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Supervisors Unanimously Support EPA Proposal to Add Exide Site to Federal Superfund Site 150 150 Hayley Munguia

Supervisors Unanimously Support EPA Proposal to Add Exide Site to Federal Superfund Site

Hahn and Solis visited homes near the former Exide battery recycling plant undergoing cleanup last year.

Los Angeles, CA – Today, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a motion by Supervisors Hilda L. Solis and Janice Hahn to express its support for a proposal by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to add the former Exide battery recycling plant and surrounding communities into the National Priorities List as a Superfund site in Spring of 2025. The former battery recycling plant contaminated soil in homes across Southeast Los Angeles, East Los Angeles, and Boyle Heights over a period of decades. Many continue to deal with lead contamination and inadequate cleanup.

Hahn, who represents the communities of Southeast Los Angeles impacted by the contamination, released the following statement:

“The families impacted by the Exide disaster have faced one indignity after another. Home should be our safest place, but instead their homes were marred by toxic contamination. And to add insult to injury, there are serious concerns about the pace, efficacy and scale of the state’s cleanup efforts.

“Securing the Superfund designation will mean that the federal government grasps what we’ve already known: that this problem is urgent and that these communities deserve better. It is not just about cleaning up contamination; it’s about restoring dignity for these communities.”

With the unanimous support of the Supervisors, the Board will send a letter to the EPA reaffirming the County’s support for this important step in finishing the cleanup with the breadth of resources available for Superfund sites. The Exide site proposal is currently in the standard 60-day public comment period required of all proposed additions to the National Priorities List. The EPA must respond to any comments received before the site can be added.

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Hahn Statement on Fire that Destroyed Beloved South Whittier Restaurant 150 150 Hayley Munguia

Hahn Statement on Fire that Destroyed Beloved South Whittier Restaurant

Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn has issued the following statement regarding a fire early this morning that destroyed Pizzamania and other nearby businesses in South Whittier:

“Early this morning, a fire tore through five businesses in a strip mall on Telegraph Road in South Whittier, including Pizzamania — a beloved institution in this community for 50 years. LA County Firefighters responded quickly, but the restaurant is almost completely destroyed. I know that both the business owners and the employees alike are facing a very difficult time in the wake of this fire and I will be directing our LA County Department of Economic Opportunity and Department of Consumer and Business Affairs to connect these workers and businesses so that we can offer any help and support we can.”

Hahn Applauds EPA Proposal to Add Exide Site to Superfund List 150 150 Hayley Munguia

Hahn Applauds EPA Proposal to Add Exide Site to Superfund List

Los Angeles, CA – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that it proposes adding the Exide Technologies facility in the City of Vernon to the Superfund National Priorities List of hazardous waste sites eligible to receive funding for long-term investigation and cleanup. The former battery recycling plant contaminated soil in homes across Southeast Los Angeles, East Los Angeles, and Boyle Heights over a period of decades. Many continue to deal with lead contamination and inadequate cleanup.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn, who represents Vernon and surrounding communities, issued the following statement:

“Today’s announcement represents a massive step forward in our effort to cleanup Exide’s contamination once and for all and bring some amount of justice to the families that have borne the brunt of the consequences of this corporation’s negligence and greed. It took a partnership at every level of government to get us to this point and we will continue to push for the highest possible standard of lead remediation. These residents and their children deserve nothing less.”

Hahn Thanks Governor Newsom for Emergency Declaration in Rancho Palos Verdes 150 150 Hayley Munguia

Hahn Thanks Governor Newsom for Emergency Declaration in Rancho Palos Verdes

Rancho Palos Verdes, CA — Today, Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn issued the following statement regarding Governor Newsom’s announcement today that he had declared a state of emergency in the City of Rancho Palos Verdes as residents continue to cope with the land movement crisis:

“Thank you, Governor Newsom. This declaration comes just at the right time as people are not only seeing their homes crumble around them, but have now also been cut off from power. This situation is bigger than the City or even the County. I appreciate the state for recognizing the enormity of this crisis.”

CA Legislature Approves Archuleta Bill to Allow Unused Property at Metropolitan State Hospital to be Converted to Mental Health Treatment and Housing 150 150 Hayley Munguia

CA Legislature Approves Archuleta Bill to Allow Unused Property at Metropolitan State Hospital to be Converted to Mental Health Treatment and Housing

Supervisor Janice Hahn toured the site in June.

Sacramento, CA – On Wednesday, August 28, on a bi-partisan 39-0 vote, the California Legislature approved a measure authored by Senator Bob Archuleta (D-Pico Rivera) and championed by Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn to allow LA County to develop a mental health community on the Metropolitan State Hospital campus to treat and house people with mental illness.

“This is a significant first step to allow state property in LA County to be redeveloped and repurposed to address two of the most pressing issues we face – mental illness and homelessness,” said Senator Bob Archuleta. “As we seek the Governor’s signature, it is clear that collaboration between the State, local governments and community stakeholders remain vital if we are to succeed in addressing our homeless and mental health crisis.”

“We are battling a mental health crisis and we desperately need places where we can treat and house people who are struggling,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn. “With just a small corner of this State property we can provide care and support for hundreds of people at a time. The need is overwhelming and we have no time to waste. I urge the Governor to sign the bill as soon as it gets to his desk, and I look forward to working with our State partners to get these mental health facilities up and running.”

SB 1336 authorizes the director of the Department of General Services (DGS) to lease seven buildings that are currently unused at Metropolitan State Hospital to a nonprofit or local government for the purposes of providing housing and/or treatment to people with behavioral health needs.

The Metropolitan State Hospital (MSH) is a state-run public hospital located in the City of Norwalk specializing in psychiatric care. The 826-bed hospital is operated by the Department of State Hospitals and has an open campus within a security perimeter on 162 acres of state property. Currently, the state hospital admits patients in four different categories: incompetent to stand trial, offender with mental health disorder, not guilty by reason of insanity, and conservatorship Lanterman-Petris-Short Act.

Under the leadership of Supervisor Janice Hahn, Los Angeles County is seeking to renovate the buildings to develop a new mental health community campus that will serve adults and transitional age youth with varying mental health and housing needs. In June, the State and County entered into an Exclusive Negotiating Agreement regarding the leasing of the seven buildings on the Metropolitan State Hospital Campus for this purpose.

The Los Angeles County Care Community will include a series of facilities offering diverse treatment and housing options for people with mental health challenges to be overseen by the LA County Department of Mental Health. These seven buildings were identified through a collaborative effort between the County and State. To create this Care Community, Los Angeles County will be using various grant programs and funding provided by the State as part of the State’s response to the homelessness and mental health crisis.

SB 1336 and the mental health campus proposal comes in response to the growing concerns over the state’s mental health and homelessness crises. It is clear the State and Los Angeles County need more facilities and housing options for individuals with mental health challenges. The Los Angeles County Care Community represents an innovative solution to a complex problem and is an example of the County and State collaborating to identify government property that can be converted into housing while providing access to essential services.

“Using state-owned underutilized land to house people with mental health needs is a win-win situation for both the individual and the communities in which they reside by getting them the support they need and off the street,” said Archuleta.

The bill now heads to the Governor’s desk where he must sign or veto it by the end of next month.

Hahn Celebrates Longer LA County Pool Season 150 150 Hayley Munguia

Hahn Celebrates Longer LA County Pool Season

Instead of closing in August, pools will stay open through October 31st

Cerritos, CA — Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn is encouraging residents to take advantage of LA County’s extended pool season. While in past years, LA County pools closed in mid-August, this year pools will be open through October 31st.

“The warm weather isn’t over, and neither is LA County’s pool season,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn who led the effort to keep pools open longer. “It never made sense that our pools used to close in mid-August, and I am grateful that with the support of my colleagues and the hard work of our Parks and Recreation Department, we are keeping our pools open to the public through Halloween.”

In years past, LA County’s summer pool season was just ten weeks long with the vast majority of pools closing in mid-August. Supervisor Hahn pushed for the pool season to be extended and this is the first year that pools are open 6-days a week and will stay open through the end of October. The pool schedules have been adjusted slightly for the fall season and can be found here.

To make this new swim season possible, LA County Parks and Recreation, which manages a total of 41 pools across 30 locations countywide, pushed to recruit more pool lifeguards than ever before and Hahn wore an LA County Lifeguard uniform to highlight their success. Hahn led an effort to increase the starting pay for pool lifeguards by 20% to $23.86 hourly and the department worked to streamline the hiring process.  This year, the department hired 356 new pool lifeguards and rehired 224 returning lifeguards — totaling close to 600 pool lifeguards.

The County also invested in new lighting at pools to ensure swimmers can enjoy the pools even as the sun rises later and sets earlier in the fall. Activities available at LA County pools include low-cost swim team programs, senior aquatic exercise, and a first-ever Summer Parks After Dark pool events series, among others.

A complete list of Los Angeles County pool facilities can be found at: parks.lacounty.gov/aquatics

Federal Transit Authority Greenlights Funding for Southeast Gateway Line 150 150 Hayley Munguia

Federal Transit Authority Greenlights Funding for Southeast Gateway Line

First segment of Metro’s future $7.1bn line from Downtown LA to Artesia now eligible for critical federal funds

In April, Hahn was joined by leaders from cities along the future Southeast Gateway Line for the Metro Board vote on the final environmental reviews. L to R: Huntington Park Mayor Karina Macias; Maywood Councilmember Frank Garcia; Artesia Mayor Pro Tem Ali Taj; Supervisor Janice Hahn; South Gate Vice Mayor Maria Davila; Paramount Councilmember Vilma Cuellar Stallings

Los Angeles, CA – Yesterday, the Federal Transit Administration issued its Record of Decision for the first segment of the future Southeast Gateway Line, giving final federal approval of the project’s environmental review documents which the Metro Board certified in April. The Record of Decision now makes this 14.5-mile segment eligible for major federal funding, which will be critical for the $7.1 billion project.

“This line is going to serve one of the regions that has historically been left behind whenever we’ve expanded our Metro system. We made it clear to our federal partners that these communities needed and deserved this critical investment, and they’ve delivered. Now let’s get to work,” said Supervisor and Metro Board Chair Janice Hahn, who represents the region that will be served by the line.

Utility work on the project is expected to begin by the end of this year. When completed, the full 19-mile Southeast Gateway Line will serve 1.4 million residents between Union Station in Downtown LA and Artesia, running through Vernon, Huntington Park, Bell, Cudahy, South Gate, Downey, Paramount, Bellflower, and Cerritos.

The Federal Transit Administration is an agency within the United States Department of Transportation that provides financial and technical assistance to local public transit systems. The major federal funding that today’s Record of Decision unlocks will go along with over $2 billion in local and state funds already committed to the project.

Map of the future Southeast Gateway Line available for download here

Hahn Issues Statement on Early Sunday Morning Assault Aboard Metro Train 150 150 Hayley Munguia

Hahn Issues Statement on Early Sunday Morning Assault Aboard Metro Train

Los Angeles, CA – Early Sunday morning, a passenger on an E Line Metro train was sexually assaulted near the Culver City Station. The victim contacted the train operator through the train’s emergency call function. The operator halted the train, searched for the victim and suspect, and remained with them while contacting law enforcement. Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies arrived within minutes and arrested the suspect.

Today, LA County Supervisor and current Metro Chair Janice Hahn released the following statement:

“I am so thankful for this brave train operator who took action when one of their passengers needed help. I’m also glad that law enforcement arrived quickly and took the suspect into custody.

But once again we’re reminded that we urgently need to prevent violent crime in our system, not simply respond to it. I want our uniformed law enforcement officers assigned to Metro and our transit security officers to be riding our buses and trains, not waiting at stations or in their cars to respond once a crime has been committed.”

Hahn Issues Statement on Recent Attacks on Metro Riders 150 150 Hayley Munguia

Hahn Issues Statement on Recent Attacks on Metro Riders

Los Angeles CA – Today, Los Angeles County Supervisor and Metro Board Chair Janice Hahn released the following statement in response to recent attacks on Metro riders:

“While I appreciate that law enforcement has been able to respond quickly to these recent incidents, not enough is being done to prevent these attacks from ever happening in the first place. My question is: where were uniformed law enforcement officers assigned to Metro and transit security officers while these attacks were happening? And what will Metro do differently now to prevent violent crimes in the future, like installing technology to detect and keep weapons out of our system?

These recent tragic incidents highlight just how much still needs to be done, even as Metro has surged its law enforcement and continues to spend hundreds of millions a year on safety. The public deserves transparency. Metro needs to provide a full accounting for how its multi-layered security are dispatched and a plan to improve these efforts to prevent future attacks. Our riders need to be and feel safe on our buses, trains, and stations no matter the time of day. Anything less is not good enough.”

Supervisors Reestablish $20,000 Reward Offer in Investigation of 2022 Hawaiian Gardens Murder 150 150 Hayley Munguia

Supervisors Reestablish $20,000 Reward Offer in Investigation of 2022 Hawaiian Gardens Murder

40-year-old Carlos Alvarez-Diaz fatally shot while driving on Norwalk Boulevard

Los Angeles, CA – This week, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to approve a motion by Supervisor Janice Hahn reestablishing a reward offer of $20,000 for information leading to the apprehension and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the murder of Carlos Alvarez-Diaz. Alvarez-Diaz was fatally shot on October 8, 2022, at approximately 1:09 a.m. while he drove north on Norwalk Boulevard at 226th Street, in the City of Hawaiian Gardens.

“Carlos was a working man with a family who suffered a sudden and unimaginable loss,” said Hahn. “They deserve answers. I hope that with this reward we can bring the criminals responsible for that loss to justice and give his loved ones some closure.”

Alvarez-Diaz sustained a gunshot wound to the upper torso and died from his injuries. He left behind a then one-month-old son. A 14-year-old was also struck by gunfire but survived. The shooting was believed to be random.

Anyone with information is urged to call Lieutenant Patricia Thomas of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5564, or the Los Angeles Regional Crimestoppers Hotline at (800) 222-TIPS (8477).

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