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Lynwood Gun Buyback 150 150 Esteban Garcia

Lynwood Gun Buyback

We know that when guns are present, our homes and communities are less safe. While we continue to demand action from Congress, I am doing everything in my power to reduce the number of guns on our streets. This is an opportunity for residents to participate in making their own communities safer.

This event is totally anonymous. We will not ask for any identifying information from you.

There are important guidelines to participating in the buy-back that ensure the safety of the public and Sheriff’s deputies. Firearms must be brought unloaded in the trunk of a vehicle and are not permitted on any public transit vehicle. Pedestrian walk-ups will not be accepted. Participants can choose from an assortment of gift cards.

Hahn Releases Statement After Passing of President Jimmy Carter 150 150 Hayley Munguia

Hahn Releases Statement After Passing of President Jimmy Carter

San Pedro, CA — Today, Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn released the following statement following the passing of President Jimmy Carter at the age of 100:

“Jimmy Carter’s extraordinary public service didn’t end when his presidency did. For decades he has remained an icon of kindness and humility, and a champion of peace.

I was lucky to have had the opportunity to build houses alongside him for low income families in San Pedro with Habitat for Humanity back in 2007 when I was on the Los Angeles City Council.

His legacy will live on for generations to come not only here but around the world. May he rest in peace.”

In 2007, then City Councilwoman Hahn joined President Carter on a project with Habitat for Humanity building 16 homes for low-income families in San Pedro.

Torrance Gun Buyback 150 150 Esteban Garcia

Torrance Gun Buyback

We know that when guns are present, our homes and communities are less safe. While we continue to demand action from Congress, I am doing everything in my power to reduce the number of guns on our streets. This is an opportunity for residents to participate in making their own communities safer.

This event is totally anonymous. We will not ask for any identifying information from you. Open to residents of any city.

There are important guidelines to participating in the buy-back that ensure the safety of the public and Torrance PD officers. Firearms must be brought unloaded in the trunk of a vehicle and are not permitted on any public transit vehicle. Pedestrian walk-ups will not be accepted.

Los Angeles County Governance Reform Proposal 150 150 Hayley Munguia

Los Angeles County Governance Reform Proposal

Supervisors Launch Initiative to Make County Parks More Accessible for Residents with Disabilities 150 150 Hayley Munguia

Supervisors Launch Initiative to Make County Parks More Accessible for Residents with Disabilities

Los Angeles, CA – This afternoon, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a motion authored by Supervisor Janice Hahn and coauthored by Supervisor Kathryn Barger that directs the County’s Department of Parks and Recreation and Department of Aging and Disabilities to jointly develop guidelines in collaboration with the County’s Commission on Disabilities that include accessible design recommendations for the County’s future parks and for renovations to existing parks. Hahn was motivated to present the motion after an incident last year in which one of her commissioners to the Commission on Disabilities, Carlos Benavides, nearly toppled over in his wheelchair after attempting to use an inadequate ramp at a County park in Cerritos.

“Our County parks are the heart of our communities. But it’s clear that right now, not everyone can fully enjoy them safely. That’s not acceptable,” said Hahn. “We need to be better and do better to make our county facilities welcoming and safe for people with disabilities.”

Last year, Hahn named an outdoor amphitheater at Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center in Downey after Carlos Benavides in recognition of his advocacy for people with disabilities.

The Departments of Parks and of Aging and Disabilities will create the Parks Accessibility Task Force, to be composed of five commissioners from the Commission on Disabilities (one from each district), 2 commissioners from the City of Los Angeles, and the two departments. The goal of the task force is to provide input from people living with disabilities on the new accessible design recommendations.

“This motion is another step towards increasing the variety of activities and recreational opportunities offered to children and adults of all abilities at our County parks,” said Supervisor Kathryn Barger. “We must ensure our public parks and spaces can accommodate and proactively offer a range of mobility and sensory experiences for all ages. It’s how we can continue to create welcoming and inclusive communities.”

Today’s motion also directs the Parks Department to establish one gym in each of the five supervisorial districts with “inclusive programming,” where residents with disabilities can make use of adaptive equipment and engage in activities such as wheelchair basketball. During the Board’s discussion on the motion, Barger presented a slideshow with photos from an existing adaptive sports program in her district.

LA County’s Department of Parks and Recreation operates a total of 182 parks including 9 regional parks; 39 neighborhood parks; 20 community parks; 15 wildlife sanctuaries; 8 nature centers; 4 botanic gardens; 37 public swimming pools; 2 performance venues; the largest municipal golf system in the nation, consisting of 20 golf courses; and more than 240 miles of multi-use trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding.

Board Greenlights Hahn Proposal for Summer Tutoring at 36 LA County Libraries 150 150 Esteban Garcia

Board Greenlights Hahn Proposal for Summer Tutoring at 36 LA County Libraries

Los Angeles, CA – Today, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a motion authored by Chair Janice Hahn to establish a one-year pilot summer tutoring program at LA County Library locations. The pilot is expected to launch in 2024 at 36 locations across the County, including 12 in Hahn’s district: Alondra (Norwalk), Bell Gardens, Bell, Cudahy, Hawaiian Gardens, Huntington Park, South Gate, Maywood, Lynwood, Norwalk, Clifton M. Brakensiek (Bellflower), and Paramount.
“I’m proud of the fact that our LA County Libraries are hubs of information and resources for residents, and now through our libraries we’re responding to yet another need. In historically overlooked communities, students are falling behind, perpetuating a cycle that we know contributes to lower quality of life. This program is going to give many the extra help they need to catch up, and it’ll also offer great summer job options for high school and college students who need the experience,” said Chair Hahn.
The program will operate for 8 weeks with a focus on reading and math for students in 1st through 8th grades. The 36 libraries are in high-need communities served by LA County Library, and were identified using the LA County Anti-Racism, Diversity, and Inclusion Initiative’s Racial Equity explorer tool. Library staff will work with local school districts to identify students for the program.
“We are committed to providing equitable access to resources that support education and lifelong learning,” said Skye Patrick, LA County Library Director. “Establishing a pilot tutoring program at LA County Library will help students make the best use of our resources while also helping them cultivate a strong foundation for learning that will serve them well academically today and into the future.”
According to the 2022 California Reading Report Card, “58% of California’s third graders are below grade level in reading”. Among low-income students of color, that number rises to more than 75%. Low early reading achievement is highly correlated with low high-school grades, failure to graduate, and likelihood of being incarcerated. In addition, according to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, research shows that students who pass Algebra 1 by 9th grade are twice as likely to graduate high school and more likely to enroll and graduate with a bachelor’s degree and go on to well-paid careers.

Bellflower Gun Buyback 150 150 Esteban Garcia

Bellflower Gun Buyback

We know that when guns are present, our homes and communities are less safe. While we continue to demand action from Congress, I am doing everything in my power to reduce the number of guns on our streets. This is an opportunity for residents to participate in making their own communities safer.

This event is totally anonymous. We will not ask for any information from you.

There are important guidelines to participating in the buy-back that ensure the safety of the public and Sheriff’s deputies. Firearms must be brought unloaded in the trunk of a vehicle and are not permitted on any public transit vehicle. Pedestrian walk-ups will not be accepted. Participants can choose from an assortment of gift cards.

Hahn Motion Secures $15.6 Million Grant for Sheriff’s Department Response to Organized Retail Theft 150 150 Esteban Garcia

Hahn Motion Secures $15.6 Million Grant for Sheriff’s Department Response to Organized Retail Theft


Los Angeles, CA –Today, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a motion authored by Chair Janice Hahn and Supervisor Hilda Solis securing a $15.6 million grant to fund the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s response to organized retail theft.
“The shameless smash and grabs need to be stopped,” said Supervisor Hahn. “These are not petty thefts — these are organized violent operations that rob businesses of thousands upon thousands of dollars in merchandise, physically damage stores, and traumatize retail workers. This is a priority and with this $15.6 million grant, the Sheriff’s Department will have new resources to prevent these smash-and-grabs and root out the criminal organizations behind them.”
Supervisor Hahn’s motion secures a $15.6 million grant awarded by the State to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department to fight organized retail crime. LASD will use this funding to support the department’s recently created Organized Retail Theft Task Force.
“These brazen organized retail theft sprees are hurting business communities across the county and retail companies are losing billions of dollars annually,” said Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna, who joined today’s Board of Supervisors meeting. “Our Retail Theft Task Force through our Major Crimes Bureau is focused on reducing these crimes by targeting these crews and aggressively pursuing not just those who commit the theft, but everyone in the criminal chain. This Organized Retail Theft Grant will allow us to continue to investigate retail theft crimes and provide dedicated staff and equipment necessary to continue to combat these thefts.”
A recent survey from the National Retail Federation found that organized retail crime has increased by 26% since 2000. Unfortunately, this trend holds true in Los Angeles County and includes an increase in smash and grab crimes that have alarmed business owners and the public.
In response, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department partnered with neighboring law enforcement organizations to create the Organized Retail Theft Task Force. Within LASD, this task force will consist of one lieutenant, three sergeants, and thirty detectives who are dedicated to preventing and addressing organized retail theft, including smash-and-grabs, catalytic converter thefts, and cargo theft. The Task Force, which will also be supported by civilian professional staff, will be divided into three geographic teams, and they will collaborate with other law enforcement agencies, the District Attorney’s Office, and local businesses.
Read the full motion here.

Supervisor Hahn Calls for Investigation into Major Gas Leak in West Whittier 150 150 Andrew Veis

Supervisor Hahn Calls for Investigation into Major Gas Leak in West Whittier

West Whittier, CA– Today, Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn is raising concerns about a recent gas leak that forced the evacuation of 75 residents in the early hours of yesterday morning.
Los Angeles County Fire Department and Sheriff’s Department officials responded to reports of a major gas leak on Vicki Drive in West Whittier at 1:30 am on September 14, 2023. Residents who had no where to go spent the night at an evacuation center set up by the Red Cross.
“This was unacceptable, and it raises serious concerns about the state of SoCal Gas infrastructure that a leak of this magnitude was able to happen,” wrote Supervisor Hahn to SoCal Gas CEO Scott Drury. “I am asking for you to conduct a full investigation into this gas line break. It is important that the residents who were put through this ordeal have answers about what went wrong, and it is necessary that the County has assurances that SoCal Gas will not allow this to happen again and that this incident is not a sign of an even larger problem.”
The gas leak was significant enough that clouds of gas could be seen coming from the sidewalk above the leak. The leak was not stopped until after 8 am when residents were finally able to return home. Still, some residents did not have gas for hours after the evacuation order was lifted.

Letter – Letter to SoCal Gas

Read the full letter below:

September 15, 2023

Scott Drury
Chief Executive Officer
Southern California Gas Company
555 West 5th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90013

Dear Mr. Drury,

I am writing to you regarding my deep concern over a recent incident in my district in Unincorporated West Whittier. In the middle of the night in the early hours of September 14th, a major gas leak was discovered on Vicki Drive. Our LA County fire fighters and Sheriff’s deputies responded quickly and evacuated 32 homes and over 75 residents in the middle of the night. Some residents had no where to go and had to spend the night with their children in an evacuation center set up by the Red Cross.
This was unacceptable and it raises serious concerns about the state of SoCal Gas infrastructure that a leak of this magnitude was able to happen.
I am asking for you to conduct a full investigation into this gas line break. It is important that the residents who were put through this ordeal have answers about what went wrong, and it is necessary that the County has assurances that SoCal Gas will not allow this to happen again and that this incident is not a sign of an even larger problem.
Thank you for your attention to this matter and I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

JANICE HAHN
Chair, Board of Supervisors
County of Los Angeles

$321 Million in State Funds Coming to Los Angeles County for Mental Health Housing 150 150 Esteban Garcia

$321 Million in State Funds Coming to Los Angeles County for Mental Health Housing

Los Angeles, CA – This morning, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a motion authored by Chair Janice Hahn and coauthored by Supervisor Kathryn Barger to accept $321,189,238 in state funds for the creation of housing beds for unhoused people experiencing serious mental health and/or substance abuse challenges. The funds come from the state’s Behavioral Health Bridge Housing (BHBH) Program, and will be prioritized for participants in the County’s Community Assistance, Recovery and Empowerment (CARE) Court program which will launch this December.
“We’re just six months from getting our mental health and substance abuse CARE Court up and running in Norwalk and having dedicated housing with treatment available for unhoused clients is going to be essential,” said Chair of the Board Janice Hahn. “CARE Court is a massive undertaking and I appreciate the State for coming through for us with this funding so that we can make sure we are prepared with the beds and treatment these clients will need on day one.”
The vote authorizes the County’s Department of Mental Health to accept $259,280,749 in funds, and the Department of Public Health to accept $61,908,489. Dr. Lisa Wong, Psy.D., Director of Mental Health, and Dr. Barbara Ferrer, Director of Public Health, answered questions from supervisors about potential uses for the funds. Dr. Wong emphasized that this funding would go to projects that can get up and running quickly. The Departments are now able to move forward quickly with releasing the solicitation, entering into contracts with providers, and begin hiring as needed.
“These funds will go a long way in helping our county get CARE Court ready,” said Supervisor Kathryn Barger. “We will significantly expand the number of beds and housing subsidies that we can use to support and heal our homeless residents experiencing severe mental illness and addiction. This funding commitment from the state will help us make sure more beds are available to residents, countywide. We need to continue building up our infrastructure so we can provide equal access.”
Los Angeles County is among the first cohort of counties expected to implement its CARE Court program, with an opening date of December 1 of this year. CARE Court, which will operate out of the Los Angeles County Superior Courthouse in Norwalk, will serve people experiencing serious mental health disorders through court-ordered care that could include medications, wellness and recovery supports, and connection to social services and housing.