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 identifying information from you. Open to residents of any city.
There are important guidelines to participating in the buy-back that ensure the safety of the public and Torrance PD officers. 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.
LA County Governance and Ethics Reforms to be Placed on November Ballothttps://hahn.lacounty.gov/wp-content/themes/blade/images/empty/thumbnail.jpg150150Esteban GarciaEsteban Garciahttps://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/f75a0a635aeccb2b3e4a965e8c31e362?s=96&d=mm&r=g
The charter amendment creates an elected County Executive & Ethics Commission, expands the Board of Supervisors, and more
Los Angeles, CA — At today’s meeting, the Board of Supervisors took historic action to put the most comprehensive governance and ethics reform package for Los Angeles County on the ballot this November. Voters will now decide on a County Charter amendment that creates an elected County Executive; expands the Board of Supervisors from five to nine seats; and establishes common-sense ethics reforms.
As part of Item 6 on the agenda, the Board approved putting the following measure on the November 5 ballot:
LOS ANGELES COUNTY GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE, ETHICS AND ACCOUNTABILITY CHARTER AMENDMENT. Shall the measure amending the Los Angeles County Charter to create an elected County Executive; create an independent Ethics Commission to increase restrictions on lobbying and investigate misconduct; establish a nonpartisan Legislative Analyst to review proposed County policies; increase the Board of Supervisors from five to nine elected members; require County departments to present annual budgets in public meetings; using existing funding sources with no additional taxes to implement, as detailed in the charter amendment ordinance, be adopted?
The motion calling for County Charter ordinance changes was authored by Chair Lindsey P. Horvath and Supervisor Janice Hahn. The second reading of the ordinance was approved today through Item 7 on the agenda.
“Change is now in the hands of Los Angeles County voters who will tell us whether it’s time for a more representative, transparent, accountable, and effective Los Angeles County,” said Chair Lindsey P. Horvath. “If voters call for change, I stand ready to champion implementation through a broad-based public process that centers the voices of our most marginalized communities. This is the very beginning of a going-forward process that invites everyone into shaping a 21st century model for governance that works for Los Angeles County.”
“When asked, residents overwhelmingly say they support reforming LA County government. They tell us they want smaller, more representative districts, checks and balances, and commonsense ethics reforms that hold officials accountable,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn. “At the end of the day, this is not the Supervisors’ government. This is the people’s government. And this November, the people will get to decide how they want it to work.”
The Los Angeles County governance structure has not changed much since it was adopted in 1912 when the population was 500,000, segregation was the law of the land, and women didn’t have the right to vote. If approved by voters this November, the charter amendments would kick off a public process led by the Governance Reform Task Force to implement governance and ethics reforms.
The charter amendment would create distinct executive and legislative branches of the government through a directly elected County Executive. The elected County Executive would function much like a Mayor, Governor, or President, with the Board of Supervisors serving as the legislative branch like a City Council, State Legislature, or Congress.
The charter amendment would also expand the Board from five to nine seats to increase representation and create opportunities for a Board that reflects the diversity of Los Angeles County. A Board of nine Supervisors has been studied for decades. It is a measured approach to bring the public closer to their elected representatives by cutting districts nearly in half.
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 identifying 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.
Hahn Appoints Latina LGBTQ+ Leader from Long Beach to Inaugural County LGBTQ+ Commissionhttps://hahn.lacounty.gov/wp-content/themes/blade/images/empty/thumbnail.jpg150150Esteban GarciaEsteban Garciahttps://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/f75a0a635aeccb2b3e4a965e8c31e362?s=96&d=mm&r=g
Los Angeles, CA — Today, Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn appointed Latina LGBTQ+ community leader Ellie Perez to the first-ever Los Angeles County LGBTQ+ Commission. The Commission was created in June with a motion authored by Supervisor Hilda L. Solis that Hahn coauthored. The 15-member Commission will advise the Board of Supervisors on issues facing LGBTQ+ residents in Los Angeles County.
Perez is an experienced management professional, educator and LGBTQ+ advocate. She currently serves as Interim Executive Director of The LGBTQ Center Long Beach.
“Ellie’s commitment and leadership within the LGBTQ+ community are informed by her own experiences, and that driving passion is evident throughout her career. What she is going to bring to the Commission as a lesbian woman and mother of a trans child is extremely unique and valuable. I’m grateful that she has accepted this invitation,” said Hahn.
Perez has a long history of volunteering and advocating for others. In May of 2020, she and her wife Angela founded the Safe Spaces Alliance, a Long Beach City initiative dedicated to curating and promoting LGBTQ+ safe spaces and LGBTQ+ and ally-owned businesses.
“I am humbled and honored to be appointed to Supervisor Janice Hahn’s LGBTQ+ Commision. Having a seat at the table will allow me to collaborate with others who seek to move our LGBTQ+ community closer to equity and equality,” said Perez.
The LGBTQ+ Commission will provide recommendations on policies and budget priorities at a time when LGBTQ+ people face mounting challenges. According to the LA County Commission on Human Relations’ 2021 Hate Crime Report, 89% of the hate crimes towards gay men were of a violent nature and 93% of anti-transgender crimes were violent – a rate of violence higher than any other marginalized group recorded by the report. Nationwide, hundreds of anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been introduced at the state and local levels.
Hahn’s other appointment to the LGBTQ+ Commission is Huntington Park city councilmember and Latino Equality Alliance executive director Eddie Martinez.
Eddie Martinez is a Huntington Park city councilmember and Executive Director of Latino Equality Alliance
Los Angeles, CA — Today, Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn appointed Latino LGBTQ+ community leader and Huntington Park councilmember Eddie Martinez to the first-ever Los Angeles County LGBTQ+ Commission. The Commission was created in June with a motion authored by Supervisor Hilda L. Solis that Hahn coauthored. The 15-member Commission will advise the Board of Supervisors on issues facing LGBTQ+ residents in Los Angeles County.
Eddie Martinez (he/him) is the executive director of the Latino Equality Alliance, which he co-founded and previously served on the board of before taking on the role of its first executive director in 2016. He is also a former mayor of the City of Huntington Park.
“When we created this Commission I wanted to make sure that LGBTQ+ people from Southeast LA had a seat at the table, and Eddie is a well-known and respected voice in these communities,” said Hahn. “From bringing a new LGBTQ+ youth space in Bell to spending his own time organizing community cleanups with his staff from Latino Equality Alliance, he is a committed public servant and this Commission will be so enriched by his contribution.”
Martinez has more than 20 years of non-profit management and civic engagement experience including 18 years of tenure with the HIV/AIDS organization The Wall Las Memorias Project. He studied business marketing at Long Beach State University.
“It is an honor to serve on the Commission to represent Supervisor Janice Hahn and the LGBTQ community of District 4. The commission will be an important tool that will shape policies and provide recommendations that will support the well-being and safety of the LGBTQ+ community, especially in BIPOC and immigrant communities,” said Martinez.
The LGBTQ+ Commission will provide recommendations on policies and budget priorities at a time when LGBTQ+ people face mounting challenges. According to the LA County Commission on Human Relations’ 2021 Hate Crime Report, 89% of the hate crimes towards gay men were of a violent nature and 93% of anti-transgender crimes were violent – a rate of violence higher than any other marginalized group recorded by the report. Nationwide, hundreds of anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been introduced at the state and local levels.
Hahn’s other appointment to the LGBTQ+ Commision is Interim Executive Director of The LGBTQ Center Long Beach, Ellie Perez.
CARE Court to Launch in Los Angeles County Tomorrowhttps://hahn.lacounty.gov/wp-content/themes/blade/images/empty/thumbnail.jpg150150Esteban GarciaEsteban Garciahttps://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/f75a0a635aeccb2b3e4a965e8c31e362?s=96&d=mm&r=g
New State-Funded Program Will Provide Treatment and Other Supports to Families and Individuals Struggling with Severe Schizophrenia and Associated Psychotic Disorders
Norwalk, Calif. (November 30, 2023), Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn, Fourth District, in collaboration with the Superior Court of Los Angeles County (the Court), Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (LACDMH), and Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office/Independent Defense Counsel Office (IDCO) announced the launch of the state-funded Community Assistance, Recovery and Empowerment program, better known as CARE Court.
Starting tomorrow, December 1, qualified individuals – such as a family member, spouse, roommate, emergency responder, or licensed medical or mental health professional – will be able to petition the Court for an eligible individual with untreated schizophrenia or other associated psychotic disorders to receive treatment and services to stabilize their symptoms and continue on a path of recovery and well-being.
“I talk to too many families who have struggled to get help for their loved ones with severe mental illness and we see too many people with schizophrenia on the streets. CARE Court is a tool we have been missing in LA County,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn. She continued, “Through CARE Court, we will now be better able to support people suffering from untreated schizophrenia and their families who have historically had nowhere else to go.”
LA County CARE Court was initially set to launch in December 2024, but the Court and the County agreed to move the start date up one year to provide early access to this new valuable tool to County residents. This reflects a tremendous amount of work and collaboration between the Court and LA County.
“Implementing CARE Court in Los Angeles will help create change systemically in the lives of individuals who are struggling with mental illness,” said Supervisor Kathryn Barger, Fifth District. “Our courts are an important asset and can be a change agent in the lives of many. By creating this special partnership between the courts and our mental health systems, we are creating a pathway towards healing and rehabilitation.”
The intent of the CARE program is to provide an additional tool to help families and individuals find support for their loved ones. For individuals who qualify and agree to participate in CARE Court, housing options, along with connections to social services, are provided via a CARE Plan.
“CARE Court will help us connect individuals with the highest needs to the care they require. As we continue to grapple with a mental health crisis on our streets, especially on Skid Row and MacArthur Park in my district, CARE Court will be an important tool to address an individual’s need with dignity and respect. I look forward to working with the Department of Mental Health, the Courts, and the Public Defender’s Office on implementing this important initiative,” said Supervisor Solis, First District.
To seek these services, a family member, clinician or other person files what is known as a CARE Act petition for someone who is in need of help. Filing a petition is free. A judge reviews the petition and determines if the person is eligible for the CARE program. Specific eligibility requirements can be found at www.lacourt.org/care.
“CARE Court provides the largest trial court in the nation with an opportunity to maximize the expertise of judicial officers who are dedicated to providing support to individuals suffering from mental health disorders with a forum in which they will feel empowered to succeed and pave the way to leading healthy and stable lives,” Presiding Judge Samantha P. Jessner said. “I would like to thank our partners at the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, the Los Angeles County Chief Executive’s Office, the Los Angeles County Public Defender, the Independent Defense Counsel’s Office, and the Board of Supervisors, particularly Supervisor Hahn, for engaging so deeply and collaboratively, enabling the County and the Court to launch CARE Court one year earlier than required so that qualifying individuals can begin receiving the care they need and deserve to stabilize and succeed.”
Rather than cycling through jails and emergency rooms, CARE Court gives vulnerable individuals (and those who care for them) another path to access key services. Participants can receive many kinds of support to promote recovery and well-being, including counseling, medication, and social services. If an individual is accepted into the program, their CARE team of clinicians, case managers and others work with them to develop a plan that will provide services tailored to their needs.
“CARE Court offers people with schizophrenia and other related serious untreated mental health disorders the help they need,” said LACDMH Director Dr. Lisa H. Wong. “It is the latest resource we are offering to put at-risk community members on the path to recovery. Ultimately, our priority is to enable people to heal, live safely in community, and thrive; and our goal is to ensure that there is no wrong door when someone reaches out for help.”
The CARE program is strictly voluntary. Participants cannot be forced to participate in services — including taking medication — against their will and can leave the program at any time. There are no civil or criminal penalties for choosing not to participate in the CARE process or programs. Respondents who qualify for CARE Court services will be provided free legal representation through the Public Defender’s newly formed and separately operated IDCO. The attorneys assigned to CARE Court respondents will provide encouragement to their clients and advocate on their behalf to receive all available services.
“The goal of the CARE program is to provide consistent help and resources to people in the least restrictive way possible,” said Ricardo D. Garcia, LA County Public Defender. “Unlike traditional judicial proceedings that focus on compelling compliance through punishment, CARE Court takes the opposite approach. It creates a specific judicial process to pull together holistic services for respondents while surrounding them with a team of family members and professionals to help them stay on track. We’re delighted that IDCO will play such a key role in this innovative and humane approach.”
CARE Court begins accepting petitions tomorrow, December 1. Petitions can be submitted electronically through any electronic filing service provider listed at www.lacourt.org/division/efiling/civil_providers.aspx, or in person at any location listed at www.lacourt.org/CARE. Individuals who are represented by an attorney must file petitions electronically, while individuals without an attorney may file petitions electronically or in person.
For more information about the services provided by LACDMH, please visit: dmh.lacounty.gov/get-help-now/ or call the toll-free number at 1-800-854-7771, where you can request service referrals, crisis assessments, field-based services and an emotional support warmline. The number is staffed 24/7 and has designated personnel to meet the needs of those who served in the military.
Interested parties can also call or text 988 to connect with someone through the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, which provides supports to those who are in crisis or experiencing emotional distress. This service is available 24/7 throughout the U.S. via phone calls, text messaging, or online chat. Finally, you can text ‘LA’ to 741741 to connect with a trained crisis counselor via text message.
“We need Congress to step up and take action on gun violence, but we can’t sit around and wait for that,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn. “This year, we took every step within our power to strengthen our gun violence prevention policies in LA County. We banned the sale of armor piercing bullets. We put in place commonsense safety requirements for gun dealers because we don’t want guns falling into the wrong hands. Along with new efforts to encourage people to use red flag laws and gun buyback events in communities across my district, I am confident that we are saving lives.”
New Zoning Requirements for Gun Dealers
Today, the Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to approve an ordinance implementing new zoning requirements for gun and ammunition dealers in unincorporated Los Angeles County communities. The new ordinance will require dealers to obtain a conditional use permit from Department of Regional Planning. Before now, there was no specific category for gun and ammunition dealers. The ordinance will also require that all new gun and ammunition stores operate at least 1,000 feet away from each other and from areas that children gather like schools, parks, libraries, and daycares. This ordinance will come back to the board for a second hearing on December 19th and, if approved, will go into effect 30 days later.
Ban Sale of .50 Caliber Firearms
In February, under the leadership of Supervisor Hahn, the Board established an ordinance prohibiting the sale of .50 caliber firearms and ammunition in the unincorporated areas of the County. These are the large bullets that inflict a massive amount of damage on the human body and can pierce body armor.
Prohibit Carrying Firearms on County Property
In February, under the leadership of Supervisor Hahn, the Board Establishes ordinance to prohibit the possession of firearms on County property, such as parks, beaches, and County buildings, with certain exceptions or law enforcement and active military.
Commonsense Oversight and Safety Requirements for Gun Dealers
Last month, the Board approved an ordinance putting in place commonsense oversight and safety requirements for gun and ammunition dealers in unincorporated Los Angeles County. The ordinance, which is enforced by the Los Angeles County Treasurer and Tax Collector, does the following:
Requires that ammunition dealers get a business license and comply with requirements applicable to gun dealers. Previously, ammunition-only dealers were not required to have a specific business license.
Prohibits minors in stores that sell guns and ammunition unless accompanied by an adult. Mixed-use stores will be required to have sight separation.
Requires that stores maintain an annual sales report, keep a fingerprint log of purchasers of guns and ammunition, maintain a weekly inventory report, have security cameras in place, and have signs displayed in stores that warn customers about the risks associated with access to guns.
Requires suspended and revoked licensee names to be publicly posted by the Treasurer and Tax Collector.
Amends the fee chart and increases the annual license fee for both initial applications and license renewals.
Expanding Access to Gun Violence Restraining Orders As part of a comprehensive approach to preventing gun violence, the County has launched a new effort to raise awareness and use of gun violence restraining orders (GVROs). GVROs, which can be filed by law enforcement or members of the public when they believe a person is a danger to themselves or others and must be approved by a judge, can prevent a person from purchasing a gun, ammunition, or magazine for a specified length of time, between 21 days and five years. Despite their life-saving potential, they are severely underutilized in Los Angeles County.
To improve public information and awareness of Gun Violence Restraining Orders, Supervisors Janice Hahn and Hilda Solis directed the LA County Office of Violence Prevention to launch a public awareness campaign. As part of that effort, the office has created a new webpage can be found at www.publichealth.lacounty.gov/ovp/GVROs.htm. It includes information about what GVROs are, who can file for them, videos about how to file GVROs in both English and Spanish, a list of legal aid organizations that can assist, and data about gun violence restraining order filings in LA County. The webpage also includes information about possible warning signs for both suicide and potential mass violence.
Moving Forward: Gun Buybacks Across Hahn’s District
Supervisor Hahn is partnering with law enforcement agencies to hold gun buyback events across her district where residents have an opportunity to turn in unwanted firearms in exchange for gift cards, no questions asked. She has held seven gun buybacks since last year, collecting over 1,200 guns including assault rifles, ghost guns, and 3D printed guns. Hahn will hold an eighth event December 16th at Pico Rivera City Hall.
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 — Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn has launched two new dedicated Instagram accounts for the unincorporated communities she represents: one for Walnut Park (@walnutparkgov) and one for the unincorporated communities of greater Whittier (@unincorporatedwhittier), which include South Whittier, East Whittier, Northwest Whittier, and West Whittier-Los Nietos.
“Residents of cities across LA County have access to useful and important information through city social media channels: from street improvements and construction updates to resources and events. The residents that call Walnut Park and the unincorporated communities of Greater Whittier home should have that access too,” said Hahn. “Now they will.”
As unincorporated areas, the County of Los Angeles serves as the local government for these communities. Its various departments carry out street improvements, housing policy, local parks, libraries, and public safety functions, among others. The greater Whittier unincorporated communities are home to some 95,000 residents. Walnut Park is home to approximately 16,000.
The accounts, which will be managed by Hahn’s communications team, will feature updates and news from Hahn’s office, information on construction projects, information about County resources available to residents, events in and around the communities, and more.
Board Approves Hahn-Mitchell Proposals to Reduce Medical Debt for Local Familieshttps://hahn.lacounty.gov/wp-content/themes/blade/images/empty/thumbnail.jpg150150Esteban GarciaEsteban Garciahttps://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/f75a0a635aeccb2b3e4a965e8c31e362?s=96&d=mm&r=g
Los Angeles, CA – Today, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a motion authored by Board Chair Janice Hahn and co-authored by Supervisor Holly Mitchell aimed at reducing the burden of medical debt on county residents. Strategies the County will pursue include requiring hospitals to share debt-collection and financial assistance data with the County and the public, new policies to reduce accumulation of debt, and exploring an innovative proposal to purchase residents’ debt for a small fraction of its value and retiring it.
“Medical debt is something that is largely out of people’s control, but it is devasting families here in LA County,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn. “It is contributing to poverty and homelessness and forcing too many people to delay medical care or avoid filling prescriptions. Helping families with the burden of medical debt would pay dividends.”
When families rack up medical debt, hospitals sell it for pennies on the dollar on a secondary market to companies that profit from collecting on that debt. In recent years, groups such as RIP Medical Debt have worked with other jurisdictions, such as Cook County, to purchase and retire medical debt for qualifying individuals from their local hospitals for a fraction of the value of the debt.
According to RIP Medical Debt, the retirement of $100 of medical debt costs an average of $1. The Department of Public Health estimates that an investment of $24 million could retire $2 billion in medical debt for LA County residents.
Through today’s motion, the Board will receive a report in 90 days on the feasibility of purchasing and retiring County residents’ medical debt as well as potential County, State, Federal, and philanthropic funding sources to support this endeavor.
“Far too many people in my district, particularly our essential workers, Black, Latinx, and low-income families with children, have been burdened by medical debt,” said Supervisor Holly Mitchell. “In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, we must continue to be creative in offering strategic and innovative solutions across our County departments. This motion brings us a significant step closer towards better understanding the full scale of this challenge and applying proven strategies that have been done in other counties to help prevent and relieve medical debt for our constituents.”
The motion passed today also directs the development of a new ordinance that will require hospitals within Los Angeles County to provide data related to debt-collection and financial assistance which will be shared publicly in a new online dashboard for patients. County departments will also study and recommend new policies and practices to reduce residents’ medical debt including improving access to financial and legal assistance.
Approximately one in ten County adults face burdensome medical debt, with the total amount of medical debt held by Los Angeles County residents estimated to be greater than $2.6 billion. This medical debt disproportionately affects lower-income residents and Latino, Black, and Native or mixed-race communities, families with children and those with chronic health conditions. According to a report by the LA County Department of Public Health, residents with medical debt are more likely to experience food insecurity and housing instability, with nearly half reporting inability to pay for necessities because of their medical bills.
“Medical debt prevents people from seeking medical care and prescriptions and contributes to food and housing insecurity,” said Western Center on Law and Poverty Executive Director Crystal Crawford and Senior Attorney Helen Tran in a letter of support for the motion. “These health and financial harms can be avoided and corrected with the right policies. That is why we support this motion and the County’s willingness to take affirmative steps to reduce medical debt at a population health level.”
“Medical debt remains a public health emergency in Los Angeles County and serves as a consequential deterrent and social determinant when it comes to patients seeking appropriate and timely medical care. The physicians on Los Angeles County stand in solidarity and support with the LA County Board of Supervisors, the Department of Public Health, and many others to address this crisis,” said Dr. Jerry P Abraham, President of the Los Angeles County Medical Association.
Read the full motion here: https://file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/bos/supdocs/184546.pdf
