I know that public safety has become a top concern for many residents of the Palos Verdes Peninsula communities. I have heard concerns from many about recent property crimes. I have invited Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna to a town hall meeting in RPV next month so we can hear more about the issues you’re facing and discuss possible solutions going forward.
RSVP by email at fourthdistrict@bos.lacounty.gov, or call (310) 519-6021.
Supervisors Direct County Staff to Prepare for CARE Court Launchhttps://hahn.lacounty.gov/wp-content/themes/blade/images/empty/thumbnail.jpg150150Esteban GarciaEsteban Garciahttps://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/f75a0a635aeccb2b3e4a965e8c31e362?s=96&d=mm&r=g
County will use Emergency Declaration to Hire Needed Staff Quickly
Los Angeles, CA – Today, led by Supervisors Janice Hahn and Kathryn Barger, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted to direct staff to prepare for the launch of CARE Court on December 1, 2023. CARE Court, a new initiative championed by Governor Newsom and passed into law by the State Legislature, aims to fix the ongoing challenge of getting people with severe mental illness the support and care they need.
“We have been struggling for decades to figure out a way to get real, compassionate help to people with severe mental illness, and I believe CARE Court could be the missing piece of the puzzle,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn. “Our December 1 launch date is coming up quickly and there is plenty of work we need to do to be prepared to provide CARE Court clients with the care they need and support their concerned family members on day one.
CARE Court will provide upstream treatment opportunities to individuals suffering from severe mental health disorders, especially schizophrenia spectrum and psychotic disorders, and are unable to make their own medical decisions by authorizing specified people, like family members, to petition a civil court to create a CARE plan for that individual.
“This motion is about our County proactively preparing for CARE Court. Staffing up is key so that we’re ready to help the gravely disabled – they’re the intended clients and their needs are complex. Our Department of Mental Health is the lead implementation agency and I support moving forward, but there are still a lot of questions about how referrals will be accepted and managed that need to be answered. A lot of good can be achieved. We need to work in close partnership with the state so we get this right and are set up to succeed. We can’t squander this opportunity.”
The Board passed a motion today, authored by Hahn and Barger, directing the LA County Department of Mental Health to recruit and hire new employees to support the CARE Court program and use the Board’s emergency authority under the recently declared Homelessness Emergency to expedite hiring. The motion also directs County staff to identify potential properties and facilities that are needed to support CARE Court, to develop a referral system to connect CARE Court clients with substance use treatment, to implement a peer supporter program for CARE Court participants, and to report back in 90 days with progress made towards CARE Court implementation.
“December 1st is just around the corner and so much needs to be done,” commented Mike Molina, who serves on the LA County Commission on Mental Health. “We need emergency appointments. We need treatment facilities identified, prepared and staff hired. We need coordination with the courts and all agencies involved. And we need a full and comprehensive communications plan so that County residents clearly know the options and services offered to them through CARE Court. This Motion is just what we need to fast-track the work ahead in the next six months.”
Under SB 1338, every county in the state must implement CARE Court. The County of Los Angeles will be part of the first group of California counties to implement CARE Court starting with one courtroom and one judge in the LA County Superior Court Courthouse in Norwalk.
Governor Newsom’s May Revision to the state budget proposes to allocate $15 million to Los Angeles County to implement CARE Court. The revision also identified $151 million in ongoing funds to support CARE Courts statewide although LA County’s allocation is unknown at this point.
Today’s motion passed in a 4-1 vote with Supervisors Janice Hahn, Kathryn Barger, Hilda Solis, and Holly Mitchell voting for the motion and Supervisor Lindsey Horvath voting against it.
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 LBPD officers. Firearms must be brought unloaded in the trunk of a vehicle and are not permitted on any Metro or Long Beach Transit vehicle. Pedestrian walk-ups will not be accepted. Participants can choose from an assortment of gift cards, including gift cards that can be redeemed on Amazon.
Board Declares June 2nd Gun Violence Awareness Day in LA Countyhttps://hahn.lacounty.gov/wp-content/themes/blade/images/empty/thumbnail.jpg150150Esteban GarciaEsteban Garciahttps://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/f75a0a635aeccb2b3e4a965e8c31e362?s=96&d=mm&r=g
Los Angeles, CA – Today, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors declared June 2, 2023, Gun Violence Awareness Day in Los Angeles County. The declaration, brought forward by Chair of the Board Supervisor Janice Hahn and Supervisor Hilda L. Solis, is meant to draw attention to the devastation caused nationwide by gun violence and urge Congressional leaders to act.
“The nationwide gun violence crisis continues to plague our community,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn. “Just last week, Long Beach lost 12-year-old Eric Gregory Brown III in a senseless drive-by shooting. We know that so many of these deaths are preventable and if we hope to ever get action from Congress, we can’t stay quiet. We have to demand action for the sake of our children.”
The proposal to declare Gun Violence Awareness Day came to Hahn’s office from Moms Demand Action, a grassroots organization that advocates for public safety measures to protect people from gun violence. June 2nd is significant because it is the birthday of Hadiya Pendleton, a 15-year-old girl from Chicago who was playing in a park with her friends when she was tragically shot and killed, just one week after performing at President Obama’s inauguration in 2013.
“Enough is enough,” said Supervisor Solis. “We need real solutions and real action. I am proud of our collective record of standing with victims and survivors of gun violence and fighting for responsible gun safety. And in proclaiming June 2nd as Gun Violence Awareness Day, we are showing our over 10 million residents, our over 100,000 employees, and the nation, that LA County will continue to demonstrate its support to making our communities safer.”
Members of the organization testified at today’s Board Meeting, urging residents to wear orange on June 2nd. Orange was selected because it is the color hunters wear to prevent themselves from being shot.
At today’s meeting, Moms Demand Action volunteer Heather Jones spoke to the board about heartbreaking questions she got from her six and ten-year-old children who worried they would be shot and asked where they could be shot and still live.
Supervisor Hahn has led the effort at the Board to put in place new gun violence prevention ordinances that put new regulations on gun dealers and prevent the sale of .50 caliber weapons and ammunition. She has also held gun buyback events across her district which have taken 814 guns off the streets. Hahn’s next gun buyback is in coordination with the Long Beach Police Department on June 10, 2023, from 7:00am-5:00PM at MacArthur Park located at 1321 E Anaheim St, Long Beach. Residents are encouraged to turn in firearms in exchange for gift cards– no questions asked.
Pico Rivera, CA – On Friday morning, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Janice Hahn and LA County Department of Mental Health Director Lisa Wong, Psy.D., unveiled a new campaign to prevent school shootings and school violence. The new education campaign features social media ads and in-school posters to encourage high school students to contact the County Department of Mental Health’s School Threat Assessment Response Team (START) if they witness concerning or threatening behavior by a fellow student.
The START program consists of mental health professionals who work with schools and law enforcement and respond to calls about concerning behavior that could potentially lead to school violence. When contacted about a student who might pose a threat to themselves or others, the team comes in to assess the level of risk and provide targeted intervention to the student.
Up until now, however, trainings and advertisement of the START program has been aimed at teachers, school administrators, and other school staff. Studies have shown that many youth who commit acts of violence at school discuss or mention their plans beforehand, often on social media and to other students. Targeted intervention can successfully prevent violence, and it is important that programs like START are informed about early warning signs.
“If one of our students witnesses something that doesn’t feel right, they need to know there is someone they can call who can step in and help,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn. “We are blanketing social media with these ads so we can reach as many LA County students as possible with this information.”
Examples of START social media ads
The new campaign unveiled by Supervisor Hahn and Director Lisa Wong on Friday morning at a press conference the El Rancho Youth Center in Pico Rivera aims to reach high school students with information about START.
The campaign includes a video PSA, ads that will run on popular websites like Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube, Twitch and Facebook, and posters that have been distributed to more than 200 schools countywide. The campaign’s tagline, “If it doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t,” was developed through focus groups with local students.
“The START Campaign hopes help students recognize that when something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. This campaign empowers students to make a difference in their lives, and the lives of fellow students who may be on a path to violence, but could benefit from services and intervention,” said Dr. Lisa H. Wong, Director of the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health. “Studies have shown that many youth who commit acts of violence at school either discuss or mention their plans beforehand, often to other students and on social media. And studies have shown that by providing early intervention services to students who are posing threats, students’ outcomes can be positively impacted by connecting them to services and providing the support needed to succeed. By speaking directly to young people, the campaign encourages direct referrals to START from them when they recognize concerning behaviors by fellow students.”
START PSA now up on YouTube
The campaign’s PSA features a real student named Mia Tretta who survived a shooting at Saugus High School in Santa Clarita in 2019. Mia’s best friend, Dominic Blackwell, was shot and killed. Since the shooting, Mia has become a passionate anti-gun violence activist.
Hahn Praises President Biden’s Executive Order on Gun Violencehttps://hahn.lacounty.gov/wp-content/themes/blade/images/empty/thumbnail.jpg150150Emily LintnerEmily Lintnerhttps://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/85cfc18eb3c8162c132df3fbc9545eee?s=96&d=mm&r=g
Los Angeles, CA – Today, Chair of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Janice Hahn will be among officials on the tarmac of Los Angeles International Airport to welcome President Joe Biden to Los Angeles. President Biden will visit Monterey Park where he will discuss new executive actions he is taking to address gun violence.
Supervisor Hahn released the following statement applauding the President’s executive order:
“Even while Congress refuses to act to pass the most basic gun violence prevention legislation, President Biden is doing everything in his power to save lives. He is focusing on the most effective tools we have right now, strengthening our background check system so that we can keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people, and making our ‘red flag laws’ more effective so loved ones can be empowered to prevent tragedy when a gun owner becomes a danger to themselves or others.”
Supervisor Hahn recently took action to increase the effectiveness of red flag laws in Los Angeles County. Last week, the Board unanimously approved her motion to improve access to gun violence restraining orders. Read more here.
Supervisor Hahn Names Pico Rivera Councilmember Dr. Monica Sanchez “Woman of the Year”https://hahn.lacounty.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/DFA_9482-1024x681.jpg1024681Emily LintnerEmily Lintnerhttps://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/85cfc18eb3c8162c132df3fbc9545eee?s=96&d=mm&r=g
Los Angeles, CA — Today, Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn honored Dr. Monica Sanchez, Pico Rivera City Councilwoman, at the Los Angeles County Commission for Women’s 38th Annual “Women of the Year” Awards and Scholarship Celebration.
“Dr. Monica Sanchez is a role model,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn. “She became a mother young, but that didn’t stop her from being the first in her family to go to college and earn her doctorate. When she saw there weren’t any women serving on her City Council, she threw her own name in the ring, campaigned door-to-door, and on Election Night earned twice the number of votes as her closest competitor. Now, she is an example for young girls across Southeast Los Angeles to look up to.”
Supervisor Hahn presented Dr. Sanchez with the Fourth District’s “Woman of the Year” award. Dr. Sanchez was honored alongside Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass who received the commission’s President’s Award.
Dr. Monica Sánchez was elected to the Pico Rivera City Council in a Special Election held in November 2019, becoming the only woman currently serving on the council. Before being elected to the City Council, Dr. Sánchez was a Planning Commissioner and served four years on the Parks and Recreation Commission for the City of Pico Rivera.
Dr. Sánchez is currently a Board Member for the Southeast Area Social Services Funding Authority. This public agency provides social services to seniors, such as meals and job services to adults and youth at no cost. She served as Chair on the Rio Hondo College District Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee, having served two terms. Dr. Sánchez has worked on the Commission for Alcohol and Drugs seven years, where she has received commendation by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors for her exemplary service. She also serves as a Board Member for the UCLA Southeast Bruins Alumni Association.
Dr. Sánchez earned a Doctorate and Master’s degree in Education from UCLA and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from U.C. Berkeley and is an alumna of Rio Hondo College. Dr. Sánchez works as an educator for the Los Angeles County Office of Education and advocates for women, children, and public health. She lives in Pico Rivera with her two sons, her pet cat, and chihuahua.
Los Angeles, CA — Today, Chair of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Janice Hahn released the following statement regarding the Board’s unanimous decision to terminate Los Angeles County Probation Chief Adolfo Gonzales:
“Our juvenile halls are in crisis. The state has found them unsuitable, and they are at risk of being shut down. Youth are being hurt and are not attending school. Staff are being attacked and many are not showing up to work. There void in leadership starting from the top has allowed this situation to fester. Our Board’s decision to terminate Chief Gonzales is only the first step of a long road to fixing our juvenile halls and supporting the youth in our care and the staff who work with them.”
Los Angeles, CA – Today, the LA County Board of Supervisors took steps to improve County residents’ ability to access Gun Violence Restraining Orders, following a unanimous vote on a motion authored by Board Chair Janice Hahn and co-authored by Supervisor Hilda Solis.
“While creating new methods to regulate guns and prevent gun violence are important, we also need to be sure we’re not neglecting the tools we already have,” said Chair Hahn. “Gun Violence Restraining Orders can save lives, but most people in LA County don’t know they exist. Today’s motion will help us get the word out about this important resource and make the process of obtaining a gun violence restraining order as easy as possible.”
In 2016, California passed a red flag law that allows people to petition a court for a Gun Violence Restraining Order (GVRO), that, when granted, mandates the removal of all firearms and ammunition from individuals who are determined to be at risk of causing imminent harm to themselves or others. However, this tool is severely underutilized in Los Angeles County. Out of the 1,384 GVROs issued in California in 2021, only 54 came out of Los Angeles County.
“The County of Los Angeles must put more effort into helping to educate victims and survivors of domestic violence about Gun Violence Restraining Orders. Information is power, and we must empower those at risk of harm to access this critical resource,” said Supervisor Solis.
Supervisors were joined by anti-gun violence activists, survivors of gun violence, and family members of victims of gun violence who spoke in support of the motion.
The motion directs the LA County Department of Public Health’s Office of Violence Prevention to report back in 90 days with the following:
A plan to implement a public awareness campaign on GVRO’s, including what they are and how to petition for one.
Ways to create a process to collect data on GVROs submitted in LA County, including the number of GVROs filed annually, the number of petitions that result in an order after a court hearing, and the number of firearms removed as a result of GVROs.
Options and recommendations for assigning responsibility within LA County for streamlining the GVRO process, collecting data, providing training to law enforcement and the public, and assisting with both public-initiated and law enforcement-initiated GVRO petitions.
LA County Supervisors Vote to Fly Progress Pride Flaghttps://hahn.lacounty.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/progress-1024x768.jpg1024768Emily LintnerEmily Lintnerhttps://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/85cfc18eb3c8162c132df3fbc9545eee?s=96&d=mm&r=g
Los Angeles, CA — Today, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to fly the Progress Pride flag at County offices during the month of June in honor of LGBTQ+ Pride Month. The flag will fly above the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration as well as at County facilities where the U.S. and California flags currently fly.
“We are seeing anti-LGBTQ+ and anti-trans bills being passed at an alarming rate across the country. Here in Los Angeles County we’re making our position clear: in the largest county in the nation, LGBTQ+ residents have the unwavering support of their government,” said the motion’s author Janice Hahn, Chair of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. “The first Pride flag was actually commissioned in the 1970s by another County Supervisor, Supervisor Harvey Milk. Today we honor that legacy in LA County.”
The motion, coauthored by Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath, also instructs the Chief Executive Office to work with all County Departments to explore ways the Progress Pride Flag can be flown at all County facilities in the future.
“Raising the Progress Pride Flag at Los Angeles County facilities signals the County’s commitment to inclusion, fostering safe spaces, and embracing love in all our communities,” said Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath. “We must strive to ensure LA County is a place our LGBTQ+ community is proud to call home all year long. I look forward to celebrating Pride Month this June and seeing the Progress Pride Flag waving across the County.”
The Pride Progress Flag was designed in 2018 by Daniel Quasar. It modifies the original rainbow flag with the addition of a chevron on the left side of the flag in the colors black, brown, light blue, pink, and white. Black and brown represent LGBTQ+ people of color, while the light blue, pink, and white colors represent the trans community.