Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn has issued the following statement regarding the California Board of State and Community Corrections directive to vacate Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall:
“I care about the young people in Los Padrinos. Relocating them from Los Padrinos is not going to be better for them. We have done it in the past and it has only caused more chaos and harm. Now that we have no other juvenile facility licensed to house pre-disposition youth, closing Los Padrinos would mean many of them would likely be sent to county jail which is the worst case scenario.
What we are facing are staffing challenges, not facility challenges.
Contrary to what the union is claiming, we have adequate numbers of staff on payroll and we have been actively recruiting and hiring which we will continue to do. But the reality is that many probation officers are not showing up to work and that puts an unfair burden on those who do and undermines the rehabilitation of the youth.
While I understand that the Probation Department is appealing the unsuitability findings of the Board of State and Community Corrections, in the meantime I am calling on all of our probation officers to show up to work in their assigned shifts. This is an emergency. You are peace officers and we need you now more than ever.
We are facing uncharted territory. I know that some people will say it’s too late, but I hold out hope that we can resolve this crisis without making this situation worse for the young people in our care.”
Hahn Honors Longtime Executive Director of Boys and Girls Clubs of the Los Angeles Harborhttps://hahn.lacounty.gov/wp-content/themes/blade/images/empty/thumbnail.jpg150150Hayley MunguiaHayley Munguiahttps://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/630b38108b5fe959ca74b3e2916d05a0?s=96&d=mm&r=g
Mike Lansing has retired after 30 years at the helm, expanding the organization from one clubhouse to 25 sites
Los Angeles, CA – Today, Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn honored Mike Lansing, the longtime Executive Director of the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Los Angeles Harbor who has retired after 30 years at the helm. Under his leadership, the organization grew from a single club in San Pedro to 25 club houses and school sites across San Pedro, Wilmington, and Harbor City, serving 2,800 kids every day.
“There are many of us in San Pedro who can’t believe that this day has come,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn. “We have always seen Mike as the leader, the face, and the champion of our Boys and Girls Clubs. He has not only transformed the lives of generations of kids in our community, but Mike has also inspired others to follow in his footsteps. I am grateful for his decades of hard work, and I wish him well in his much-deserved retirement.”
Mike Lansing is a second-generation San Pedro resident who grew up playing sports at what was then known as the San Pedro Boys Club. When Mike stepped into the role of Executive Director in 1995, he brought a clear vision: serve teens, expand the reach of the Club, and prioritize comprehensive programming.
“One of the reasons we have been able to do more is the tremendous support that Supervisor Hahn has provided year in and year out,” said Lansing during today’s ceremony. “We all, in the communities, need grassroots, need to provide those services. I ask all the supervisors to continue their great support of all of our citizens because they deserve it.”
In addition to overseeing the organization’s expansion over the past three decades, Mike spearheaded, the College Bound program, a program that provides personalized guidance that helps students navigate the complex path to higher education. Each of the 550 teens enrolled annually receive support in building a belief that college is attainable, crafting a roadmap to achieve their dreams, and developing the skills to succeed. Of the students enrolled, 99% graduate high school and 97% enroll in college.
Mike also recognized that college is not right for every student and launched the Career Bound program, providing workforce skills and paid internships for those who want a promising career in construction, welding, plumbing, and other well paid, union strong jobs. Career Bound partners with Harbor Freight Tools for Schools to give students hands on training and certification and then works with local unions like, the ILWU and IBEW, to place students into jobs that will support themselves and their families.
Mike Lansing handed the reigns to his successor Peter Settelmayer in August and plans to stay on with the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Los Angeles Harbor through the end of the year.
County Will Help Connect Phillips 66 Workers with New Jobs, Including at the Countyhttps://hahn.lacounty.gov/wp-content/themes/blade/images/empty/thumbnail.jpg150150Hayley MunguiaHayley Munguiahttps://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/630b38108b5fe959ca74b3e2916d05a0?s=96&d=mm&r=g
Los Angeles, CA – Today, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a motion authored by Supervisor Janice Hahn and co-authored by Supervisor Holly Mitchell to mobilize a rapid response to support workers impacted by the upcoming closure of the Phillips 66 refinery complex in Wilmington and Carson and connect them with new job opportunities. The closure is expected to happen in the fourth quarter of 2025 and impact 900 workers.
“Many of these workers are highly skilled and have years of experience in jobs that demanded extensive training,” said Supervisor Hahn, who represents Wilmington. “We are going to mobilize teams from across our county departments to make sure these workers have the support they need as the refinery winds down operations and work with our labor partners to connect them with any additional training they need to get great new jobs. Employers would be lucky to hire these workers, and I am hopeful that many of them will end up with new jobs with the County.”
The motion passed today directs the Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) to report back in 60 days in writing with an action plan to assist workers impacted by the planned refinery closure with enhanced job training and job placement resources. This action plan will include opportunities for the County to hire workers to vacant positions in the Internal Services Department, Public Works, the LA County Fire Department, and other hard-to-fill positions.
“The closure of the Phillips 66 refinery creates a loss of stability for hundreds of skilled workers and their families in my district. I am proud to co-author this motion with Supervisor Hahn which helps ensure our communities do not have to choose between a clean environment and good jobs” said Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell. “I look forward to the action plan identifying ways affected workers are offered timely, family sustaining career opportunities, including hard-to-hire skilled positions that need to be filled within the county.”
Hahn’s proposal was inspired by her experience responding to the closure of Farmer John in the City of Vernon in 2023. Hahn spearheaded the County’s effort to support the more than 2,000 impacted workers with services, free job training, and job connections through a series of “Good Jobs Fairs” in partnership with UFCW Local 770, the Hospitality Training Academy, and other labor partners. Upcoming “Good Job Fairs” are already in the works for Phillips 66 workers.
“As we near the Phillips 66 refinery closure in 2025, the Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity is ready to assist the impacted workers, support activation of our State and local workforce system, and partner with our labor and training colleagues to ensure immediate and expedited benefits and access to programs and hiring through Good Jobs Fairs that ensure a smooth and just transition,” said Kelly LoBianco, Director of the DEO. “This includes great jobs with the County of Los Angeles. We know how difficult these moments can be, and the region is coming together in solidarity.”
Hahn Sworn In to Final Term on LA County Board of Supervisorshttps://hahn.lacounty.gov/wp-content/themes/blade/images/empty/thumbnail.jpg150150Hayley MunguiaHayley Munguiahttps://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/630b38108b5fe959ca74b3e2916d05a0?s=96&d=mm&r=g
Mayor Karen Bass and Former Mayor James Hahn Deliver Remarks to Gathered Supporters, Elected Officials, County Leaders
Los Angeles, CA – This morning, Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn was sworn in for her third and final term on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors during a ceremony in the Board Hearing Room of the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration. The oath of office was administered by her brother, former Los Angeles Mayor Honorable James K. Hahn, with remarks provided by current Mayor Karen Bass.
“Time and time again, the voters of Los Angeles County have voted with hope and optimism in our ability to build a healthier, safer, more just LA County. They have looked around, recognized that our challenges are great, but said we believe we can fix this. I am so honored and grateful to the voters of the Fourth District who put their trust in me and have elected me one more time,” said Hahn. “We’ve worked to give a voice to the voiceless, champion the underdog, and tried to do the right thing — even if it wasn’t always the popular thing. I look forward to continuing that work over these next four years.”
Hahn’s brother, former LA Mayor the Honorable James K. Hahn administered the oath of office.
Today’s ceremony included a tribute to her late father Kenneth Hahn, who served on the Board of Supervisors for four decades. Hahn’s uncle Gordon Hahn served in the California State Assembly and her brother James served as Los Angeles mayor from 2001 to 2005. January will mark 78 of unbroken Hahn service in elected office.
“I’ve known Supervisor Hahn for years, seeing her fight up close in DC, on the Metro Board, and in the County chambers, named after her father, whose legacy she continues to expand with pride. Supervisor Hahn knows that at the end of the day, results are what we need to deliver for the people of the County and the region, and that is exactly what she has done as Supervisor and throughout her entire life. I know that her leadership will continue to shine throughout Los Angeles in her final term, showing her constituents and our region what it means to be a truly dedicated public servant, and we are fortunate to have someone of her caliber fighting for our communities,” said Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. Bass and Hahn served in the United States House of Representatives concurrently, and had adjoining offices.
L to R: Hon. James K. Hahn; Supervisor Janice Hahn; Mayor Karen Bass
During her remarks, Hahn thanked her colleagues, County department heads, mayors of cities in her district and others for their support. Many of those she thanked were in attendance at the ceremony, which began with a procession of flags from each of the 32 cities that Hahn represents, carried by mayors and city councilmembers.
Hahn also laid out her priorities for her final term, including environmental health, Metro’s future Southeast Gateway Line, mental health, among others. Hahn placed particular emphasis on tackling the County’s homelessness crisis. She thanked voters for her reelection and recognized the mandate they have given her and other city and county leaders in passing Measure A, which is expected to generate $1.1 billion per year for housing and homelessness through a ½ cent sales tax.
BACKGROUND: Hahn followed in the footsteps of her father, Kenneth Hahn, who served as a Los Angeles City Councilmember for a decade and as a County Supervisor for forty years. Janice Hahn was elected to the Los Angeles City Charter Reform Commission in 1997 before being elected to the Los Angeles City Council in 2000, the United States Congress in 2011, and the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors in 2016.
During her time on the Board, Supervisor Janice Hahn has worked tirelessly to invest in the communities she represents and fulfill LA County’s mission of being a safety net for our most vulnerable residents, whether they are sick, incarcerated, living with mental illness, or living in poverty.
Her priority is addressing the homelessness crisis with the urgency it demands and has led the conversion of motels and hotels into temporary housing and affordable apartments for formerly homeless residents. She champions reforming our mental healthcare system and making mental healthcare crisis response professionals available immediately to anyone who needs it.
Among the programs she created is LA Found, an innovative program that offers trackable bracelets to families with loved ones who are prone to wondering due to Alzheimer’s, dementia, or autism, and brings them home safe.
As one of the many Americans who has had a loved one who experienced a devastating stroke, she partnered with UCLA Health to bring the West Coast’s first Mobile Stroke Unit to Los Angeles County. The Mobile Stroke Unit has been operating since 2017 and is saving lives by allowing medical professionals to diagnose and treat strokes in the field, long before a patient arrives at a hospital.
In 2021, Supervisor Hahn began what she has described as the most meaningful endeavor in her career: leading the successful effort to return the property known as Bruce’s Beach to the living descendants of Willa and Charles Bruce nearly a century after it was taken illegally from the couple because they were African American. By returning this property in 2022, Los Angeles County became the first government body in the nation to return land stolen from a Black family during the Jim Crow era.
Hahn Establishes $20,000 Reward in Lynwood Murder of Irene Gonzalez in Septemberhttps://hahn.lacounty.gov/wp-content/themes/blade/images/empty/thumbnail.jpg150150Hayley MunguiaHayley Munguiahttps://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/630b38108b5fe959ca74b3e2916d05a0?s=96&d=mm&r=g
Mother of two succumbed to gunshot wound on residential street
Los Angeles, CA – Today, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a motion by Supervisor Janice Hahn to establish the County’s $20,000 reward for information leading to the apprehension and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the September 15, 2024 murder of Los Angeles resident Irene Gonzalez in the City of Lynwood. Gonzalez was shot while exiting a dark four-door sedan after spending a few minutes in the passenger seat. After being shot, Gonzalez ran southbound from the vehicle before collapsing in front of 12522 Oak Street, where she succumbed to the gunshot wound. She was declared deceased by responding LA County Fire Department personnel at 5:55 am.
Gonzalez left behind an adult autistic son and one juvenile son.
“This was a vicious, close-range shooting, and now there are two sons without the mother they so needed. Solving this crime won’t bring their mom back, but Irene and her loved ones deserve justice, and this violent criminal with no regard for human life belongs behind bars,” said Hahn. “We need the public’s help here. If you saw or may have seen something, please call us. Irene’s sons need you.”
The vehicle from which Gonzalez emerged and was shot was described as an older model four-door black sedan with tinted windows and a sunroof, and was parked in front of 12514 Oak Street at the time of the shooting. Anyone with information is urged to contact Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau Detective Lt. Mike Gomez at (323) 890-5500 or the Crime Stoppers Hotline at (800) 222-TIPS (8477).
Hahn issues Statement on Proposal to Establish County Homelessness Departmenthttps://hahn.lacounty.gov/wp-content/themes/blade/images/empty/thumbnail.jpg150150Hayley MunguiaHayley Munguiahttps://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/630b38108b5fe959ca74b3e2916d05a0?s=96&d=mm&r=g
Los Angeles, CA — Today, Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn issued the following statement on a proposal by Supervisor Lindsey Horvath and Supervisor Kathryn Barger to shift some responsibilities away from LAHSA and establish a County Department dedicated to homeless service delivery:
“Voters have not given up on solving our homelessness crisis. By supporting Measure A, they proved they not only believe solutions exist, but they are also willing to spend their own money investing in those solutions. We owe these voters and every person suffering on the streets results.
I am open to the idea of creating a new county department if it will actually mean bringing people inside faster and more effectively addressing this humanitarian crisis. What I am not interested in is replacing one bureaucracy with another or rolling back the progress we have made linking arms with the City of Los Angeles.
I will continue to dig into the practical realities of what this proposal would mean for homeless service providers and the tens of thousands of people who depend on them and I look forward to seeing the report back we requested today.”
Hahn’s latest event in Torrance on Saturday brought in 256 unwanted firearms
Torrance, CA – Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn has now collected 2,052 firearms at gun buyback events she has held in partnership with law enforcement across her district since May 2022. The effort aims to give people a safe opportunity to remove guns from their homes and, in turn, make their families and neighborhoods safer.
“Today in closets and bedrooms across LA County there are 2,000 fewer guns that can be found by a child, accidentally discharged, or stolen and used to kill in a crime. That makes all of the work we’ve done to bring these buybacks to our residents worth it,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn. “I’m thankful to our partners in law enforcement who have made these event possible and the hundreds of people who took us up on our offer and chose to make their homes and communities safer.”
Rifles and shotguns collected Saturday in Torrance
Hahn held her twelfth gun buyback event in Torrance on Saturday in partnership with the Torrance Police Department. The event brought in 256 guns, including:
• 89 pistols
• 88 rifles
• 69 shotguns
• 2 ghost guns
• 8 assault weapons
At each event, residents can bring in any firearms they have and turn them in exchange for gift cards purchased by Supervisor Hahn’s office. The guns are surrendered completely anonymously with no questions asked, and are later destroyed.
Hahn held her previous events in Lynwood, North Long Beach, Norwalk, Wilmington, Long Beach, Hawaiian Gardens, Artesia, Bellflower, and Pico Rivera.
Footage of Hahn’s Long Beach buyback event can be found here. Credit: LA36
Nearly 1,800 unwanted guns have been collected at Hahn’s 11 previous buyback events
Torrance, CA—This Saturday, November 16, 2024, Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn will hold a gun buyback event at 23750 Madison Street in Torrance in collaboration with the Torrance Police Department and the City of Torrance. The event will welcome residents from 9am to 1pm and offers an opportunity to anonymously exchange any gun for gift cards.
“Time and time again these buybacks have shown that many people have these dangerous weapons they no longer want in their homes but have never had an easy, convenient way to get rid of them,” said Hahn. “This is that opportunity. They want to play a role in making their homes and communities safer.”
Saturday’s buyback will be Hahn’s twelfth. Between the previous eleven held in Lynwood, North Long Beach, Norwalk, Wilmington, Long Beach, Hawaiian Gardens, Artesia, Bellflower, and Pico Rivera since May 2022, Hahn’s initiative has taken in and destroyed 1,796 unwanted firearms.
There are important guidelines to participating in the buyback that ensure the safety of the public and deputies. Participants should not arrive on foot or transit, and should transport firearms unloaded and in the trunk of a vehicle.
Participants will receive gift cards in amounts according to the type of gun exchanged.
• Non-functioning firearms or parts: $50
• Working pistols, rifles shotguns: $100
• Ghost guns: $200
• Assault rifles: $300
3D and homemade guns will be evaluated for value on the day of the event. Gift card quantities are limited and subject to availability.
Hahn Opposes County Purchase of Skyscraper, Plan to Abandon Civic Centerhttps://hahn.lacounty.gov/wp-content/themes/blade/images/empty/thumbnail.jpg150150Hayley MunguiaHayley Munguiahttps://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/630b38108b5fe959ca74b3e2916d05a0?s=96&d=mm&r=g
Above: The Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration in Gloria Molina Grand Park
Los Angeles, CA — Today, Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn took a stand against a plan for the County to purchase a downtown skyscraper for $205 million and set in motion a plan to close the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration and move the heart of County government away from the Civic Center.
“I went by the proposed building the other day and I felt nothing,” said Hahn to her colleagues. “It is a soulless building in the middle of a bunch of tall buildings. That isn’t what County Government should look like. I don’t think we need to be in a skyscraper– we need to be near the people.”
The item, which passed today with Hahn being the lone dissenting vote, included transferring $66 million out of funds set aside for upgrading and seismic retrofitting of the Hall of Administration with no plan to replenish those funds.
Below is a transcript of Supervisor Hahn’s remarks in today’s meeting:
Colleagues, as you are aware, a yes vote on this item authorizes the purchase of the Gas Company Tower. But we also must go into this clear-eyed that a yes vote will also be the start of a ripple effect that we may not be able to undo.
Last month, when a similar item appeared on the agenda, I heard from some of my colleagues that you were confused about the item and thought or assumed it was simply to post the desire of the County to purchase a building.
But this vote sets the stage for the demise of the Hall of Administration. It is the first phase of a plan to move County employees out and abandon this building and the Civic Center. I’m not sure the public knows this. I’m not sure if employees who work in this building know this or not because this has all been done behind closed doors.
What is laid out today in this board letter is a plan to take $66 million of funding previously set aside for investments in this Hall of Administration – for the seismic retrofit, for the renovation of the 7th floor, for the replacement of the electrical system, and for other necessary work. So once that money is transferred for the purchase of this skyscraper – there is no plan to replenish those funds. There will be no pathway forward for keeping this Hall of Administration open and keeping the County home in the Civic Center.
Our public buildings have meaning, not just to me, but to our employees who call these buildings home, and to the people who come visit this building to find justice, a common purpose, and most of all, unity, in our diverse County.
I want to read a part of an email I received from a concerned resident and former staffer for another Supervisor:
“The Hall of Administration is part of a Civic Center that defines Los Angeles. The Civic Center is exactly what its name describes: a composition of buildings and public spaces, with City Hall at one end and the Department of Water and Power at the other, both landmark structures, and Gloria Molina Park in the middle. It is a tangible, physical expression of our desire for unity as a community, of our history and our aspirations for the future. It is a symbol of our democracy. It is the gathering place where ‘democracy happens.’”
I went by the proposed building the other day and I felt nothing. It is a soul-less building in the middle of a bunch of tall buildings. That isn’t what County Government should look like. I don’t think we need to be in a skyscraper, we need to be near the people.
Gloria Molina Grand Park is exactly where our seat of government should remain. How many times have you strolled out in the park with employees looking at the fountain, eating together, celebrating.
This building, the Hall of Administration, was designed by renowned Black architect Paul Williams. Many of his buildings have historic designation. His work is appreciated around the world and the homes he designed are sought after. We should recognize the gem we have here and we should not take it for granted and throw away our history for a short-term financial win.
It started out as a real estate transaction. But it has turned into the beginning of the demise of this building. And by the way there have been previous attempts to destroy our civic buildings. There was an idea to destroy City Hall at one point but higher minds prevailed, the money was raised, and City Hall was saved.
I also want to point out that this plan before us has not gone through the typical cluster process that is to be expected for board letters. Some of our staff were briefed, but no member of the public was made aware of this until the October 8th Board Meeting. In all my years as an elected official, this is the most closed-door, off the record plan to come into fruition that I have witnessed.
I just want everyone to know what we are voting for. The money being used for this purchase are being stolen from funds that were meant for this Hall of Administration. We are robbing Peter to pay Paul. It will start a domino effect that will lead to the demise of this building and something we may not be able to undo.
At Hahn’s request, LA Memorial Coliseum Torch Lit for Dodgers World Series Winhttps://hahn.lacounty.gov/wp-content/themes/blade/images/empty/thumbnail.jpg150150Hayley MunguiaHayley Munguiahttps://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/630b38108b5fe959ca74b3e2916d05a0?s=96&d=mm&r=g
Los Angeles, CA – Today, at Supervisor Janice Hahn’s request, the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Torch is lit in celebration of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ eighth World Series Win and in honor of the team’s first World Series winning season in 1959 at the Coliseum. The torch will also be lit tomorrow during the Dodgers’ championship parade and tonight and tomorrow the Coliseum’s Peristyle will be bathed in Dodger blue. Hahn’s father, Supervisor Kenneth Hahn, helped to bring the Dodgers to Los Angeles from New York in 1958.
“I thought it would be fitting to light the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum’s torch in celebration of the Dodgers’ victory at the venue the team played their first World Series winning season,” said Hahn. “We love our team. Every corner of Los Angeles is celebrating today.”
