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Hayley Munguia

County to Explore Giving Away Free Gun Locks 150 150 Hayley Munguia

County to Explore Giving Away Free Gun Locks

Los Angeles, CA—Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn and her colleague Supervisor Hilda Solis are proposing a plan to allow doctors and nurses at County-operated hospitals and medical campuses to give out free gun locks as part of a harm reduction strategy to prevent gun violence.

“Gun locks can save lives – especially in households with children,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn. “Some studies have found that people are more likely to use gun locks if they are given to them by their doctor or in a medical center to take home and I think it is a concept we should explore for our own County hospitals.”

According to the Pew Research Center, 64% of US gun owners fail to keep their guns in a locked place and 56% of US gun owners keep their guns loaded. This increases the risk of injury or death within a house, especially for children and teens. Securely storing firearms with gun safety cable locks or within a gun safe or lock box is one way to prevent firearms from being accessed or used by children.

“If guns are not safely stored or locked, it can lead to devastating and fatal consequences. Gun owners may assume that their families know how to handle a gun, however, if it’s not safely stored or locked, serious injuries or death may result. Hospitals are where many victims end up, and to that end, we can use the opportunity to both educate and provide them with a tangible resource to better protect them and their families from guns—gun locks,” said Supervisor Solis.

Today, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a motion authored by Supervisor Hahn and co-authored by Supervisor Solis to explore providing free gun locks for the public at Los Angeles County hospitals for people to take home and use to properly secure guns. Other hospitals across the country have already implemented this practice following research showing its effectiveness.

“One of the easiest ways to prevent gun violence is to make certain that firearms are securely locked up with ammunition stored separately,” said Margot Bennett, Executive Director, Women Against Gun Violence. “Doing so helps prevent suicide, school shootings, and unintentional shootings. We are grateful to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors as they continue their efforts to prevent gun violence with this innovative approach to make gun locks easily available.”

The Department of Public Health’s Office of Violence Prevention and the Department of Health Services will report back to the board in writing in 45 days with information about the number of County-operated hospitals and medical campuses and the number of locks required for implementation, a proposed process and plan for implementation that includes a timeline to secure the locks, development of educational campaigns, and identification of a distribution strategy, and any resources required to purchase and provide gun safety cable locks, gun safes, and/or lock boxes.

Voting Begins on New Rail Line Name 150 150 Hayley Munguia

Voting Begins on New Rail Line Name

Hahn asks for public’s help to rename the “West Santa Ana Branch”

Walnut Park, CA – Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn is inviting the public help to rename the “West Santa Ana Branch” rail line project. The much-anticipated Metro light rail line will connect ten cities in Southeast Los Angeles County and 1.4 million residents with accessible and reliable transit to downtown Los Angeles, but the name has long confused the public and has held back enthusiasm and support for the project. Supervisor Hahn has led an effort at Metro to rename the project and, starting today, the public will get to vote on the new name.

The planned rain line will run through Artesia, Cerritos, Paramount, Bellflower, Downey, South Gate, Cudahy, Bell, Huntington Park, Vernon to Union Station in downtown Los Angeles. While the West Santa Ana Branch name carries historical significance, it has led to confusion because the line neither connects to the City of Santa Ana, nor is it west of most of Los Angeles County.

“This rail line is going to make a huge difference in the lives of residents from Artesia all the way to Huntington Park, but few people know about it because the name is so terrible,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn. “So, we’re picking a new name that people can get behind and connect with. Thank you to everyone who submitted one of the over 1,200 ideas we received. Now it’s up to the public to vote for their favorites and help us ‘Name That Train’.”

“I’m excited to finally have a replacement name for the West Santa Ana Branch that properly represents and connects with the communities it will serve,” said Whittier Mayor Pro Tem Fernando Dutra, who serves as 2nd Vice Chair on the Metro Board. “I appreciate the enthusiastic response from all the individuals that participated.”

In the first part of the Name That Train contest, residents living up and down the line’s route submitted over 1,200 possible names for consideration and a panel of judges selected 12 finalists:

  • Calafia: the mythical queen after which California—first thought to be the “Island of California”—is named.
  • Esperanza: “Hope” in Spanish. This project represents the aspirations of 1.4 million residents for improved mobility, better opportunities, and an enhanced quality of life.
  • Gateway Cities: This line will serve most of the Gateway Cities, making these communities more accessible to the rest of LA County and helping unify a regional identity.
  • Los Angeles Gateway: The Gateway Cities region will finally have a direct transit connection to the heart of Los Angeles.
  • Los Rios: This line will run along and cross our major rivers, including the San Gabriel River, the Los Angeles River and its Rio Hondo tributary.
  • Pioneer: Pioneer Blvd. runs through the heart of Artesia, the line’s terminus. This project also represents a new frontier for the communities it will serve.
  • Pórtico: A portico is a door, a gateway to something new. This line will offer the Gateway Cities a portal to a brighter future.
  • Ruta Segura: “Safe Route” in Spanish. This project will give many new public transit users the confidence to travel on the Metro system.
  • Southeast: This line will serve not only Southeast Los Angeles but also most of Southeast Los Angeles County. Check the compass at Union Station; this line goes due Southeast.
  • Southeast Gateway: The communities of SELA and the Southeast LA County region—also known as the Gateway Cities—will have a gateway to DTLA.
  • The Heartland Connection: This line will provide a connection to the heart of the Metro system for the millions of residents of the Southeast Los Angeles County communities.
  • Tongva: The Tongva—whose name means “People of the Earth”—are the original inhabitants of the land that today is Southeast Los Angeles County.

The online public vote at RenameWSAB.com launches on November 15, 2023 and will close on December 17, 2023. Anyone can vote for their top three choices, ranked in order of preference. Votes are limited to one per person. The name with the most votes will be selected and announced in January 2024.

Supervisor Hahn Orders Additional Security Measures at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall 150 150 Hayley Munguia

Supervisor Hahn Orders Additional Security Measures at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall

Los Angeles, CA—Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn has directed the Probation Department to put in place additional security measures at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall in Downey after a youth being incarcerated at the hall was able to briefly escape the facility.

On the evening of November 4, 2023, a youth being incarcerated at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall managed to escape briefly from the facility by assaulting a staff member, obtaining keys, and climbing over a fence. The youth was apprehended by police and Probation Department officials within ten minutes of the escape and the Probation Department has launched an internal investigation into this incident.

“It is unacceptable that two young people have managed to escape from Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall in the last four months,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn who represents the cities of Downey and South Gate. “Luckily, they were both apprehended almost immediately after their escape, but this cannot happen again.”

After being closed for almost four years, Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall was reopened in July 2023 after the California Board of State and Community Corrections ordered the County’s other two juvenile halls to be closed for failing to meet suitability standards. November’s brief escape is the second time since the facility reopened that a youth has managed to flee from Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall. The first time occurred within two weeks of the facility reopening, and the youth was apprehended shortly after fleeing the facility.

During today’s Board meeting, Supervisor Hahn submitted an urgency motion regarding the escape over the weekend. The motion, which was unanimously approved, directs the Los Angeles County Chief Probation Officer to orally present a corrective action plan during the public Board meeting on November 21, 2023, including descriptions of additional security measures and policies being implemented by the Probation Department to prevent any future escape from the facility.

Hahn’s motion also directs the Chief Probation Officer to meet with officials from the City of Downey and the City of South Gate to discuss additional safety measures being implemented at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall to ensure the safety of the surrounding communities.

Lastly, Hahn’s motion directs the Office of the Inspector General to investigate the November 4th escape and provide a written report to the Board of Supervisors in 120 days. It also specifies that the report back should include an overview and analysis of the events that led to the escape and recapture of a juvenile on November 4, 2023, and recommendations for additional security measures and policies to prevent future incidents.

Supervisors Build on Effort to Fight Hunger with New Office of Food Equity 150 150 Hayley Munguia

Supervisors Build on Effort to Fight Hunger with New Office of Food Equity

Los Angeles, CA – Today, the LA County Board of Supervisors approved a motion authored by Supervisor Janice Hahn and co-authored by Supervisor Lindsey Horvath building on the County’s efforts to fight growing food insecurity in our region by establishing a new LA County Office of Food Equity.

“During the pandemic, the County, our philanthropic partners and the community- based organizations on the frontlines worked together to get food and healthy meals to residents and families who needed it. The worst of the pandemic is behind us, but hunger and food insecurity aren’t,” said Board of Supervisors Chair Janice Hahn. “By creating the first-ever LA County Office of Food Equity, we can build on the work we already started with our partners, modernize our food system, and work toward a future where everyone in LA County can get the healthy food they need.”

Current data shows that more than 1 million Los Angeles County households face food insecurity each year, with Black and Latino residents more than twice as likely to experience food insecurity. Food insecurity is also correlated by location with an insufficient number of grocery stores and food assistance programs located in the Antelope Valley, East Los Angeles, Southeast Los Angeles County, and South Los Angeles neighborhoods.

“Through the commitment of incredible philanthropic partners, LA County was able to fill a life-saving need for thousands of households through food distribution events during the height of the pandemic,” said Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath. “We know the need has only grown, particularly for communities of color who lack access to fresh food. The Office of Food Equity will build on this successful public-private partnership model to continue to provide nutritious food to residents who are counting on us.”

This new Office of Food Equity will expand on the efforts of the Food Equity Roundtable created under the leadership of Supervisor Janice Hahn and Supervisor Sheila Kuehl in 2021. The Food Equity Roundtable brought together the major food players –CBOs from the public, private, nonprofit and philanthropic partners in our County with funding provided by the Annenberg Foundation, the California Community Foundation, and the Weingart Foundation and created a comprehensive strategic plan designed to help end food insecurity through modernizing the regional food system, building a smarter, more connected food system, and bolstering nutrition education, among other strategies.

The Office of Food Equity will lead the County’s share of the work to implement the strategic plan, including everything from updating zoning policies to encourage urban farming, to better supporting local food entrepreneurs, to preventing food waste, to improving access to nutrition assistance programs. Importantly, the Office of Food Equity will work hand in hand with philanthropy and local nonprofits working outside county government on the larger effort to end hunger.

“The crisis of food insecurity in LA County is worsening, which is why we must now fulfill our commitment to address this critical issue for all Angelenos,” said Cinny Kennard, Executive Director of the Annenberg Foundation and Co-Chair of the LA County Food Equity Roundtable. “I’m proud to be working cross-collaboratively with the California Community Foundation, the Weingart Foundation, the hardworking CBO’s in trenches of the food issue every day and our committed County Board of Supervisors to implement a roadmap to solve this problem. This motion approved by the Board of Supervisors will ensure the new office of Food Equity is staffed and supported so that we can together begin to work to get all people the much needed quality, affordable, and healthy food.”

With the unanimous passage of today’s motion, the County’s Chief Executive Office will report back to the board in 90 days regarding the new office’s structure, a staffing plan, as well as a public-private cost sharing budget.

Supervisors Move to Strengthen Regulation of Gun Dealers 150 150 Hayley Munguia

Supervisors Move to Strengthen Regulation of Gun Dealers

Los Angeles, CA—Today, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors moved forward a new County ordinance to strengthen regulations of gun and ammunition dealers in unincorporated Los Angeles County. The new policy is part of a strategy championed by Supervisor Janice Hahn to use every tool at the County’s disposal to prevent gun violence.

“We need to prevent guns from falling into the wrong hands and part of that effort is ensuring gun and ammunition dealers are acting responsibly,” said Supervisor Hahn who proposed this ordinance and three others to better prevent gun violence. “These are commonsense regulations that will make sure gun dealers have basic security measures in place, maintain inventory, and keep records of who they sell guns and ammunition to.”

Gun and Ammunition Dealer Ordinance:

The ordinance approved by the board today will apply to gun and ammunition dealers in the unincorporated area of Los Angeles County of which there are currently 18 gun dealers and two ammunition-only dealers.  The ordinance, which will be 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.

This ordinance will now move to a second hearing at the upcoming November 7th board meeting.  Should the board approve the ordinance for a second time, it will go into effect 30 days later.

Additional Gun Ordinances in Place and In Development

This gun dealer regulation ordinance is the third of four ordinances proposed by Supervisor Hahn.  The first two ordinances, which banned the sale of .50 caliber firearms and prohibited carrying firearms on Los Angeles County property, were implemented earlier this year.  The fourth ordinance, which is being developed by the Department of Regional Planning, will create a 1,000-foot buffer zone between gun stores and child safety zones like schools, daycares, parks, and playgrounds.

Expanding Access to Gun Violence Restraining Orders

As part of a comprehensive approach to preventing gun violence, the County has also 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.

Hahn Appoints South Gate Leader Denise Diaz to LA County Commission for Women 150 150 Hayley Munguia

Hahn Appoints South Gate Leader Denise Diaz to LA County Commission for Women

Los Angeles, CA – This week, Chair of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Janice Hahn appointed South Gate native and former councilmember Denise Diaz to the Los Angeles County Commission for Women. The Commission advises the Board of Supervisors on important issues facing women. Diaz served on the South Gate City Council from 2017 to 2022.

“Denise has proven to be not only an effective leader in South Gate but a great partner to LA County in our shared mission of meeting the needs of our residents,” said Hahn. “South Gate and its neighbors in Southeast LA have too often been overlooked, so I wanted to make sure a Southeast LA is represented at this table as we make decisions to build a better LA County for women and girls. She is going to be that voice.”

Diaz holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication from Cal State Long Beach and previously worked in Washington, D.C. at the Inter-American Development Bank before returning to Los Angeles County to work as a Community Outreach Specialist with the California State Department of Public Health. She was appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom to the San Gabriel and Lower LA Rivers and Mountains Conservancy Governing Board. She currently serves as Director of Public Affairs for TCS Professional Psychology.

“I’m deeply humbled and excited to serve on the LA County Commission for Women, advocating for equity, women’s rights, and the well-being of our children. My heartfelt gratitude to Supervisor Janice Hahn for this opportunity to make a positive impact in our community.”

Hahn Appoints Filipino-American Media Pioneer Jannelle So to LA County Commission for Women 150 150 Hayley Munguia

Hahn Appoints Filipino-American Media Pioneer Jannelle So to LA County Commission for Women

Los Angeles, CA – Yesterday, Chair of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Janice Hahn appointed Filipino American executive producer and television host Jannelle So to the Los Angeles County Commission for Women. So is a resident of Palos Verdes Estates and served as chair of the 2023 Philippine American Friendship Day in Cerritos, which Hahn sponsors.

“LA County is home to the biggest concentration of Filipinos after Manila, and Jannelle is a loved and respected voice in this community. As an Asian American woman, an immigrant, and a communicator, Jannelle is going to bring a unique but critical perspective to our Commission for Women,” said Hahn. “I am looking forward to her input.”

In 2014, So founded her own production company, Jannelle So Productions, and in 2017 premiered a weekly lifestyle show SO Jannelle, which airs on The Filipino Channel worldwide as well as on ABS-CBN News Channel and on KNET 25.1 in Southern California. So has also been a published writer, with her work appearing in The Philippine Star, a national newspaper in the Philippines, and in Balita, a leading Filipino American newspaper. In 2021 So received the Migration Advocacy Award from the Commission on Filipinos Overseas.

“I am grateful for this opportunity to serve LA County as Commissioner. Thank you, Supervisor Janice Hahn, for the nomination and vote of confidence. I am deeply honored and humbled. I came here to America exactly 20 years ago this year, as a twenty-something Asian immigrant – uprooted from the Philippines where I was born and raised, navigating homesickness, culture shock and adjusting to a new environment. And while this place that has been my adopted home since, has given me many opportunities to thrive, I have also encountered setbacks as an immigrant, as Asian and as a woman. I approach the Commission for Women with these perspectives, hoping to contribute in amplifying women’s issues and advancing women’s causes,” said So.

In August, So sat down with Hahn for a one-on-one interview that aired on SOJannelleTV.

Interview available here: LA County Supervisor Janice Hahn’s Journey of Compassion and Community – SOJannelleTV

Hahn Moves Forward with Plan to Create LGBTQ+ Community Resource Center in Whittier 150 150 Hayley Munguia

Hahn Moves Forward with Plan to Create LGBTQ+ Community Resource Center in Whittier
Made possible with $4.2 Million in State Funding secured by Assemblymember Calderon

Los Angeles, CA –The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has unanimously approved a motion by Supervisor Janice Hahn to take the next steps in a plan to create a LGBTQ+ Community Resource Center in an empty County building in the City of Whittier.

“With this vote, we are one step closer to opening this important resource center, and I am grateful for the support we heard from community members and leaders at our meeting,” said Chair Hahn, who represents Whittier and has championed this project. “At a time when hateful rhetoric about the LGBTQ+ community is louder than ever, a center like the one will serve as a lifeline for the community and provide better access to resources and support for anyone in need.  I’m especially thankful for Assemblymember Calderon’s hard work to secure the state funding we needed to make this new center a reality.”

With unanimous support for Hahn’s motion, the board formally accepted a $4.2 million state grant secured by Assemblymember Lisa Calderon to fund the project and approved the partnership with the Los Angeles Centers for Alcohol and Drug Abuse to operate the new center.

“It is important to bring resources to my district that help our communities thrive. That is why I am pleased to partner with Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn to establish a new LGBTQ+ Center in Whittier,” said Assemblymember Lisa Calderon,  representative for the state’s 56th Assembly District. “I was thrilled to advocate for this project in the legislature, which will support the livelihoods of my constituents and individuals in the region through the creation of a safe and supportive space for all!”

The center will be established in an existing LA County building at 7639 Painter Avenue in the city of Whittier.  The property, which already belongs to the County and has sat empty since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, consists of a single-story building of approximately 2,694 square feet and a surface parking lot.

Supervisor Hahn and Assemblymember Calderon hopes to open the center in early 2024 with plans to provide the following services:

• Information and Referral Services: Advocacy and referrals to trusted resources tailored specifically for LGBTQIA+ individuals seeking various types of support.

• Support Groups: Offer peer groups for distinct segments of the LGBTQIA+ community, including transgender and non-binary individuals, LGBTQIA+ youth, families with LGBTQIA+ children, and LGBTQIA+ individuals of color.

• Substance Use Disorder Treatment: Provide evidence-based practices for individuals counseling, individual therapy, group education and therapy, family therapy, and care coordination, along with service navigation and advocacy.

• Mental Health Treatment: Access to licensed mental health professionals experienced in addressing LGBTQIA+ specific issues, such as coming out, family rejection, and gender identity, providing both crisis management and ongoing treatment options.

• Legal Assistance: Guidance and service navigation for legal issues including discrimination, immigration, name and gender marker changes, family law.

• Youth Programs: Offer age-appropriate support and programs for LGBTQIA+ youth, including mentorship, peer support, and empowering socials events.

• Educational Workshops: Offer educational workshops on a variety of LGBTQIA+ topics, such as allyship, mental health, sexual health.

• Health and Wellness Programs: Promote physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing through activities like yoga, meditation, and exercise classes.

• Social Events and Networking: Host center events that foster community building, such as movie nights, game nights, mixers.

• Cultural Programs: Highlight LGBTQIA+ art, literature, cinema, and history with exhibits, performances, and discussions.

• Community Outreach: Partnership initiatives with local schools, businesses, and faith communities to raise awareness and promote inclusion for LGBTQIA+ individuals.

• Volunteer Opportunities: Create avenues for community members to support and get involved in the Center’s programs and services.

• Advocacy: Collaborate with other organizations to advocate for LGBTQIA+ rights and policy changes at local, state, and national levels.

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