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Supervisor Hahn and Sheriff’s Department Seek Public’s Help in Solving 1967 Murder of Huntington Park Police Officer 150 150 Hayley Munguia

Supervisor Hahn and Sheriff’s Department Seek Public’s Help in Solving 1967 Murder of Huntington Park Police Officer

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 heinous murder of Officer Robert Keller in 1967. Supervisor 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.

“More than five decades have passed since this murder but the pain of Officer Keller’s loss has not disappeared for the Huntington Park community and his family,” said Hahn. “And those decades have also not dampened our commitment to bringing those responsible to justice. 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 and our Police Department are grateful to Supervisor Hahn and the Sherriff’s Department for their continued commitment to solving the murder of Officer Keller and bringing closure to his family,” said Karina Macias, Mayor of Huntington Park.

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).

Hahn Releases Statement on Early Morning Attack of Woman at a Pasadena Metro Station 150 150 Hayley Munguia

Hahn Releases Statement on Early Morning Attack of Woman at a Pasadena Metro Station

Los Angeles, CA — Today, Los Angeles County Supervisor and Chair of the Metro Board of Directors Janice Hahn issued the following statement regarding an early morning attack against a woman at the Allen Metro Station in Pasadena:

“The details of the attack against a woman early this morning at the Allen Station in Pasadena are disturbing and I am grateful that the victim is recovering and that the suspect is in custody. Our board will need a full investigation into this incident, an accounting of where both Metro’s contracted law enforcement and transit security were when this woman was attacked, and a plan to increase security during early morning commuting hours. Our trains, buses, and stations must be safe for our riders and we have to continue to implement safety reforms to get our system to that point.”

SUPERVISORS PROCLAIM PAKISTAN INDEPENDENCE DAY IN LA COUNTY 150 150 Hayley Munguia

SUPERVISORS PROCLAIM PAKISTAN INDEPENDENCE DAY IN LA COUNTY

Los Angeles, CA– This week, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a proposal by Supervisor Janice Hahn to proclaim August 14, 2024 Pakistan Independence Day in Los Angeles County for the first time in the county’s history.

“Being recognized and celebrated by your government matters,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn. “I am proud to be able to proclaim Pakistan Independence Day in Los Angeles County this year and I wish everyone celebrating this weekend and on the 14th a happy independence day.”

August 14, 2024 will mark the 78th Anniversary of “Pakistan Independence Day,” signifying the separation of Pakistan from British India marking the long-awaited freedom of Pakistanis from 200 years of British rule.

Supervisor Hahn has contributed $10,000 in funding from her office to support the Azadi Mela Pakistan Independence Celebration at Cerritos College this Saturday August 10 from 5pm to 11pm. The annual event held by the Pakistani Council is the largest event of its kind in LA County with 20,000 attendees expected.

“We are absolutely thrilled and grateful to County Supervisor Janice Hahn for her leadership in recognizing Pakistan Independence Day, August 14th, with a resolution for the first time in Los Angeles County’s history,” said Adnan Khan, President of the Pakistani Council. “This milestone marks a significant moment for the Pakistani American community, who have long awaited county-wide recognition of their heritage and contributions. We are jubilant and happy to see our community’s rich culture and traditions acknowledged in such a meaningful way. Thank you, Supervisor Hahn, for your dedication to inclusivity and diversity. This resolution is a testament to the power of community and the impact of collective efforts.”

The Pakistani community is one of the fastest growing Asian ethnic groups in LA County, with a population that has grown 45% since 2010 to over 11,000 residents.

SUPERVISORS APPROVE ORDINANCE TO REQUIRE HOSPITALS TO REPORT MEDICAL DEBT DATA 150 150 Hayley Munguia

SUPERVISORS APPROVE ORDINANCE TO REQUIRE HOSPITALS TO REPORT MEDICAL DEBT DATA

Data will be used to develop strategies to reduce the burden of medical debt on LA County residents

Los Angeles, CA– Today, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to move forward with a new ordinance championed by Supervisor Janice Hahn that will require hospitals to report data on medical debt with the goal of identifying gaps in financial assistance and reducing the burden of medical debt on LA County residents in the future.

“Too many LA County residents have medical debt that they can’t afford and it is holding them back,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn who has led a broader effort on the Board to take on medical debt. “If we can get data from hospitals on the patients who are burdened by medical debt and being sent to collections, we can begin to figure out how to tackle this problem going forward.”

Medical debt exceeds $2.9 billion for LA County residents, impacting one in ten adults in 2022 and disproportionately affecting families with children, lower-income, Latino, Black, American Indian, and Pacific Islander residents, and people with chronic health conditions. Approximately 46% of this debt belongs to individuals with income under 200% of the federal poverty line.

Currently, hospitals report limited data to the State on the amount of financial assistance provided to their patients. However, the reporting does not include aggregate data on medical debt collections making it impossible to identify trends related to medical debt or gaps where financial assistance could help low-income patients in need.

The ordinance approved today is the result of a motion authored by Supervisor Hahn and co-authored by Supervisor Holly Mitchell. It will require the seven acute care hospitals in the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County to submit aggregate data on debt collection and financial assistance operations, as well as requiring hospitals to report on patients accounts advanced to collections. The ordinance complies with HIPAA and includes privacy protections so that data will not include any health information regarding diagnosis or treatment.

View Public Health Presentation

“Financial security is a key social determinant of health and medical debt erodes a person’s ability to take care of their financial and physical health. We thank the Board for working to advance solutions to this distressing issue,” said Barbara Ferrer, Ph.D., M.P.H., M.Ed., Director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, who presented at today’s meeting. “By partnering with community organizations, consumers, hospitals, and healthcare plans to develop comprehensive strategies, we are working together to strengthen protections for health care consumers.”

This ordinance comes on the heels of a unanimous vote in June to approve Hahn’s proposal to develop and launch a $5 million pilot program to purchase and eliminate $500 million worth of medical debt for 150,000 LA County residents.

“I want to tackle the medical debt issue from all angles,” continued Hahn. “That means coming up with innovative ways to eliminate existing debt for struggling families, while also figuring out how to better structure financial assistance in the future so that we can prevent people from taking on huge amounts of medical debt in the first place.”

The ordinance will need a second reading at an upcoming Board of Supervisors meeting before it goes into effect. First reporting is due from hospitals 180 days after the ordinance goes into effect.

Supervisors Greenlight $16 Million Refurbishment for Huntington Park Fire Station Destroyed in May Fire 150 150 Hayley Munguia

Supervisors Greenlight $16 Million Refurbishment for Huntington Park Fire Station Destroyed in May Fire

Fire Station 164’s apparatus bay hours after the May 1 fire.

Los Angeles, CA – This afternoon, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved an allocation of $16,031,000 for the refurbishment of the Los Angeles County Fire Station 164 in the City of Huntington Park, which suffered heavy damages from a fire in May. Today’s motion, authored by Supervisor Janice Hahn, authorizes the transfer of the funds from the Los Angeles County Fire Department’s Reserve for Budget Uncertainties to the refurbishment project.

Just before 4:00 a.m. on the morning of May 1, 2024, Fire Station 164 personnel were awakened by the sound of a passerby alerting them to a fire in their station. They were able to fight the fire with assistance from firefighters from nearby stations who responded. Thankfully, no one was injured, and the fire was officially declared controlled at 5:17 am.

The heat of the flames melted the plastic light panels in the station’s kitchen.

“We have the best fire department in the world right here in LA County, so this fire was a devastating blow to the communities it has served for decades. It’s time to get to work and rebuild this treasured part of the community as quickly as possible,” said Hahn, who visited the destroyed station later that morning. “We owe it to our residents.”

Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone made the request to Hahn for a Board motion, which will help expedite the allocation of the funds and the work to rebuild and reopen the station. The station’s refurbishment will be overseen by the Los Angeles County Internal Services Department.

Hahn visited the destroyed station hours after the fire and spoke to the station’s firefighters.

“Fire Station 164 has long been part of the fabric of Huntington Park. The fire that occurred in May was a devastating loss, but I’m thankful to Supervisor Hahn and Chief Marrone for ensuring that there have been no service interruptions and expediting repairs so that our beloved Station 164 is back in business,” said Karina Macias, Mayor of the City of Huntington Park.

Hahn’s motion also directs the Fire Chief and the County’s Chief Executive Officer to evaluate the insurance policies for all County-owned fire stations and other Fire Department facilities and report back to the Board, with the goal of ensuring that they are fully insured in the case of any future fire or disaster.

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Hahn Honors Jerry Gaines for Legacy of Service to Los Angeles County 150 150 Hayley Munguia

Hahn Honors Jerry Gaines for Legacy of Service to Los Angeles County

Hahn presented Gaines, retired educator and veteran, with County scroll during Board of Supervisors meeting

Jerry – joined by his wife Lorraine – received the recognition from Supervisor Hahn this morning at the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration.

Los Angeles, CA – This morning, Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn presented an official recognition to San Pedro resident, retired educator and veteran Jerry Gaines in honor of his 21 years of public service. Gaines recently retired from a seat on the Los Angeles County Commission for Older Adults and has previously served on other commissions for both the City and County of Los Angeles.

“Jerry served his country in uniform and educated our youth, and then turned right around and decided he wasn’t done serving. Older adults in LA County are better off today because of Jerry’s service on this Commission, putting their needs front and center,” said Hahn. “He is an extraordinary public servant, friend, and neighbor, and it was an honor to recognize him today.”

Gaines was first appointed to the Commission for Older Adults by Hahn’s predecessor, Supervisor Don Knabe, in 2015. Upon entering office in 2016, Hahn reappointed Gaines to the commission. Gaines was among the group of commissioners who championed the creation of a standalone Department of Aging and Disabilities in 2022. Gaines had also previously served on the Los Angeles City Charter Reform Commission, the Los Angeles City Redistricting Commission, and the Los Angeles City Harbor Planning Commission.

During today’s ceremony, Gaines thanked Hahn for the opportunity to serve on the Commission and recognized the staff and leadership of the Department of Aging and Disabilities. “I enjoy the time I got to work with them along the way. It was a special honor. Of all of the things you heard me do, this one has been a top of them all,” said Gaines during today’s ceremony.

Prior to his volunteer service with the city and county, Gaines served in the U.S. Navy and retired from the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District in the field of secondary education. During his time in education, he was recognized as the Los Angeles County Teacher of the Year and received the U.S. Congress Award for serving as Chair of the Military Reuse Committee.

The Los Angeles County Commission for Older Adults is tasked with advocating and advising the Board of Supervisors and other county entities regarding the needs and welfare of Los Angeles County residents 60 and older.

Footage of the ceremony is available here.

LA County Governance and Ethics Reforms to be Placed on November Ballot 150 150 Esteban Garcia

LA County Governance and Ethics Reforms to be Placed on November Ballot

The charter amendment creates an elected County Executive & Ethics Commission, expands the Board of Supervisors, and more

Los Angeles, CA — At today’s meeting, the Board of Supervisors took historic action to put the most comprehensive governance and ethics reform package for Los Angeles County on the ballot this November. Voters will now decide on a County Charter amendment that creates an elected County Executive; expands the Board of Supervisors from five to nine seats; and establishes common-sense ethics reforms.

As part of Item 6 on the agenda, the Board approved putting the following measure on the November 5 ballot:

LOS ANGELES COUNTY GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE, ETHICS AND ACCOUNTABILITY CHARTER AMENDMENT. Shall the measure amending the Los Angeles County Charter to create an elected County Executive; create an independent Ethics Commission to increase restrictions on lobbying and investigate misconduct; establish a nonpartisan Legislative Analyst to review proposed County policies; increase the Board of Supervisors from five to nine elected members; require County departments to present annual budgets in public meetings; using existing funding sources with no additional taxes to implement, as detailed in the charter amendment ordinance, be adopted? 

The motion calling for County Charter ordinance changes was authored by Chair Lindsey P. Horvath and Supervisor Janice Hahn. The second reading of the ordinance was approved today through Item 7 on the agenda.

“Change is now in the hands of Los Angeles County voters who will tell us whether it’s time for a more representative, transparent, accountable, and effective Los Angeles County,” said Chair Lindsey P. Horvath. “If voters call for change, I stand ready to champion implementation through a broad-based public process that centers the voices of our most marginalized communities. This is the very beginning of a going-forward process that invites everyone into shaping a 21st century model for governance that works for Los Angeles County.”

“When asked, residents overwhelmingly say they support reforming LA County government. They tell us they want smaller, more representative districts, checks and balances, and commonsense ethics reforms that hold officials accountable,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn. “At the end of the day, this is not the Supervisors’ government. This is the people’s government. And this November, the people will get to decide how they want it to work.”

The Los Angeles County governance structure has not changed much since it was adopted in 1912 when the population was 500,000, segregation was the law of the land, and women didn’t have the right to vote. If approved by voters this November, the charter amendments would kick off a public process led by the Governance Reform Task Force to implement governance and ethics reforms.

The charter amendment would create distinct executive and legislative branches of the government through a directly elected County Executive. The elected County Executive would function much like a Mayor, Governor, or President, with the Board of Supervisors serving as the legislative branch like a City Council, State Legislature, or Congress.

The charter amendment would also expand the Board from five to nine seats to increase representation and create opportunities for a Board that reflects the diversity of Los Angeles County. A Board of nine Supervisors has been studied for decades. It is a measured approach to bring the public closer to their elected representatives by cutting districts nearly in half.

For more information on the ordinance changes, visit www.lindseyhorvath.lacounty.gov/governance.

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Hahn Issues Statement on New Metro Safety Measures 150 150 Hayley Munguia

Hahn Issues Statement on New Metro Safety Measures

Los Angeles, CA – Today, Los Angeles County Supervisor and new Metro Board Chair Janice Hahn released the following statement after the Metro Board unanimously approved new actions to improve safety and security on the Metro system:

“My top priority as Metro Chair is the safety of our riders and our employees. With the unanimous approval of our Board, we are moving forward with concrete actions to make our system more secure like expanding the successful tap-to-exit pilot program, new strategies to keep our elevators safe, and testing technology to detect people carrying weapons. You can’t take a weapon into Dodger Stadium and you shouldn’t be able to take weapons on Metro either.”

The safety measures approved by the board today are the result of a report-back originally requested by Supervisor Barger with Hahn amending the item to include weapons detection technology. You can read the full item here.

Today’s Metro Board of Directors meeting is Hahn’s first as Chair. Earlier this month, in her State of the Agency address Hahn outlined her priorities:
1. The safety of Metro riders and employees
2. Humanely lifting unhoused people off the Metro system and into shelter
3. Focusing on rider experience
4. Supporting Metro employees

Hahn is also riding Metro more often to better understand what riders are experiencing and bring their concerns to Metro leadership.

Hahn Issues Statement After Governor Newsom Urges Local Governments Statewide to Remove Homeless Encampments 150 150 Hayley Munguia

Hahn Issues Statement After Governor Newsom Urges Local Governments Statewide to Remove Homeless Encampments

Hahn: “What Governor Newsom is ordering state agencies to do is what LA County is doing with our Pathway Home Program”

Los Angeles, CA — Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn issued the following statement in response to Governor Newsom’s executive order this morning regarding the urgent removal of homeless encampments:

“Encampments are not safe for anyone—not for the people who live in them and not for the residents around them.

“What Governor Newsom is ordering state agencies to do is what LA County is doing with our Pathway Home Program—acting with urgency to address encampments humanely and bring people inside.

“I have asked our county departments to double down on this effort and I am celebrating the $51 million grant we have received from Governor Newsom’s administration to use this strategy to address encampments along the 105 freeway. This work needs to begin as quickly as possible.”

Norwalk Health Fair – Sept. 14, 2024 150 150 Hayley Munguia

Norwalk Health Fair – Sept. 14, 2024

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