Priorities

A Safer LA County

Janice Hahn stands outdoors speaking with two police officers beside a table displaying confiscated firearms. The table is covered with a white cloth and holds several weapons, including rifles, handguns, and a wooden-stock firearm. The officers are in uniform, and one person off-camera is holding a phone to take a photo. Trees, grass, and parked cars are visible in the background.

One of Supervisor Hahn’s top priorities is making LA County a safer place for all. From installing weapons detection technology on the LA Metro system to school violence prevention, she has led several initiatives to protect LA County residents and reduce violent crime.

Weapons detection technology on Metro

Supervisor Hahn has led the charge to install weapons detection technology across the Metro system, and a pilot program to test the technology began in August 2024. The first phase of this pilot program lasted through December 2024. The second phase began in April 2025, in which pillar-style scanners are being installed at various stations on a rotating basis through April 2026.

You can’t bring a weapon onto a plane, or into a concert, or to a Dodgers game. You shouldn’t be able to bring one onto Metro either.

So far, this technology has shown incredible promise. Officers have identified an average of three bladed weapons per shift, and it is deterring people from bringing weapons into stations. Our officers have watched individuals turn around and leave the station when they see the scanners in action.

Strengthening LA County’s Gun Regulations

On February 7, 2023, the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved Supervisor Hahn’s motion establishing ordinances to enhance gun regulation in LA County. These include:

Banning the sale of .50 guns and ammunition in unincorporated LA County.

Prohibiting anyone who is not law enforcement or active military from carrying firearms on LA County property including our beaches, parks, playgrounds, and County buildings.

Writing an ordinance to establish a 1,000 foot buffer zone in unincorporated areas between gun stores and areas where children gather, like schools, parks, and daycares.

Writing new regulations to make gun dealers in unincorporated areas follow common sense rules — things like bans on minors in gun stores, requirements for inventory/fingerprint laws, security cameras, and more.

Getting Guns off the Streets

Tackling gun violence takes solutions at all different levels. In addition to enacting common sense regulations on the type and prevalence of guns, Supervisor Hahn has also made it a priority to get as many guns off of our streets as possible. To that end, the Supervisor has hosted a number of gun buy-backs in locations across the Fourth District, which has resulted in members of the public voluntarily turning in more than 2,700 guns.

Improving Awareness of Existing Laws

There are several laws already on the books that could help prevent gun violence if they were better utilized. California’s red flag law that allows people to petition a court for a Gun Violence Restraining Order is a good example of that. When the law is put to use, it 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.

But out of the 1,384 GVROs issued in California in 2021, only 54 came out of Los Angeles County. Lack of public awareness in LA County has prevented this law from being as effective as it can be. So on March 7, 2023, the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a motion authored by Supervisor Hahn and co-authored by Supervisor Hilda Solis to create a public awareness campaign, collect and analyze data on GVROs and to streamline the GVRO process.

School Violence Prevention

Supervisor Hahn partnered with LA County Department of Mental Health Director Lisa Wong, Psy.D., in launching a new campaign that encourages 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.

Housing as a Human Right

A woman wearing patterned leggings embraces Supervisor Hahn, who is wearing a blue safety vest under an overpass where several tents and belongings are set up. A dog rests on a mattress near the tents, and scattered trash and debris cover the ground around them.

Homelessness is one of the most critical issues that Los Angeles County faces, and it requires two types of solutions: building more housing and addressing the root causes of why people fall into homelessness, which can include everything from poverty to mental health challenges to substance use disorders.

Supervisor Hahn is committed to solving our homelessness crisis using every tool available.

State of Emergency

Tackling the scope of homelessness in LA County requires every resource we have, which is why Supervisor Hahn signed a declaration of a state of emergency on homelessness on Dec. 12, 2022. This allows the County to approach the homelessness crisis as you would a natural disaster like a fire or flood that displaces tens of thousands of people from their homes by mobilizing resources more quickly to address the issue of homelessness and move housing projects forward without cumbersome red tape.

Ending veteran homelessness

Ending veteran homelessness in LA County is within our grasp, and Supervisor Hahn has made it her goal to make sure every homeless veteran in the Fourth District is able to enter safe housing by 2028.

In 2024, we were able to cut veteran homelessness by 22%. In that year’s Homeless Count, there are 2,991 veterans living on the streets and in shelters in LA County, including just over 500 in the Fourth District.

This kind of success has been made possible with projects like one in San Pedro, where we turned the run down old Best Western on Gaffey Street into the Louis Dominguez Veterans Center, which is now housing 100 local veterans. Supervisor Hahn is committed to doubling down on this work.

CARE Court

Supervisor Hahn supports Gov. Gavin Newsom’s efforts to fix the ongoing challenge of getting people with severe mental illness the support and care they need through CARE Court. CARE Court is a statewide initiative in which the families or caregivers of people with severe mental illness can get help creating an individualized plan for their loved one with the ultimate goal of getting treatment and staying housed long-term. The program launched in LA County on Dec. 1, 2023.

Leading up to the LA County launch, the Board of Supervisors approved a motion by Supervisors Hahn and Kathryn Barger that directed County staff to recruit and hire new employees to support the CARE Court program, 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 and to implement a peer supporter program for CARE Court participants.

Building Housing

Supervisor Hahn has supported housing initiatives all across the Fourth District, including:

Accepting $321 million in state funds for the creation of housing for unhoused people experiencing serious mental health and/or substance abuse challenges

Opening the Hondo Center of Healing at Rancho Los Amigos, an 80-bed interim housing site on the campus of the Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center in Downey

Providing $500,000 to the City of Bellflower to support the New Hope Shelter, a 50-bed shelter providing interim housing and supportive services to individuals experiencing homelessness

Securing $6.5 million in Measure H funding to help pay for a former Rescue Mission property in Long Beach, which will be converted into a year-round homeless shelter

Transforming vacant pieces of County property into housing, including converting the formerly vacant South Whittier Library into The Nook, a supportive housing development with 26 apartments for young adults ages 18-24 who have struggled with homelessness

Diversity is Our Strength

A large outdoor Pride celebration shows rainbow balloon letters spelling “PRIDE” in front of a crowd. Several people stand near a tall flagpole as a Pride flag is raised beneath a U.S. flag. Attendees, some dressed in colorful clothing, clap and cheer while musicians stand nearby with instruments. Tall trees and parked cars are visible in the background under an overcast sky. LA County is one of the most diverse places in the world—and we are better off because of all of the different communities that have made a home here.

From improving access to immigration services to protecting LGBTQ+ rights, Supervisor Hahn has worked to ensure LA County remains a safe and welcoming place for all.

Resources for immigrants

There are so many immigrant communities that have made their home in the Fourth District— like Little India in Artesia, Cambodia Town in Long Beach, the Croatian American community and Little Italy in San Pedro, and of course the Latino communities that have immigrated from Mexico, El Salvador and across Central America to make a home in Southeast LA and beyond.

Supervisor Hahn has worked to protect these communities and make sure they have access to all of the services and resources that LA County can provide. In July 2025, she joined Supervisor Hilda Solis in beginning the work to increase funding and expand the county’s RepresentLA program, which provides legal representation to immigrants.

Supervisor Hahn also directed Metro to begin sharing “Know Your Rights” materials on all buses and trains, and in the wake of the senseless and chaotic ICE raids that spread across LA County in the summer of 2025, she led a motion to prohibit law enforcement from concealing their identities.

Protecting LGBTQ+ rights

LGBTQ+ communities across LA County have contributed so much to the cultural fabric of Los Angeles, and Supervisor Hahn has worked to uplift and celebrate our LGBTQ+ residents, and make sure their rights are protected.

Not only did Supervisor Hahn Supervisor co-author a motion with Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath, to fly the Progress Pride flag at County offices during the month of June, but she hosted a Pride Flag Raising Ceremony in Downey after their City Council voted against raising the flag.

Supervisor Hahn also partnered with Assemblymember Lisa Calderon to secure $4.2 million to bring an LGBTQ+ Community Resource Center to Whittier, which celebrated its grand opening in September 2024.

On the policy front, Supervisor Hahn formally supported changes to FDA guidelines so that blood donation policies no longer take sexual orientation into account when determining eligibility; instead, the new guidelines have eliminated the previous restrictions based on sexual orientation and replaced them with a risk-based questionnaire for all blood donors.

In the wake of the Trump Administration’s announcement that it would end funding for LGBTQ+ crisis counseling on the 988 suicide prevention hotline, she also brought a motion to the Board of Supervisors, co-authored by Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath, directing the county to find ways to restore his critical service for LGBTQ+ youth.

Improving opportunities for women and people of color

While plenty of workplaces and institutions have made a lot of progress when it comes to representation of women—including the Board of Supervisors—there are still too many career paths with barriers in place that prevent women from thriving.

Supervisor Hahn has led efforts for our LA County Fire Department to hire more women, and in February 2024, she introduced a motion that was co-authored by Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath directing our Fire Department to find ways to procure uniforms that are made for women’s bodies. The ill-fitting uniforms and turnout gear that women have been forced to wear have left women firefighters and lifeguards vulnerable to cancer due to exposure smoke and other carcinogens, and injuries due to the uniforms and gear constricting their movement. Providing our first responders with uniforms that fit them is the least we can do.

A Stronger Safety Net

A woman speaks at a podium while holding up a small tracking device during a press event. Behind her are outdoor palm trees, county flags, and a large “L.A. Found” banner featuring a helicopter and a map graphic. The setup appears to promote a program that helps locate individuals who may wander due to Alzheimer’s, dementia, or autism. One of the most important functions of our Los Angeles County government is serving as a safety net for those who are most vulnerable. Supervisor Hahn has worked to ensure everyone—no matter their age, race, gender, sexual orientation, income level or disability status—has access to the resources and support they need to live healthy, meaningful lives.

Medical debt relief

On Oct. 3, 2023, the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a motion authored by Board Chair Janice Hahn and co-authored by Supervisor Holly Mitchell aimed at reducing the burden of medical debt on County residents.

Through this effort, LA County partnered with the nonprofit Undue Medical Debt to purchase medical debt from debt collectors for pennies on the dollar. With just $5 million, LA County was able to buy $500 million in medical debt—but instead of collecting on it, we are eliminating that debt.

In May 2025, the first round of letters went out to more than 134,000 LA County residents notifying them that their medical debt has been wiped out—no questions asked, no strings attached.

LA Found

Few things are as scary as when a loved one goes missing. Caregivers of people who are at risk of wandering due to Alzheimer’s, autism, dementia, or other cognitive impairments often live in daily fear of that very possibility—and for too long, resources to ease those concerns were scarce.

So in September 2018, Supervisor Hahn launched L.A. Found with the goal of finding people who wander and reuniting them with their families. The voluntary program provides bracelets for those who may wander. The bracelets correspond with a unique radio frequency, and when a person wearing a bracelet goes missing, the LA County Sheriff’s Department Mental Evaluation Team can use a handheld receiver or receiver mounted on a helicopter to find the person’s location. The bracelets do not track people 24/7.

More than a dozen people have been found safely after going missing through LA Found since it launched.

Office of Food Equity

The COVID-19 pandemic brought new light to concerns around food insecurity and access to healthy meals for many LA County residents. So in November 2023, Supervisor Hahn wrote a motion, co-authored by Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, building on the County’s efforts to fight growing food insecurity in our region by establishing a new LA County Office of Food Equity.

This office is now working hand-in-hand with philanthropy and local nonprofits to encourage urban farming, better supporting local food entrepreneurs, prevent food waste, and improve access to nutrition assistance programs. This is an important step toward a future where everyone in LA County can get the healthy food they need.

Clean Air & Transit for All

A woman stands in front of a large silver electric Metro bus parked on a brick-patterned plaza. The bus displays phrases like “Nation’s Largest Clean-Air Fleet,” “Electric,” and “Go Metro.” Tall buildings and palm trees rise in the background. From the twin ports to multiple rendering facilities, the Fourth District includes some of the most polluted areas of LA County, and residents bear the burden. Supervisor Hahn is committed to holding polluters accountable and creating a healthier environment for all.

Part of the solution is to expand clean transit options across the county—which will also improve residents’ ability to access jobs, education, healthcare, and all of the resources that are necessary for a good quality of life.

Supporting the shutdown of polluters

Supervisor Hahn has been a fierce advocate for communities impacted by rendering plants in Vernon.

In 2022, she called on the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) to conduct a comprehensive investigation of the emissions, operations, and monitoring at these plants and their cumulative impacts on neighboring downwind communities who routinely experienced odors from these facilities.

When it became clear that facilities like Sterigenics and Baker Commodities had long violated air quality rules with no attempts to come into compliance, she called for their shutdown.

Improving and expanding transit service

Supervisor Hahn has been a strong advocate for Metro’s Southeast Gateway Line, which will connect Southeast LA and the Gateway Cities to Downtown LA. Her leadership has helped secure significant state and federal funding, as well as accelerate the timeline for this project.

Supervisor Hahn has also secured funding for multiple projects that will improve the experience of transit riders throughout the Fourth District. The Southeast LA Transit Improvement Program, for example, is a $29.5 million effort delivering bus shelters, lighting, and real-time bus arrival information at bus stops throughout Southeast LA communities.

As the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games approach, she has also pushed Metro to explore more innovative and efficient ways to move people across the county, including by proposing a water taxi to run between San Pedro and Long Beach.

Canceling the 710 Widening Project

Supervisor Hahn spearheaded the effort to end a decades-long proposal to widen the 710 Freeway.

Widening the freeway would have wiped out neighborhoods. Instead, a proposal by Supervisor Hahn that was co-authored by Supervisor Hilda Solis, Supervisor Holly Mitchell, and Director Fernando Dutra Supervisor Hahn proposed using the $750 million in local sales taxes that was dedicated to the project to invest in more innovative solutions to traffic congestion, air pollution, street safety challenges, and other problems that communities along the 710 face.