOMMENDATION AND IT PASSED ON A 14-1 VOTE. JOEL WALKED UP TO ME YESTERDAY AFTER THE VOTE AND SAID, CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR FIRST LEGISLATIVE TRIUMPH. I'VE HAD A FEW LEGISLATIVE TRIUMPH SINCE THAT, THE WATER RIDGE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT IN COUNCIL DISTRICT 3, THE TOX STUDIO EXPANSION AND REWRITE OF THE CENTURY CITY SOUTH SPECIFIC PLAN IN COUNCIL DISTRICT 5. AND YOU REALLY KNOW WHAT IT'S TIME TO RETIRE WHEN COUNCILMEMBER THAT WAS YOUR SAME AGE, YOU DID SOMETHING FOR HIM AND NOW YOU'RE DOING SOMETHING FOR HIS DAUGHTER-IN-LAW. IT'S TIME. AND I WANT TO MENTION THE DISTRICT, WHICH IS CD9 AND 14. SO IT'S BEEN A GREAT RIDE AND I HAVE TO SAY, I GOT THE RECOGNITION FOR THOSE LEGISLATIVE ACTS BUT IT'S THE STAFF WHO DOES THE RESEARCH ON THE CASE. AND ALL THE OTHER NITTY-GRITTY THINGS THAT DON'T GET UP IN FRONT OF EVERYBODY BUT YOU REALLY NEED PROUD OF MY MENTORSHIP AND ABILITY TO TRAIN PEOPLE LIKE, I'VE GOT TWO PLANNING DIRECTORS AND OTHER CITY OF PORTLAND AND WEST HOLLYWOOD ARE HERE. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF EX PLANNING DIRECTORS GLEN AND ALSO RECOGNIZE MY BROTHER TOM WHO IS, OVER HERE WHO IS BEAT ME OUT, HE'S GOT 48 YEARS OF TEACHING THEOLOGY AT LAYOLA MARY MOUNT AND MY STEPSON WHO IS ALSO HERE STANDING BEHIND TOM. SO AS I SAID IT'S BEEN A FUN RIDE AND ONE OF MY REAL JOYS IS WORK WIDTH CITY COUNCIL. A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T LIKE TO APPEAR BEFORE CITY COUNCIL, BECAUSE YOU GET LONG QUESTIONS, BUT IT I ENJOY. I ONCE HAD A 45-MINUTE QUESTION. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> Council President: CHARLIE. I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE COUNCILMEMBER NAZARIAN. >> A. Nazarian: THANK YOU, I COULDN'T MISS THE OPPORTUNITY TO THANK MY CONSTITUENT FROM NORTH HOLLYWOOD WHO DEDICATED HIS ENTIRE IN CITY BUT HIS PRESENCE HE'S ALSO HELPED THE COMMUNITY THRIVE WITH HIS CONSTANT OBSERVATION WITH EVERYTHING AROUND HIM. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE. YOU CAN RETIRE BUT YOU CAN NEVER LEAVE. SOUL BE EXPECTING TO GET CALLS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE] >> Council President: AND CHARLIE, I JUST WANT TO ALSO SAY NOW THAT YOU'RE LEAVING CITY SERVICE I MAY BE THE LAST PERSON STANDING FROM THE JOEL WAX OFFICE DAYS. WHEN I STARTED IN 1996, YOU HAD ALREADY BEEN WITH THE CITY FOR 40 YEARS AT THAT POINT. IT'S A TESTAMENT FOR YOUR TIME TO SEE NOT ONLY CURRENT STAFF MEMBERS BUT PEOPLE FROM OTHER CITIES, FORMER PLANNING STAFF MEMBERS, I SEE MY OLD BOSS STANDING THERE IN THE BACKGROUND THAT THEY CAME HERE TO CELEBRATE YOU HERE TODAY. YOU LEFT AN INCREDIBLE MARK IN THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES, ESPECIALLY IN MY DISTRICT WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF PORTER RANCH AND JUST I WANT TO SAY, ON BEHALF OF CD12 AND ALL ITS RESIDENTS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR AMAZING SERVICE TO LOS ANGELES. COUNCILMEMBER HARRIS-DAWSON. >> >> M. Harris-Dawson: THANK YOU, FOR YOUR WORK, WE WANT TO GIVE YOU THIS SMALL RECOGNITION TO OUR CITY. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU. >> Council President: ALL RIGHT, COUNCILMEMBER HARRIS-DAWSON IF YOU WILL. >> Council President: ALL RIGHT, MR. LEE? >> J. Lee: THANK YOU MR. PRESIDENT. COLLEAGUES TODAY I BRING YOU A PRESENTATION THAT SHOWCASES A UNIQUE ASPECT OF THE OLYMPIC GAMES AND ONE OF THE MANY THINGS THAT THE LOS ANGELES GAMES THAT CONNECTS US TO THE PARIS GAMES. WITH ME TODAY, I HAVE RESERVE POLICE OFFICERS WHO AS WE KNOW, WE CALL TWICE A CITIZEN BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY DO TO VOLUNTEER TO BE PART OF LOS ANGELES AND TO BE PART OF THE LAPD. I HAVE THESE RESERVE OFFICERS WHO HAVE ALWAYS BEEN JUST A CALL AWAY FROM OUR CITY AND AVAILABLE AND WILLING TO BOLSTER THE CAPABILITY OF OUR SWORN OFFICERS FPT DURING THE PARIS OLYMPICS, BUT THIS TIME THAT CALL TOOK THEM TO PARIS *FM SINCE THE START OF THOSE GAMES AND EVEN HARD THIS LONG TO FORMERLY RECOGNIZE THESE INCREDIBLE OFFICERS AND THEY'RE SERVICE IN SUPPORTING FRENCH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND SECURITY WHO DID NOT BUT ALSO ENSURED THAT LOS ANGELES WAS REPRESENTED ON THIS WORLD STAGE. TODAY I AM HONORED TO WELCOME MY FRIEND CARLA PRESIDENT OF THE RESERVE FOUNDATION AND THE FAMILIAR FACE TO MANY OF US AS WELL AS, YES, ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR CARLA. [APPLAUSE] AS WELL AS BERNARD DISTINGUISH OFFICER AND DEDICATED OFFER WHO PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN GUIDING OUR OFFICERS DURING THE TRIP. AS YOU KNOW, I'M A STEADFAST SUPPORTER OF LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT EXTENDS TO OUR RESERVE OFFICERS WHO SERVE NOT FOR RECOGNITION OR COMPENSATION BUT OUT OF THE UNWAIVERING LOVE FOR OUR CITY AND DEDICATION TO THE SAFETY AND WELL BEING OF OUR RESIDENTS. FOR THAT, I WANT TO EXPRESS MY HEARTFELT GRATITUDE TO ALL OF THESE OFFICERS AND WITH THAT, ALLOW ME TO WELCOME MY FRIEND CARLA ALLMENSON TO SHARE A FEW WORDS. >> THANK YOU JOHN LEE, I THINK IT WAS SHAKESPEARE THAT SAID BREVITY IS KEY. SOIL BE SHORT. THE LAPD RESERVE CORPS IS A DEDICATED TEAM OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME TO WORK AS SWORN PEACE OFFICERS FPT THESE HIGHLY PROFESSIONALS COME FROM DIFFERENT AREAS, MEDICAL AND LEGAL PROFESSIONALS, TECHNOLOGY EXPERTS AND MORE. RESERVE OFFICERS COMPLETE THE EXACT SAME TRAINING AND MUST MEET THE SAME STANDARDS AS THEIR FULL-TIME COUNTERPARTS. RESERVES MUST ALSO SERVE 208 HOURS A YEAR AND MANY DEDICATE FAR MORE. IN ADDITION, THESE RESERVE OFFICERS ARE CALLED UPON DURING CRITICAL SITUATIONS. THEY SERVE AND ALL DIVISIONS OF LAPD DURING THE EXACT SAME DUTIES AS FULL-TIME OFFICERS. THESE DEDICATED INDIVIDUALS BALANCE THEIR PRIMARILY CAREERS WHILE SERVING POLICE OFFICERS. THEY ENHANCE PUBLIC SAFETY WHILE FOSTER COMMUNITY TRUST. THE RESENT FIRES IN L.A. REALLY SHOWED THE VALUE OF RESERVE CORPS WHETHER THEY WERE SERVING IN THE FRONTLINES OF THE PALISADES OR SHOWED UP IN THEIR HOME DIVISIONS TO FILL-IN THE GAPSCIOUS THEY MADE A DIFFERENCE. THE LAPD RESERVE CORPS REPRESENTS MORE THAN JUST AXILLARY FORCE, IT EMBODIES THE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND PUBLIC SERVICE. BY VOLUNTEERING, AS RESERVE OFFICERS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS NOT ONLY MAINTAIN PUBLIC SAFETY BUT ALSO BUILD A BRIDGE BETWEEN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE PEOPLE IT SERVES. AS THE RESPONSIBILITIES AND DEMAND OF LAW ENFORCEMENT PROBECAUSE OF OUR CITY HOSTING MANY UPCOMING WORLD EVENTS, IT'S TIME THAT WE THOUGHTFULLY CONSIDER THE IDEA OF ALLOWING OUR POLICE OFFICERS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE COAST PROGRAM. THIS PROGRAM ALLOWS OFFICERS TO SIGN UP FOR SECURITY AND TRAFFIC CONTROL ASSIGNMENT AT PUBLIC OR PRIVATE EVENTS SUCH AS THE OSCAR GAMES. ONLY AFTER THEY'VE COMPLETED THEIR VOLUNTEER HOURS WOULD NOT ONLY EXPAND LAPD'S CAPACITY TO MEET CITY WIDE DEMANDS BUT ALSO SERVE AS MEANINGFUL RECOGNITION OF THE CRITICAL ROLE RESERVE OFFICERS PLAY. THIS WILL ALSO ENCOURAGE GREATER ENGAGEMENT AND RETENTION AND MOST IMPORTANTLY THE RECRUITMENT OF NEW RESERVE OFFICERS. IN CLOSING, THE LAPD RESERVE CORPS IS A SHINING EXAMPLE OF HOW DEDICATED CITIZENS CAN MAKE AN IMPACT BOTH LOCALLY AND GLOBALLY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND LET'S CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THOSE WHO SERVE SELFLESSLY. >> J. Lee: I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE OFFICER CALILI TO THE PODIUM. >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEMBERS AND FELLOW ANGELINOS. ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE LAPD CORPS THANK YOU FOR THIS RECOGNITION. MY NAME IS ART KALILI I'M AN LAPD OFFICER AND IT'S AN HONOR TO STAND BEFORE YOU PRESENTING ORDINARY CITIZENS WHO TOOK THEIR TIME TO DAWN THE UNIFORM AND SERVE WITH PRIDE AT THE PARIS 2024 OLYMPIC GAMES. OUT OF 1800 LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS DEPLOYED IN FRANCE, THE LAPD RESERVE TEAM WAS THE LARGEST REPRESENTATION OUTSIDE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION AND ONLY TEAM TO SERVE ENTIRELY UNPAID. THAT ALONE SPEAKS INVOLVES ABOUT THE DEDICATION OF OUR RESERVE OFFICERS AND THE STRENGTH OF OUR DEPARTMENT'S REPETITION ON THE GLOBAL STAGE. WE MADE HISTORY AND IT CAME AT NO COST TO THE CITY. IT'S TOWARD THE CITIZEN AND THIS MISSION WAS ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL EXAMPLE OF WHAT THAT MEANS. THOSE 30 RESERVE OFFICERS TO FROM THEIR OWN VACATION TIME, SOME SACRIFICING THEIR ENTIRE 2024 ALLOTMENT TO TRAVEL ACROSS THE WORLD AND WORK LONG HOURS IN UNIFORM. WE REPRESENTED OUR CITY AT THE LARGEST INTERNATIONAL EVENT OF THE YEAR. COUNCILMEMBER JOHN LEE, I WANT TO THANK YOU PERSONALLY FOR RECOGNIZING WHAT THESE TRULY MEANT NOT JUST FOR US, BUT FOR OUR CITY. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY, A MUNICIPAL U.S. DEPLOYED ON DUTY IN IN UNIFORM IN A FOREIGN COUNTY. THAT'S A MILD STONE FOR AMERICAN LAW ENFORCEMENT AS A WHOLE. THIS MISSION WAS MORE SYMBOL ISSUE--SYMBOLIC IT WAS STRATEGIC, GAVE US VALUABLE INSIDES AND OPERATIONAL ESSENCE THAT WILL HELP LOS ANGELES PREPARE FOR THE 2028 GAMES. WE'RE NOT JUST READY FOR BETTER PREPARED THAN EVER BEFORE. EVEN AS OUR DEPARTMENT FACES STAFFING AND BUDGET CHALLENGES, OUR ALMOST 400 STRONG RESERVE CORPS REMAINS A MULTIPLIER, HIGHLY TRAINED, DEEPLY COMMITTED AND INCREDIBLY COST AFFECTIVE. I WOULD LIKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO INVITE EACH OF YOU TO OUR ANNUAL BANKET TAKING PLACE ON MAY THIRD IN THE PRESENCE OF CHIEF OF POLICE JIM McDONNELL. IT WILL BE A GREAT HE VENTER TO CELEBRATE OUR ACHIEVEMENT OF THE RESERVES AND I ENCOURAGE YOU TO ATTEND AS JOHN LEE DOES EVERY YEAR AND SEE FIRSTHAND THE DEDICATION, IMPACT AND HEART THAT DEFINES THIS EXTRAORDINARY GROUP. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND RECOGNIZING THAT SERVICE DOES NOT ALWAYS COME WITH A PAYCHECK BUT IT ALWAYS COMES WITH PRIDE, PURPOSE AND HEART. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> J. Lee: SO I JUST WANT TO TOUCH ON SOMETHING THAT CARLA SAID. THAT THESE OFFICERS GO THROUGH THE EXACT SAME TRAINING AS EVERY LAPD OFFICER. THE BIG DIFFERENCE IS, THEY DO IT ON THEIR OWN TIME, THEY VOLUNTEER THEIR OWN TIME. SO PLEASE, COLLEAGUES CAN WE GIVE ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE TO THESE AMAZING MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVE THE CITY EVERY SINGLE DAY AND ARE TRULY TWICE THE CITIZEN. I HAVE A CERTIFICATE. >> Council President: BEFORE YOUR PRESENTATION, MR. >> LEE, I HAVE MR. NAZARIAN ON THE QUEUE TO SPEAK. >> A. Nazarian: THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I JUST WANTED RISE UP TO JOIN COUNCILMEMBERLY IN SUPPORTING THE WORK THAT YOU'RE ALL DOING. THANK YOU TO THE A MANSON AND KALILI FAMILIES FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR INCLUDING ME ALSO TO GET TO KNOW A LOT OF THE WORK THAT YOU DID IN DURING THE OLYMPICS. I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR DEDICATION AS WELL FOR TAKING TIME AWAY FROM YOUR FAMILIES AND FROM YOUR DALAI OBLIGATIONS TO REPRESENT THIS CITY AND BE OUR AMBASSADORS DURING THE LAST OLYMPICS AND I DO LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK WITH YOU AND JOIN COUNCILMEMBER LEE IN THE SUPPORT THAT HE'S GOING TO BE OFFERING YOU IN FUTURE PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL BEING HERE. >> Council President: COUNCILMEMBER RODRIGUEZ. THANK YOU MR. NAZARIAN. >> M. Rodriguez: THANK YOU, THANK YOU MR. LEE. AND THANK YOU ALL FOR A VEILING YOURSELF TO BE PART OF WHAT WE KNOW IS GOING TO BE A MASSIVE LIFT HERE IN LOS ANGELES AND THAT IT'S GOING TO BE ALL HANDS-ON DECK. WHAT WAS GREAT WAS THE INTERNATIONAL REACH THAT OCCURED WITH SO MANY MULTIPLE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES FROM AROUND THE WORLD, BEING PART OF THE OLYMPICS TO HELP SECURE PARIS AND IT WAS A REMARKABLE GAME AND EVERY ONE, I THINK SOME OF YOU, SOME OF YOU MIGHT HAVE BEEN DOWN IN MARSAY, RIGHT. PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW HOW WIDE THE REACH WAS. AND SIMILARLY WHEN IF COMES TO LOS ANGELES WORING WITH SO MANY DIFFERENT MUNICIPAL INFORMANT AGENCIES, A IF PHENOMENAL JOB FROM A LEDGE SLAIFT LEVEL TO LEAD THESE AGENCIES IT SHOWS THE UNIQUE NATURE OF HOW EVERY ONE HAD TO COME TOGETHER AND WORK ALONGSIDE ONE ANOTHER WITH VERY DIFFERENT RULES AND VERY DIFFERENT DIE NANN--DYNAMIC TO ENSURE THAT EVERYBODY IS AT THE FOR FRONT. SO THANK YOU BECAUSE I KNOW THOSE LESSONS ARE PART OF WHAT YOU BROUGHT BACK TO HELP US PREPARE US FOR L.A. 28. THANK YOU FOR THAT. >> Council President: COUNCILMEMBER COUNCILMEMBER RODRIGUEZ. AND THANK YOU MR. LEE FOR THIS GREAT PRESENTATION. IT WAS A GREAT SOURCE OF PRIDE TO DRIVE AROUND THE STREETS OF PARIS AND OCCASIONALLY SEE THAT RECOGNIZABLE BADGE FROM OUR HOMETOWN WHEN WE WERE THERE IN PARIS. AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOU PLAYING A LEADERSHIP FOR ALL OUR SAFETY WORKERS BECAUSE YOU HAVE SEEN FIRSTHAND WHAT IT'S LIKE. AS WE PREPARE FOR BOTH THE OLYMPIC GAMES AND WORLD CUP, JUST NEXT SUMMER FOLKS. AGAIN, MR. LEE. >> J. Lee: OFFICERS AND CARLA, ON BEHALF OF CITY OF LOS ANGELES, THANK YOU FOR THE TIME YOU SPENT FOR THE JOB YOU DO EVERY SINGLE DAY TO SERVE THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES. SO THANK YOU. >> Council President: ALL RIGHT, MR. CLERK WHAT'S BEFORE US AT THIS TIME? WHAT IS AVAILABLE FOR US TO VOTE ON? >> Clerk: MR. PRESIDENT, THE COUNCIL MAY NOW CONSIDER ITEM 2 AS AMENDED BY PADILLA RODRIGUEZ. >> Council President: ALL RIGHT THAT MOTION IS AMENDED OPEN THE ROLL, CLOSE THE ROLL, TABULATE THE VOTE. >> Clerk: 10 AYES. >> Council President: ALL RIGHT, WHAT'S NEXT? >> Clerk: COUNCIL MAY NOW PROCEED TO GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT. >> Council President: ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT. I THINK THERE ARE EIGHT MEMBERS ON THE QUEUE. WE'RE AT BARE QUORUM, IF ANYBODY LEAVES THAT WILL BE IT. WHICH MR. SPINDLER IS CLAPPING FOR. I'LL ASK THE CITY ATTORNEY AND THE CLERK TO PREPARE US FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT, A MINUTE EACH FOR PERSON. >> City Attorney: PUBLIC COMMENT WILL BE SIMPLE TODAY YOU HAVE A MINUTE TO SPEAK ON ANYTHING WITHIN THE SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION. >> Speaker: IT'S MY FIRST TIME. >> City Attorney: TAKE THE MIC AND PULL IT UP SO WE CAN HEAR YOU BETTER. THE FLOOR IS YOURS, YOU HAVE A MINUTE FM >> Speaker: I'M ALYSSA AND I'M FORMERLY INCARCERATED FROM SOUTH CENTRAL L.A., I SAID I'M FREE I CAN DO WHATEVER THE HELL I WANT WITH MY FREEDOM. SIGNATURE HERE WITH THESE GENTLEMAN, I THOUGHT THAT IT WAS A LAW THAT INDECENT EXPOSURE WAS A THING. EVEN IF THEY HAVE SOMETHING IN THEIR HAND IS INDECENT, ESPECIALLY CHILDREN. YOUNG KIDS, AND THIS TOP CITY, GOT FOUR CHILDREN, AND I SAID DO YOU SHOW YOUR CHILDREN YOUR PIECE OF PRIVATE PART. HE SAID FREEDOM OF SPEECH, THAT MEANS HE'S A CREEP, WE'RE TRYING TO GET RID OF THE CREEP. SO THERE IS A GUY ON, FLORENCE AND WESTERN NAMED MR. MARQUEZ, THE GUY IS CLEANING UP THE STREETS. HE SWEEPS THE STREETS, HE JUST BLOWS THE TRASH AND EVERYTHING, HE'S PAINTING THE POLLS GUYS. SO ANYBODY THAT WORKS WITH THE CITY, GET SOME PEOPLE OVER THERE. >> City Attorney: THANKS. >> Speaker: GIVE HIM SOME PAINT. GOD BLESS YOU, THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT. >> Speaker: GOOD MORNING, MR. PRESIDENT. >> City Attorney: HELLO MR. MARES. THE FLOOR IS YOURS. >> Speaker: I WANT TO FOLLOW-UP ON THE COMMENTS, WE HAD A WHOLE GROUP OF KIDS OUT SITTING AND THESE KNUCKLE HEADS COME IN, WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO TAKE CONTROL OF THIS? THAT ONE INDIVIDUAL WAS HOLDING SOMETHING THAT SHOULD NOT BE SHOWN IN THIS COUNCIL. WHEN YOU SEND YOUR KID TO THE CITY HALL, YOU DON'T EXPECT FOR THEM TO BE TRAUMA HE TIESED BY A BUNCH OF PERVERTS, RESIGN OR DO YOUR JOBS FPT WE NEED LEADERSHIP IN THIS AREA. IT'S GOTTEN TOO FAR, PLEASE STOP THE INSANITY, AT CITY COUNCIL. >> City Attorney: THANK YOU, MR. MARES. >> City Attorney: SO PLEASE GO AHEAD SIR. >> Speaker: GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEMBERS. JOHN CAMERA. >> City Attorney: HOLD ON. SORRY MR. MARES, SOMEBODY ELSE IS TRYING TO SPEAK THIS TIME. >> THE FIRST AMENDMENT DOES NOT SAY YOU HAVE TO BE A PIG. >> Speaker: GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEMBERS LAST WEEK I WAS HERE TO REPORT ON THE CONDITIONS OF THE REPSER OF MY BELOVED OR OUR BELOVED RESEDA PARK. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MR. BLUMENFIELD AND STAFF, FOR CONTACTING ME. THE COUNCILMEMBERS ARE LISTENING TO US. WE IN THE COMMUNITY LOOK FORWARD TO THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WILL BE MADE AT THE PARK. ONCE AGAIN, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MR. BLUMENFIELD AND STAFF. THANK YOU. >> City Attorney: THANK YOU, SPEAKER. >> FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT, BOO! BOO! >> City Attorney: OKAY, MR. MARES. MR. MARES. >> FIRST AMENDMENT, BOO. >> City Attorney: PLEASE. MR. HERMAN, THE FLOOR IS YOURS, PLEASE BEGIN. >> Speaker: SMOKING SCAN CASE NUMBER ZB0973 1-D DPPXX DOCKET LOSS, 15 AND 168 PLAINTIFFS MATT DOW VERSUS CITY OF CITY NIGGER LOS ANGELES, AUGUST 7, 2013, TRUMP TRUMP TRUMP. MORE SPEECH, MORE SPEECH, TRUMP TRUMP TRUMP. >> TRUMP. >> Speaker: LAST WARNING. >> City Attorney: PLEASE STOP. MR. HERMAN, DO YOU WANT TO FINISH YOUR TIME? >> Speaker: ON BEHALF OF DEAN FURGESON, LOS ANGELES, FUCK YOU AND FUCK YOU ON THE FIRST AMENDMENT, YOU BITCH. >> City Attorney: THANK YOU, MR. HERMAN. NEXT SPEAKER. HI SPEAKER, SORRY ABOUT THAT, YOU HAVE A MINUTE. >> Speaker: I'M ANNETTE SACK JOHN I'M A--JACKSON. I'M A PROUD GRAD UNIT. A EMERGENCY HAPPENING, HIS NAME IS BENJAMIN, HE WAS IS BRINGING METHAMPHETAMINE TO LOS ANGELES, HE PUT HIS NAME ON THE PROPERTY THAT WE GREW UP IN. I NEED THE CITY COUNCIL'S HELP. I NEED TO PEOPLE TO STOP PUTTING QUICK CLAIM CLAIM, I NEED HELP. I REALLY NEED HELP. I NEED HELP SO MUCH, AND HE'S IN FEDERAL CUSTODY AND THEY SAID I HAVE TO SUE HIM. WE'VE OWNED THIS PROPERTY FOR 50 YEARS. AND ANOTHER PROPERTY, THEY TRIED TO STEAL THAT TOO. AND I'M HAVING PROBLEMS WITH TENANTS BECAUSE WHEN YOU SEND SOMETHING TO FIX THINGS, THEY DON'T MAKE IT EASY. CURREN PRICE? >> City Attorney: SORRY FOR THE MOMENT, WE NEED TO MOVE TO THE NEXT SPEAKER. >> City Attorney: OKAY, MR. SPINDLER, THE FLOOR IS YOURS, YOU HAVE A LIN. >> Speaker: I DARE YOU ANY OF YOU TO GET UP AND BREAK QUORUM, ANY OF YOU COWARDS, BOK, BOK, BOK, BOK, COME ON YOU CHICKEN SHIT. COME ON UNISSES, COME ON COWARDS. LET'S TALK ABOUT CURREN PRICE AND THE KIND OF PEOPLE WHO REPRESENT HIM, NEVER HIRES A BLACK LAWYER, NEVER HIRES A BLACK WOMEN TO EVER DEFEND HIMSELF WHEN HE GETS HIS BLACK ASS IN TROUBLE. HE GOES TO INGLEWOOD FOR A GUY NAMED SPIN BUTCHER NOT A BLACK ATTORNEY AND NEVER SHOWS UP WITH ONE SINGLE BOTHER OR SISTER NOT ONE TIME. THIS COCK SUCKER WANTS TO BAN THE "N" WORD, HE DON'T HIRE A BLACK MAN OR WOMEN. YOU AIN'T NOTHING BUT A CHICKEN PUCK. >> City Attorney: AND WE'RE DONE WITH THE SPEAKERS. >> Council President: WHAT IS NEXT. >> Clerk: COUNCIL HAS MOTIONED FOR POSTED AND REFERRAL. >> Council President: THEY'RE POSTED AND REFERRED. CAN I ASK EVERY ONE TO RISE FOR ADJOURNING MOTIONS? ALL RIGHT, AND I HAVE ONE ANNOUNCEMENT BEFORE WE DO OUR ADJOURNING MOTION AND THAT IS TOMORROW, IS HEATHER HUTT'S DAY IN THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES IT IS HEATHER HUTT'S BIRTHDAY. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] SO WE'RE PROUD TO CELEBRATE OUR COLLEAGUE COUNCILMEMBER HEATHER HUTT ON HER BIRTHDAY TOMORROW. COUNCILMEMBER RODRIGUEZ? >> M. Rodriguez: THANK YOU. COLLEAGUES, TODAY I RISE TO ADJOURN IN MEMORY OF AN L.A. GREAT. FATHER RICHARD ESTRADA AN UNRELENTED ADVOCATE, A SERVANT OF THE PEOPLE AT A SPIRITUAL FORCE WHO'S LIFE WAS A TESTIMONY TO LOVE AND ACTION. FATHER ESTRADA PASSED AWAY ON MARCH 31, 2025 AT THE AGE OF 3. HE DIED ON--83. HE DIED ON CAESAR CHAVEZ DAY, A FITTING DAY A FIGHT FOR THE PEOPLE, THE POOR, IMMIGRANT AND FORGOTTEN. BORN ON LOS ANGELES ON MARCH 1, HE WAS FORGED BIT VALUES OF FAITH, SACRIFICE AND SERVICE. HE SPENT MORE THAN 30 YEARS, MINISTERING TO THE PEOPLE OF LOS ANGELES, FIRST AS THE SOCIAL PASTOR AT OUR LAY' QUEEN OF ANGELS KNOWN AS LA PLACITA AND LATER IN THE CHURCH OF EPIPHANI. HE TURNED CHURCHES INTO SANCTUARY AND NOT JUST FOR PRAYER BUT ACTION. HE WELCOMED UNDOCUMENTED YOUTH INTO HIS HOME AND OPENED HIS CHURCH TO THOSE LIVING WITH HIV AT A TIME WHEN FEW WOULD. HE MARCHED WITH FARMWORKERS AND STOOD ALONGSIDE WITH CAESAR CHAVEZ AND DOLORES HUERTA. HE MORTGAGED HIS OWN HOME TO FUND HIS EFFORTS. TODAY IT SERVE MORE THAN 00 PEOPLE ACROSS THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES OFFERING HOUSING, EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE AND HOPE. HIS LEADERSHIP EARNED HIM WIDESPREAD RECOGNITION INCLUDING THE GIANT OF JUSTICE AWARD FROM CLUE L.A. EXCUSE ME ACCOMMODATIONS FROM BOTH THE CITY AND COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES AND INDUCTION INTO THE GARFIELD HIGH SCHOOL HALL OF FAME. BUT TO THOSE WHO KNEW HIM BEST, FATHER ESTRADA'S TRUE AWARD WAS THE LOVE HE GAVE AND THE DIGNITY HE RESTORED. TO WALK BESIDE FATHER ESTRADA SAID ONE FRIEND WAS TO STAND IN THE PRESENCE OF A SAINT. HIS CONVICTION WAS FEARLESS, HIS COMPASSION BOUNDLESS. AS WE ADJOURN IN HIS MEMORY, LET US NOT MOURN SIMILE THE LOSS OF A MAN BUT CELEBRATE THE LIGHT OF A MOVEMENT. MAY HIS LEGACY CONTINUE TO GUIDE US TOWARDS COMPASSION, COURAGE, AND A DEEPER COMMITMENT TO JUSTICE. DETAILS ON HIS MEMORIAL SERVICES AND WAYS TO HONOR FATHER RICHARD ESTRADA'S LEGACY WILL BE SHARED IN THE COMING DAYS. REST IN POWER, FATHER ESTRADA. YOU KNOW, FIRST GOT TO SEE THIS MAN UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WHEN I WAS JUST THIS YOUNG STAFF MEMBER STARTING MY WORK IN COUNCIL DISTRICT 1. HE WAS PART OF THE THE FIGHTS DURING 187, DURING 209, HE WAS PRESENT AND HE WAS ALONGSIDE LOCAL LEADERS LIKE SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES RAFA AND DAVID MARQUEZ IS WHEN I FIRST GOT TO MEET FATHER ESTRADA AND I KNOW PEOPLE, WE HAVE SO MANY MUTUAL FRIENDS AND PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL AND STRONG ADVOCATES. FOR SO MANY YEARS THAT LEARNED SO MUCH BY HIS EXAMPLE AND HIS LEGACY WILL LIVE ON FOREVER. REST IN POWER, FATHER ESTRADA. >> Council President: THANK YOU SO MUCH COUNCILMEMBER RODRIGUEZ. COUNCILMEMBER SOTO-MARTINEZ. >> H. Soto-Martinez: THANK YOU SO MUCH MR. PRESIDENT. THANKS SO MUCH COUNCILMEMBER RODRIGUEZ FOR HONORING FATHER ESTRADA. YOU KNOW, AS SOMEBODY WHO COMES FROM THE LABOR MOVEMENT, YOU KNOW FOR THE LAST 18 YEARS, FATHER ESTRADA WAS THERE SO MANY TIMES. JUST HIS FASHION, HIS LOVE FOR HIS COMMUNITY, HIS SACRIFICE, HIS WILLINGNESS TO NOT OVER THINK, YOU KNOW WHAT SIDE OF ISSUE HE WAS ON, HE WAS UNBASHFULLY AND UNAPOLOGETICKLY WITH THE WORKERS AND IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES AND JUST TWO YEARS AGO. AND TWO YEARSING A HE GOT ARRESTED WITH COUNCILMEMBER RAMAN AND I, AND HE WAS IN A WHEELCHAIR, HE AND HE GOT ARREST. I WAS SAD TO SEE HIM TRANSITION BUT THERE IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT WE NEED TO DO. NO MIDDLE GROUND FOR THESE ISSUES, THAT'S WHAT HE WOULD SAY. WE MOURN HIS LOSS BUT WE ARE THANKFUL HE'S DONE FOR THE CITY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING HIS THIS FORWARD, THANK YOU. >> Council President: THANK YOU SO MUCH. MR. SOTO-MARTINEZ AND COUNCILWOMAN RODRIGUEZ I WOULD LIKE TO BE ADDED TO THE ADJOURNMENT WITH HIS PERMISSION, I THINK IT SHOULD BE ALL COUNCIL TOO. WITHOUT OBJECTION, THAT WILL BE THE ORDER, LIKE COUNCILMEMBER RODRIGUEZ AND LIKE COUNCILMEMBER SOTO-MARTINEZ, EXTRA --FATHER ESTRADA, WAS A CONSTANT ACTION, YOU CAN ALWAYS EXPECT TO SEE HIM. BUT THERE WAS A TIME WHEN I WAS VERY VERY YOUNG THAT WAS PARTICULARLY TOUCHING. THERE WAS A PLANNED PARENTHOOD CLINIC IN SOUTH L.A. THAT WAS UNDER THE ATTACK AND PEOPLE WANTED TO CLOSE THE CLINIC. AND ISSUE NEVER FORGET THEY STOOD LACKED ARM, AFRICAN-AMERICAN, A RABBI AND FATHER ESTRADA AND THE THREE OF THEM, THERE IS NOTHING IN OUR FAITHS THAT SAYS WOMEN SHOULD BE DENIED HEALTHCARE. AT A TIME WHEN THEY WERE GOING AFTER WOMEN'S REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE. THAT'S THE BEST OF WHAT BEING AN ANGELINO IS AND THE BEST OF WHAT BEING A CATHOLIC AND HUMAN IS. WITH THAT, THANK YOU SO MUCH MS. RODRIGUEZ AND MAY FATHER REST IN POWER. ANY OTHER ADJOURNING MOTIONS? SEEING NONE, WE'RE ADJOURNED. THANK YOU SO MUCH, EVERYBODY.