News

Hahn Initiative will Improve Mental Health Response and Outreach on Metro 150 150 Hayley Munguia

Hahn Initiative will Improve Mental Health Response and Outreach on Metro

Long Beach, CA – Today, the Los Angeles Metro Board of Directors unanimously approved a proposal by Supervisor Hahn to improve Metro’s ability to respond to people experiencing mental health crises on the Metro system.

The motion, which was co-authored by Metro Board Directors Supervisor Solis, Supervisor Horvath, Supervisor Barger, Whittier Councilmember Dutra, and Pomona Mayor Sandoval, instructs Metro to work with the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health to provide training for Metro frontline staff, including all of Metro’s 300 transit ambassadors and over 200 transit security officers, so they are better able to respond to a rider experiencing mental health challenges. The motion also will establish priority access for Metro staff to reach the LA County Department of Mental Health’s field teams – including the Homeless Outreach Mobile Engagement (HOME) teams and Psychiatric Mobile Response Teams (PMRT)– who can respond directly to a person in need of mental health services.

“We have hundreds of new transit ambassadors and security officers in addition to law enforcement aboard our Metro system,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn. “With new training from the Department of Mental Health and a direct line to our mental health field teams, we can do a better job getting people struggling aboard our system the help they need and ultimately make our Metro system a safer place for all of our riders.”

“Because of this measure, when someone riding on the Metro A line needs help, we will see more resources deployed with a faster response time in our communities,” said Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson. “When Metro personnel has access to improved outreach training, engagement tools, and alternative response models, we can make riding Metro buses and rail safer and better for everyone. Thank you to the Board for their partnership on this important issue.”

The new initiative was the result of close collaboration between Supervisor Hahn and Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson who have been working together in efforts to help Blue Line (A Line) experiencing homelessness and mental health challenges and connect them with housing. The Supervisor and Mayor spoke about the effort in a video recorded this morning during the Long Beach Homeless Count.

Metro’s Chief Executive Officer will report back to the Board of Directors in 90 days.

Hahn Appoints Lomita Mayor Pro Tem to County’s Quality and Productivity Commission 150 150 Hayley Munguia

Hahn Appoints Lomita Mayor Pro Tem to County’s Quality and Productivity Commission

Los Angeles, CA – Today, Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn appointed Lomita business owner and Mayor Pro Tem Mark Waronek to the County’s Quality and Productivity Commission, which advises the Board of Supervisors on maximizing productivity and efficient service delivery for residents. The Commission provides unique private sector input for the Board. Waronek is owner and President/CEO of M&M Consulting Group, which he founded in 2019 after previous roles in both the private and public sectors.

“Millions of residents depend on LA County services, so we need to ensure that our dozens of departments and offices remain as efficient and productive as possible. Mark knows what it takes to do the work and do it well. He has been a public servant, and he also brings useful private sector experience,” said Hahn.

Prior to founding M&M Consulting, Waronek worked with various other public affairs consulting firms. His career has also included roles in local government. From 2016 to 2018, he served as Hahn’s senior deputy for the South Bay communities, and previously served as Economic Development Deputy for former Los Angeles councilmember for the 15th District Rudy Svorinich, Jr.

“I look forward to continue representing Supervisor Janice Hahn’s 4th District and work hard for all the communities of Los Angeles County, and make a difference in making our County departments better for our constituents!!” said Waronek.

The Quality and Productivity Commission is made up of 17 members with diverse backgrounds and expertise, including in the government, academic, nonprofit, legal, labor, and financial fields. Waronek holds a communications degree from Loyola Marymount University and remains engaged in his community in his free time. He is the public address announcer for football and basketball games at his high school alma mater, Bishop Montgomery High School in Torrance. He has been the “Voice” of Bishop Montgomery for 35 years. He also occasionally does voice-overs professionally.

Supervisor Hahn and LASD Seek Public’s Help in solving 1967 Murder of Huntington Park Police Officer 150 150 Hayley Munguia

Supervisor Hahn and LASD Seek Public’s Help in solving 1967 Murder of Huntington Park Police Officer

$20,000 reward offered for information about the cold case

Los Angeles, CA – Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn and the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department are seeking the public’s help in solving the fifty-seven-year cold case murder of Huntington Park Police Officer Robert Keller.

“The murder of Officer Robert Keller continues to be painful for the Huntington Park community and his family,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn. “This many years later, we hold out hope that we can solve this case and provide some sense of closure to Officer Keller’s family. I urge anyone with any information about this murder to share what they know with our Sheriff’s detectives.”

On October 5, 1967, Officer Keller was dispatched to the “Wonder Shop,” a business at 6509 Pacific Blvd. in Huntington Park, to investigate a “silent” burglar alarm call. He confronted the armed burglary suspect inside the location. Officer Keller, who exchanged gunfire with the suspect, suffered gunshot wounds in the gun battle and succumbed to his injuries.

While Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau detectives and officers of the Huntington Park Police Department conducted a rigorous investigation at the time of the murder, the crime has remained unsolved. The case is currently being investigated by the Unsolved Unit using the latest scientific methods and technologies.

“The City of Huntington Park thanks the office of Supervisor Hahn and the Los Angeles County Sherriff’s Department for the continued support to unravel this infamous crime,” said Huntington Park Mayor Marilyn Sanabria. “We are grateful for the proposed motion to bring additional resources to help solving this case.”

Today, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to approve a motion by Supervisor Janice Hahn reestablishing a reward for $20,000 for information leading to the apprehension and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the heinous murder of Officer Robert Keller.

Anyone with information is urged to call Lieutenant Joseph Purcell of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5565, or the Los Angeles Regional Crimestoppers Hotline at (800) 222-TIPS (8477).

Introducing the Southeast Gateway Line 150 150 Hayley Munguia

Introducing the Southeast Gateway Line

Supervisor Janice Hahn, Metro, and Coalition of Local Leaders Unveil New Name for Rail Line

Elected leaders from across Southeast Los Angeles and the Gateway Cities unveil the “Southeast Gateway Line” as the new name for the rail line.

Bellflower, CA – This morning, at the Mayne Event Center in Bellflower, Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn, LA Metro leadership, and a coalition of local leaders, unveiled the “Southeast Gateway Line” as the new name for the light rail line that will be built from Downtown Los Angeles through Southeast LA and the Gateway Cities to Artesia.

The project has long been known as the West Santa Ana Branch Transit Corridor—a name that has confused residents and elected leaders alike. Supervisor Hahn has said that the bad name has prevented the project from getting the attention and funding it deserves.

The “Southeast Gateway Line” won of a six-month renaming contest launched by Supervisor Hahn in partnership with LA Metro. Over 1,100 people submitted name ideas and 4,500 voted for their favorites.

“This rail line is going to be revolutionary for communities in Southeast LA and the Gateway Cities, but its bad name has held this project back,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn. “I wanted to empower the future riders to pick a new name for this train – something they can connect with and that will help us deliver this project. The Southeast Gateway Line has the support of the people and this new name brings us one huge step closer to making it a reality.”

The Southeast Gateway Line, which will break ground this summer, will connect southeast LA County to Downtown Los Angeles from Artesia through Cerritos, Bellflower, Paramount, Downey, South Gate, Cudahy, Bell, Huntington Park, and Vernon to Union Station. Nearly half the residents in the neighborhoods that will be served by this line live below the poverty level, including one-in-five residents who are transit dependent and don’t have access to their own car.

The Southeast Gateway Line was included in both voter-approved sales tax measures Measure R and Measure M with nearly $2 billion in local sales tax going toward its construction.

Watch the full video of the name unveiling on the Supervisor’s Facebook page.

Hahn Celebrates New Paramedic Unit in Whittier 150 150 Hayley Munguia

Hahn Celebrates New Paramedic Unit in Whittier

Whittier, CA – Today Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn, Whittier Mayor Joe Vinatieri, and Whittier City Councilmembers, and LA County Fire Department officials celebrated a new paramedic unit stationed at LA County Fire Department Station 59 in Whittier.  The new unit is shortening response times amid rising emergency medical calls in the Whittier area.

“In the past few years, residents in the Whittier area have been calling 911 for medical emergencies more often and that was putting a strain on our LA County Fire Department paramedic units and meant longer response times,” said Supervisor Hahn. “Fixing this problem became a priority for my office and this new additional paramedic team dedicated to Whittier is worth celebrating.”

The new Paramedic Unit at Fire Station 59 is made up of two paramedics. Last year, Supervisor Hahn celebrated a new LA County Fire Paramedic Assessment Unit at Station 28 which is made up of one paramedic and emergency medical technician partners. Both new units are proving effective in shortening response times to emergency medical calls across the Whittier region.

“This is the end of a dream come true,” said Mayor Joe Vinatieri who, along with Councilmember Cathy Warner, requested the paramedic unit and the paramedic assessment unit.

“Our residents need to know that their lives matter,” said Supervisor Hahn. “And no matter where they live, when they pick up the phone in need of help for themselves or a loved one, help will be on the way– fast.”

At the event, Supervisor Hahn reflected on the importance of paramedics in our emergency response system decades after her father, Supervisor Kenny Hahn, launched the nation’s first paramedic program here in Los Angeles County.

Event Photo Files:

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‘Supervisor at Your Supermarket’ events begin Jan. 20 150 150 Hayley Munguia

‘Supervisor at Your Supermarket’ events begin Jan. 20

Starting this week, Supervisor Hahn be spending some of her Saturdays at supermarkets across the Fourth District. Community members are invited to come and speak to her and her staff.

The first “Supervisor at Your Supermarket” event will be Jan. 20 at Amapola Market in Downey from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Supervisors Throw Support Behind Padilla Bill to Fix 988 Call Routing 150 150 Hayley Munguia

Supervisors Throw Support Behind Padilla Bill to Fix 988 Call Routing

Los Angeles, CA – Today, led by Supervisor Janice Hahn and Supervisor Kathryn Barger, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted to support a new Senate bill that would fix an ongoing problem with the way the 9-8-8 mental health and suicide crisis hotline operates. The Local 988 Response Act of 2023, which was introduced by Senator Alex Padilla in December, would require that calls to 9-8-8 be routed to call centers based on the proximity of the caller, not the caller’s area code.

Since the 9-8-8 national mental health crisis hotline launched in 2022 it has been accessed by millions of Americans in their moments of need. But the federal legislation that created 9-8-8 designed the number to be routed to call centers based on the area code of the caller’s phone number, rather than the caller’s location. This has presented a problem in Los Angeles County because it is one of the few counties that has set 9-8-8 up to be able to connect to mobile crisis response teams when callers need an in-person response. If someone calls 9-8-8 from their cell phone with an out of county area code, they will not reach the Los Angeles County call center and cannot connect to mobile crisis response teams.

This past year, Supervisor Janice Hahn raised this issue with her former colleagues in Congress both in discussions in Los Angeles and meetings in Washington, D.C., seeking a legislative fix.

“When someone calls 9-8-8 and needs help that we can’t provide over the phone, we need to be able to send mental health professionals to them quickly — but that can’t happen if LA County residents with out-of-state area codes are diverted away from our local call center,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn. “One of my goals when I went to Washington last spring was to get the ball rolling on solving this problem and I am grateful that on top of Congressman Cardenas’ bill in the House, we have this new bipartisan bill by Senator Padilla.”

The Local 988 Response Act of 2023 (S. 3444) would require the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to promulgate regulations requiring mobile phone carriers to route 9-8-8 calls based on the proximity of the caller to the call center, not the area code. It is the companion legislation to HR 4974 which was introduced in the House by Congressman Tony Cardenas last summer.

“This motion is about making sure we get the most responsive and timely help to those who are reaching out,” said Supervisor Kathryn Barger. “Operators from our local County call center should be the ones that provide assistance and connections to crisis responders as soon as possible; implementing geo routing is the right approach to make that happen. If our federal government partners authorize this change, lives will be undoubtedly saved.”

Today, the Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to approve a motion by Supervisor Hahn and co-authored by Supervisor Barger to send a letter of support for S. 3444 to Senator Alex Padilla and to Senator Laphonza Butler to encourage her to co-sponsor the legislation. The board previously voted to support Congressman Cardenas’ HR 4974 in August.

Los Angeles County currently has 47 psychiatric mobile response teams that operate 24/7 to respond to mental health crises, including 9-8-8 calls. 95% of calls to LA County’s 9-8-8 call centers are resolved over the phone, but about 5% need an in-person response.

Hahn Reappoints Downey Resident to County’s Commission on Alcohol and Other Drugs 150 150 Hayley Munguia

Hahn Reappoints Downey Resident to County’s Commission on Alcohol and Other Drugs

Juan Navarro has served as Executive Director of Los Angeles Centers of Alcohol and Drug Abuse since 2013


Los Angeles, CA — Today, Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn reappointed Downey resident and Executive Director of the Los Angeles Centers of Alcohol and Drug Abuse (L.A. CADA) Juan Navarro to the County’s Commission on Alcohol and Other Drugs. The Commision, coordinated by the Department of Public Health, advises the Supervisors with the goal of reducing the negative impacts of substance abuse.

Juan Navarro was appointed Executive Director of Los Angeles Centers of Alcohol and Drug Abuse (L.A. CADA) in 2013 after 26 years as the agency’s Deputy Director of Finance & Operations. Under his leadership, L.A. CADA has elevated the agency’s emphasis on strong community relationships, instituting new partnerships with the office of the Fourth Supervisorial District, L.A. County healthcare providers, justice systems, and social service agencies, as well as the United States Probation Office and the U.S. Department of Health Services’ Mental Health Services Administration.

“Juan has devoted his career to tackling the heartbreaking impact that drug and alcohol abuse have on families and communities. He leads with innovation and with a lot of heart, which is exactly the type of leader we need on this commission,” said Hahn. “I’m grateful for his commitment not only to expanding the work of L.A. CADA, but to deepening and diversifying it as well. He shares our dedication to serving our most vulnerable residents.”

Navarro holds strong expertise in behavioral healthcare development and administration for high-risk populations. He has developed comprehensive care for criminal offenders, substance users living with/at-risk for HIV, persons of color, the LBGTQIA+ community, as well as the persons experiencing homelessness. L.A. CADA services provide: 124 state-licensed treatment beds for adults and 332 Recovery Bridge Housing beds for homeless adults delivered at 31 sites in Los Angeles County.

“I am proud to represent the Fourth Supervisorial District Office on the L.A. County Commission on Alcohol and Other Drugs through this new appointment as a Commissioner. Supervisor Hahn has consistently maintained a strong focus on the health of our residents, with a focus on newly emerging issues such as historic mental health system transformation and achievement of greater equity in service access,” said Navarro. “It’s my honor as CEO of Los Angeles Centers on Alcohol and Drug Abuse to work with Supervisor Hahn, other County Supervisors, and my fellow Commissioners to continue to improve L.A. County behavioral health services through landmark programs such as new behavioral healthcare housing and treatment settings.”

Supervisor Hahn Releases Statement on Hate Crime against San Pedro resident 150 150 Hayley Munguia

Supervisor Hahn Releases Statement on Hate Crime against San Pedro resident

San Pedro, CA – Today, Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn released the following statement regarding a recent incident in San Pedro in which a Black family’s car was vandalized with a swastikas and a racial slur.

“Few of us can imagine the fear and anger that Mr. Scott and his family are feeling after this most recent attack. Both as Supervisor and as a resident of this community, I am outraged and saddened that one of our neighbors could be targeted in such a vile way. My thoughts are with the Scott family.

In San Pedro and in all of LA County, everyone belongs and everyone deserves to live in peace. I understand the LAPD Harbor Division is working hard to identify the perpetrator of this hate crime so that they can be held accountable.”

Details about the hate crime were first posted by the victim, Reginald Scott, on a Go Fund Me page.

Hahn Calls on Retailers to Protect Consumers from Gift Card Draining Scam 560 400 Hayley Munguia

Hahn Calls on Retailers to Protect Consumers from Gift Card Draining Scam

Updated: Hahn sends letter to CVS CEO

San Pedro, CA – This morning, Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn held a press conference calling on retailers to better protect consumers from a growing gift card scam problem amid holiday shopping. Just last week, Supervisor Hahn bought a Vanilla gift card at a CVS for her nephew’s birthday that was drained before he could use it.

“I am fortunate,” said Supervisor Hahn. “What I lost on this gift card I was easily able to repay in cash to my nephew. But I am worried about the people who are barely scraping by who can’t afford to be ripped off.”

The scam, known as “gift card draining,” works two ways. In the first instance, scammers attach a barcode from a card they already have to an unsold gift card in a store. When someone buys the tampered card and loads money onto it, they are loading money onto the scammer’s card. In the second instance, a scammer would steal the details off a legitimate gift card and then place it back on a store rack. That scammer can then track when the card is bought and loaded and then quickly drain the money.

“I am calling on retailers like CVS, Target, Walgreens and others, to take immediate steps to protect their own shoppers from these scams,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn. “It should not be up to consumers to defend themselves from scams when you have the power to prevent them all together.”

She is calling on retailers to place gift cards behind glass or behind a service desk while scams continue, better train check out clerks to recognize fake barcodes placed on cards, or add warning signage on gift card displays.

Today, Supervisor Hahn sent a letter to CVS Health CEO Karen S. Lynch about the issue. Read letter here or the text below:

December 21, 2023
Karen S. Lynch, President & CEO
CVS Health
1 CVS Drive
Woonsocket, Rhode Island 02895

Dear President Lynch,

Last week, I visited one of your stores here in Los Angeles County and picked up a Vanilla Visa gift card for my nephew’s birthday. I took it up to the register and asked to load it with $100. But when my nephew went to use the gift card, all the money had already been spent.

I got ripped off, but I found out I was just one of many victims of a growing gift card scam.

I am fortunate that I was able to repay my nephew in cash. But I am worried about your customers who are barely scraping by who can’t afford to be ripped off.

The scam is called gift card draining, and the manager I spoke to in your store said he was well aware of it. Yet the store hadn’t taken steps to prevent it.

In many of your stores you put everyday essentials behind glass or behind a counter, like deodorant or toothpaste. When those items are stolen, it hurts your bottom line. But when gift cards are used to scam shoppers, it hurts our bottom line. Yet you offer no protection for us.

CVS, and other retailers, have a responsibility to your customers to protect them from these scams, and if you wanted to, you could take action tomorrow. I am asking you to place gift cards behind glass or behind a customer service desk while scams continue. If not that, you must better train your checkout clerks to recognize fake barcodes placed on cards and add warning signage on gift card displays.

You have the power to help save Christmas for thousands upon thousands of your customers nationwide. Please, do the right thing.

Sincerely,
JANICE HAHN
Los Angeles County Supervisor

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