Emily Lintner

Los Angeles, CA — Today, Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn honored Dr. Monica Sanchez, Pico Rivera City Councilwoman, at the Los Angeles County Commission for Women’s 38th Annual “Women of the Year” Awards and Scholarship Celebration.

“Dr. Monica Sanchez is a role model,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn. “She became a mother young, but that didn’t stop her from being the first in her family to go to college and earn her doctorate. When she saw there weren’t any women serving on her City Council, she threw her own name in the ring, campaigned door-to-door, and on Election Night earned twice the number of votes as her closest competitor. Now, she is an example for young girls across Southeast Los Angeles to look up to.”

Supervisor Hahn presented Dr. Sanchez with the Fourth District’s “Woman of the Year” award. Dr. Sanchez was honored alongside Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass who received the commission’s President’s Award.

Dr. Monica Sánchez was elected to the Pico Rivera City Council in a Special Election held in November 2019, becoming the only woman currently serving on the council. Before being elected to the City Council, Dr. Sánchez was a Planning Commissioner and served four years on the Parks and Recreation Commission for the City of Pico Rivera.

Dr. Sánchez is currently a Board Member for the Southeast Area Social Services Funding Authority. This public agency provides social services to seniors, such as meals and job services to adults and youth at no cost. She served as Chair on the Rio Hondo College District Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee, having served two terms. Dr. Sánchez has worked on the Commission for Alcohol and Drugs seven years, where she has received commendation by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors for her exemplary service. She also serves as a Board Member for the UCLA Southeast Bruins Alumni Association.

Dr. Sánchez earned a Doctorate and Master’s degree in Education from UCLA and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from U.C. Berkeley and is an alumna of Rio Hondo College. Dr. Sánchez works as an educator for the Los Angeles County Office of Education and advocates for women, children, and public health. She lives in Pico Rivera with her two sons, her pet cat, and chihuahua.

Los Angeles, CA – Today, the LA County Board of Supervisors took steps to improve County residents’ ability to access Gun Violence Restraining Orders, following a unanimous vote on a motion authored by Board Chair Janice Hahn and co-authored by Supervisor Hilda Solis.

“While creating new methods to regulate guns and prevent gun violence are important, we also need to be sure we’re not neglecting the tools we already have,” said Chair Hahn. “Gun Violence Restraining Orders can save lives, but most people in LA County don’t know they exist. Today’s motion will help us get the word out about this important resource and make the process of obtaining a gun violence restraining order as easy as possible.”

In 2016, California passed a red flag law that allows people to petition a court for a Gun Violence Restraining Order (GVRO), that, when granted, mandates the removal of all firearms and ammunition from individuals who are determined to be at risk of causing imminent harm to themselves or others. However, this tool is severely underutilized in Los Angeles County. Out of the 1,384 GVROs issued in California in 2021, only 54 came out of Los Angeles County.

“The County of Los Angeles must put more effort into helping to educate victims and survivors of domestic violence about Gun Violence Restraining Orders. Information is power, and we must empower those at risk of harm to access this critical resource,” said Supervisor Solis.

Supervisors were joined by anti-gun violence activists, survivors of gun violence, and family members of victims of gun violence who spoke in support of the motion.

The motion directs the LA County Department of Public Health’s Office of Violence Prevention to report back in 90 days with the following:

1. A plan to implement a public awareness campaign on GVRO’s, including what they are and how to petition for one.
2. Ways to create a process to collect data on GVROs submitted in LA County, including the number of GVROs filed annually, the number of petitions that result in an order after a court hearing, and the number of firearms removed as a result of GVROs.
3. Options and recommendations for assigning responsibility within LA County for streamlining the GVRO process, collecting data, providing training to law enforcement and the public, and assisting with both public-initiated and law enforcement-initiated GVRO petitions.

Los Angeles, CA — Today, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to fly the Progress Pride flag at County offices during the month of June in honor of LGBTQ+ Pride Month. The flag will fly above the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration as well as at County facilities where the U.S. and California flags currently fly.

“We are seeing anti-LGBTQ+ and anti-trans bills being passed at an alarming rate across the country. Here in Los Angeles County we’re making our position clear: in the largest county in the nation, LGBTQ+ residents have the unwavering support of their government,” said the motion’s author Janice Hahn, Chair of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. “The first Pride flag was actually commissioned in the 1970s by another County Supervisor, Supervisor Harvey Milk. Today we honor that legacy in LA County.”

The motion, coauthored by Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath, also instructs the Chief Executive Office to work with all County Departments to explore ways the Progress Pride Flag can be flown at all County facilities in the future.

“Raising the Progress Pride Flag at Los Angeles County facilities signals the County’s commitment to inclusion, fostering safe spaces, and embracing love in all our communities,” said Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath. “We must strive to ensure LA County is a place our LGBTQ+ community is proud to call home all year long. I look forward to celebrating Pride Month this June and seeing the Progress Pride Flag waving across the County.”

The Pride Progress Flag was designed in 2018 by Daniel Quasar. It modifies the original rainbow flag with the addition of a chevron on the left side of the flag in the colors black, brown, light blue, pink, and white. Black and brown represent LGBTQ+ people of color, while the light blue, pink, and white colors represent the trans community.

Los Angeles, CA — Today, the LA County Board of Supervisors approved a comprehensive policy package by Board Chair Janice Hahn and co-authored by Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell to improve diversity in the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

“This motion is a roadmap for how we are going to hire more women and people of color in the LA County Fire Department,” said Chair Hahn. “That starts with breaking down barriers to becoming a firefighter, a paramedic, or a lifeguard, but also means addressing the reasons women and people of color leave the profession.”

“It is my hope that this motion reaffirms LA County Fire’s commitment to creating a pipeline of leadership that is diverse and inclusive,” said Supervisor Mitchell. “No one should have to fight fires and fight for belonging. The work of equity and diversity is not the sole responsibility of the Stentorians, the Women’s Fire League, or Los Bomberos, instead we all must commit to equity, and this is an important step towards that.”

The wide-ranging motion was written in conjunction with the fire fighters’ union Local 1014, the Women’s Fire League, and the Stentorians, the group which represents African American Los Angeles County fire fighters.

Equitable Hiring:
To ensure more women and people of color have equitable access to jobs within the fire department, the motion directs the Los Angeles County Fire Department to work with the fire fighters’ union Local 1014 to look at adopting a different written exam for firefighters and paramedics, called the Firefighter Candidate Testing Center, which is based in equity research and comes with embedded recruitment and mentorship programs for recruits. The motion also directs the Department to provide a plan to ensure preparatory academies and programs conducted through the Women’s Fire League and the Stentorians remain financially accessible.

Creating an Inclusive Workplace:
To ensure a more inclusive workplace, the motion directs the Los Angeles County Fire Department to create a Labor Management Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee which will include members from underrepresented groups – including women, people of color, and LGBTQ individuals. This committee will provide input on hiring and promotional processes within the department.
The motion also directs the department to create training on cultural and implicit bias and explore creating a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer within the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Benchmarks, Data, and Accountability:
To better understand the gaps in diversity within the Fire Department, the motion also asks for comprehensive data about gender and ethnicity among employees. Moving forward, the fire department will develop an annual report that includes race and gender demographic information at each stage of the hiring, promotion, and termination processes for County Fire Fighters and Lifeguards.
The department will also create an exit interview process for all applicants who rescind their applications as well as employees who choose to leave the department. The exit interview will include demographic data on the applicants and employees as well as their stated reason for withdrawal or their decision to leave the department.

La Mirada, CA — On Thursday, March 2, 2023, La Mirada Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9148 presented an award to Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn in recognition of her career-long commitment to supporting veterans.

“After military service, we never stop fighting, and neither has our Supervisor,” said VFW Post 9148 Sr. Vice Commander Dr. Rob Cancio before presenting Hahn the VFW Award of Commendation. “Supervisor Hahn has given her whole life to her community and to us. Janice, you are our fighter. We are your veterans, and we will continue to support you today tomorrow and always. In the words of our Supervisor, thank you for your service, your bravery, and your sacrifice for your veterans.”

Cancio touted Supervisor Hahn’s work bringing resources to local veterans, her efforts as a Member of Congress to assist homeless veterans fleeing domestic violence, her successful 2019 fight to preserve the name of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, and her ongoing efforts to assist veterans across LA County experiencing homelessness.

“This is one of the more special awards I have ever received,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn to La Mirada VFW members. “I am not worthy, standing in this room with those who have actually worn the uniform in service of this country, but I appreciate it greatly. I will continue to do everything I can to support our veterans, honor their sacrifices, and get overdue help to those who are experiencing homelessness.”

Last year, Supervisor Hahn provided VFW Post 9148 with a $60,000 grant from her office to help the organization pay for building repairs for their headquarters which needed roof work, upgrades to the kitchen, and a new refrigerator.

Post 9148 is a large organization with over 350 members and 260 auxiliary members. They currently have a monthly food bank, offer services to unhoused veterans, and host PTSD support groups at their facility.

“This VFW does so much to support local veterans and their families,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn at the time. “That is what they should be focused on, and I am more than happy to help them pay for the repairs they need to their building.”

New Interim Housing for Veterans experiencing Homelessness
In January, Supervisor Hahn partnered with Volunteers of America to convert a 60-room hotel in San Pedro into interim housing for veterans who have experienced homelessness.  The veterans living in the building get free meals, mental healthcare, job training, and the support they need to move onto permanent housing.

Preserving the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Sr. Vice Commander Dr. Rob Cancio also emphasized Supervisor Hahn’s 2019 fight to prevent the renaming of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum to the United Airlines Memorial Coliseum.  The stadium was built as a war memorial after World War I and, as a member of the Coliseum Commission, Hahn argued that removing “Los Angeles” and replacing it with a corporate sponsor would insult the memories of the servicemembers the stadium was built to honor.  With the help and support of veterans groups, Hahn successfully prevented the name change.