Edgardo Flores - RIPE

Los Angeles, CA – Today, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to instruct County public health experts, County Counsel, and the Department of Consumer and Business Affairs, to examine the possibility of a policy requiring proof of vaccination for certain indoor public spaces and report back to the board in two weeks with an assessment and potential policy options.

“The latest nationwide surge of COVID cases is being driven by and large by the unvaccinated,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn. “To prevent future surges and new and more dangerous variants from circulating, especially as we approach fall and winter, we need to at least consider the possibility of requiring proof of vaccination for certain indoor public settings.”

The motion, authored by Supervisor Hahn, directs the Department of Public Health, in concert with the Department of Consumer and Business Affairs and County Counsel, to report back within 14 days on possible options for requiring vaccines in certain indoor public spaces in the County of Los Angeles.

“I want to avoid a situation where we are forced to shut down businesses and limit capacity,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn. “That was devastating to our businesses and our local workers. We need to look at every tool at our disposal to protect our residents and our economy.”

The report back will assess policies adopted by other jurisdictions, consider whether a possible policy should require proof of one dose or full vaccination, as well as whether the policy should apply to all indoor public spaces or just to certain non-essential businesses and events.

“Everyone who is eligible has the responsibility to get vaccinated,” said Supervisor Hahn. “The vaccines are our best tool to get out of this pandemic and they provide a layer of protection for not only the vaccinated person, but for everyone around them.”

The Board also asked for a report back from the Department of Public Health in 14 days on the process for how people can prove their vaccination status and how businesses can verify vaccination status using existing digital forms of records or paper records.

El Segundo, CA — Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn is asking for answers after a “mechanical failure” at a LA City Sanitation facility discharged 17 million gallons of sewage into the ocean off the coast of Dockweiler Beach.

“What happened yesterday was unacceptable and dangerous,” said Supervisor Hahn. “Not only did the Hyperion Plant release seventeen million gallons of sewage into our ocean– the public had little to no information about it for hours. We need answers from LA City Sanitation about what went wrong and led to this massive spill, but we also need to recognize that LA County Public Health did not effectively communicate with the public and could have put swimmers in danger.”

At today’s meeting of the LA County Board of Supervisors, Supervisor Hahn read-in a motion regarding the spill, seeking answers about the cause of the spill, the extent of the impacts, and, importantly, seeking a corrective action plan to ensure faster response, coordination, reporting, and communication about any future sewage discharges that may require timely beach closures to prevent public exposure.

The motion passed unanimously.

Text of Read In Motion:

MOTION BY SUPERVISOR JANICE HAHN July 13, 2021
Public Notification of Sewage Discharges

On July 11, 2021, the Hyperion Reclamation Plant (the Plant) discharged approximately 17 million gallons of untreated sewage through the one-mile outfall into the Santa Monica Bay off the coast of Dockweiler State Beach. Plant crews worked overnight to resolve the issue and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health posted “Beach Closure” signs in the area around Dockweiler State Beach. However, many beach goers and local residents were not aware of the closure and it was not clear which areas of the ocean water were impacted until health officials issued a news release later in the evening of July 12, 2021.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Division (Public Health) is responsible for monitoring ocean water quality and is charged with taking appropriate action when untreated sewage enters an area where public health may be jeopardized. If beaches become contaminated due to untreated sewage, Public Health’s reporting protocol requires the department to immediately post “Beach Closure” signs and issue a public advisory explaining the reason for any beach closures. Effective monitoring and public notification of ocean water quality requires open communication and situational awareness of the sewage discharge incident among all coordinating agencies within Los Angeles County, as well as the Sanitation Districts and sewage treatment facilities.

During a sewage discharge event where, public health may be jeopardized, it is imperative that Public Health immediately notify the general public of health risks and swiftly coordinate with partner agencies to ensure health protective action is taken. Immediate notification should be defined as 15 minutes from the time that Public Health is aware of a serious adverse event that poses a public health risk. With appropriate coordination and communication among agencies within Los Angeles County, we can protect the ocean water quality and the public health of Los Angeles County residents.

I, THEREFORE MOVE that the Board of Supervisors directs the Chief Executive Officer, in concert with the County Fire Department, Department of Beaches and Harbors, Department of Public Works, Department of Public Health, and in consultation with Los Angeles City Sanitation and Environment, to report back within 7 days on the following:

1. Any and all issues, including but not limited to, the cause and extent of impacts related to the sewage spill and/or discharge that occurred the evening of July 11th off the coast of Dockweiler State Beach;
2. All necessary steps to protect the health and safety of Los Angeles County residents and provide timely public notification of environmental hazards, including but not limited to, dissemination of information, signage, and closures;
3. A corrective action plan that would result in faster response, coordination, reporting and communication about future sewage discharges that may require timely beach closures to prevent public exposure.

Los Angeles, CA – Today, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors passed a proposal by Supervisor Janice Hahn and co-authored by Supervisor Kathryn Barger to expand the county’s Psychiatric Mobile Response Team (PMRT) program.

LA County’s Psychiatric Mobile Response Teams are teams of unarmed mental health professionals who respond directly to a person experiencing a mental health crisis. Currently, 25 Psychiatric Mobile Response Teams operate across the county during normal business hours between 8am and 5pm and 12 teams operate between the hours of 5pm and 2am and on weekends. The average response time is often 2 hours and the teams are not available to respond between the hours of 2am and 8am – limiting their ability to be a viable alternative to law enforcement.

“Mental health crises aren’t a nine-to-five problem and our solution can’t be either,” said Supervisor Hahn, who authored the motion. “Too often, armed law enforcement or ambulances become the de facto response to people experiencing mental health crises. If we want our Psychiatric Mobile Response Teams to be a viable and effective alternative to calling the police, they need to be available 24/7 and there need to be enough teams to respond to every crisis quickly.”

The motion today authored by Supervisor Hahn and co-authored by Supervisor Barger does two important things to expand the County’s Psychiatric Mobile Response Team network:

1. First, it asks the County to develop a plan to expand Psychiatric Mobile Response Teams to be available 24/7 before 2022.
2. Second, it asks the County for a plan to use new federal funding available through the American Rescue Plan to expand and improve the Psychiatric Mobile Response Team network to respond to crises across the county more quickly.

“When a community member is in crisis, ensuring they receive timely, effective care is crucial,” Supervisor Barger said. “By expanding Los Angeles County’s response to meet serious mental health crises 24/7, our Psychiatric Mobile Response Teams can help patients get treatment where and when they need it most.”

The effort to expand these teams comes just one year before the first nationwide mental health crisis hotline, 9-8-8, launches in Summer 2022. Dialing 9-8-8 will be an alternative to 9-1-1 and will connect people with the Psychiatric Mobile Response Teams when necessary.
A plan to expand the Psychiatric Mobile Response Teams to 24/7 is due back to the board in 60 days.

Manhattan Beach, CA — Today, LA County Supervisor Janice Hahn, State Senator Steve Bradford, LA County Supervisor Holly Mitchell, State Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi, and other prominent local leaders gathered at the beachfront property known as Bruce’s Beach to announce the first step in the effort to return the property to the Bruce Family.

In 1912, a young Black couple named Willa and Charles Bruce purchased beachfront property in Manhattan Beach and built a resort that served Black residents. It was one of the few beaches where Black residents could go because so many other local beaches did not permit Black beachgoers. The Bruces and their customers were harassed and threatened by white neighbors including the KKK.  Eventually, the Manhattan Beach City Council moved to seize the property using eminent domain in 1924, purportedly to create a park.  The City took the property in 1929 and it remained vacant for decades.   

The property the Bruce family once owned was years later transferred to the State and in 1995 transferred to Los Angeles County.  It is now the site of the Los Angeles County Lifeguard Training Headquarters. 

“The Bruce family had their California dream stolen from them. This was an injustice inflicted upon not just Willa and Charles Bruce– but generations of their descendants who almost certainly would have been millionaires if they had been able to keep this property and their successful business,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn. “I strongly believe the right thing to do is for the County to return this property to the Bruce family.”

“In 1912, Charles and Willa Bruce created the West Coast’s first beach resort owned by and meant for Black Americans. Under their leadership, Bruce’s Beach became a lively and flourishing resort. But their success was unjustly stolen. When harassment, hostility and violence by the Ku Klux Klan weren’t enough to coerce them to leave, the City seized the land,” said Senator Steven Bradford.  “The property that the Bruce’s purchased for $1,225 is now worth $75 million. We stand here today to introduce a bill that will correct this gross injustice and allow the land to be returned to the Bruce family. It is my hope that this legislation will not be the last in a series of actions by the state to address centuries of atrocious actions against Black Americans. I commend Supervisor Hahn for her continued dedication to this issue. She exemplifies a true profile in courage. I look forward to working with all the LA County Supervisors to finally right this wrong.”

Returning the property to the family will require action by the State.  When the property was transferred from the State to the County in 1995, the State imposed restrictions that limit the County’s ability to transfer the property.  Today, State Senator Steve Bradford announced new legislation SB 796, that would exempt the Bruce’s Beach property from statuary restrictions on the transference and use of that land to enable the County of Los Angeles to transfer the land to the descendants of its rightful owners, the late Willa and Charles Bruce.  Senator Ben Allen is a joint author of the legislation and Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi is a principal co-author. 

The legislation is an urgency bill which means that it can go into effect as soon as it is passed and signed into law by the Governor.

“Proud to stand with Supervisor Hahn in shining a light on this important issue that is part of our history and future of LA County,” said Supervisor Holly Mitchell.  “Transferring the ownership back to the Bruce family not only aligns with the County’s commitment to equity but is also the right thing to do.”

Returning the land to the Bruce Family could include an option for the family to lease the land back to the County. The Bruce Family would be the County’s landlords and the County would pay rent for the continued use of the property.

“We are seeking to right a wrong that was committed against the Bruce family and other Black families in Manhattan Beach almost a hundred years ago,” said Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi. “As a South Bay Assemblymember representing Manhattan Beach, I am proud to join Supervisor Hahn and my colleagues in this effort to provide a measure of justice to descendants of the Bruce family.”

“I stand with my colleagues in their efforts to correct past wrongs’,” said State Senator Ben Allen. “This bill will give our County a procedural tool that can help us achieve greater reconciliation as a society. The past informs, haunts, angers, and inspires us and we grapple with it always. I thank Supervisor Hahn and my colleagues for taking an important leadership role in this effort.”

The history of the injustice of Bruce’s Beach was brought back into the headlines last year by a local group called Justice for Bruce’s Beach.

“Thank you, Supervisor Hahn and Senator Steven Bradford, for taking accountability and for positioning yourselves on the right side of history,” said Justice for Bruce’s Beach Founder Kavon Ward. “Thank you for being waves in this movement with me as we are on the precipice of making history.”

Supervisors Hahn and Mitchell plan to introduce a motion at the Board of Supervisors next meeting on April 20^th regarding next steps in the effort to return the Bruce’s Beach property.

Hermosa Beach, CA – This week, a motion passed by the LA County Board of Supervisors authored by Supervisor Janice Hahn has paved the way for an LA County Lifeguard Tower in Hermosa Beach to be painted rainbow for Pride Month.

The idea to paint the tower came from lzzy Bacallao, a local trans teen. Izzy, who uses the pronouns they and them, was responding to the burning of rainbow-painted Pride lifeguard tower in Long Beach in March.

“The burning of the Long Beach Pride Tower was not only devastating to me, being a trans/queer adolescent, but it also hurt other queer people and our allies within the South Bay community,” said Izzy Bacallao. “Immediately my family and I started reaching out to queer youth and other community leaders to seek approval to paint a Hermosa Beach lifeguard tower as an act of solidarity and an expression of love. We want to share this experience with everyone in the community. The Pride tower should be a reminder to everyone to accept, cherish, and celebrate what makes us all unique and special.”

Hahn’s motion, which passed unanimously at Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting, instructs the LA County Department of Beaches and Harbors to work with the City of Hermosa Beach to transform the lifeguard tower just north of the Hermosa Beach pier for Pride month and through the end of summer.

“I think it is really important that we paint this tower this summer — just months after the Pride tower was burned down in Long Beach,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn. “Izzy and LGBTQ young people need to know that we are not intimidated by hate. They need to see that we stand by them, that they are loved and accepted, and that they belong right here in our community.”

“We thank Supervisor Hahn and the Board of Supervisors for allowing Hermosa Beach to recognize and honor our LGBTQ+ community by painting one of the County’s iconic lifeguard towers in the rainbow colors of the Pride flag,” said Hermosa Beach Mayor Justin Massey. “Members of the Hermosa community proposed this project in response to a suspected arson that destroyed a County lifeguard tower painted in Pride colors in Long Beach. The “Rainbow Tower” in Hermosa, lighting on Hermosa’s Pier Plaza, and flying of the Pride flag throughout Pride Month in June will remind everyone that all are welcome in Hermosa Beach, where the values of equality and diversity run strong.”

A date has not been set yet for the tower to be painted. The event will be organized by Hermosa Beach residents with support from the City of Hermosa Beach, the County of Los Angeles, Supervisor Hahn’s office, and other community partners.

Los Angeles, CA — The County of Los Angeles, in partnership with the Vera Institute of Justice, has published an online decarceration dashboard which provides a visual breakdown and analysis of the County’s jail population on a daily basis. The goal of this dashboard is to help policymakers, advocates, and academics better understand the makeup and changes in the population of people in LA County jails in order to craft public policy to safely reduce the jail population.

“We can’t create effective policy to address our overcrowded jails if we don’t understand our jail population,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn who authored the motion to publish the online dashboard. “This online decarceration dashboard breaks down all the data we have about our jail population and displays it in a way that makes it easy to understand and spot trends. We are making it public so everyone can use it from policy makers, to students, to advocates alike.”

The dashboard, called the “Care First L.A.: Tracking Jail Decarceration” dashboard, can be accessed at www.vera.org/care-first-la-tracking-jail-decarceration. It will be updated daily using data collected by the Sheriff’s Department and breaks down everything from racial disparities, to case status, to the prevalence of mental illness among the jail population.

“I’m proud to join Supervisor Hahn in co-authoring this motion,” said Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell. “This data dashboard will be an important tool as we move towards responsibly closing Men’s Central Jail. It will show how the jail population has changed over time, what factors are contributing to increases in the jail population, and who can safely be targeted for diversion initiatives to help decarcerate the jails.”

For years, the Los Angeles County jail facilities have been severely overcrowded. When the pandemic hit, LA County justice partners collaborated to quickly and safely decrease the jail population within weeks. Recognizing that overcrowded jail facilities contribute to unhealthy and unsafe conditions for everyone involved, Supervisor Janice Hahn an then-Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas authored a motion in September 2020 to establish the Jail Population Review Council, chaired by the Office of Diversion and Reentry, with the goal of maintaining the reduced jail population beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Jail Population Review Council partnered with the Vera Institute of Justice to create this first of its kind data dashboard that breaks down and analyzes LA County’s Jail Population.

“We are grateful to the Vera Institute for developing the ‘Care First LA’ data dashboard as an integral resource to support the work of the Jail Population Review Council,” said Judge Peter Espinoza, Director of the Office of Diversion and Reentry and Chair of the Jail Population Review Council. “Access to consistent and clear data about who is in the jails is essential for the Council – and County as a whole – to reduce the jail population, address overcrowding, identify and reduce racial disparities in incarceration, and successfully move towards the Care First, Jails Last vision that the Board is committed to.”

“Having a better understanding of the jail population will help us see where we need to focus our diversion efforts and craft public policy to safely reduce the jail population,” continued Supervisor Hahn. “For example, if you looked at the data dashboard today, you would see that the number one reason that people are in our LA County jails is because they can’t afford bail. Almost 40% of our jail population is pretrial, which underscores just how critical bail reform is. You would also see that, equally high, is the percentage of our jail population with mental health needs. 36% of men and an astounding 66% of women in our jails have mental health needs. And these percentages have increased dramatically over the last year, confirming the need to scale up our mental health diversion programs, especially for women.”

Today’s motion, which was authored by Supervisor Hahn and co-authored by Supervisor Mitchell directed the Jail Population Review Council to publish the “Care First L.A.: Tracking Jail Decarceration” data dashboard, present the “Care First L.A.: Tracking Jail Decarceration” data dashboard at the public May 19th meeting of the Jail Population Review Council, and utilize the dashboard in their continued work to reduce the County’s jail population. The motion passed unanimously.

Manhattan Beach, CA—Today, SB 796, a bill championed by Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn which would allow Los Angeles County to return the Bruce’s Beach property to the descendants of Willa and Charles Bruce, cleared another legislative hurdle in Sacramento.

Chair of the California Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Anthony Portantino, determined that the legislation had no significant state costs and applied Senate Rule 28.8, sending it directly to the Senate Floor for a Second Reading without a hearing in the Appropriations Committee. The legislation had already passed the California Senate’s Committee on Natural Resources and Water last month with unanimous support.

“I never served in Sacramento but from what I am told, this legislation is moving quickly,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn. “I want to thank Senator Bradford, Senator Portantino, and everyone who has made calls in support of this bill. We are another step closer to returning Bruce’s Beach to its rightful owners.”

In 1912, a young Black couple named Willa and Charles Bruce purchased beachfront property in Manhattan Beach and built a resort that served Black residents. It was one of the few beaches where Black residents could go because so many other local beaches did not permit Black beachgoers. The Bruces and their customers were harassed and threatened by white neighbors including the KKK. Eventually, the Manhattan Beach City Council moved to seize the property using eminent domain in 1924, purportedly to create a park. The City took the property in 1929 and it remained vacant for decades.

The property the Bruce family once owned was years later transferred to the State and in 1995 transferred to Los Angeles County. It is now the site of the Los Angeles County Lifeguard Training Headquarters.

Supervisor Hahn announced her intention earlier this year to return the property to the Bruce Family, but found that she needed State legislation before the County could transfer this property. When the property was transferred from the State to the County in 1995, the State imposed restrictions that limit the County’s ability to transfer the property. SB 796, legislation introduced by State Senator Steve Bradford, would exempt the Bruce’s Beach property from statuary restrictions on the transference and use of that land to enable the County of Los Angeles to transfer the land to the descendants of its rightful owners, the late Willa and Charles Bruce.

SB 796 next heads to the Senate Floor where it needs a vote of two-thirds to pass before heading to the Assembly.