>> Council President: WELCOME TO YOUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING OF YOUR LOS ANGELES STHAOE COUNCIL. TODAY IS FRIDAY, THE 12th DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2025. PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THIS MORNING'S MEETING WILL BE TAKEN IN-PERSON IN THIS CHAMBER. MADAM CLERK, LET'S START OUR PROCEEDINGS BY CALLING THE ROLL. >> Clerk: YES, SIR. BLUMENFIELD HARRIS-DAWSON HERNANDEZ HUTT JURADO LEE MCOSKER NAZARIAN PADILLA PARK PRICE RAMAN RODRIGUEZ SOTO-MARTINEZ YAROSLAVSKY. 11 MEMBERS, PRESENT AND A QUORUM, MR. PRESIDENT. >> Council President: ALL RIGHT. FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS? >> Clerk: APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 10, 2025. >> Council President: COUNCILMEMBER McOSKER MOVES COUNCILMEMBER HERNANDEZ SECONDS. WHAT'S NEXT? >> Clerk: COMMENDATORY RESOLUTIONS FOR APPROVAL. >> Council President: COUNCILMEMBER PADILLA MOVES COUNCILMEMBER BLUMENFIELD SECONDS. CAN WE RUN THROUGH OUR AGENDA? >> Clerk: YES, SIR. ITEMS 1 THROUGH 5 ARE ITEMS FOR WHICH PUBLIC HEARINGS HAVE BEEN HELD. FOR ITEM NUMBER 4, THE PLANNING AND LAND USE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE REPORT HAS SUBMITTED AND AVAILABLE ONLINE. >> Council President: ALL RIGHT. THOSE ITEMS ARE NOW BEFORE US, DO MEMBERS HAVE ANY ITEMS THEY WOULD LIKE TO CALL SPECIAL? SPECIALS? SPECIALS ON MY LEFT? SPECIALS ON MY RIGHT? MR. PRICE, NO SPECIALS? ALL RIGHT. WHAT ITEMS ARE AVAILABLE FOR US TO VOTE ON, MR. COUNCIL. >> Clerk: MR. PRESIDENT, THOSE WOULD BE ITEMS 1 THROUGH 5, SIR. >> Council President: OPEN THE ROLL, CLOSE THE ROLL, TABULATE THE VOTE. >> Clerk: 12 AYES. >> Clerk: THERE IS A REQUEST TO SEND ITEM 4 FORTHWITH, SIR. >> Council President: WITHOUT OBJECTION, THAT WILL BE THE ORDER JAO. THE COUNCIL MAY NOW MOVE TO PRESENTATION. >> Council President: ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE AN EXCITING MORNING OF PRESENTATIONS AND WE WILL BEGIN IN THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY WITH COUNCIL DISTRICT, 3, COUNCIL PRESIDENT PRO TEM, BOB BLUMENFIELD. >> B. Blumenfield: LET'S GET STARTED. ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT, THIS MORNING, FOLKS, I HAVE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO HONOR THE LEN ARC DRAGONS WALKING SOCCER TEAM. A LOT OF TIMES WE COME TO THIS PODIUM WITH HIGH SCHOOL CHAMPIONS, SOMETIMES PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES, BUT WHAT WE'RE OFTEN MISSING IS OUR SENIOR ATHLETES AND BEFORE I GO ANY FURTHER, WHEN I TALK ABOUT WALKING SOCCER, I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. SO BEFORE I CONTINUE, I WANT ITA TO ROLL A CLIP. >> Speaker: SO WE ARE AT CA KNOWING CA NOGA PARK AND WE HAVE OUR NREND ARC WALKING SOCCER. THEY PLAY EVERY SINCELE WEDNESDAY AND FRIDAY, EACH YEAR WE DO A CULL MAY NATURING EVENT WHERE THEY GET TOGETHER WITH THEIR COUNTRYMEN AND PLAY AGAINST ONE ANOTHER IN A TOURNAMENT AND END UP WITH AN AWARD. IT'S A GREAT WAY TO GROW THE PROGRAM BECAUSE THEY HAVE SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO EACH YEAR. >> Speaker: SO WE HAVE SIX TEAMS HERE. WE HAVE UNITED STATES, ISRAEL, PERU, SOUTH AMERICA, ENGLAND AND UKRAINE, ALL THE PLAYERS, WERE BORN OR CITIZENSHIP OF THE COUNTRY THAT THEY HAVE. >> AND IT'S LIKE BEING A KID, LIKE NOT 7 YEARS OLD. WE'RE 70, WE HAVE TWO PLAYERS ONE IS 86 AND ONE IS 84 AND ANOTHER ONE THAT IS 9 4 YEARS OLD, AND HE IS STILL PLAYING, THAT IS ENCOURAGING, ISN'T IT? I LOVE THAT. I'M 71 YEARS OLD AND EVERY TIME I SEE THEM, THEY'RE LIKE MY HEROES, THEY'RE AMAZING! >> MOST OF THE PEOPLE, THEY LOOKING FOR ACTIVITY TO DO SOMETHING. NOW THEY DIDN'T PLAY REGULAR SOCCER BECAUSE OF THE PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS, SO THIS IS THE PLAY THAT WE OFFER THEM. >> THIS IS MEDICINE FOR YOU GUYS. YOU KNOW, THINK ABOUT INSTEAD OF GOING TO YOUR DOCTOR OR SITTING AND EXPLAINING OR EATING IN FRONT OF THE TV, YOU CAN COME OUT CAN ENJOY THE SUN, SOCIAL AND WALKING SOCCER AND YOU HAVE THE ENERGY AGAIN. SO ALL THIS IS REALLY MEDICINE. >> THE SENSE OF COMMUNITY THAT THEY HAVE, IS REALLY WONDERFUL. I THINK SO MANY OLDER PEOPLE ARE FINDING TROUBLE FINDING THINGS TO DO IN COMMUNITY AND THIS IS A REALLY ACTIVE WAY FOR THEM TO DO THINGS. I CAN A LOT OF SENIOR ACTIVITIES THAT ARE OFFERED, TEND TO ASSUME THAT THE SENIOR COMMUNITY IS SEDENTARY ALREADY, BUT THERE IS QUITE A FEW PEOPLE THAT WANT TO MOVE. THEY WANT TO PLAY, THEY WANT TO CONTINUE TO BE ACTIVE AND IT HELPS THEIR PSYCHOLOGY, IT HELPS THEIR PHYSIOLOGY. WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE PROGRAM AND WHAT IT'S DONE FOR THE PLAYERS. [APPLAUSE] >> B. Blumenfield: ALL RIGHT. SO, WALKING SOCCER WAS A CONCEPT, THAT DOCTOR BEN DRILLINGS WHO WITNESSED THIS OUTSIDE OF LOS ANGELES, DECIDED *, I WANT TO BRING THIS TO LOS ANGELES. AND NOT JUST TO LOS ANGELES BUT TO THE WEST VALLEY, NOT JUST TO THE WEST VALLEY BUT SPECIFICALLY TO LENARC PARK. DR. BILLINGS WAS NOT UNABLE TO CONTINUE DUE TO SOME INJURIES BUT HE CREATED IS THAT SPARK THAT HE LOVED SO MUCH WHEN HE WAS PLAYING THE SPORT. SO APPROXIMATELY THREE YEARS AGO, DR. DRILLINGS FIGURED OUT A SOLUTION, HE ESTABLISHED TEAMS WITH THE ETHNICITY WITH THE BACKGROUND AND IT'S GAINED POPULARITY WITH SENIORS WHO MINTAIN ACTIVE LIFESTYLE BUT CAN'T OR DON'T WANT TO COMPETE IN THE WAY THAT THEY USED TO. ONE GREAT THING THAT ABOUT THIS THING AS I UNDERSTAND IT, INJURIES ARE VERY RARE. THEY REPRESENTED TEAM U.S.A. IN THE WALKING SOCCER IN MALYOCA SPAIN AND AS I SAID, WE BRING UP CHAMPIONS, THESE GUYS REPRESENTED IN L.A. IN SPAIN FOR UNITED STATES AND THEY ACHIEVED A REMARKABLE FOURTH PLACE. SO LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE LENARC DRAGONS! [APPLAUSE] NEXT I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE LENARC PARK DIRECTOR, HE WAS HERE A FEW MONTHS AGO, AND HAS BEEN HERE A NUMBER OF TIMES. AND IT'S OFTEN WITH THE YOUNG CHAMPIONS AND TODAY HE'S WITH THE OLDER CHAMPIONS. HE DOES SUCH A GREAT JOB AT LENARC PARK, I'M SO PROUD JEREMY, ABOUT THE WORK YOU CONTINUE TO DO THERE. WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, JEREMY. >> Speaker: THANK YOU, SO MUCH, BOB, WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT AND IT'S REALLY ONLY THROUGH YOUR SUPPORT AND THE CITY COUNCIL SUPPORT THAT OUR DEPARTMENT OF RECREATION AND PARKS CONTINUES TO HELP MAKE LOS ANGELES THE GREAT CITY THAT IT IS. ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO, BEN LITERALLY CAME OFF THE STREET AND SAT DOWN WITH HIS ENERGY AND WITH HIS COMMITMENT AND PASSION AND CONVINCED ME THAT WE CAN DO THIS PROGRAM TOGETHER. SO, IT WAS A GREAT DAY MEETING HIM. I'M SO PROUD OF THIS PROGRAM. AND OF THIS GROUP OF SENIORS FOR WHAT THEY'VE DONE AND WHAT WE'RE ACCOMPLISHING AT THE PARK. SO ALONG WITH BOB, I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO THANK BEN FOR BRINGING THE IDEA, I REALLY SAID YES AND THEN WE'VE HAD A VERY GOOD PARTNERSHIP SINCE THEN. SO I'M GOING TO STEP ASIDE AND LET BEN TALK ABOUT THE PROGRAM. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US, WE ALWAYS COME HERE WITH GRATITUDE FOR YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> Speaker: GOOD MORNING, CITY COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS DR. BEN DRILLINGS, I'M A CHIROPRACTOR AND FORMER SOCCER PLAYER, PROFESSIONAL. AFTER AN INJURY, I SPENT DECADES TRYING TO GET BACK IN THE FIELD IN A SAFE SUSTAINABLE WAY. THREE YEARS, I CREATED THE WALKING SOCCER, FOR A GAME I LOVE FOR PLAYERS 60 TO 85. THERE IS NO RUNNING, NO TACKLING AND NO CONTACT. WE HAVE REMOVED BARRIERS SO THOSE ADULTS CAN PLAY SAFELY. WHAT BEGAN IN JUST FOUR PEOPLE, HAS GROWN TO OVER 100 PARTICIPANTS, ACROSS THREE LOCATIONS. WE HAVE ORGANIZED COMMUNITY BASE EVENTS THAT CELEBRATE THE DIVERSITY OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. AND WE ARE PREPARING FOR ANOTHER ONE THIS NOVEMBER. WALKING SOCCER PROMOTES EXERCISE, BALANCE AND OVERALL PHYSICAL HEALTH. IT ALSO BRINGS SOCIAL CONNECTION AMONG THE PLAYERS, SUPPORTING MENTAL WELL BEING. WITH BOTH THE WORLD CUP AND THE OLYMPICS COMING TO LOS ANGELES, THIS IS THE PERFECT MOMENT FOR OUR CITY TO LEAD, I'M ASKING THE COUNCIL TO ADOPT A CITY-WIDE WALKING SOCCER INITIATIVE, DESIGNATE FIELD AND PROMOTE PARKS AND HELP PROMOTE SOCCER LEAGUES. THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS ALREADY HERE, WE JUST NEED YOUR SUPPORT. I'M READY TO COORDINATE TRAINING, ORGANIZE VOLUNTEERS AND HELP LAUNCH THIS PROGRAMS BEFORE THE WORLD CUP. LET LOS ANGELES BE THE FIRST MAJOR CITY TO EMBRACE WALKING SOCCER. NOW, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT, BEFORE I CLOSE, I WANT TO THANK JEREMY WHO RUNS THE LENARC RECREATION PARK IN CANOGA PARK FOR BELIEVING IN THIS PROJECT FROM THE BEGINNING. THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN. AND NOW I WANT TO BRING DOUG AND RACHEL HERE, CAN YOU PLEASE HOLD IT FOR THEM. DOVE AND HIS WIFE RACHEL WHO KEEPS THINGS MOVING ON THE GROUND, WE COULD NOT HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT YOUR HELP. WE CANNOT HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT YOUR HELP. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THE PLAYERS THAT TOOK TIME AND CAME HERE TODAY. AND THANK YOU FOR EVERY ONE. [APPLAUSE] >> B. Blumenfield: ALL RIGHT. AND NOW, DR. DRILLINGS BEFORE YOU GO TOO FAR, I'VE GOT A CERTIFICATE FOR YOU AND WHEN WE GET TO THE BACK, I'VE GOT A CERTIFICATE FOR ALL THE PLAYERS HERE. I'LL PRESENT THIS PUBLICLY, THIS IS ON BEHALF NOT JUST ME COUNCIL, BUT THE ENTIRE COUNCIL OF LOS ANGELES, WE RECOGNIZE WALKING SOCCER IN LENARC. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND THANK YOU TO ALL THE CITY COUNCIL WHO GAVE US A CHANCE TO PRESENT HERE. THANK YOU AGAIN. >> Council President: ALL RIGHT, WE'VE GOT MR. SOTO-MARTINEZ, ON THE QUEUE. >> H. Soto-Martinez: THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU MR. BLUMENFIELD, FOR GIVING ME JOY THIS MORNING AND I'M SURE OTHER PEOPLE HERE IN THE COUNCIL. I LOVE PLAYING SOCCER, I PLAY SOCCER ALMOST EVERY WEEK END AND I'M 42 NOW AND I'M PLAYING WITH 20-YEAR-OLD KIDS, AND I'M LIKE, I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG I CAN DO THIS, IT'S VERY PHYSICAL, IT'S TRUE. SO I HAD NO IDEA THIS PROGRAM EXISTED IN THE CITY OF L.A. AND IT'S MAKING ME THINK ABOUT MY RETIREMENT AND WHERE I'M GING TO BE SPENDING MY TIME AND SO, SO TO JEREMY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LEADING ON THIS, BEN THANK YOU FOR YOUR VISION AND IT'S TRUE, ALL THE THINGS YOU SAID RIGHT NOW ARE ABSOLUTELY TRUE, AS FOLKS GET OLDER, YOU CANNOT FIGHT FOR THAT BALL MY NOR, THERE COULD BE SERIOUS INJURIES. I THINK IT'S A WONDERFUL EXAMPLE, IT'S GREAT LEADERSHIP FOR THE CITY OF L.A. AND BEN, YOU HAVE MY SUPPORT, I DO WANT TO SEE THIS CITY WIDE. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS IN AND DEMONSTRATING AN ALTERNATIVE WAY OF DOING THINGS, THANK YOU SO MUCH COUNCILMEMBER BLUMENFIELD. >> THANK YOU, VERY MUCH. I JUST WANT TO INVITE THE CITY COUNCILS TO HAVE A TEAM AND WATCH US ON LENARC PARK ON FRIDAY AT 5:00 O'CLOCK. >> >> B. Blumenfield: WE WOULD HAVE TO MOVE THE COUNCIL THERE, BUT THANK YOU. >> Council President: ANOTHER BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE. MR. NAZARIAN, YOU'RE ON THE QUEUE. HOLD ON GUYS, YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS THIS. >> A. Nazarian: ALL I WANT TODAY SAY, IS THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCILMEMBER BLUMENFIELD, I'M ECHOING THE SENTIMENT OF MY COLLEAGUE. BUT THE THING IS, I'M 52 AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO JOINING YOU AND I WANT TO SAY FOR THE RECORD, FUTBOL IS GOD. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING. >> Council President: ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, ALL SO MUCH. >> LAST PICTURE. >> Council President: WE'LL GET SOME PHOTOS AND THEN WE'LL PREPARE TO HEAR FROM COUNCILMEMBER PRICE OF THE NEW 9th DISTRICT. >> C. Price: THANK YOU. >> Council President: MR. PRICE. >> C. Price: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. COLLEAGUES WE HAVE A LOT TO CELEBRATE TODAY AND I'M SO HONORED THAT WE'RE CELEBRATING THE CXZ OF A REAL SHERO IN OUR COMMUNITY, VERONICA LEWIS, SHE HAS BEEN WITH HOPKINS FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS PROVIDING SERVICE TO SEE OUR COMMUNITY AND LOS ANGELES HELPING TO ERADICATE HOMELESSNESS. HOPICS STANDS FOR HOMELESS OPERATION PROGRAM INTEGRATED SERVICES. AFTER 41 YEARS OF SERVICE, 14 YEAR OF WHICH SHE HAS BEEN A DIRECTOR, MS. LEWIS IS STEPPING DOWN WHILE MOVING ON TO HER NEXT JOURNEY. THIS DEPARTURE MARKS A MARK OF A END CHAPTER AND WHILE HER CAREER COMING TO AN END, HER LEGACY WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN. HER COMMITMENT TO ADVOCATING FOR VULNERABLE POPULATION AND DEDICATION INTO EQUITY AND IN THROUGH ALL OF HER WORK IS ADD MEASURABLE. OVER THE COURSE OF HER TENURE, VERONICA HAS SIMPLIFIED RELATIONSHIP TO FURTHER HOPICS MISSION AND EMPOWER HER TEAM TO THINK OUTSIDE OF THE BOX AND PROBLEM SOLVE WITH THE FIRST PEOPLE APPROACH. VERONICA'S IMPACT ON THE CD9, WILL BE FELT FOR DECADES TO COME. HER PASSION FOR HOUSING, MENTAL HEALTH, SUBSTANCE ABUSE RECOVERY AND REENTRY SERVICES FOR UNHOUSED FOLKS IS UNMATCHED AND UNWAIVERING. TO KNOW VERONICA IS TO KNOW SOMEBODY WHO NEVER WAIVERS IN HER COMMITMENT TO DOING WHAT IS RIGHT AND JUST. SO VERONICA, WE APPLAUD YOUR EFFORTS, YOUR DECADES OF HARD WORK AND THE LASTING INFLUENCE THAT YOU'VE HAD OVER THE CITY OF L.A. AND SPECIFICALLY IN CD9. WE APPLAUD, NO MATTER WHERE YOU GO NEXT, WE KNOW THAT THOSE AROUND YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE LUCKY TO HAVE YOUR GUIDANCE AND YOUR ENCOURAGEMENT AND YOUR SUPPORT. NOW LET ME JUST ASK SOMEBODY TO COME FORWARD WHO KNOWS VERONICA VERY VERY WELL AND WHO HAS BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR HER GUIDANCE AND DEVELOPMENT, JOYCE KELLY, HER MOM. [APPLAUSE] >> Speaker: GOOD MORNING. IT'S REALLY AN HAN --HONOR AND A BLESSING TO BE HERE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HONORING MY DAUGHTER, VERONICA LEWIS, AND HAVING HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WATCHING HER GROW AND DEVELOP, I THINK THERE IS SOME IMPORTANT THINGS THAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT VERONICA'S HISTORY. AS A YOUNG CHILD, HER FATHER MADE SURE THAT SHE AND HER BROTHER ATTENDED COMMUNITY COALITION MEETINGS AT WHICH TIME KAREN BASS WAS JUST GETTING HER START. SO SHE HAS ALWAYS HAD A PASSION BEING BORN AND RAISED IN SOUTH CENTRAL LOS ANGELES, SHE WAS OBSERVANT OF THE NEEDS OF HER PEOPLE. SO I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WATCH HER CAREER BLOOM OVER THE YEARS AS SHE GREW AT HOPICS AND I TELL YOU, A LOT OF TIMES WE SAY THINGS BUT THE PASSION THAT THIS PASSION HAS TO HELP TO HELP IS UNSURPASSED, I WANT TO THANK FOR RECOGNIZING HER AND WHILE WE'RE RECOGNIZING VERONICA, COLLABORATED, THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT GENUINELY CARE AND AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR HONORING MY BABY VERONICA DARNLE LEWIS. >> AND WE CAN'T FORGET THE MAN BEHIND THE THROWN, JAVAON, JERMAINE FOR BEING A POSITIVE FORCE AND A REAL PARTNER IN THIS PROCESS. NEXT WE'RE GOING TO INVITE REBA DAVIS LONG TIME COMMUNITY ADVOCATE WHO KNOWS VERONICA AND KNOWS THE WORK THAT SHE DOES FIRSTHAND. >> Speaker: GOOD MORNING, HONORABLE COUNCILMEMBERS, I'M REBA STEVENS I'M A COMMUNITIES ADVOCATE AND A RESIDENT IN THE SPA 6 COMMUNITY. IT IS MY HONOR TO STAND HERE BEFORE YOU TODAY, AS WE RECOGNIZE, AND CELEBRATE THE INCREDIBLE CONTRIBUTIONS OF VERONICA LEWIS. FOR MANY YEARS, VERONICA SERVED AS THE DIRECTOR OF HOPICS WITH UNMATCHED DEDICATION, VISION AND COMPASSION. HER LEADERSHIP, NOT ONLY STRENGTHENED AN ORGANIZATION BUT IT ALSO UPLIFTED AN ENTIRE COMMUNITY. SHE HAS BEEN A TIRELESS ADVOCATE FOR UNHOUSED INDIVIDUALS, AND FAMILIES AND ENSURING THAT PEOPLE RECEIVE NOT ONLY HOUSING, BUT ALSO DIGNITY, HOPE AND OPPORTUNITY. VERONICA LEWIS'S LEGACY IS ONE OF SERVICE, COLLABORATION AND IMPACT. SHE BUILT BRIDGES ACROSS SYSTEMS AND SECTORS, ALWAYS KEEPING PEOPLE AT THE CENTER. OF HER WORK. THIS EXEMPLIFIES IN HER LEADERSHIP, AS THE FOUNDER OF THE SPA 6 HOMELESS COALITION, THAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW. WHERE WE BROUGHT WHERE SHE BROUGHT TOGETHER A DIVERSE GROUP TO CREATE MORE COORDINATION, AND AFFECTIVE RESPONSE TO HEALTHLESSNESS IN LOS ANGELES. SHE HAS INSPIRED SO MANY OF US MYSELF INCLUDED, TO KEEP PUSHING FOR EQUITY AND JUSTICE IN SOUTH LOS ANGELES. TODAY, AS SHE TRANSITIONS, IN HER JOURNEY, WE DON'T WANT JUST TO CELEBRATE THE WORK THAT SHE'S DONE, WE WANT TO ALSO HONOR THE COUNTLESS LIVES THAT SHE HAS CHANGED BY HER UNWAIVERING COMMITMENT TO THE CAUSE. VERONICA LEWIS, YOU'RE A GOLDEN THREAD IN THE AT THAT PEST REOF MY LIFE AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, FOR YOUR HEART, FOR YOUR DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT. AND FOR ALL OF THE THINGS IN WHICH YOU HAVE BESTOWED IN MY LIFE AS AN ADVOCATE. THANK YOU TO MR. PRICE FOR THIS MOMENT. [APPLAUSE] AND NOW, OUR SHERO, VERONICA LEWIS. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOOD MORNING, CITY COUNCIL, THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER PRICE AND THE WHOLE COUNCIL FOR RECOGNIZING THE WORK THAT I HAVE DONE. THERE IS SO MUCH DESPAIR IN OUR CITY, THERE IS SO MANY PEOPLE SUFFERING, THERE ARE INJUSTICES HAPPENING EVERY SECOND IN PARTICULAR TO PEOPLE WHO LOOK LIKE ME, BLACK AND BROWN FOLKS AND THERE IS SO MUCH HARM THAT IS BEING DONE BY THE SYSTEMS WHEN WE JUST ALLOW THE STATUS QUO TO CONTINUE. SO I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE RECOGNITION BUT THE REALITY IS, EVERYWHERE EVERY TIME I SHOWED UP ANYWHERE IN THE COURSE OF 21 YEARS I WAS IN THIS ORGANIZATION, IT WAS TO CHANGE THE STATUS QUO, TO PUSH AGAINST THE NORMS AND NARRATIVITIES AND THE IDEAOLOGIES. SO I'M GRATEFUL FOR WHAT I'VE ENJOYED IN THE L.A., REGISTER ON ACROSS AND WORK WITHING CD4 AND FOLKS WELL OUTSIDE OF SOUTH L.A. JUST TO PUSH FOR CHANGE. AND SO, I AM SO HONORED THAT TENS OF THOUSANDS OF LIVES HAVE BEEN SAVED AND UNDER MY LEADERSHIP, HUNDREDS OF LIVES HAVE BEEN LITERALLY SAVED FROM OVERDOSE REVERSALS, BUT I'M REALLY GRATEFUL THAT WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS, AND IT'S SLOW ESPECIALLY IN THIS CLIMATE, THE NOTION OF STILL DIGGING IN AND APPRECIATING AND MAKING CHANGES TO ALL THE INEQUITIES THAT EXIST IN OUR COMMUNITIES. IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT, I APPRECIATE THAT THIS COUNCIL HAS NOT COMPLETELY TURNED A BLIND EYE, INCOME INEQUITIES, SOCIAL ECONOMICS, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, MORE THAN EVER, THE MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE NEED OUR WORK. SO WHILE I WALKED AWAY FROM SOMETHING I GREW AND LOVED AND I'M VERY PROUD OF, AND PART OF MY LEGACY AND MY PRAYER IS THAT THIS CONTINUE TO BE BEACON OF LIGHT. I ASK THAT EVERYBODY HERE, REMEMBER THAT PEOPLE NEED OUR HELP, PEOPLE ARE DYING, PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING. AND IT'S NOT A HAND OUT, HUMANITY SHOULD BE AT THE CENTER OF THE WAY THAT WE APPROACH EVERYTHING, INCLUDING HOMELESS SERVICES AND WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY THE SYSTEMS ARE SUPPORTED THROUGH OUR EFFORTS, THROUGH OUR NEIGHBORLY KINDNESS, THROUGH THE LEGISLATION AND THE POLICIES AND ORDINANCES, THROUGH YOUR FUND ANDING RESOURCE A LO CAYSSING. SO I'M STILL FIGHTING, I'M STILL GOING TO SPEAK UP, I'M NOT GOING AWAY, I'LL JUST BE HERE IN A DIFFERENT CAPACITY BUT ALL OF US HAVE A ROLE IN SAVING PEOPLE'S LIVES. THANK YOU FOR HONORING MY WORK, BECAUSE THAT'S ALL I'VE BEEN TRYING TO DO THE LAST 20 YEARS, THANK YOU. >> C. Price: THANK YOU. >> Council President: HOLD ON MR. PRICE, WE'VE GOT A HANDFUL OF SPEAKERS ON THE QUEUE, BEGINNING WITH COUNCILMEMBER HUTT. >> H. Hutt: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. VERONICA, I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR ALL OF THESE YEARS. I THINK THAT NOT ONLY COUNCILMEMBERS BUT PEOPLE IN 8, 9 AND 15 ARE GOING TO LOOK FOR YOU BECAUSE YOU HAVE LEFT A LASTING IMPRESSION ON EVERYBODY IN THESE LAST 21 YEARS. IT IS AMAZING THAT YOU GAVE SO MUCH OF YOURSELF TO MAKE BETTER LIVES FOR OTHER PEOPLE. AND I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS. WHAT A BEAUTIFUL SPIRIT, YOUR MOTHER TALKED ABOUT HOW, GREAT OF A DAUGHTER YOU ARE, BUT WHAT A BEAUTIFUL SPIRIT YOU HAVE. WE'RE GOING TO MISS YOU, AT HOPICS BUT WE'RE GOING TO FIND YOU, WHERE EVER YOU ARE AND REALLY GET YOUR ADVISE ON HOW TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR HOMELESS COMMUNITY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR TIME AND ENERGY THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN TO THIS SPACE. AND I WISH YOU WELL ON THE NEXT PART OF YOUR JOURNEY. THANK YOU, THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER PRICE FOR GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE HER HER FLOWERS. THANK YOU. >> Council President: COUNCILMEMBER RODRIGUEZ. [APPLAUSE] >> M. Rodriguez: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER PRICE, FOR BRINGING THIS WONDERFUL WOMEN TO BE HONORED TODAY. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AND YOUR WORDS, AND I WANT TODAY PARTICULARLY FOR YOUR MOTHER. THE AMOUNT OF EMOTION AND PRIDE THAT YOU'VE GIVEN YOUR MOM AND ALL OF YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY, THE OUT POURING OF EMOTION, SAYS EVERYTHING ABOUT YOUR COMMITMENT, YOUR PASSION AND YOUR WORK. AND IF THERE IS ANYTHING THAT MAKES A COMMUNITY PROUD, IS TO SEE, SOMEBODY EXCEL IN A ROLE THAT THEY'RE VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR DEDICATING YOUR LIFE TO THIS IMPORTANT WORK FOR BEING OF SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY, WE KNOW THAT THE WORK CONTINUES. WHERE I'M CERTAIN, YOU DON'T JUST WALK AWAY FROM SOMETHING LIKE THIS, SO I'M CERTAIN THAT THERE IS MORE ON THE HORIZON YOUR ADVOCACY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY AND THE WORK AND IMPRINT THAT YOU LEAVE BEHIND, IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE. BUT AGAIN, TAKEN BY THE AMOUNT OF EMOTION, THIS MORNING, IT REALLY DOES, IN A MOMENT LIKE THIS WHEN OUR COMMUNITIES, SO MANY OF OUR COMMUNITIES ARE SUFFERING, IT JUST, IT'S A REMINDER HOW ONE PERSON CAN IN FACT, MAKE A DIFFERENCE, SO I WANTED TO SAY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. >> Council President: COUNCILMEMBER HERNANDEZ. >> E. Hernandez: THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER PRICE FOR BRINGING IN VERONICA AND HONORING HER FOR ALL THE WORK SHE HAS DONE IN THE CITY, NOT JUST THE CITY BUT COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, YOUR WORK HAS IMPACTED 10 MILLION PEOPLE. WE HAVE NOT DONE A LOT OF WORK SINCE I CAME INTO OFFICE, BUT THE DECADE BEFORE I CAME INTO OFFICE, WE WORKED TOGETHER, FROM COMMUNITY INVESTMENTS, WE'VE BEEN THERE, WE'VE BEEN CHANGING THE SYSTEMS, YOU'VE BEEN MAKING THE COUNTY WORK BETTER TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITIES AND NOT LEAVE PEOPLE BEHIND. WHAT YOU SAID HERE TODAY, THE HUMANITY OF PEOPLE, THAT IS HAS GOT US TO THIS POINT WHERE WE INVEST MORE OF SOME OF THESE PROGRAMS THAT KEEP PEOPLE ALIVE. WHERE BEFORE THE COMMUNICATION WAS WHY INVEST ON THESE PEOPLE. YOU GOT US TO THIS POINT WHERE WE DO RECOGNIZE THE HUMANITY. SO I'M GRATEFUL FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WHERE YOU TAKE YOUR ENERGY AND AGAIN THE WAY YOU BRING PEOPLE WITH YOU. DON'T HESITATE TO LEAN ON US, BUT I'M GRATEFUL FOR ALL THE EFFORT THAT YOU PUT TO THE PEOPLE OF LOS ANGELES AND THE THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. >> Council President: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCILMEMBER. COUNCILMEMBER McOSKER? >> T. McOsker: THANK YOU, COUNSEL COUNCILMEMBER. THANK YOU VERONICA FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK. PEOPLE KNOW THAT WE CALL OURSELVES, THE 1-5, AND OUR BELOVED COMMUNITY OF WATTS OFTEN OVERLOOKED, WE REMIND OURSELVES, WHERE THE 1-5s, WE DON'T OVERLOOK THE COMMUNITY WITHIN THE COMMUNITY OF WATTS, WHO IS THE MOST VULNERABLE AND OVERLOOKED? ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY OF WATTS AND 1-5 THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK CONTRIBUTION TO OUR COMMUNITIES. AND GOD BLESS YOU. >> Council President: THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY WHO MADE COMMENTS ABOUT OUR BELOVED VERONICA, I APPRECIATE HEARING FROM YOUR MOM AND YOUR FAMILY BUT ABOUT HEARING FROM YOU ABOUT BEING GROUNDED IN VALUES AND THE DIGNITY AND VALUE AND LOVE FOR EVERY HUMAN BEING, NO MATTER WHERE WE FIND THEM OR WHAT THE SITUATION IS. MEMBERS, I THINK EVERYBODY CAN RELATE TO THIS AND ONE OF MY FIRST INTERACTIONS WITH YOU AND YOU ONLY GET THIS, WHEN YOU LOVE THE PEOPLE. ONE OF MY FIRST INTERACTIONS WITH YOU, WAS WE HAD STOOD UP A NEW SHELT THAER HOPICS WAS MANAGING AND WE WERE TOURING THE LAHSA DIRECTOR, A FEW LAHSA DIRECTORS AGO, SO NOBODY THINK ABOUT THE PEOPLE NOW. AND WHILE WE'RE TOURING IT'S ABOUT 6:00 O'CLOCK IN THE EVENING IN THE SUMMER AND A MAN COMES UP TO THE SHELTER AND SAYS, THE POLICE JUST MADE ME MOVE MY CARD THAT I LIVE IN--CAR THAT I LIVE IN AND THEY TOLD ME THAT I CAN COME HERE AND I CAN GET A PLACE TO STAY. AND YOUR STAFF SAID WELL, WE HAVE TO MAKE SHOULD CALL, WE HAVE TO FILL THIS PAPER, WE HAVE A MILLION EXCUSES NOT TO HELP PEOPLE IN THE CITY AND COUNTY. SO WE WENT THROUGH THOSE. AND I REMEMBER THE LAHSA DIRECTOR SAID, LET ME CALL SOMEBODY DOWNTOWN AND WE CAN SMOOTH IT OVER AND YOU CAN STAY HERE TONIGHT. AND THAT PERSON MADE A PHONE CALL AND NO ONE PICKED UP. AND HE LOOKED AT ME AND SAID, WELL THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN DO. AND AT THE MOMENT HE SAID THAT, YOU WENT INTO ACTION. AND TO THIS DAY, I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU DID, OR WHAT PAPERS YOU MOVED AROUND OR ADMINISTRATOR PROCESS YOU WENT THROUGH BUT WE GOT A PERSON IN THE BED THAT NIGHT AND EVER SINCE THEN, EVERY TIME WE COME TO YOU, YOU'RE ONE OF THE FEW PEOPLE IN OUR ENTIRE HOMELESSNESS ESTABLISHMENT, YOU'RE ONE OF THE FEW PEOPLE THAT STARTS WITH HOW DO WE GET A HUMAN BEING IN BED AND SAFE NO MATTER WHAT THIS GROUP AND THAT GROUP SAYS, YOU'RE ALWAYS GROUNDED IN BELIEVING THAT NO HUMAN BEING SHOULD SLEEP ON THE STREET FOR ANY REASON ANYWHERE IN OUR CITY. WITH THAT TYPE OF FIRE, I KNOW YOU'LL CONTINUE TO MAKE A CONTRIBUTION AND YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO STOP YOURSELF FROM HELPING OUR FOLKS. SO AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE AND, A GREAT HONOR TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU ALL DO. MR. PRICE? >> C. Price: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. AGAIN, TO OUR SHERO, I JUST WANT TO PRESENT THIS AS A TOKEN OF OUR APPRECIATION SIGNED BIT MAYOR AND EVERY MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL, WE LOVE YOU AND KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. [APPLAUSE] >> Speaker: THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> Council President: ALL RIGHT, NOW WE WILL HEAR FROM COUNCIL DISTRICT 7, COUNCILMEMBER MONICA RODRIGUEZ. >> M. Rodriguez: HERE'S EVERYBODY. YEAH. COME ON THE WHOLE FAMILY. LGBTSINGER GOOD MORNING, COLLEAGUES. WELL, IT'S A VERY SPECIAL MORNING HERE IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS, AND AT THIS PARTICULAR JUNCTURE, AND BY THE WAY IT'S ONLY FOR THIS MAN THAT I WOULD TAKE HEAD HERE TODAY. FOR THE PERSON THAT WE'RE HONORING, BUT IT'S REALLY A TREMENDOUS HONOR TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE THE INDIVIDUALS THAT, REALLY HELP TO GROUND OUR COMMUNITY, IN OUR CULTURAL HISTORY, OUR TRADITIONS ESPECIALLY WHEN OUR COMMUNITY IS UNDER ATTACK. AND I'M PROUD TO HONOR TODAY, A MAN WHO IS HELPED TO CONTINUE TO GROUND US, IN TREMENDOUS CULTURAL PRIDE, IN SO MUCH OF WHAT OUR COMMUNITY REPRESENTS, THE GANAs OF BEING WHO WE ARE. AND IT'S MY GREAT HONOR THAT TODAY WE'RE RECOGNIZING AND HONORING AND CELEBRATING DONDE ALARDO LOPEZ, PLEASE GIVE HIM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. [APPLAUSE] HE'S A LEADER THAT HAS STRENGTHENED OUR COMMUNITIES AND INSPIRED GENERATIONS HELPING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE TELL THE VERY IMPORTANT STORY OF OUR LATINO HERITAGE. BORN IN LANORIA MEXICO, HE WAS RAISED WITH VALUES OF FAITH IN FAMILY. WHEN HE CAME TO THE UNITED STATES BACK IN THE 1960, HE CARRIED THE VALUES WITH HIM AND BEGAN AS A DISHWASHER IN SANTA MONICA. WITH THE LOVE AND PARTNERSHIP OF HIS LOVE, DONA IRIS, HE WENT ON TO FOUNDED BELOVED RESTAURANT SUCH ASET MARIACHI, LEONARDIOS AND LA BOOM. THIS IS WHERE OUR COMMUNITY CAME ALIVE TO CELEBRATE MANY WONDERFUL OCCASIONS. AND MOST NOTABLY HIS STEWARD SHIP OF THE PICO RIVERA--STEWARDSHIP OF PICK A RIVERA SPORTS ARENA, MANY HAVE GATHER TODAY CELEBRATE CHARI ADA Ss COULD CONCERTS AND FESTIVAL THAT PRESERVE OUR HERITAGE. PICO RIVERA HAS SERVED AS THE COMMUNITY WHERE AND WAS EVEN USED AS AN EVACUATION AREA FOR HORSES DURING THE MOST RESENT JANUARY FIRES. THROUGH HIS WORK, LEONARDO HAS CREATED THOUSANDS OF JOBS AND ENTREPRENEURS. RIGHT NOW DURING THE IMMIGRATION MOVEMENT, THAT CONTINUES TO ATTACK OUR COMMUNITY, HIS PLACES HAS CREATE A PLACE THAT WE CONTINUE TO CELEBRATE OUR CULTURAL TRADITIONS AND, IT'S A REFLECTION, HIS STORY IS A REFLECTION OF WHAT IT MEANS A LATINO, EVERYTHING THAT I BELIEVE IS OUR CULTURAL HERITAGE. SO MANY OF OUR FAMILIES CAN SHARE THE SAME STORIES, WE'RE A COMMUNITY OF HARD WORKING ENTREPRENEURS THAT MAKE IT WORK FOR OUR FAMILIES, TAKING THE OPPORTUNITY THAT THIS COUNTRY GIVES US EVERY SINGLE DAY TO TURN NOTHING INTO SOMETHING. AND WHAT HE HAS DONE, IS CREATED A MAG NIFICENT HISTORY HERE IN OUR COMMUNITIES, NOT JUST IN THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES BUT IN PICO RIVERA BUT IT'S RIPPLED IN SO MANY PARTS OF OUR CITY AND OUR COUNTY AND I AM FOR ONE VERY GRATEFUL THAT HE HAD THE TENACITY AND THE STRENGTH AND ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT TO DO WHAT HE'S DONE. WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE LIVES THAT HAVE BEEN CHANGED, YOU CAN SITE THE MUSICIANS THAT HAVE BEEN DISCOVERED RESULT OF GIVING THEM AN AUDIENCE AND A PLATFORM TO PERFORM, WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE JOBS AND ECONOMIC STRENGTH, THAT HAS BEEN CREATED BY HIS SPIRIT, AND MAKE NO MISTAKE FOR ANYONE THAT THINKS BUILDING A BUSINESS IS EASY, BOY DO YOU HAVE ANOTHER THING COMING. THERE ARE A LOT OF OBSTACLES TO CREATE A BUSINESS AND YOU HAVE DONE IT, IT SEEMS ALMOST EFFORTLESSLY. BUT IT'S BEEN GROUNDED IN GREAT COMMUNITY PRIDE. AND WHEN I THINK ABOUT, GROWING UP, AS A FIRST GENERATION AMERICAN OF MEXICAN DISSENT, AND I THINK HOW, SO MANY OF US, HAVE BEEN FORCED TO ABANDON, THE LANGUAGE, THE MUSIC, THE STORYTELLING, BECAUSE IN THE ERAS THAT WE WERE RAISED IN, IT WAS NOT QUITE CELEBRATED. AND I THINK ABOUT WHEN LINDA RONSTANT PRODUCED CANCIONE DE MI PAD RE, HOW THAT STRENGTHENED OUR COMMUNITY PRIDE. THOSE WERE MOTIONS AND WE'RE IN A MOMENT LIKE THAT TODAY. THAT WE WILL NOT, REDACT, RETREAT, WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE STRONG AS A COMMUNITY CELEBRATING OUR INCREDIBLE BEAUTIFUL CULTURE AND I'M INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL TO THIS MAN, HIS ENTIRE FAMILY, THAT HAVE HELPED TO SUSTAIN OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH THE CELEBRATION OF MUSIC, OF CULTURAL PRIDE, AND JUST A TREMENDOUS SENSE OF JUST LOVE FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR CULTURE. SO I JUST WANT TO SAY, IT'S BEEN AN INCREDIBLE HONOR GETTING TO SPEND TIME WITH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. AND I REALLY APPRECIATE AND VALUE, NOT ONLY THE FRIENDSHIP BUT THE INCREDIBLE WORK AND DEDICATION THAT EACH OF YOU EXCEED EVERY DAY, GENERATION THAT'S CONTINUE THIS LEGACY. IT GIVES ME SUCH PRIDE TO SAY I'M A MEXICAN-AMERICAN, AND TO SEE HOW YOU'VE BUILT THIS EMPIRE AND MAKE NO MISTAKE, IT'S AN EMPIRE. IT'S REALLY REMARKABLE AND REFRESHING TO KNOW THAT, YOU TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY THAT WAS AFFORDED YOU IN THIS COUNTRY AND YOU MADE SOMETHING OF IT. AND YOU DID IT GROUNDING BEING AUTHENTIC FOR WHO YOU ARE AND FOR THAT I'M GRATEFUL AND HONORED TO KNOW YOU AND CELEBRATE YOU AND GIVE YOU THIS GREAT DESERVED HONOR. AND I'M JOINED BY THE FORMER MAYOR OF HUNTINGTON PARK, WHO WOULD LIKE TO OFFER A FEW WORDS. >> Speaker: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER RODRIGUEZ, IT'S AN HONOR TO BE HERE ON THIS VERY SPACIOUS CELEBRATION CELEBRATING LEONARDO LOPEZ. AND MR. PRESIDENT, COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY, YOU HAVE DONE SOMETHING SPECIAL HERE TODAY, YOU'RE DOING SOMETHING THAT WILL BE IN THE MEMORY OF THE ENTIRE FAMILY AND THE COMMUNITY THAT SUPPORTS LEONARDO. I HAVE KNOWN HIM FOR MORE THAN 40 YEARS AND WHEN I WAS FIRST ELECTED TO CITY COUNCIL IN HUNTINGTON PARK, IN 1994, LEONARDO WAS THERE. HE HAS ALWAYS BEEN THERE. HE HAS BEEN THERE FOR THE CITY, FOR HIS FAMILY, FOR HIS COMMUNITY. FOR ALL THE BEAUTIFUL TRADITIONS THAT HIS HERITAGE EVOKES. THIS MAN, REPRESENTS THE VERY BEST IN ALL OF US. HIS HARD WORK, HIS STEADFAST COMMITMENT TO UPHOLDING OUR CULTURE, MAKE HIM IN MY BOOK, A REAL TREASURE. AND I KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT TREASURES. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU. THERE IS NOTHING MORE THAN THAT I CAN SAY THAT COUNCILMEMBER HAS ALREADY SAID. BUT I DO WANT TO STATE TO HIS FAMILY, YOU DO HAVE SOMEBODY TO LOOK UP TO AND PLEASE CONTINUE, HIS WONDERFUL LEGACY THAT ALL OF YOU REPRESENT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. FELICIDADES. [APPLAUSE] >> M. Rodriguez: AND NOW IT'S MY GREAT HONOR TO NOW INVITE THE MAN THAT WE HONOR TODAY, HELPING US AND I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER HERNANDEZ, OUR MADRINA FOR EL GRITO. YOU KNOW WHEN I THINK ABOUT EL GRITO AND WHAT THAT REPRESENTS, IT'S TO REMIND EVERY ONE IN OUR COMMUNITY TO FIGHT, THE CALLING FOR US TO CONTINUE TO BE STRONG IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO PUSH BACK. AND I WANT TO THANK YOU, DON LEONARDO FOR BEING THAT EXAMPLE HOW WE CAN BE THE FORCE OF RESILIENCE AND STRENGTH IN THE WAKE OF ADVERSITY. YOU ARE THAT EXAMPLE AND IT'S A REMINDER TO EVERY ONE THAT IS FEELING DOWN, IS THAT WE WILL PERSEVERE. SO LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE HELP ME WELCOME OUR HONOR TODAY, DON LEONARDO LOPEZ. [APPLAUSE] >> Speaker: THANK YOU, LOVE L.A. MONICA, YOU REALLY MADE IT, IT'S BEEN A HARD WORK AND I'M VERY HONORED TO BE HERE. I THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE HARD WORK. I THANK EVERY ONE THAT IS WITH ME, AND EVERYBODY THAT IS HERE WITH ME, MY FAMILY, MY BEAUTIFUL WIFE, MY IN LAWS, MY NIECES, AND MY SONS. AND MY, GRAND DAUGHTERS, AND GRANDSONS. THANKS TO THE CITY COUNCIL OF THIS BEAUTIFUL CITY OF ANGELS. THANKS, MR. PRESIDENT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANKS AGAIN AND VIVA MEXICO! >> M. Rodriguez: VIVA. >> Speaker: VIVA LA CHARRARIA. WE LOVE OUR CULTURE AND OUR MUSIC, WE DID EVERYTHING FOR YOU GUYS FOR A LOT OF MEXICAN PEOPLE THAT IS STILL THERE WORKING AND I REALLY, WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY. I WANT TO INTRODUCE MY SON, FERNANDO. BUT HE'S BEEN WITH ME, ALL OF MY SONS ARE HERE TODAY. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CITY COUNCIL OF LOS ANGELES. >> THANK YOU, THANK YOU MONICA FOR HONORING MY FATHER AND FIESTAS AND EL GRITO. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE CITY COUNCIL. THANK YOU PRESIDENT. MY MOM FOR ALL THE PATIENCE THAT SHE'S HAD FOR MY DAD TO DO WHAT HE DOES. AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE CITY OF L.A., CAUSE I THINK MY DAD'S FIRST LOVE IS THE CITY OF L.A. AND THEN THE HORSES. BECAUSE IT WAS NOT THE CITY OF L.A., HE WOULD NOT AFFORD THE HORSES. SO THANK YOU; THANK YOU, DAD, CONGRATULATIONS. GOD BLESS AMERICA LIKE HE SAYS AND VIVA MEXICO. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] >> Council President: ALL RIGHT, WE'VE GOT A FEW MEMBERS ON THE QUEUE. COUNCILMEMBER PADILLA. >> I. Padilla: COUNCILMEMBER RODRIGUEZ, WHAT A GREAT PRESENTATION TO BRING IN AS WE, START THE CELEBRATION OF LATINO HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH HERE IN THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES. DON LEONARDO, FELICIDADES, FELICIDADES TO THE ENTIRE FAMILIES. WHEN I LOOK AT THE PRESENTATION, I SEE A PRESENTATION HONORING A FAMILY. AND WHAT A FAMILY THAT'S UNITED CAN ACCOMPLISH WHEN THEY'RE IN A PLACE THAT IS SO FAR FROM THE ORIGINAL PLACE FROM HOME. AND MAKING, AN EMPIRE BY PRESERVING THE TRADITIONS THAT WE BRING FROM MEXICO. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO, THANK YOU FOR BEING THAT GROUP OF FOLKS THAT MAKE IT SO WE'RE UNAPOLOGETIC ABOUT OUR MUSIC, OUR FOOD AND OUR PRESENCE, AND YOU KNOW, RECOGNIZING THAT WE'RE JUST NEXT DOOR. YOU KNOW, SO AS SAID RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW, GOD BLESS AMERICA Y QUE VIVA MEXICO. THAT'S REALLY HOW WE'VE BEEN EN DOCKTRINAED HERE. [SPEAKING SPANISH] YOU'RE DEFINITELY THE KIND OF FAMILY THAT PAYS IT FORWARD AND I APPRECIATE YOU FOR ALL OF THAT. THANK YOU. >> Council President: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCILMEMBER LEE? >> J. Lee: THANK YOU MR. PRESIDENT, AND THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER RODRIGUEZ FOR BRINGING DON LEONARDO, I CANNOT THINK OF A BETTER PERSON TO HONOR TODAY. YOU KNOW HOW I FEEL ABOUT YOUR ENTIRE FAMILY. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE TO SHARE YOUR CULTURE WITH OUR CITY. YOU'RE ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF WHAT MAKES THIS CITY SO INCREDIBLE, YOU'RE AN ICON IN THE CHARO COMMUNITY. I JUST WANT TO SAY, THANK YOU. I WANT YOU TO LOOK AROUND, WHEN YOU SEE YOUR FAMILY, YOU ARE THAT PIECE THAT KEEPS THAT FAMILY ALTOGETHER. YOU DON'T JUST ASK THEM TO SEE THEM ONCE A YEAR, YOU MAKE SURE THAT THIS FAMILY STAYS TOGETHER WHETHER IT'S THE DIFFERENT EVENTS THAT THROW TOGETHER, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO YOU BUT ALSO TO YOUR AMAZING FAMILY. WHEN YOU LOOK AROUND, WHAT THIS FAMILY HAS DONE, THERE IS SO MANY MEMBERS OF THIS FAMILY THAT HAS DONE SO MUCH FOR THE DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES OF THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES. YOU HAVE PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSMEN. YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BUILT THINGS, YOU HAVE, A GREAT DOCTOR OVER THERE, AND I JUST WANT TO SAY, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH, THANK YOU FOR LETTING US KNOW, SHARING THOSE THINGS FOR US AND REALLY, REALLY ALL YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THIS GREAT CITY OF OURS. AND JUST WANT TO SAY, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE PART OF YOUR 50th WEDDING ANNIVERSARY WHERE YOU RENEWED YOUR VOWS TO YOUR LOVELY WIFE, IRIS, TO THE LOPEZ FAMILY THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO. BUT THANK YOU, DON LEONARDO. >> Council President: THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND THANK YOU FOR BRINGING IN THE LOPEZ FAMILY AND FOR SHOWING UP AS YOU ALWAYS DO. YOU ARE SUCH ANGELS IN THIS CITY, L.A. IS NOT L.A. WITHOUT DON LEONARDO AND THE LOPEZ FAMILY. I'M THE PROUD REPRESENTATIVE OF NOT ONE BUT TWO LEONARDO BALLROOMS, ONE YOU CAN WALK TO. AND MEMBERS, I WANT FOLKS TO KNOW WHAT A BIG DEAL THIS IS. BECAUSE THERE WAS A PERIOD THERE IN THE LATE 80s THROUGH EARLY 90s WHERE A LOT OF BUSINESSES, ESPECIALLY ONES THAT DID LIVE MUSIC, JUST WENT AWAY, THEY LEFT. AND YOU NEVER LEFT, YOU OPENED UP EVERY WEEK END TO THIS DAY, YOU OPEN UP EVERY WEEK END. THE ONLY TIME I'VE SEEN YOU CLOSED IS THAT WEEKEND WHERE WE HAD THE TERRIBLE ICE RAIDS. IT'S THE ONLY TIME I'VE SEEN YOU AND YOU WERE BACK THE NEXT WEEK, READY TO GO AND YOU HAD YOUR SECURITY OUT. IT'S A GREAT, YOU ALL ARE GREAT EXAMPLE OF WHAT IT MEANS ANGELINO AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. AND PROUD TO BE AT YOUR 50th ANNIVERSARY. MY WIFE IS A LITTLE UPSET AT ME, BECAUSE I FORGOT TO SAY THAT YOU WERE BEING TREATED TODAY. THANK YOU FOR TREAT ITING US LIKE FAMILY FROM THE MOMENT THAT WE MET YOU AND INTERACTED WITH YOU. YOU BOTH PROMOTE YOUR ORGANIZATION AND YOUR BUSINESS AND YOUR FAMILY BUT ALSO THE NEIGHBORHOOD. SO WHEN WE HAVE A JAZZ FESTIVAL IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD GOES TO YOU, YOU ALL DELIVER FOOD TO THE JAZZ FESTIVAL. WHEN THERE IS A SPORTING EVENT WITH YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY, YOU ALL STEP UP AND PARTICIPATE IN THE EVENTS. EVEN FOR PARTS OF YOUR COMMUNITY THAT MAY OR MAY NOT USE YOUR BUSINESSES. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE BEEN AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE YEARS WHEN THE GRANDKIDS TAKE OVER AND WE BUILD AN EVEN BIGGER EMPIRE AND SHINE A BRIGHTER LIGHT FROM THE LOPEZ FAMILY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. COUNCILMEMBER RODRIGUEZ. >> M. Rodriguez: THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU, MR. HARRIS-DAWSON AND I BROUGHT UP THE EXAMPLE OF NEXT GENERATION THAT IS ALSO HELPING TO CARRY ON THE TRADITION. I'M SURPRISED HE DIDN'T SHOW UP ON A HORSE BECAUSE HE GENERALLY DOES NOT LIKE TO BE ON A HORSE. IT'S REALLY REMARKABLE AND I THINK AT THIS TIME, WHAT MAKES THIS SPECIAL FOR ME, IS A REMINDER OF ECONOMIC VALUE AND STRENGTH THAT OUR COMMUNITY HOLDS. AND I WANTED TO BE A REMINDER AND A CALL TO ACTION TO OUR COMMUNITY THAT YOU ARE VALUABLE, THAT YOU MATTER AND YOU NEED TO BE, RECKONED WITH. WE SHOULD NOT BE HIDING AND FIGHT INING FEAR, WE SHOULD BE STANDING STRONG AND PROUD IN THE ECONOMIC STRENGTH THAT WE POSSES. AND I WANT US TO BETTER EXERCISE THAT ECONOMIC STRENGTH. I KNOW FOR ONE THAT THIS CITY WOULD NOT SURVIVE WITHOUT IT. SO FROM OUR LABOR, TO HOW WE AND WHERE WE SPEND OUR MONEY. THIS IS A REMINDER, DURING THIS LATINO HERITAGE MONTH THAT I WANT EVERY ONE TO RECOGNIZE THE ECONOMIC POWER THAT YOU HOLD AND TO SUPPORT THE BUSINESSES, THAT REFLECT OUR VALUES AND REFLECT A COMMITMENT TO INVEST AND SUPPORT US, ESPECIALLY IN THIS MOMENT IN TIME. AND NOT JUST HERE IN THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES, BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY. WE MATTER, WE COUNT, WE'RE GOING TO BE VALUABLE, AND GO TO PICO RIVERA SPORTS ARENA FOR A SHOW, 'CAUSE YOU'RE NOT GOING TO REGRET IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COLLEAGUES ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES, DON LEONARDO LOPEZ, MY GRATITUDE FOR MAKING SURE THAT THIS MEXICANA CONTINUES TO HAVE A PLACE THAT TO GO DANCE AND WITH HER FAMILY AND THANK YOU FOR CREATING A PLACE WHERE OUR CULTURE WILL BE PERSEVERED AND CELEBRATED. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING. [APPLAUSE] >> Council President: ALL RIGHT. NEXT WE'LL HEAR FROM COUNCILMEMBER HERNANDEZ OF THE HEART OF THE CITY, THE FIRST COUNCIL DISTRICT. >> Council President: SO SERGEANTS MR. HERMAN HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM COUNCIL CHAMBERS FROM THE BALANCE OF THIS DAY. HE IS REMOVED, WE WILL PAWS --PAUSE UNTIL HE IS EXITED. >> City Attorney: MR. HERMAN, YOU WERE ORDERED REMOVED FROM THE RULES COMMITTEE MEET ANDING ALSO REMOVED FROM A MEETING EARLIER THIS WEEK. I WILL NOTE THAT AS SOON AS YOU CAME INTO THE MEETING THAT YOU ARE NOT PERMITTED TO BE WITH, BECAUSE YOU'RE ON PROBATION, YOU CONTINUE TO DISRUPT THIS MEETING AND YOU HAVE BEEN ORDERED REMOVED. >> Council President: MY APOLOGIES, COUNCILMEMBER HERNANDEZ. MR. SPINDLER, AND WHOEVER ELSE IS IN THE AISLE, WE'LL ASK YOU TO VACATE THE AISLES WHILE THIS PRESENTATION IS HAPPENING. >> E. Hernandez: WONDERFUL. >> Council President: AND THE FLOOR IS YOURS, COUNCILMEMBER HERNANDEZ. >> E. Hernandez: THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. GOOD MORNING, EVERY ONE. BUENOS DIAS. TODAY I'M PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZES LATINO HERITAGE MONTH. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] YES! AT A TIME WHEN OUR COMMUNITIES ARE UNDER ATTACK, WHEN ICE RAIDS TERRORIZE OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, WHEN A RACIST ADMINISTRATION FUELS DIVISION AND WHEN THE SUPREME COURT HAS GIVEN THE GREEN LIGHT TO RACIAL PROFILING, WE'RE HERE TO STAND TALL AND PROUD AS LATINOS IN A MOMENT WHERE WE'RE TOLD TO SHRINK AND HIDE. TODAY WE HONOR TWO LATINOS THAT LIVE REMINDS. A FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE BROWN BRAVES, COURAGE AND ORGANIZING IN THE FACE OF INJUSTICE, FRANCISCO, MURALIST ILLUSTRATOR AND POET HAS CARRIED RESISTANCE THROUGH ART, MEMORY AND STORYTELLING. TOGETHER THEY SHOW US AND THERE IS A LANE FOR ALL OF US. WHETHER IT'S IN THE STREETS, THROUGH ORGANIZING OR BY CREATING ART, AND THAT, YOU KNOW, MAKE SURE THAT OUR STORIES ARE NEVER FORGOTTEN. TOMORROW, WE CONTINUE THIS CELEBRATION. WE CONTINUE THE CELEBRATION WITH EL GRITO AT GRAND PARK FROM 5:00 TO 11:00 P.M., A NIGHT OF CULTURE, MUSIC AND COMMUNITY POWER. IN THESE DARK TIMES, WE REGULAR THAT JOY IS AN ACT OF RESISTANCE AND AS THIS YEAR'S MADRINA OF THE EVENT, I HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL THERE. I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU THERE AND YOUR TEAM. WITH US, LATINO CAUCUS, MANY OF US ARE CHILDREN OF IMMIGRANTS RAISED IN-HOUSE HOLDS THAT NEW SACRIFICE HARD WORK. THAT DESPITE THE OBSTACLES, DESPITE THE DISCRIMINATION, WE COULD CLAIM OUR PLACE IN SHAPING THE FUTURE. I NOW WOULD LIKE TO INVITE MY COLLEAGUE COUNCILMEMBER PADILLA TO SHARE A FEW WORDS, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. [APPLAUSE] >> I. Padilla: GOOD MORNING, EVERY ONE AND THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER UNISSES FOR BRINGING THIS TO OUR CHAMBERS TODAY AND CONGRATULATIONS ON BEING LA MADRINA FOR THIS YEAR'S EL GRITO. I WOULD LIKE TO UPLIFT, MEMBERS, OF VIVA LA RESISTANCA, CARLOS IS A CHICK ACTIVATE AND COFOUNDER OF BROWN BRAVES AND FRANCISCO IS ILLUSTRATOR AND MURALIST AND POET. THOUGH THEIR PATHS ARE DIFFERENT, THEIR WORK HAS CARRIED THE SAME PURPOSE, ADVANCING PURPOSE AND ENSURING THAT OUR STORIES ARE EVERY NEVER ERASED. CARLOS REPRESENTS ORGANIZING CAN THE EAST L.A. WALK OUT, HE STOOD ON THE FRONTLINES, DEMANDING DIGNITY AND QUALITY FOR CHICANOS TO COME. HIS COURAGE SHOWS US THE IMPACT OF VOICES RAISED AND COMMUNITIES UNITED IN STRUGGLE AND A HISTORY THAT WE CAN VERY MUCH LEARN FROM. FRANCISCO SHOWS US THE POWER OF ART ON RESISTANCE, HE HAS TURNED ARTS INTO DIFFERENT TESTIMONIES OF RESILIENCE. HOW ART GOES BEYOND EXPRESSION, IT'S PRESERVATION AND A BRIDGE BETWEEN PAST AND FUTURE. THERE IS NO SINGLE WAY TO PROPERTY RESIST. THERE ARE THOSE WHO MARCH, ORGANIZE AND MOBILIZE AND THOSE WHO PAINT, WRITE AND TELL OUR STORIES. BOTH ARE NECESSARY, BOTH ARE POWERFUL AND BOTH DESERVE TO BE CELEBRATED AND ACKNOWLEDGED. BECAUSE IN THE STRUGGLE FOR JUSTICE, THERE IS A LANE FOR EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US TO PARTICIPATE, WE SHOULD PARTICIPATE AND BRING TO THE TABLE OUR TALENTS IN DOING SO. SO IN A TIME WHEN WE ARE, WE ARE BEING THERE IS A TARGET ON US, IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW MORE THAN EVER TO BE PROUD AND UNAPOLOGETIC OF WHO WE ARE AND LEARN FROM OUR PAST AND PROPEL FORWARD. THANK YOU COLLEAGUES. NOW I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE OUR NEXT SPEAKER, WHO I BELIEVE IS STILL TAKING PICTURES IN THE BACK, SO COUNCILMEMBER UNISSES, WE SHOULD GO TO COUNCILMEMBER HUGO SOTO-MARTINEZ. ADELANTE. >> H. Soto-Martinez: THANK YOU, SO MUCH COUNCILWOMAN PADILLA. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH COUNCILWOMAN HERNANDEZ FOR SERVING THIS YEAR 'S MADRINA. I KNOW IT'S NOT AN EASY JOB, I WAS LAST YEAR'S, TRYING TO CAPTURE THE LATINO COMMUNITY IS NOT EASIMENT WE HAVE LATINO AND ABORIGINAL, IT'S NOT EASILY BOILED TO, WE KNOW WE'RE A MIX OF CULTURE, HISTORIES CUISINES AND TRADITIONS. YOU PICKED A THEME THAT RESONATES ACROSS ALL CULTURES, LA RESISTENCIA. WE KNOW THAT OUR RESISTANCE, RESILIENCE AND OUR ABILITY TO ENVISION A FUTURE IS WORTHY OF OUR STRUGGLES AND EVERY SINGLE PERSON THAT IDENTIFIES CAN RESONATE, ESPECIALLY IN A MOMENT LIKE RIGHT NOW WHERE OUR CULTURE, OUR COMMUNITIES AND OUR IDENTITY IS UNDER ATTACK AGAINST THIS WHITE NATIONALIST PRESIDENT. WE WOULD LIKE NOTHING MORE THAN ERASE US. AND WE KNOW THAT WEAK MEN WILL TRY TO BRING US DOWN BUT PEOPLE LIKE CARLOS MONTES LIKE BA RAIDS, WE HAVE TO COME TOGETHER AND FIGHT. WE KNOW LATINOS ARE NOT THE ONLY ONE UNDER ATTACK AT THE MOMENT. SO I'M HAPPY TO MARK THE STAFRT LATINO HERITAGE MONTH, ONCE MORE WITH A RALLYING CRY, QUE VIVA LA RECISTENCIA. >> E. Hernandez: QUE VIVA. >> H. Soto-Martinez: AND NOW, ONE OF OUR MADRINAS, IS HERE. I WANT TO PASS IT BACK TO OUR COUNCILMEMBER RODRIGUEZ. >> M. Rodriguez: THANK YOU, IT'S BEEN A PRETTY EVENTFUL DAY, BUT I WANT TO THANK AND CONGRATULATE COUNCILMEMBER HERNANDEZ FOR BEING LA MADRINA THIS YEAR AT SUCH A PIVOTAL MOMENT OF TIME IN OUR COMMUNITY. WHAT A SPECIAL TIME TO CONTINUE TO TELL OUR STORIES OF WHO WE ARE AND SHARE AND REMIND EVERY ONE ABOUT THE STRENGTH OF WHO WE ARE AND I'M GRATEFUL AND PROUD OF YOUR EXAMPLE IN THE RESISTANCE. AND BEING THAT, BEING THAT EXAMPLE FOR OUR COMMUNITY BUT, YOU KNOW, THIS MONTH HAS EXTRA SPECIAL MEANING. AND I SAID MANY TIMES THAT HERITAGE MONTHS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD BE LIMITED TO FOR 30 DAYS, IT'S AN EXERCISE IN THE RESISTANCE EVERY SINGLE DAY, AND THAT'S ACTUALLY EVEN MORE MEANFUL TODAY THAN IT WAS BEFORE. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU, BECAUSE I KNOW HOW MUCH THIS GRITO CELEBRATION MEANS TO OUR COMMUNITY NOW MORE THAN EVER. I KNOW HOW SPECIAL IT IS AND HOW MUCH EFFORT IT IS AND CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND YOUR STAFF BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT AN EXTRA LIFT IT IS ON TOP OF THE DAILY GRIND WORK THAT WE DO EVERY DAY. BUT I WILL TELL YOU THERE IS NO MORE SPECIAL TIME THAN TO DO IT RIGHT NOW. AND I WANT IT THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATE FOR STICKING WITH IT TO CONTINUING TO DO IT. WHAT WE NEED NOW IS THAT EXAMPLE OF SOLIDARITY AND STRENGTH, TOMORROW, TODAY AND EVERY DAY MORE THAN EVER. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR CONTINUING US AND FORGING FORWARD AND IT'S A REMINDER TO THE COMMUNITY, TO, YOU KNOW, DON'T, THIS IS OUR MOMENT TO STAND STRONG TOGETHER IN SOLIDARITY DURING THE DIFFICULT TIMES AND BE PROUD OF WHO WE ARE AND NOT HIDE WHO WE ARE. THANK YOU. >> E. Hernandez: THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> E. Hernandez: THANK YOU, FOR YOUR KIND WORDS, COLLEAGUES AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY. WE GATHER HERE TODAY NOT JUST TO CELEBRATE HERITAGE BUT TO AFFIRM RESILIENCE AT A TIME WHEN LATINO COMMUNITIES ARE UNDER ATTACK. IN THE LAST THREE MONTHS ALONE, ICE HAS RAIDED PARKING LOTS AND CHURCHES AND HOSPITALS IN LOS ANGELES, WITH MILITARY TACTICS AND LANGUAGE. WE'RE LIVING IN A ADMINISTRATION THAT IS OPENLY RACIST AND JUST THIS WEEK, THE SUPREME COURT RULED TO PERLITY RACIAL PROFILING, A DECISION THAT WILL PUT BROWN LIVES AT-RISK. THAT'S WHY PEOPLE LIKE CARLOS MONTES MATTERS SO MUCH. COFOUNDER OF BROWN BERETS AND A SERIES OF WALK OUT OF EAST LOS ANGELES HIGH SCHOOLS TO PROTEST AGAINST RACISM AND INEQUALITY. PROTEST AGAINST THE VIETNAM WAR IN EAST L.A. HE'S BEEN ON THE FRONTLINE OF THE CHICAGO MOVEMENT FOR DECADES, FROM THE WALK OUT TO THE COMMUNITY DEFENSE NETWORKS THAT CHALLENGED ABUSE AND ADVOCACY ON CENTRAL. HIS LIFE'S WORK IS A TESTAMENT OF WHAT HAPPENS WHEN PEOPLE ORGANIZE. WE'RE HONORING LATINO HISTORY WHO WILL CONTINUE TO DEMAND JUSTICE ACROSS LOS ANGELES TODAY. IT IS MY GREAT HONOR TO PRESENT YOU WITH A CERTIFICATE ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES. THANK YOU SO MUCH. [APPLAUSE] CARLOS, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES, WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE FOR YOUR LIFETIME OF SERVICE AND COMMITMENT TO SOCIAL JUSTICE AS A FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE BROWN BERET, YOU HAVE FOUGHT FOR STUDENTS AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR. YOUR COURAGE INSPIRES ME AND MANY US. YOU HAVE A VISION THAT IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO TAKE US AND TO BUILD A MORE JUST AND EQUITABLE LOS ANGELES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. THANK YOU. WONDERFUL. PLEASE, SHARE A FEW WORDS WITH US. Y'ALL, HOLD IT FOR YOU. >> Speaker: YEAH, VIVA LA RESISTENCIA, YEARS AGO, I USED TO SNEAK INTO THESE. WHEN THE PEOPLE IN JAIL ORGANIZED INDEPENDENCE PROGRAM, I HAD TO WAIT FOR PEOPLE TO COME OUT AND GIVE ME YOUR LITTLE WRIST BAND AND GO IN THERE. MADRINA, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, UNISSES HERNANDEZ FOR THIS GREAT HONOR AND ALL THE COUNCILMEMBERS HERE. AND I WANT TO DO A SHOUT OUT TO OUR YSABEL JURADO, HIT THE STREET RUNNING AND HELPING OUR COMMUNITY, ALREADY HELPING HOLLENBECK PARK, I HAVE ALL OF THESE TITLES. IT'S GREAT TO TALK ABOUT THE PAST, THE CHICANO MOVEMENT BUT I'M STILL ACTIVE TODAY. TELL ME WHAT YOU DID TODAY. MY DAUGHTER IS TEACHING CHICANO STUDIES AT CAL STATE LONG BEACH AND ALL THOSE TALKING ABOUT POLICE BRUTALITY, WE HAD JEREMY FLORES KILLED IN BOYLE HEIGHTS, WE'RE WORK WITHING THE FAMILY, HELPING HIM OUT, ORGANIZING PROTESTS AT HOLLENBECK POLICE STATION LIKE WE DID IN 2016 WHEN HOLLENBECK WERE KILLED. SO YOU KNOW, THIS RECOGNITION, YOU'RE RIGHT IT'S ABOUT THE PEOPLE, THE MOVEMENT THAT I HAPPEN TO BE PART OF IT. I'M JUST A LITTLE KID FROM EL PASO JUAREZ THAT GOT THROWN INTO THIS NIGHTMARE. TALKING ABOUT THE BLACK JANITORS AND I WAS A FASCINATED BY THE ARGUMENT. I WAS WITH THE RODNEY KING CENTER, ALL THE OLDER GENERATION WAS SAYING NO JUSTICE NO PEACE, THE YOUNG BLACK, CHICANO, ASIANS WAS SAYING, HELL NO, LET'S TAKE IT ON. I SO HAD TO TAKE ON, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS MASS ANGER. DURING THE GEORGE FLOYD, WE HAD BANNERS, AND TRUCKS UNITED ALL THE CHICANO, BLACK ASIAN COMMUNITY TO SAY JUSTICE FOR OUR COMMUNITY. YEAH, I WANTED, IT'S GOOD TO SAY VIVA LA INDEPENDENCEIA. WE HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR AGAINST RACIST OPPRESSION SINCE THAT TIME, LYNCHING, MASSACRES, DISCRIMINATION RIGHT. AND THE STRUGGLE CONTINUES. I HAPPEN TO BE PART OF THE 60s, LIKE MANY OF YOUR PARENTS MAYBE RIGHT? AND THANK YOU ALL FOR CONTINUING THE STRUGGLE HERE IN THE CITY COUNCIL. RIGHT. SO YOU KNOW, I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT, THAT IT'S GREAT TO COMMEMORATE OUR STRUGGLE. I WAS THERE IN THE POOR PEOPLE'S CAMPAIGN, I LEARNED ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF BLACK EXAMINE BROWN UNIT AND ALL WORKING TOGETHER. MLK INVITED THE MEXICANS TO COME BEFORE HE WAS ASSASSINATED. WE DIDN'T BELIEVE IN SO-CALLED NON VIOLENCE. LET ME WRAP IT UP, I'M PROUD OF THE MOVEMENT THAT WE'VE ALL CREATED, OUR HISTORY. I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THE MEGA MARCH OF 2006, I WAS THERE 8:00 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING WHEN I LOOKED BROADWAY, AND IT WAS ALREADY PACKED. THE MEGA MARCHES. I LEARNED AGAINST THE STRUGGLE WHEN OUR HOMEYS CAME BACK THAT I WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL WITH AND ONE OF THEM ANDY, SHOWED ME HIS ALBUM ABOUT THE ATROCITIES THAT THEY COMMITTED. HE ENDED UP DYING OF A HEROIN OVERDOSE IN A GARAGE IN AN ABANDONED GARAGE. THAT RADICALIZED MY GENERATION, WE SAID THAT VIETNAMESE STRUGGLE NEEDS TO WIN. AND TODAY, YES TODAY, MAYBE CONTROVERSIAL MAYBE NOT, WE SUPPORT THE STRUGGLE OF THE PALESTINIAN, FOR NATIONAL LIBERATION AND THE RIGHT OF RETURN OF PALESTINIAN REFUGEE AND END TO ALL AID TO ISRAEL. RATHER, LET'S HEAR IT. I KNOW, IT'S CONTROVERSIAL BUT WHEN WE SAID, VIETNAM SHOULD WIN, WE SAID HEY YOU'RE UNPATRIOTIC. LET ME WRAP IT UP, WE ALWAYS DONE AS AN ORGANIZER GOING DOOR TO DOOR IS THAT WE ARE, NOT ONLY HAVE WE SURVIVED ALL OF THESE ATTACKS, BUT WE'RE GOING TO SURVIVE ALL THE CURRENT REACTION, RACIST TRUMP REGIME AND WE WILL WIN, AND THAT THAT RELIES ON THE POWER OF THE PEOPLE NOT ON ISOLATED ACTS OF INDIVIDUALS. >> E. Hernandez: SAY THAT AGAIN. >> Speaker: THE POWER OF THE PEOPLE. I'VE ALWAYS RELIED ON THE MOMS AND YOUTH IN OUR COMMUNITY. WHENEVER I'VE BEEN ARREST ASKED BEAT UP, MANY TIMES, THEY ALWAYS SUPPORTED ME TO STAY OUT OF JAIL, YOU KNOW. AND WRAPPING IT UP, I MENTION THAT MEXICAN-AMERICAN WAXER 1848, WE DEVELOPED A UNIQUE CULTURE WHICH IS CELEBRATED A LITTLE TODAY, I'M PROUD OF MY MEXICAN ROOTS, BUT I AM CHICANO. AND CHICANO HAS A HISTORY IN SOUTHWEST, WE DEVELOP INTO DISTINCT PEOPLE STRIVING FOR WHAT WE CALL SELF DETERMINATION. AND WE POPULARIZE SELF DETERMINATION TO OPPRESSED PEOPLE. BY POPULARIZE IT BY SAYING CHICANO, SO WHEN I SAY CHICANO, EVERYBODY WOULD SAY, POWER, AND I WOULD SAY, RAZA SI. I KEEP SAYING, WRAP TUP, WE WOULD SAY, [SPEAKING SPANISH] ABAJO LOS FEDERALES. MUCHAS GRACIAS. MUCHAS GRACIAS. [APPLAUSE] ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT, LET'S DO IT. AND THE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT I WORK W I SIT THERE OVER AT ACLA, I WISH-- >> Council President: ALL RIGHT, AS YOU'RE DOING THE PHOTO OPT, MR. MONTES AND MEMBERS, WE GOT A FEW COUNCILMEMBERS ON THE QUEUE. BEGIN WITHING COUNCILMEMBER McOSKER FROM THE 1-5 DISTRICT. I KNOW, I KNOW. HEY, GROWING UP IN L.A., YOU KNOW, MEXICAN DISTRICT. >> T. McOsker: IN THE MEXICAN-AMERICAN WAR, A WHOLE BUNCH OF SCRIPTED IRISH IMMIGRANTS WERE FIGHTING AND REACHED A POINT WHERE A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF THEM, SAID WE HAVE MORE IN COMMON WITH THEM THAN WE HAVE WITH OUR BOSS SXZ ACTUALLY DISSERTED AND WON AS THE BATTALION OF THE SAN PATRIIOS, I WOULD NOT TAKE TIME FOR THIS TODAY BUT THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT PART TODAY. NOW THE SAN PATRICIOS LOST AND MOST MONG ON SEPTEMBER 12th TODAY. TODAY IN MEXICO CITY, IN THE PLAZA OF SAN JACINTO, WE CELEBRATE THEM TWO TIMES IN MEXICO CITY, SAINT PATRICK'S DAY AND SEPTEMBER 12th. SO IT IS APPROPRIATE THAT ON OUR DAY OF EL GRITO AND TALKING ABOUT THE RESISTANCE, I SAY THAT MEXICAN-AMERICAN CULTURE, LATINO CULTURE IS SPECIAL TO YOU BUT IT SHOULD BE SPECIAL TO EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US. SO THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> Council President: THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> Y. Jurado: THANK YOU, TO LA MADRINA COUNCILMEMBER HERNANDEZ FOR CELEBRATING THIS PRESENTATION. AND HONORING THE PEOPLE IN THE STORIES THAT MAKE L.A. EXTRAORDINARY. CARLOS, I'M GLAD YOU'RE BEING HONORED. WHAT HASN'T, WHAT DIDN'T YOU SAY THAT HAS NOT BEEN SAID ABOUT YOU? FOR ME REPRESENTING THIS DISTRICT WHICH IS SO DIVERSE, EL PUEBLO, FASHION DISTRICT, EL SERENO, BOYLE HEIGHTS, I GET TO WIT THE ENERGY AND WORKING CLASS, RESILIENT COMMUNITY, SO YOU SHOWING UP, ESPECIALLY AS PART OF THE HISTORIC E SIDE IS SO IMPORTANT. YOU KNOW COFOUNDER OF BROWN BERETS, AND TIRELESS ORGANIZER AND SOMEBODY WHO HAS NOT STOPPED SHOWING UP FOR THE COMMUNITY. WHEN WE SET UP THE OUR DISTRICT 14, FIRE FIELD OFFICE. GUESS WHO WAS THERE EVERY SINGLE DAY? YOU KNOW, YOU ALWAYS POUND THE PAVEMENT, YOU'RE ABLE TO MAKE COMMUNITY WHERE EVER YOU GO. AND EVERY ONE EVEN IN OUR CAMPAIGN, HAS A STORY OF WHEN THEY MET YOU OR HOW THEY GOT TO KNOW YOU AND OF COURSE WE ALWAYS POKE FUN ABOUT YOU ABOUT THE WALK OUT MOVIE AND WHETHER YOU GOT TO CHOOSE WHO GOT TO PLAY YOU IN THAT MOVIE, BUT YOU ALWAYS REMIND US THAT YOU KEEP HERITAGE ALIVE BY DOING. AND YOU CONTINUE THE ACTIVISM AND YOU NEVER LET A MOMENT PASS BY SAYING WHAT IS ON YOUR MIND AND IN YOUR HEART AND YOU SHOW US WHAT SOLIDARITY LOOKS LIKE EVERY SINGLE DAY. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH AND THANK YOU FOR HONORING HIM. [APPLAUSE] >> Council President: THANK YOU SO MUCH, MEMBERS. AND THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBERS RODRIGUEZ PADILLA SOTO-MARTINEZ AND THE LEADER FOR OUR CELEBRATION THIS YEAR. COUNCILMEMBER HERNANDEZ FOR BRINGING THIS AND I ESPECIALLY WANT TO THANK OUR COUNCIL COLLEAGUES FOR CENTERING AND LIFTING IN THIS CELEBRATION, THE SPIRIT OF RESISTANCE AND THE SPIRIT OF STRUGGLE. BECAUSE, THIS HAPPENS WITH BLACK HISTORY MONTH, WITH OTHER CELEBRATIONS WHERE SOME PEOPLE TRY TO MAKE IT ABOUT BEER OR FOOD OR DANCING OR MUSIC AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE GREAT BUT, WE HAVE THESE CELEBRATIONS AND XHEN RAISESING TO REMIND US OF THE STRUGGLE AND HOW WE GOT TO THE STAGE THAT WE ARE NOW, AND HOW MUCH FURTHER WE HAVE TO GO. AND I COULDN'T BE PROUDER, THIS IS ONE OF MY PROUDEST MOMENTS TO BE CHAIRING THIS MEETING AS WE HONOR THE GREAT CARLOS MONT HE IS--MON TES. I CAN REMEMBER WATCHING YOU GROIPG AS A YOUNG ACTIVIST AND THEN, DURING MY TIME AT THE COMMUNITY COALITION WHERE, YOU KNOW, KAREN BASS WOULD SAY, I GO BACK TO CARLOS BUT BE CAREFUL ABOUT GETTING LOCKED UP, DON'T TAKE IT TOO FAR. BUT, I APPRECIATE YOU BECAUSE YOU, EMBODY THE BODY OF RESISTANCE WHEN IT'S POPULAR BUT YOU ALSO DO IT WHEN IT'S NOT POPULAR. WHEN THE MEDIA AND SOCIETY SAYS, OH WE'RE HAVING A GOOD TIME, GO THERE AND BE QUIET, STOP RAISING RACISM. WE'RE TRYING TO CELEBRATE OUR PROGRESS, SO I THANK YOU FOR STICKING TO THE STRUGGLE. IT ALWAYS COMES BACK AROUND AND RIGHT NOW, WE'RE IN A MOMENT WHERE IT'S BACK AROUND WHERE THE WORLD LOOKS AT YOU AND OTHERS AND SAYS, YEAH, THAT'S THIS IS WHAT, THIS IS WHAT HE HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE ENTIRE TIME. WHEN RACISM GOES FROM BEING DOG WHISTLE TO JUST BEING WHISTLE, JUST STRAIGHT UP, UNASHAMED, UNEMBARRASSED, IMMORAL AND OUT FRONT AND YOU'VE BEEN, AN OPPONENT OF THAT WHEN IT'S SUBTLE BUT ALSO WHEN IT'S BEEN DIRECT. THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT HAS BEEN DONE AND WE'RE PROUD TO HONOR YOU. AND WITH THAT, COUNCILMEMBER HERNANDEZ. >> E. Hernandez: THANK YOU, WE HAVE ONE MORE PERSON TO BRING UP. THANK YOU CARLOS FOR BEING WITH US TODAY. LATINO RESISTANCE, ALSO LIVES IN OUR ART, AND STORYTELLING THAT CONNECTS US ACROSS GENERATIONS. IT'S ABOUT RECOGNIZING HOW WE RESISTED IN COMMUNITIES AND DIFFERENT WAYS. MANY OF YOU HAVE SEEN THE BRIDGE GALLERY, A CELEBRATION OF LATINO RESISTANCE AND JOY AT A TIME OF PERIL THAT WORK WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN PARTNERSHIP, TODAY WE HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF UNVEILING THE NEWEST COVERAGE OF DCA BOOKLET AND HONORING THE ARTIST BEHIND IT. TO INTRODUCE THE SECOND HONOREE, FRANCISCO, PLEASE JOIN ME WELCOMING THE MANAGER OF CULTURE AFFAIRS. >> Speaker: THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCILMEMBER HERNANDEZ. IT'S TRULY AN HONOR TO BE HERE CELEBRATING HERITAGE MONTH. IN A TIME WHEN PERVASIVE DISCRIMINATION CONTINUES TO NEGATIVELY IMPACT OUR COMMUNITIES, LIFTING UP AND RECOGNIZING THE CITY'S RICH CULTURE HERITAGE AND LEGACY THROUGH THE ARTS, IS TO IMPORTANT IN THE NOW MORE THAN IT HAS BEEN IN RESIST HISTORY. TELLING THOSE STORIES AND SHARING EXPERIENCES IS A WAY TO BRING TRUTH TO POWER. TOGETHER WE HONOR THE DIVERSE LATINX COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE SHAPED LOS ANGELES, OUR SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGION AND ACROSS OUR NATION FOR CENTURIES. IT'S FELT THROUGH OUR CIVIC LEADERS, ENTREPRENEURS AND EDUCATORS AND CARE GIVERS AND STUDENTS AND CULTURE BEARERS, INRICHING OUR COMMUNITIES. THIS YEAR, WE CONTINUE BY PRESENTING THE 2025, LATINO MONTH CALENDAR AND GUIDE. AT THAT RECOGNIZES OUR ACTORS, PERFORMERS AND POETS AND WRITERS AND ARTISTS. IT CONTAINS VISUAL ART AND POETRY FROM A WIDE SELECTION OF TALENTED ARTIST, EMERGING AND ESTABLISHED AS WELL AS MANY ART EXHIBITIONS. FROM COMMUNITIES ACROSS LATIN COMMUNITY AND HERE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA THAT LIVE HERE THAT HAVE SHAPED OUR CITY AND WHILE THEY CARRY THAT EVERY DAY AS WELL AS THROUGH BUSINESS AND LEADERSHIP. THE GUIDE REFLECTS THE PARTNERSHIP OF OUR MANY COLLABORATERS AND I WANT TO EXPRESS OUR APPRECIATION TO THE PARTNERS FOR THE WORK OF THE OFFICE OF MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL AND VERY MUCH ESPECIALLY FOR THE WORK OF COUNCILMEMBER HERNANDEZ AND HER TEAM. SO, AS COUNCILMEMBER HERNANDEZ MENTIONED IN ADDITION TO THE GUIDE, WE'RE ALSO PROUD TO SUPPORT THE WORK OF THE BRIDGE GALLERY EXHIBITION WITH COUNCILMEMBER HERNANDEZ AND HER TEAM AS WELL AS ALTURA L.A., IT'S A WONDERFUL EXHIBITION AND I ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO SEE T.I HAVE THE ON HONOR OF INTRODUCING THE ARTIST THAT DEVELOPED THE GUIDE FRONT PAGE WORK. FRANCISCO, WILL HE--HIS WORK BLENDS HISTORY WITH EMPHASIS ON THE SOCIAL CIRCUMSTANCES THAT AFFECTS OUR INDIVIDUALS AND OUR COMMUNITIES. RECEIVED A GRAB' NOMINATION FOR HIS WORK ON MUSICIAN JACKSON BROWN AND MOTION RELEASE, HE HAS ALSO BEEN RECOGNIZED THROUGH L.A. ART CORE AS WELL AS THROUGH SPARK, AND WE ALSO ARE VERY PROUD OF HIS WORK, TODAS LAS MANOS. PLEASE HELP ME WELCOME FRANCISCO LETELIER. [APPLAUSE] >> Speaker: IT'S SO NICE TO BE HERE AND FOR MY ART WORK TO BE SELECTED FOR THIS WONDERFUL GUIDE AND CALENDAR. BECAUSE WHEN YOU GET A CHANCE TO LOOK THROUGH IT, YOU'LL SEE THAT, WE ARE A CITY RICH IN TALENT AND ARTISTIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS. SO I COULD BE, WAITING FOR A LONG TIME TO BE ON THIS COVER. THERE ARE SO MANY THAT DESERVE TO BE ON IT. BUT I WANT TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT INSPIRED ME. THE ILLUSTRATION IS CALLED EL CANTANTE, THE SINGER. AND IT'S INSPIRED BY THE VIBRANT CULTURE IN CHILE WHERE I WAS BORN AFTER THE RISE OF DICTATORSHIP THAT OVER THREW DEMOCRACY IN 1973. IT LEADS LEAD TO IMPRISONMENT OF THOUSANDS INCLUDING MY FATHER AND MANY PEOPLE IN MY FAMILY, RELATIVES AND FRIENDS. NOW THROUGH ARTS AND CULTURE, CHILEANS BUILD SOLIDARITY AND HOPE, THEY SPREAD INFORMATION AND HELPED CREATE THE ASSOCIATE MOVEMENTS THAT LEAD BACK TO DEMOCRACY. INSPIRED BY THE DIVERSITY AND KNOWLEDGE HELD IN THE CULTURES OF LOS ANGELES, AND ACROSS THE AMERICAS, MY WORK RECOGNIZES, TRAVELERS, THE EXCHANGE OF IDEAS AND IT A AFFIRMS OUR COMPLEXITIES, AND OUR CHALLENGES. I'M GRATEFUL TO THIS CULTURE AND THE DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS FOR THEIR ON GOING EFORTS TO DEFEND AND REIMAGINE CULTURAL HERITAGE AS A TOOL FOR PROGRESS AND ACTION AND TODAY I WANT TO SAY, RESISTANCE, QUE VIVA LA CUEDAD DE LOS LOSS. ANGELES. >> E. Hernandez: ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF L.A., WE'LL DO A PICTURE BECAUSE WE KNOW FOLKS ARE ON THE MOVE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE YOU FOR YOUR EXTRAORDINARY CONTRIBUTIONS, FRANCISCO TO THE ARTS AND JUSTICE. AND I WANT TO POINT SOMETHING OUT, WE'RE GOING THROUGH AUTHORITARIANISM, WHAT IT FEELS LIKE IN THIS COUNTRY. AND OFTEN TIMES, WE DON'T I SAY, WE DON'T HAVE A PLAY BOOK BUT PLACES LIKE CHILE THAT HAVE SURVIVED AUTHORITARIANSHIP HAVE PLAY BOOKS AND POWER TO SURVIVE. I APPRECIATE YOU LIFTING THAT UP. YOU SEE THAT LATINO RESISTANCE IS NOT JUST ABOUT PROTEST, IT'S CREATION AND BUILDING A WORLD WHERE OUR STRUGGLES AND JOY ARE REFLECTED BACK TO US IN ART AND COMMUNITY. CARLOS, MONTES AND FRANCISCO SHOW US TWO SIDES OF THE COIN, POWER OF IMAGINATION. THAT'S THE SPIRIT OF LATINO HERITAGE MONTH, FIGHTING FOR OUR FUTURE AND CELEBRATING THE RESILIENCE OF OUR PEOPLE. I'M PROUD TO RECOGNIZE THIS MONTH AS LATINO HERITAGE MONTH. AND I HOPE TO SEE YOU TOMORROW AT EL GRITO CELEBRATING WITH US. NOW HELP ME UNVOIL THE COVER OF LATINO HERITAGE MONTH GUIDE AND CALENDAR THIS YEAR. THANK YOU, AND QUE VIVA LA RESISTENCIA. >> Council President: THANK YOU SO MUCH. CITY ATTORNEY, MR. CLERK, I BELIEVE WE'RE PREPARED FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AT THIS TIME? >> City Attorney: YES, MR. PRESIDENT. I WILL GO THROUGH THE ABBREVIATED INSTRUCTIONS AS MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, IF YOU'RE HERE TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT, PLEASE NOTE THAT THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA HAVE ALREADY HAD PUBLIC COMMENT SATISFIED. SO YOU'LL HAVE UP TO ONE MINUTE FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT, IF YOU'D LIKE. SO KEEP IN MIND, DURING GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT, YOU STILL NEED TO SPEAK INTO SOMETHING THAT IS WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF THIS BODY. WE WOULD ASK AS WELL, THAT BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE THERE IS NOT A TON OF PEOPLE HERE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, FUEL FREE TO LINE UP IN ANY ORDER ON YOUR LEFT-HAND SIDE OF THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS. IF YOU SEE MORE THAN FIVE PEOPLE LINED UP, PLEASE WAIT UNTIL WE CAN RECYCLE PEOPLE THROUGH. YOU CAN LINE UP IN ANY ORDER. YOU'LL HAVE ONE MINUTE TOTAL. SO AS SOON AS YOU GET TO THE PODIUM, WE'LL START YOUR TIME. AND IF YOU REQUIRE ASSISTANCE OR HAVE AN ACCOMMODATION REQUEST, PLEASE LET THE SERGEANT KNOW. SO AGAIN TO REPEAT, WE'RE NOT GOING TO CALL NAMES, BUT YOU CAN LINE UP, IF YOU SEE MORE THAN FIVE PEOPLE ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE OF COUNCIL CHAMBERS, I WOULD ASK THAT YOU WAIT UNTIL THE LINE GETS SMALLER. WE'RE GOING TO START WITH THE ONE WITH THE HAND HELD MIC, YOU HAVE A MINUTE. BEFORE WE START HER TIME, LET'S MAKE SURE IT'S WORKING. >> Speaker: HELLO HELLO, CAN YOU HEAR ME. >> City Attorney: GOOD MORNING, GO AHEAD. >> Speaker: GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEMBER JURADO AND COUNCIL, WE'RE HERE WITH FOUNDATION WHO HAS SERVED THE SKID ROW COMMUNITY EVERY YEAR. I'M ASKING TODAY FOR SOMETHING SIMPLE BUT, VITAL PARKING. IT WOULD ALLOW TO VOLUNTEER CLOTHES AND OTHER ESSENTIALS. FOR ME, THE REQUEST IS DEEPLY PERSONAL. MY DAUGHTER SUFFERS FROM MENTAL ILLNESSES. SHE KNOWS AND I KNOW THAT EVERY WEDNESDAY BETWEEN 11:00 AND 2:00, SHE CAN FIND ME. SO WE'RE JUST ASKING FOR A WEEKLY PARK AND PERMIT SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO SERVICE THE COMMUNITY LIKE WE HAVE BEEN FOR THE LAST 16-17 YEARS, THANK YOU, CARMELA LIG INS. THAT WAS GOOD. >> City Attorney: THANK YOU, AND WE WILL HAVE THE SERGEANT COLLECT THE HAND-HELD MIC, THANK YOU. >> Speaker: GOOD MORNING, I'M MARVELOUS AND I'M HERE WITH THIS YOUNG LADY CARMELA TO ADVOCATE FOR THE PARKING SITUATION THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR THE PAST 17 YEARS, THIS OCTOBER. WE COME OUT, ONE DAY A WEEK FOR THREE HOURS, AND WE'VE BEEN AHA --HARASSED AND TICKETED, AND WE'RE LOOKING FOR A ANSWER MAYBE HAVING A PASS TO HAVE US OUT THERE FOR THE THREE HOURS. IT'S BEEN OVERWHELMING, THE TICKETS ARE $100. WE'VE SEEN, THE FOUNDATION MY FRIENDS'S HOUSE WHICH IS WHAT I'M WEARING HAS BEEN OUT THERE 17 YEARS THIS YEAR. AND WE SERVE THE HOMELESS WITH FOOD, CLOTHES AND SHOES AND OUR LOVE AND WE'RE OUT THERE EVERY WEDNESDAY RAIN OR SHINE. AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE CAN'T GET SOME TYPE OF HELP WHERE WE CAN LOAD, OFF LOAD JUST HAVE OUR VOLUNTEERS COME OUT AND SERVE THE COMMUNITY. >> Council President: MA'AM, BEFORE GU, WHAT IS THE ADDRESSES OF THE PLACES THAT YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT? >> Speaker: 540 SOUTH SAN PEDRO. >> Council President: OKAY. >> Speaker: SQU IT'S CALLED THE BIN THAT WE SERVE AT. >> Council President: GOT IT, THANK YOU. WE'LL TRY TO GET SOMEBODY FROM CD14 TO TALK TO YOU. >> Speaker: THANK YOU. >> Council President: ALL RIGHT, NEXT SPEAKER. >> Speaker: GOOD AFTERNOON, CITY COUNCIL, PRESIDENT DAWSON, I'M HERE TO REQUEST FOR A THREE AND A HALF HOUR PARKING MORATORIUM ON 540 SOUTH SAN PEEDSINGER ROBSINGER SO MY FRIEND'S HOUSE CAN PROVIDE HUMANITARIAN AID WHICH WE HAVE BEEN DOING FOR 17 YEARS, RAIN OR SHINE, WEDNESDAY FROM 11:00 TO 2:00 P.M., PROVIDING HUMANITARIAN AID. GROCERIES, FOOD AND CLOTHING. SO WE'RE JUST A MORATORIUM FOR ALL OF OUR, VOLUNTEERS BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 11:00 TO 2:30. SO THAT WE CAN COME AND SERVE THE HOMELESS POPULATION ON HOPE ROW. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> Speaker: HELLO. SPEAKING ON GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT, I'M A RESIDENT OF CD1, PETER. THE CHARTER COMMISSION HAS NOMINATED STAR AND RANK CHOICE VOTING I WANT TO SHARE MY RECOMMENDATION FOR STAR VOTING. ALLOWS TO VOTE FROM 0 TO 5. WITH THE STAR BALLOT, VOTERS CAN SHOW THEIR FULL PREFERENCE FOR EACH CANDIDATES. IN ADDITION TO SHOWING THEIR FAVORITE, THEY CAN SHOW HOW MUCH THEY LIKE THEIR NEXT FAVORITE. WITH STAR THAT'S ALLOWED, IF A VOTER FEELS THE SAME, THEY CAN FEEL THE SAME SCORE. THAT MEANS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO VOID AND ALSO MEANS VOTERS CAN BE AS EXPRESSIVE AS THEY PLEASE. IF THEY WANT TO GIVE A NEW HONEST OPINION, THAT'S GREAT. BUT IF THEY WANT TO GIVE 5s, THAT'S ALSO GREAT. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. [BUZZARD] >> Speaker: I'M DR. SAM DAVIDSON CAN I VOLUNTEER WITH EQUAL VOFT. I COMPLETED MY Ph.d IN BIOENGINEERING AND I'M PLAN TO GO MOVE FROM PASADENA TO L.A. I ENDORSE STAR VOTING. IT PRODUCES THE MOST ACCURATE ELECTIONS. SHOW THAT UNDER THE CURRENT TOP TWO SYSTEM, THE CANDIDATE WHO BEST REPRESENTS AS MANY VOTERS WILL BE ELECTED 90 PERCENT OF THE TIME WHERE AS RANK CHOICE IS--93 PERCENT AND STAR IS EVEN BETTER, ELECTING THE WINNER 98 PERCENT OF THE TIME. THESE RESULTS WERE PUBLISHED IN A JOURNAL ALONG SIMULATION DEVELOPED INDEPENDENTLY BY BERKELEY AND CORNELL UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR. L.A. NOW HAS A CHANCE TO BECOME A WORLD LEADER. THANK YOU. >> Speaker: OKAY, SO, SO AS USUAL, WE'RE MAKING PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AS DIFFICULT AND LITTLE AS POSSIBLE. GOING THROUGH LIKE, EXTENDED PERIOD OF PRESENTATIONS, YOU KNOW, PREVENTING THE PUBLIC FROM SPEAKING ON AGENDA ITEMS BECAUSE THEY HAD A HEARING EARLIER, EVEN THOUGH THAT WAS THE COMMITTEE VOTE NOT THE FULL COUNCIL VOTE. AND MANY OF THESE MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL HAVE NEVER HEARD ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON ANY OF THE AGENDA ITEMS BECAUSE IT WAS IN COMMITTEES THAT THEY WERE NOT ON. WHICH MEANS THEY DID NOT GET PUBLIC COMMENT. SO YOU'RE PREVENTING PEOPLE FROM SPEAKING ON THESE ITEMS BECAUSE AGAIN, YOU DON'T WANT TO LEARN ABOUT ALL THE TER I HAVE STUFF ON THE AGENDA ITEMS BECAUSE YOU'RE TRYING TO LIMIT PUBLIC PARTICIPATION. JUST COMMENT THAT YOU MADE ZERO STATEMENT, WHY IS THERE NO CALL-IN COMMENT? FIRE JIM McDONNELL, CANCEL THE OLYMPICS, AND WHAT IS GOING ON OUTSIDE? THERE IS A MESS OUT THERE. >> Speaker: GOOD JOB, ANDREW. I JUST WANTED TO SAY, THANK YOU TO CARLOS MONTES FOR CALLING TO AN END TO ISRAEL, HE PROBABLY DIDN'T KNOW HOW MANY ZIONIST, HE WAS SPEAKING TO. ANY CRITICISM OF ISRAEL HATE SPEECH SO HOPEFULLY YOU DON'T TRY TO INCRIMINATE HIM. [SINGING] NITHYA IS SUCH A WHOA FOR THE HOMELESSNESS COMMITTEE BUT I DON'T THINK SHE REALLY CARES FOR THE UNHOUSED IN THE CITY, NO WAY, L.A. CAN RAISE CONCERNS, SHE LOOKS AT THEM IN THE EYE, THEY ASK FOR REPAIRS AT THE MAY FAIR AND SHE TOLD THEM A LIE, MAY FAIR HOTEL VAITERS, HOW LONG THEY'VE BEEN BROKEN DOWN? MAY FAIR HOTELS. NITHYA, WHY DID YOU SAY THAT THOSE ELEVATORS WERE FIXED AND WHEN THEY STILL HAVE CONES AND PEOPLE CANNOT GET TO THEIR APARTMENTS. >> Speaker: IT'S NOT COOL. I GUESS WE WANT TO GET TO PUBLIC COMMENT, OH YEAH. >> City Attorney: YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. >> Speaker: MY TIME IS RUNNING. >> City Attorney: HOLD ON JUST A SECOND. GO AHEAD YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. >> Speaker: I NOTICE THAT MARQUEECE HARRIS-DAWSON, WAITED UNTIL VERONICA LEFT TODAY, WHEN THERE WAS A LADY IN A SCHOOLER, BEFORE HE TOLD HER, YOU'VE GOT TO PUT THAT CHAIR OVER HERE AND SIT IN THE PEW. THAT WAS FUCKED UP. AND THERE WAS HARDLY ANYBODY HERE, THERE WAS MAYBE A DOZEN AND A HALF PEOPLE HERE AND NOBODY WALKING THROUGH THAT SPOT, THAT'S BULLSHIT. BLACK PEOPLE ALWAYS TAKE CARE OF ME. I DON'T LIKE WHEN I SEE, ESPECIALLY OTHER PEOPLE IN POSITIONS OF BLACK POWER OR MAKE THEIR LIFE UNNECESSARILY INCONVENIENT. I KNOW MARQUEECE DOES A LOT OF GOOD WORK, HE'S A VERY STRATEGIC AND TACTICAL PERSON. I RESPECT THAT TO A DEGREE, BUT I GOT TO CALL IT OUT. AND WE GOT TO COME TOGETHER, A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WE DON'T AGREE WITH, WE DON'T HAVE TO COME TOGETHER AND RESIST EVEN THIS GOVERNMENT. THEY'RE TAKING AWAY OUR PUBLIC COMMENT. >> Council -->> City Attorney: YOUR TIME IS EXPIRED. I NEED TO YOU VACATE THE PODIUM SO WE CAN GET TO THE NEXT SPEAKER. THIS IS YOUR FIRST AND FINAL WARNING. GOOD AFTERNOON, YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE, GO AHEAD. >> Speaker: I'M AQELE AND I'M HERE WITH BLACK LIVES MATTER AND I'M HERE TO CELEBRATE AND BE WITH MY FRIEND CARLOS MONTES. CARLOS HAS DEMONSTRATED REAL SOLIDARITY, NOT JUST IMPLIED SOLIDARITY AND HIS WORK WITH CSO HAS SUPPORTED BLACK LIVES MATTERS EVER SINCE WE GOT STARTED. I'M HERE TO CELEBRATE HIM AND THANK HIM. THANK YOU SO MUCH CARLOS, WE'RE GLAD TO CALL YOU A FRIEND AND A CONRAD AND THIS IS WELL DESERVED. THANK YOU. >> City Attorney: GOOD AFTERNOON, GO AHEAD, YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. >> Speaker: SORRY ABOUT THAT. GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT. PUBLIC, HERE WE GO. PUBLIC, WHEN YOU HIRE CLOWNS YOU GET A CIRCUS, SLEAZELY MARQUEECY DAWSON AND THE REST OF THE CLOWNS HAVE ZERO ITEMS ON TODAY'S AGENDA, NONE. WHY? WITH ALL THE MASSIVE CITY PROBLEMS, THAT IS HOW THESE CLOWNS HAVE RUN THE CITY INTO THE GROUND BY JUST SITTING THERE COLLECTING THEIR 20-30,000 A MONTH SALARY. ONE BILLION DOLLARS EMERGENCY BUDGET BY GIVING ONE BILLION INCREASE TO LAPD LAST YEAR AND THOUSANDS OF HOMELESS EPIDEMIC EMERGENCY AND SLAES' D AND THE REST OF THESE CLOWNS SIT, THEY'RE GIVING STUPID PRESENTATIONS, NOT ALL OF THEM WITH NOTHING ON THE AGENDA, NO PLAN AT ALL. NOTHING. THE CIRCUS OF INCOMPETENCE IS UNBELIEVABLE. [APPLAUSE] >> City Attorney: GOOD AFTERNOON, YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. >> Speaker: THANK YOU, SIR. MR. McOSKER, THANK YOU FOR THAT HISTORY LESSON, YOU'VE GOT TO KNOW, PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THAT. QUICKLY, VOLUNTEERS CLEANING COMMUNITIES, THEY WERE IN PORTER RANCH ON RESEDA AND THEY DID A BEAUTIFUL JOB, WHAT A GREAT BUNCH OF SENIORS. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT IS THE HARD PART? THEY WORKED AT LEAST SIX HOURS, CLEANING. YOU KNOW WHAT THE ANSWER IS, MR. DAWSON, WHY DOESN'T THIS COUNCIL REINSTATE, RESTRICTIVE PARKING SO THOSE SENIORS DON'T HAVE TO GO THERE IN THEIR 70s TO CLEAN SOMEBODY ELSE'S MESS. WHY DON'T THEY HAVE TO ENDANGER THEIR LIVES FOR PEOPLE GOING 60-7 TO 0 MILES PER HOUR. WHY DON'T YOU AND MR. DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS, THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON EXAMINE ON AND YOU FOLKS CONTINUE. MR. PRICE, I WANT TO SAY, GOOD MORNING, TO YOU, GOD BLESS YOU. THANK YOU. >> City Attorney: GOOD AFTERNOON, YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. >> Speaker: THE BROWN ACT DOES NOT ALLOW YOU TO DISCUSS GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS AT MEETINGS BUT IT DOES ALLOW TO RESPOND TO THE PUBLIC'S CONCERNS BY EMAIL BY OR ISSUING YOUR OWN STATEMENTS. SO PLEASE EXPLAIN WHY WE'RE NOT ENTITLED TO HIGHEST LEVEL OF POLICE OVERSIGHT. THE GOVERNMENT WILL NOT STEP ON THE TOES OF LOCAL OFFICIALS SO IT'S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO REQUEST IT. SECONDLY, THE CITY ATTORNEY ALWAYS ASKS PEOPLE TO SEND IN WRITTEN COMMENTS AND I WOULD PREFER TO DO THAT BUT YOU THE INSTRUCTIONS DO NOT INCLUDE THE FILE NUMBERS NECESSARY TO READ OR WRITE GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT LIKE 25-0000-S9 SO. SO ONLY PEOPLE WHO ASK THE CITY CLERK FOR THAT INFORMATION HAVE THE ABILITY TO READ GENERAL COMMENTS. FOR EVERY ONE ELSE, WRITTEN COMMENTS DO NOT EXIST. [BABY CRYING IN THE BACKGROUND] >> City Attorney: GOOD AFTERNOON, YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE, GO AHEAD. >> Speaker: ALL YOU EVIL, UPSET THE BABY, YOU SEE THAT. WELL ANYWAY, I WAS HERE, UNISSES HERNANDEZ, WHILE STAND INING FRONT OF THE A COP TURNS HER HEAD AND TELLS ME TO FUCK OFF. YOU SEE, WHEN SHE DOES THAT, SHE'S A GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL, IN FRONT OF A POLICE OFFICER, I CAN'T SAY ANYTHING TO RESPOND TO THAT, SHE IS PUTTING ME IN FEAR AND COERCION OF STATE LAW. SO YOU KNOW, I HAVE NOT BEEN COMING AROUND A LOT. SOMETHING IS COMING TO THIS BUILDING. SOMETHING IS COMING. YOU CAN SMELL THE FEAR IN THE AIR, COPS ALL OVER THE PLACE, THERE IS SO MUCH ACTIVITIES, THEY HAVE 39 NEW AGENTS THAT CAME TO THIS BUILDING. THEY'RE NOT HERE FOR PRICE, THEY'RE HERE FOR YOU. FINALLY I'M GOING TO GET MY $10,000, HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND, NIGGER! >> Council President: THAT'S YOUR TIME, PLEASE EXIT. THAT'S YOUR TIME. >> City Attorney: MR. SPINDLER, YOU'RE NO LONGER ALLOWED TO SPEAK BECAUSE YOUR TIME IS EXPIRED. THIS IS YOUR FIRST AND ONLY WARNING FOR DISRUPTING THE MEETING. >> Council President: NEXT SPEAKER. NEXT SPEAKER. >> City Attorney: YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. >> Speaker: GOOD MORNING, LAST, THESE ARE FORCE MULTIPLIERS. DETAILS ABOUT MY PROPOSITION WITH THE, MY CITIZENSHIP. TWO TRANSPLANTS AND AT THE END OF TEN YEARS, YOU GET, APPLICATION FOR NATURALIZATION BECAUSE YOU REQUIRED ALL BUT, PREREQUISITES OF THE PLAN AND THE COMPLETING INTEREST, OF THE INCLUSION AND YOU GET YOUR CITIZENSHIP, AND YOU'RE OFF AND RUNNING. PAY FOR IT, WE'RE GETTING THAT NOW. 5,000 FOR TEN YEARS, NOW I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO A OBEY THE TAX LAWS, SOMETHING YOU HAVE NOT HAD TO DO BEFORE, HELLO, SIMPLE AS THAT. MAYBE SOMEBODY IN THIS BUILDING WITH PROPER THE IDEA OF COMMAND AND WE CAN STOP ALL THIS. HAVE A GOOD DONE. >> City Attorney: NEXT SPEAKER? NOPE? >> Council President: LOOKS LIKE THAT CONCLUDES OUR SPEAKERS FOR TODAY. THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY WHO CAME OUT TO SHARE WITH US THIS MORNING. MADAM CLERK, WHAT IS NEXT? >> Clerk: COUNCIL HAS MOTIONED FOR POSTING AND REFERRAL. >> Council President: THEY ARE POSTED AND REFERRED. JAOT DESK IS CLEAR. >> Council President: THE DESK IS CLEAR. ARE THERE ANNOUNCEMENTS, COUNCILMEMBERS? MR. McOSKER. >> T. McOsker: THANK YOU, VERY MUCH MR. PRESIDENT. COLLEAGUES ALL ANGELINOS, I INVITE YOU DOWN TO POINT PARK IN SAN PEDRO TOMORROW, FOR THE 31st ANNUAL-- >> Council President: SORRY. HOLD ON MR. McOSKER. THIS OPINIONER WITH THE PONY TAIL IN THE BABSINGER YELLING, YOU'LL BE REMOVED FROM THE MEETING, THIS IS YOUR SECOND INFRACTION, I ASK YOU THAT YOU LEAVE IMMEDIATELY. COUNCILMEMBER McOSKER. >> T. McOsker: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, COLLEAGUES, AND AL ANGELINO, I INVITE YOU TOMORROW FOR THE 31st ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF PHILIPPINES. BACK IN 1990, THE FIRST FESTIVAL TOOK PLACE ON MOTHER'S DAY MAY 14th, 1992 AT L.A. CITY COLLEGE. SINCE THEN IT HAS GROWN EXPONENTIALLY, IT MOVED TO CABRIO BEACH IN SAN PEDRO, IT DID MOVE TO ECHO PARK IN 2017 BUT WE'RE PROUD IN THE 1-5 TO HAVE IT BACK. THE 1-5 IS GRATEFUL TO HOST. THIS YEAR'S THEME TRANSLATES FROM THE TALOG, THAT I WILL NOT RISK TO ARM AND ARM REFLECTING THE RESILIENCE OF THE FILIPINO COMMUNITY. PLEASE JOIN US FOR VIBRANT PERFORMANCES THAT HIGHLIGHT FILIPINO CULTURE AND MUSIC AND FOOD AND PLENTY OF GREAT FOOD SO PLEASE SHOW UP WITH AN EMPTY STOMACH. THE FESTIVAL WILL BEGIN AT 10:00 AM AND CONTINUE TO 6:00 P.M. ADMISSION IS FREE, BUT LIMITED. WE ENCOURAGE TO YOU CONSIDER PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION OR USE RIDE SHARE SERVICES. WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU DOWN AT SAN PEDRO AND THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR GREAT SPONSORS AND UNDERWRITING FOR THIS BEAUTIFUL EVENT. >> Council President: THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. LEE. >> J. Lee: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. MY MOM TAUGHT ME TO ALWAYS BE RESPECTFUL TO MY ELDERS, SO I WANT TO WISH A HAPPY BIRTH TO OUR PRESIDENT PRO TEM TOMORROW, BOB BLUMENFIELD, HAPPY BIRTHDAY BOB! [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] >> Council President: ALL RIGHT, MR. PRICE? >> C. Price: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. MEMBERS, TEAM PRICE IS EXCITED TO KICKOFF TO THE 309ING AVENUE JAZZ FESTIVAL. WITH A SPECIAL COMMUNITY PREVIEW, THAT IS HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND AT VERMONT SQUARE PARK, IT'S GOING TO BE THE PLACE TO BE FOR AN AFTERNOON OF LIVE MUSIC. PERFORMANCES WILL FEATURE THE JAZZ BAND. ALONGSIDE FREE FOOD AND KID'S ACTIVITIES AND THE COMMUNITY RESOURCES FOR NEIGHBORS. SO PLAN ON BEING THERE. AND THEN ON THE 20th, PLEASE JOIN US FOR THE 30th ANNIVERSARY OF THE CENTRAL AVENUE JAZZ FESTIVAL UP AND DOWN CENTRAL AVENUE FROM VERNON TO KING BOULEVARD, MUSIC, FUN, FOOD AND CELEBRATION. SO EVERY ONE IS WELCOMED. I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU. SATURDAY, SUNDAY, THE 14th AND THEN THE SATURDAY, THE 20th. >> CouncilPresident: CENTRAL AVENUE JAZZ FESTIVAL. ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS? MR. SA NAIRIAN? NAZARIAN? >> A. Nazarian: THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT FOR ALLOWING THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THE ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE PODIUM. IN THE CONTINUED THEME OF RESISTANCE THAT WE'VE ALL BEEN DISCUSSING TODAY, I WANTED TO ASK ALL OF YOU TO JOIN US TODAY AS WE HONOR THE MEMORY OF MESSA A MENI. ON SEPTEMBER 13, 2022, MASA A MINI WAS ARREST INSIDE IRAN FOR NOTHING MORE THAN THE WAY SHE WORE HER HAIR. THREE DAYS LATER, SHE WAS DEAD IN THE HOSPITAL. HER LIFE WAS CUT SHORT AT 22 YEARS OLD BY THE PHYSICAL TRAUMA WHILE IN CUSTODY OF THE POLICE. HER STORY A RARE OCCURRENCE. OF VIOLENCE AND PUNISHMENT. THIS IS A SYSTEM THAT DENIES WOMEN, AGENCY OVER THEIR BODIES AND CHOICES AND THEIR FUTURES. HAHSA, IGNITED A MOVEMENT, HER DEATH HAS BEEN A CRY NOT ONLY IN IRAN BUT ACROSS THE GLOBE. FREEDOM, WOMEN AND THOSE HAVE ECHOS THE STREETS OF IRAN. WOMEN UNDER OPPRESSION HAS RISKED EVERYTHING, REMOVE THEIR HEAD SCARF SXZ CUTTING THEIR HAIR TO RECOGNIZE NITION. THEY STOOD BRAVELY IN THE BRUTALITY FUELLED BY THE TRUTH THAT NO REGIME IS ABLE TO SILENCE THE POWER OF WOMEN. IT SHINES THROUGH THE MOVEMENT, IT REMINDS US THAT DIGNITY ARE WORTH FIGHTING FOR. TODAY WE SPEAK HER NAME TO KEEP HER SPIRIT ALIVE, TO STAND WITH THE SPIRIT OF IRAN AND WITH WOMEN EVER WHERE WHO FACE DISCRIMINATION. MAHSA, SHOULD STILL BE ALIVE TODAY. LET HER MEMORY BE A CALL TO ACTION AND I ASK ALL OF US TO STAND IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE, PLEASE. [MOMENT OF SILENCE] THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. TODAY I'M JOINED WITH MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS, THAT I WOULD LIKE TO BECAUSE NOBODY IS GOING TO BE SPEAKING, I WOULD JUST LIKE OFFER A MOMENT TO MENTION EVERY ONE. JOINING US TODAY IS ALI, SASAN, FALZHAR, AND NULUFAN. FRED, ALI AMADI, MOORETEZAR, JOHN ARTDON, DR. MYRIAM ASERBAIJANI. MEDICALLY, AND MIKE AHILI. I'D ALSO LIKE TO TAKE THIS MOMENT AND RECOGNIZE THREE INDIVIDUALS. MS. MANODY WHO IS A BIOLOGIST WITH L.A. DWP, I WANT TO PRESENT HER WITH A CERTIFICATE OF MAHSA AMINDI AND PRESENT TO HASAN FOR STBING THIS DAY WHEN A YEAR AGO, HE JOINED COUNCILMEMBER BLUMENFIELD TO ESTABLISH THIS DAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AND I WOULD LIKE THE COUNCILMAN TO JOIN US FOR THE PHOTO. AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK TO THE FIRM DOCUMENTING THE LAST FEW DAYS OF MAHSA'S LIFE. >> Council President: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. NAZARIAN. MR. BLUMENFIELD, YOU'RE ON THE QUEUE TO SPEAK? >> B. Blumenfield: YES, I WANT TO THANK MR. NAZARIAN FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD AND EVERY ONE UP THERE, WHO FIRST BROUGHT THIS IDEA TO ME LAST YEAR TO RECOGNIZE TO RECOGNIZE MAHSA AMINI DAY, AND IT SPIRALED FROM THERE. AND THE MOVEMENT AS I MENTIONED IS SO IMPORTANT NOW MORE THAN EVER. NOT JUST TO SPARK THAT SPIRIT OF RESISTANCE IN IRAN BUT HERE IN THIS COUNTRY, WE NEED TO BE MOTIVATED AND INSPIRED BY MAHSA AMINI. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD, A LOT OF FOLKS HERE WHO MADE THIS POSSIBLE BUT IT'S GREAT THAT WE ARE CONTINUING TO RECOGNIZE MAHSA AMINI DAY AS IT IS SO IMPORTANT. THANK YOU. >> Council President: THANK YOU, MR. BLUMENFIELD, WITH THAT MR. NAZARIAN THANK YOU FOR THIS VERY ANNOUNCEMENT AND PRESENTATION TODAY. ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS? SEEING NO OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS, I ASK EVERY ONE IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS TO RISE FOR ADJOURNING MOTIONS. AND ASK IF THERE ARE ADJOURNING MOTIONS TO MY LEFT? I SEE YOU, MR. NAZARIAN. SO I'LL BEGIN WITH AN ADJOURNING MOTION. COLLEAGUES, IT'S WITH HEAVY HEART AND A GREAT SPIRIT OF SADNESS THAT I ASK ALL OF US TO ADJOURN IN THE MEMORY OF THE HONORABLE ROBERTO DEL KNIGHT SENIOR, HE LIVED TO THE AGE OF 89 YEARS OLD. LEAVING A REMARKABLE LEGACY OF FAITH, AND COMMUNITY SERVICE. MR. KNIGHT WAS BORN IN SO SO MISSISSIPPI IN THE 1930s, HE WAS FOUR OF SEVEN CHILDREN. HE WAS RAISED ON A WORKING CHILDREN, HE WAS IN A WORKING FARM WHERE YOU LEARN TO WORK UNTIL SUN GOES DOWN AND YOUR LIVELIHOOD DEPENDS ON YOUR LABOR. HE WAS ALSO RAISED IN A DEVOTE CHRISTIAN FAMILY AND SERVEMANSHIP WAY IMPORTANT AND THROUGH HIS FATHER'S GUIDANCE, HE APPLIED HIS SKILLS TO PASTOR AND CONSTRUCTION AND COMPLETED A NUMBER OF PROJECTS ACROSS THE CAMPUS AND THROUGH HUNTSVILLE ALABAMA. HE SERVED HONORABLY IN THE SERVICE. IT ALLOWED HIM TO BECOME BILINGUAL IN SPAN YOU SHALL A SKILL THAT WOULD BECOME VERY IMPORTANT IN LATER YEARS AS HE MOVED TO THE LOS ANGELES IN 1960s. STARTED A FAMILY HERE AND BEGAN A DUE DUEL CAREER IN EDUCATION AND CONSTRUCTION. HE CONTINUED TO BUILD HOMES AND WORK WITH HIS BROTHERS IN THE BUILDING TRADES. AND THIS IS BEFORE, PEOPLE LIKE MR. KNIGHT COULD BE IN THE UNION AND BE A PART OF THE BIG CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES. DURING THE 1980s, THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE 105 FREEWAY ALSO KNOWN AS THE CENTURY FREEWAY, PROMPTED THE RELOCATION AND DEMOLITION OF NUMEROUS HOMES IN THE ITS PATH. AND IF YOU'RE OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER BAOEN IMPERIAL AND 100tH, ALL THE HOMES THAT WE LOST MOST IN THE 13th DISTRICT, AND OTHER PARTS OF L.A. HE SAW AN HUNT, THROUGH THE BENEFITS AGREEMENT ONE OF THE FIRST ONES THAT HE HAD HAD IN THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES THROUGH COMMUNITY BENEFITS AGREEMENT. MR. KNIGHT WAS ABLE TO ACQUIRE SEVERAL OF THOSE HOMES AT ONE DOLLAR A PIECE. AND HAD THE INGENUITY AND THE DRIVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MOVE THEM TO OTHER PLACES. SO HE HAD HOUSED IN WEST ADAMS, SOUTH L.A. AND ENGELWOOD AND OTHER PARTS OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. BUT HIS INVOLVEMENT DIDN'T STOP THERE, ONCE HE FIGURED OUT HE COULD MOVE A HOUSE, HE FIGURED OUT HOW TO BUILD A HOUSE. SO HE BUILT HOUSES THROUGHOUT SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, MULTI DEPARTMENTS AND EXPANDED HIS PORTFOLIO BUT NEVER BECAME A CORPORATE LANDLORD, HE WAS THE KIND OF LANDLORD THAT CAME AND KNOCKED ON YOUR DOOR, IF SOMETHING WAS BROKEN AND STAYED THERE UNTIL THE PLUMBER OR PAINTER OR FIXER GOT THINGS DONE. HE BELIEVED EVERY PERSON DESERVED A DECENT PLACE TO LIVE NO MATTER HOW WEALTHY OR POOR YOU WERE AND HE WORKED TO IMPROVE THE LIGHT OF HIS TENANT AND WAS THE KIND OF LANDLORD THAT WE ALL LONG FOR HERE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. NOT SOME GIANT COMPANY THAT MAYBE WILL TAKE YOUR CALL AND MAYBE WOULDN'T, BUT WOULD SHOW UP WHEN SOMEBODY WENT WRONG WITH THE APARTMENTS AND WOULD KEEP THE APARTMENTS AT A RATE THAT PEOPLE CAN AFFORD. HE PROVIDED AFFORDABLE OPTIONS FOR PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE REGION. HE WAS AN ACTIVE MEMBER IN THE CHURCH AND BUILT A GREAT FAMILY NETWORK, YOU CAN SEE ALL THE FAMILIES THERE STANDING THERE ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE GALLERY WHO JOINED TODAY TO CELEBRATE AND COMMEMORATE THE LIFE AND THE GIFT OF MR. KNIGHT. I'M PROUD TO BE JOINED BY HIS WIFE JUNE, AND HIS CHILDREN HIS DAUGHTER JIS HE WILL AND NICOLE AND SON LANI FOR THIS ADJOURNING MOTION. I WOULD BE REMISS AND IT'S A VERY DIFFICULT TO DO, 89 IS A GOOD LIFE, IT'S A FULL TENOR OF YEARS. BUT WE DIDN'T LOSE MR. KNIGHT BECAUSE OF OLD AGE, WE LOST HIM BECAUSE OF GUN VIOLENCE. SO I POINT THAT OUT, BECAUSE THE SCOURGE OF GUN VIOLENCE, VISITS ALL US. YOU THINK THAT IF I MAKE IT TO 70 OR 60 I'M SAFE. HERE MR. KNIGHT WAS ON THE DOORSTEP OF 90 YEARS OLD AND WE LOSE HIM AND MOURN HIM BECAUSE OF SCOURGE OF GUN VIOLENCE AND THE AVAILABILITY OF GUNS TO FRANKLY PEOPLE WHO SHOULD NOT HAVE THEM. SO WITH THAT, I ASK THIS COUNCIL AND RECOGNIZE HIS FAMILY AND COMMUNITY AND ASK THAT THE ENTIRE CITY ADJOURN IN THE MEMORY OF MR. ROBERT KNIGHT. ALL RIGHT. MR. NAZARIAN? >> A. Nazarian: THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. COLLEAGUES, I RISE TODAY TO HONOR THE MEMORY OF HUSHMANT ARELI. IN HONORING HIM, WE CELEBRATE A LIFE DEVOTED TO BEAUTY, TO ART TO THE SUBLINE AND TO THE DEEP MUSIC AND MEMORY. BORN IN 1930 IN IRAN, HUSHMAN BEGAN A JOURNEY THAT WOULD SHAPE THE COURSE OF PERSIAN MUSIC. BY THE AGE OF 13, HE WAS STUDY WITH A REVERED FIGURE IN IRAN IAN MUSIC. HIS VOICE BECAME A CHERISHED PRESENCE THROUGHOUT THE CITY. AT THE INRECOGNIZE RACING OF THE IRANIAN TELEVISION, HUSHMAN WAS INVITED TO PERFORM. DUBER THIS MIND, HELP SHAPE THE LANDSCAPE. HIS WORK EARNED HIM A UNIESQUO. IN 1977 AS IRAN STOOD ON THE BRINK OF CLATACLISMIC CHANGE, HE BROUGHT SOUL OF IRAN, PRESERVED IN EVERY NOTE, EVERY PERFORMANCE. HOSHOMANNED MUSIC WAS FILLED WITH LONGING. FOUND CONNECTION TO THEIR HOMELAND, LANGUAGE AND TO THEIR ROOTS. HE LEAVES BEHIND A LOVING FAMILY, HIS SON, MIKE, HIS DAUGHTER, MAY, AND HIS GRANDSON CAMERON HOO O SHMAND, WHO CARRIED HIS NAME AND SPIRIT. LET US REMIND US FOR THE SOUL HE POURED INTO EVERY NOTE. HE MAY NO LONGER WALK AMONG US, BUT HIS VOICE, HIS LEGACY WILL FOREVER ECHO IN OUR HEARTS. THANK YOU COLLEAGUES. >> Council President: THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. NAZARIAN? ANY OTHER ADJOURNING MOTIONS? WITH THAT, WE ARE ADJOURNED. THANK YOU SO MUCH EVERYBODY.