commissions

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.

Los Angeles, CA — Today, Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn appointed Wilmington native and longshoreman Jesse “Nacho” Enriquez to the Los Angeles Harbor Area Cemetery District Board of Trustees. The trustees are entrusted with operating and preserving the Historic Wilmington Cemetery, which was built by Phineas Banning in 1857.

“Jesse’s own story represents the history of Wilmington. Caring for this community’s treasures like the Historic Wilmington Cemetery is personal, and it’s a job I know Jesse will take very seriously. This is a sacred place for families, so I’m thankful for his deep commitment to protecting and promoting it,” said Hahn

Enriquez has deep roots in Wilmington; his family settled in Wilmington over a century ago, and he attended Fries Ave. Elementary, Wilmington Jr. High School and Banning High School. Enriquez has been a member of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) for 28 years, and has served on its executive board for 15 of those years. He has also performed volunteer work abroad, building homes for the people in need in Mexico.

“I’m very honored to be a part of the Historic Wilmington Cemetery in this capacity, I have generations of my family interned there and countless friends,” said Enriquez. “Honoring all of them is an honor never planned in life but at this point I’m humbled to be part of this, I can’t think of a better way to serve the community and their loved ones.”

The Historic Wilmington Cemetery is the final resting place for many important figures in local history including Nathaniel Narbonne and Juan Antonio Machado, the namesake for Machado Lake. There are also 37 veterans of the Civil War buried at the cemetery.

Dolores Nason with Supervisor Janice Hahn and another Fourth District Commissioner Richard Hernandez

Los Angeles, CA — Today, Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn reappointed Long Beach resident Dolores Nason to the Board of Directors of Access Services which provides safe paratransit services for residents with disabilities in LA County. Access Paratransit is a shared ride service that provides curb-to-curb transportation using a fleet of small buses, min-vans, and taxis. It operates seven days a week, 24 hours of the day in most areas of Los Angeles County.

“LA County could not accomplish everything we do without residents who volunteer their time and expertise, and Dolores has been there for LA County in more ways than one. She has dedicated so much of her life to improving the lives of some of the most vulnerable, and I’m grateful that she is once again stepping up to serve on the Access Services board and ensure residents of all abilities can access the transit services they need,” said Hahn.

Nason currently serves as Executive Director of Disabled Resources Center, Inc. (DRC), a nonprofit Independent Living Center (ILC) affiliated with the California Department of Rehabilitation. Nason is also a current member of the Long Beach Mental Health Advisory Committee and has served on the Scholarship Committees of Long Beach City College and Cal State Long Beach. She holds life membership in the Assistance League of Long Beach and founding membership in Footlighters, Musical Theatre West.

“I am a longtime, dedicated advocate on behalf of people with all disabilities in assuring that they get equal access to all forms of transportation. Additionally, I genuinely enjoy my Access Board service, working with such amazing colleagues, and I look forward to our monthly meetings,” said Nason. “I am well-prepared, ready, and truly honored to be considered for this reappointment by Supervisor Janice Hahn.”

Nason is also the longtime chair of the Long Beach Transit Paratransit Advisory Committee and continues her longtime service on the ADA Subcommittee of the American Public Transportation Association.

Los Angeles, CA – Today, Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn appointed San Pedro homeless services advocate Amber Sheikh to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) Commission. The ten-member body has the authority to make budgetary, funding, planning and program policies, and includes members representing both the City and County of Los Angeles. Sheikh has spent years working with and on behalf of people experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles.

“I’ve seen Amber in action, reaching out to our neighbors experiencing homelessness, encouraging them to accept help. That is exactly the type of determined, methodical, and passionate energy we need for LAHSA,” said Hahn. “She is a champion for unhoused people and our effort to tackle homelessness will be better off with her on this commission.”

Hahn and Sheikh speaking with a resident of a homeless encampment during an Inside Safe resolution in Harbor City last year.

Sheikh is the owner and Chief Impact Officer of Sheikh/Impact, a social-sector consulting firm working to raise the capacity of nonprofit organizations in the fields of justice reform, income inequality and healthcare access. Sheikh previously spent ten years in homeless services and urban poverty alleviation with various organizations including the Downtown Women’s Center, Children Today in Long Beach, and Indcare Trust in Delhi, India.

“I am grateful to Supervisor Hahn for this appointment, and both excited and humbled by the opportunity,” says Sheikh. “A lifelong Angeleno and advocate for the unhoused, I’ve witnessed Supervisor Hahn’s personal and political commitment to addressing our region’s most pressing issue firsthand. LAHSA has perhaps the most important mission of any public Commission, and I look forward to supporting efforts to achieve what I believe to be our ultimate goal: setting more of our neighbors on a path to safe, sustainable housing, leading to a better life.”

Sheikh, a daughter of Pakistani and English immigrants, mother of two, and San Pedro resident, was selected as Woman of the Year for the City of Los Angeles’s 15th District in 2019 for her homeless outreach work. She also serves as a board member of Social Justice Partners LA, Abode Community Housing and Maternal Mental Health Now.

Los Angeles, CA — Today, Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn re-appointed Adam Galia to the Los Angeles County Watershed Area Steering Committee for the Lower San Gabriel River as the At-large community member. The Watershed Area Steering Committees are area-based committees that review proposed projects and develop Safe Clean Water Program investment plans for their watershed.

“Adam knows how to engage local government, business leaders, and the community, and in a role like this one, that range and expertise are invaluable,” said Hahn. “I’m thankful for the work he has done and I know that he’ll continue to be a great asset to this group.”

Adam currently serves as a Senior Government and Community Relations Specialist for a major aerospace company where he is responsible for maintaining relationships with local elected officials and civic and business leaders. He also manages corporate giving and nonprofit funding in Los Angeles and Orange Counties.

“I am honored to be reappointed by Supervisor Hahn to the Lower San Gabriel River Watershed Steering Committee as we continue evaluating and funding local water infrastructure projects that protect our environment while providing key benefits to these communities,” said Galia. “Ensuring the best use of Measure W funds is paramount and I look forward to my continued service on behalf of the residents of Los Angeles County.”

Los Angeles, CA — Today, Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn appointed Whittier resident and realtor Annamarie Banales to the Los Angeles County Assessment Appeals Board. The Assessment Appeals Board acts in a quasi-judicial capacity, settling valuation disputes between the taxpayers and the Assessor’s Office, and equalizing the County’s property tax roll.

“Making the decisions that this Board makes demands expertise, and thanks to her more than 20 years of experience in real estate, Annamarie has what it takes,” said Hahn. “I know she will be a great asset to the Board.”

Annamarie’s years of experience span various roles, including as a REO Broker Executive Assistant, BPO Agent, and Transaction Coordinator. Through that work, Banales has gained extensive expertise in the fields of property valuation, short sale negotiation, real estate compliance codes and disclosure.

On her appointment, Annamarie said, “Being appointed onto the Assessment Appeals Board will give me a great opportunity to use my knowledge of property value in the area that we serve.”

Los Angeles, CA — Today, Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn appointed Felipe Garcia to the Little Lake Cemetery District, which administers the Little Lake Cemetery in Santa Fe Springs. The cemetery serves the communities of Santa Fe Springs, Norwalk and portions of La Mirada, Bellflower and Downey. Garcia has been a resident of Santa Fe Springs since 1963.

“Caring for the Little Lake Cemetery is a labor of love for Felipe. This space is sacred for so many families, and I know that Felipe is going to devote the attention and care that this work requires,” said Hahn.

Garcia’s wife is buried at Little Lake Cemetery. The Little Lake Cemetery District is responsible for overseeing the management and care of the grounds as well as setting District policy and procedures in accordance with the California Health and Safety Code pertaining to public cemeteries.

Los Angeles, CA — Today, Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn appointed Long Beach environmental leader Dan Knapp to the Los Angeles County Watershed Area Steering Committee for the Lower San Gabriel River. The Watershed Area Steering Committees are area-based committees that review proposed projects and develop investment plans for their watershed.

“Dan has proven himself throughout his many years of experience in the environmental field. He is committed to responsible stewardship and brings an impressive level of knowledge,” said Hahn. “I’m very thankful for the work he has done in this role and the strong expertise that he continues to bring to the table for our County.”

Dan brings more than two decades of environmental work and experience to this role. He currently serves as the Executive Director/ Chief Executive Officer of the Conservation Corps of Long Beach. He is an appointed member of the Los Angeles River Steering Committee, a member of LA Metro’s Urban Greening Technical Advisory Committee, and the Lower LA River Revitalization (AB 530) Plan Team.

“I’m honored and excited to continue to serve the Lower San Gabriel River watershed,” said Dan. “I’m committed to empowering our communities to develop programs and projects that serve all and I look forward to working with my fellow committee members to bring worthy projects forward.”

Los Angeles, CA — Today, Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn appointed Long Beach political and public affairs leader Cory Allen to the Los Angeles County Capital Asset Leasing Corporation (LAC-CAL). LAC-CAL is a not-for-profit public benefit corporation that acquires and maintains equipment and vehicles needed by the County and acquires, purchases and provides for construction of facilities and other improvements for use by the County.

“Cory has proven himself throughout his many roles serving the public at almost every level of government, and that commitment to public service and good stewardship of resources will be a great asset to this group,” said Hahn. “I’m thankful for the expertise and time he’ll bring to the table for the good of the County family.”

Allen brings nearly 20 years of legislative, political, and public affairs experience to this role. He currently serves as the Senior Director of Public Affairs and Communications at Presidio Public Affairs and has previously served as legislative staff to members of the Long Beach City Council, California State Senate, California State Assembly, and Mayor of Irvine. Allen also serves as Vice President on the Board of the International City Theatre located at the Beverly O’Neill Theatre in Downtown Long Beach.

“I am grateful to Supervisor Janice Hahn for her confidence in me and the incredible opportunity to contribute my skills and expertise to support the corporation’s mission and goals,” said Allen. “I look forward to working with the Board of Directors and the County to ensure that we continue to acquire and maintain the equipment necessary to serve the people of Los Angeles County.”

Los Angeles, CA — Today, Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn reappointed Loraine “Lorie” Geluz to the Los Angeles Harbor Area Cemetery District. The District is entrusted with operating and preserving the Historic Wilmington Cemetery, which was built by Phineas Banning in 1857. Geluz was first made a trustee in 2017.

“I know that maintaining this special site is a job that Lorie takes very seriously. This is a sacred place for families and a part of Wilmington’s heritage. I’m thankful for her deep commitment to protecting and promoting it,” said Hahn.

Geluz is a lifelong native of Wilmington, and has several relatives buried at the Historic Wilmington Cemetery. During her time as trustee, she has helped bring community awareness to the cemetery through public events held on site.

“My favorite saying is ‘Sí Se Puede’ which means Yes We Can,” said Geluz. “I hope to be able to continue to serve as a Trustee with the cemetery to continue to bring awareness on the beautiful cemetery we have in our community.”