Uncategorized

We know that when guns are present, our homes and communities are less safe. While we continue to demand action from Congress, I am doing everything in my power to reduce the number of guns on our streets. This is an opportunity for residents to participate in making their own communities safer.

This event is totally anonymous. We will not ask for any information from you.

There are important guidelines to participating in the buy-back that ensure the safety of the public and Sheriff’s deputies. Firearms must be brought unloaded in the trunk of a vehicle and are not permitted on any public transit vehicle. Pedestrian walk-ups will not be accepted. Participants can choose from an assortment of gift cards.

Los Angeles, CA –Today, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a motion authored by Chair Janice Hahn and Supervisor Hilda Solis securing a $15.6 million grant to fund the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s response to organized retail theft.
“The shameless smash and grabs need to be stopped,” said Supervisor Hahn. “These are not petty thefts — these are organized violent operations that rob businesses of thousands upon thousands of dollars in merchandise, physically damage stores, and traumatize retail workers. This is a priority and with this $15.6 million grant, the Sheriff’s Department will have new resources to prevent these smash-and-grabs and root out the criminal organizations behind them.”
Supervisor Hahn’s motion secures a $15.6 million grant awarded by the State to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department to fight organized retail crime. LASD will use this funding to support the department’s recently created Organized Retail Theft Task Force.
“These brazen organized retail theft sprees are hurting business communities across the county and retail companies are losing billions of dollars annually,” said Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna, who joined today’s Board of Supervisors meeting. “Our Retail Theft Task Force through our Major Crimes Bureau is focused on reducing these crimes by targeting these crews and aggressively pursuing not just those who commit the theft, but everyone in the criminal chain. This Organized Retail Theft Grant will allow us to continue to investigate retail theft crimes and provide dedicated staff and equipment necessary to continue to combat these thefts.”
A recent survey from the National Retail Federation found that organized retail crime has increased by 26% since 2000. Unfortunately, this trend holds true in Los Angeles County and includes an increase in smash and grab crimes that have alarmed business owners and the public.
In response, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department partnered with neighboring law enforcement organizations to create the Organized Retail Theft Task Force. Within LASD, this task force will consist of one lieutenant, three sergeants, and thirty detectives who are dedicated to preventing and addressing organized retail theft, including smash-and-grabs, catalytic converter thefts, and cargo theft. The Task Force, which will also be supported by civilian professional staff, will be divided into three geographic teams, and they will collaborate with other law enforcement agencies, the District Attorney’s Office, and local businesses.
Read the full motion here.

West Whittier, CA– Today, Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn is raising concerns about a recent gas leak that forced the evacuation of 75 residents in the early hours of yesterday morning.
Los Angeles County Fire Department and Sheriff’s Department officials responded to reports of a major gas leak on Vicki Drive in West Whittier at 1:30 am on September 14, 2023. Residents who had no where to go spent the night at an evacuation center set up by the Red Cross.
“This was unacceptable, and it raises serious concerns about the state of SoCal Gas infrastructure that a leak of this magnitude was able to happen,” wrote Supervisor Hahn to SoCal Gas CEO Scott Drury. “I am asking for you to conduct a full investigation into this gas line break. It is important that the residents who were put through this ordeal have answers about what went wrong, and it is necessary that the County has assurances that SoCal Gas will not allow this to happen again and that this incident is not a sign of an even larger problem.”
The gas leak was significant enough that clouds of gas could be seen coming from the sidewalk above the leak. The leak was not stopped until after 8 am when residents were finally able to return home. Still, some residents did not have gas for hours after the evacuation order was lifted.

Letter – Letter to SoCal Gas

Read the full letter below:

September 15, 2023

Scott Drury
Chief Executive Officer
Southern California Gas Company
555 West 5th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90013

Dear Mr. Drury,

I am writing to you regarding my deep concern over a recent incident in my district in Unincorporated West Whittier. In the middle of the night in the early hours of September 14th, a major gas leak was discovered on Vicki Drive. Our LA County fire fighters and Sheriff’s deputies responded quickly and evacuated 32 homes and over 75 residents in the middle of the night. Some residents had no where to go and had to spend the night with their children in an evacuation center set up by the Red Cross.
This was unacceptable and it raises serious concerns about the state of SoCal Gas infrastructure that a leak of this magnitude was able to happen.
I am asking for you to conduct a full investigation into this gas line break. It is important that the residents who were put through this ordeal have answers about what went wrong, and it is necessary that the County has assurances that SoCal Gas will not allow this to happen again and that this incident is not a sign of an even larger problem.
Thank you for your attention to this matter and I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

JANICE HAHN
Chair, Board of Supervisors
County of Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA – This morning, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a motion authored by Chair Janice Hahn and coauthored by Supervisor Kathryn Barger to accept $321,189,238 in state funds for the creation of housing beds for unhoused people experiencing serious mental health and/or substance abuse challenges. The funds come from the state’s Behavioral Health Bridge Housing (BHBH) Program, and will be prioritized for participants in the County’s Community Assistance, Recovery and Empowerment (CARE) Court program which will launch this December.
“We’re just six months from getting our mental health and substance abuse CARE Court up and running in Norwalk and having dedicated housing with treatment available for unhoused clients is going to be essential,” said Chair of the Board Janice Hahn. “CARE Court is a massive undertaking and I appreciate the State for coming through for us with this funding so that we can make sure we are prepared with the beds and treatment these clients will need on day one.”
The vote authorizes the County’s Department of Mental Health to accept $259,280,749 in funds, and the Department of Public Health to accept $61,908,489. Dr. Lisa Wong, Psy.D., Director of Mental Health, and Dr. Barbara Ferrer, Director of Public Health, answered questions from supervisors about potential uses for the funds. Dr. Wong emphasized that this funding would go to projects that can get up and running quickly. The Departments are now able to move forward quickly with releasing the solicitation, entering into contracts with providers, and begin hiring as needed.
“These funds will go a long way in helping our county get CARE Court ready,” said Supervisor Kathryn Barger. “We will significantly expand the number of beds and housing subsidies that we can use to support and heal our homeless residents experiencing severe mental illness and addiction. This funding commitment from the state will help us make sure more beds are available to residents, countywide. We need to continue building up our infrastructure so we can provide equal access.”
Los Angeles County is among the first cohort of counties expected to implement its CARE Court program, with an opening date of December 1 of this year. CARE Court, which will operate out of the Los Angeles County Superior Courthouse in Norwalk, will serve people experiencing serious mental health disorders through court-ordered care that could include medications, wellness and recovery supports, and connection to social services and housing.

I know that public safety has become a top concern for many residents of the Palos Verdes Peninsula communities. I have heard concerns from many about recent property crimes. I have invited Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna to a town hall meeting in RPV next month so we can hear more about the issues you’re facing and discuss possible solutions going forward.

RSVP by email at fourthdistrict@bos.lacounty.gov, or call (310) 519-6021.

County will use Emergency Declaration to Hire Needed Staff Quickly

Los Angeles, CA – Today, led by Supervisors Janice Hahn and Kathryn Barger, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted to direct staff to prepare for the launch of CARE Court on December 1, 2023. CARE Court, a new initiative championed by Governor Newsom and passed into law by the State Legislature, aims to fix the ongoing challenge of getting people with severe mental illness the support and care they need.
“We have been struggling for decades to figure out a way to get real, compassionate help to people with severe mental illness, and I believe CARE Court could be the missing piece of the puzzle,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn. “Our December 1 launch date is coming up quickly and there is plenty of work we need to do to be prepared to provide CARE Court clients with the care they need and support their concerned family members on day one.
CARE Court will provide upstream treatment opportunities to individuals suffering from severe mental health disorders, especially schizophrenia spectrum and psychotic disorders, and are unable to make their own medical decisions by authorizing specified people, like family members, to petition a civil court to create a CARE plan for that individual.
“This motion is about our County proactively preparing for CARE Court. Staffing up is key so that we’re ready to help the gravely disabled – they’re the intended clients and their needs are complex. Our Department of Mental Health is the lead implementation agency and I support moving forward, but there are still a lot of questions about how referrals will be accepted and managed that need to be answered. A lot of good can be achieved. We need to work in close partnership with the state so we get this right and are set up to succeed. We can’t squander this opportunity.”
The Board passed a motion today, authored by Hahn and Barger, directing the LA County Department of Mental Health to recruit and hire new employees to support the CARE Court program and use the Board’s emergency authority under the recently declared Homelessness Emergency to expedite hiring. The motion also directs County staff to identify potential properties and facilities that are needed to support CARE Court, to develop a referral system to connect CARE Court clients with substance use treatment, to implement a peer supporter program for CARE Court participants, and to report back in 90 days with progress made towards CARE Court implementation.
“December 1st is just around the corner and so much needs to be done,” commented Mike Molina, who serves on the LA County Commission on Mental Health. “We need emergency appointments. We need treatment facilities identified, prepared and staff hired. We need coordination with the courts and all agencies involved. And we need a full and comprehensive communications plan so that County residents clearly know the options and services offered to them through CARE Court. This Motion is just what we need to fast-track the work ahead in the next six months.”
Under SB 1338, every county in the state must implement CARE Court. The County of Los Angeles will be part of the first group of California counties to implement CARE Court starting with one courtroom and one judge in the LA County Superior Court Courthouse in Norwalk.
Governor Newsom’s May Revision to the state budget proposes to allocate $15 million to Los Angeles County to implement CARE Court. The revision also identified $151 million in ongoing funds to support CARE Courts statewide although LA County’s allocation is unknown at this point.
Today’s motion passed in a 4-1 vote with Supervisors Janice Hahn, Kathryn Barger, Hilda Solis, and Holly Mitchell voting for the motion and Supervisor Lindsey Horvath voting against it.

We know that when guns are present, our homes and communities are less safe. While we continue to demand action from Congress, I am doing everything in my power to reduce the number of guns on our streets. This is an opportunity for residents to participate in making their own communities safer.

This event is totally anonymous. We will not ask for any information from you.

There are important guidelines to participating in the buy-back that ensure the safety of the public and LBPD officers. Firearms must be brought unloaded in the trunk of a vehicle and are not permitted on any Metro or Long Beach Transit vehicle. Pedestrian walk-ups will not be accepted. Participants can choose from an assortment of gift cards, including gift cards that can be redeemed on Amazon.

Los Angeles, CA – Today, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors declared June 2, 2023, Gun Violence Awareness Day in Los Angeles County. The declaration, brought forward by Chair of the Board Supervisor Janice Hahn and Supervisor Hilda L. Solis, is meant to draw attention to the devastation caused nationwide by gun violence and urge Congressional leaders to act.

“The nationwide gun violence crisis continues to plague our community,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn. “Just last week, Long Beach lost 12-year-old Eric Gregory Brown III in a senseless drive-by shooting.  We know that so many of these deaths are preventable and if we hope to ever get action from Congress, we can’t stay quiet. We have to demand action for the sake of our children.”

The proposal to declare Gun Violence Awareness Day came to Hahn’s office from Moms Demand Action, a grassroots organization that advocates for public safety measures to protect people from gun violence. June 2^nd is significant because it is the birthday of Hadiya Pendleton, a 15-year-old girl from Chicago who was playing in a park with her friends when she was tragically shot and killed, just one week after performing at President Obama’s inauguration in 2013.

“Enough is enough,” said Supervisor Solis. “We need real solutions and real action.  I am proud of our collective record of standing with victims and survivors of gun violence and fighting for responsible gun safety. And in proclaiming June 2nd as Gun Violence Awareness Day, we are showing our over 10 million residents, our over 100,000 employees, and the nation, that LA County will continue to demonstrate its support to making our communities safer.”

Members of the organization testified at today’s Board Meeting, urging residents to wear orange on June 2^nd. Orange was selected because it is the color hunters wear to prevent themselves from being shot.

At today’s meeting, Moms Demand Action volunteer Heather Jones spoke to the board about heartbreaking questions she got from her six and ten-year-old children who worried they would be shot and asked where they could be shot and still live.

Supervisor Hahn has led the effort at the Board to put in place new gun violence prevention ordinances that put new regulations on gun dealers and prevent the sale of .50 caliber weapons and ammunition. She has also held gun buyback events across her district which have taken 814 guns off the streets.  Hahn’s next gun buyback is in coordination with the Long Beach Police Department on June 10, 2023, from 7:00am-5:00PM at MacArthur Park located at 1321 E Anaheim St, Long Beach.  Residents are encouraged to turn in firearms in exchange for gift cards– no questions asked.