By LA County Supervisor Janice Hahn
In 2022, we saw the war in Ukraine, the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, record inflation, innocent lives lost in mass shootings at a LGBTQ+ nightclub, grocery stores, and an elementary school, hate crimes on the rise including here in LA County, the leak of a secretly recorded racist conversation between Los Angeles City Councilmembers, and weeks of protests that have debilitated City Hall. Was there anything that happened in 2022 that gives us reason to hope? I thought about it and ended up coming up with a longer list than I expected. Here are a few of them worth mentioning:
Righting a 100-year-old wrong
I will remember 2022 as the year that Los Angeles County was able to return Bruce’s Beach in Manhattan Beach to the descendants of Willa and Charles Bruce — marking the first time in our nation’s history that a government returned land unjustly taken from a Black family. In the weeks and months since I have heard from other government officials who want to use what we did with Bruce’s Beach as a model to return stolen land in their own jurisdictions and I’ve gotten stopped by people across the county who thank me. I have no doubt that returning Bruce’s Beach will be the most important thing I did over the course of my career.
A Better Response to Mental Health Crises
2022 was also the year we launched 9-8-8 here in LA County. For decades, we have relied on 9-1-1 as our only emergency line for people to call in times of trouble. But during a mental health crisis, calling 9-1-1 hasn’t led to the outcomes we’ve wanted. Having armed law enforcement respond to a person in a mental health crisis usually ends in an arrest and sometimes ends in a tragic loss of life. We now have 9-8-8, a number that anyone can call if they are experiencing or witnessing a mental health crisis. Unarmed mental health professionals will be available to respond, de-escalating the situation, and more importantly, getting a person in crisis the long-term help they need so they don’t end up in our jails. This should give hope to so many family members who have been afraid to call for help.
A New Sheriff in Town
This November, voters overwhelmingly elected a new sheriff for Los Angeles County. The last four years, you have seen headline after headline about “feuds” between the Board of Supervisors and the Sheriff. I know you were sick of hearing about them (and I was sick of being in them). Sheriff Robert Luna ran on a platform of bringing transparency and accountability back to the department and building back the trust that has been lost with the public. We may have disagreements going forward, but at least we will be pulling in the same direction: making public safety a priority in our neighborhoods through a lens of justice and fairness.
Historic New Leadership in Los Angeles
And for the first time in the City of Los Angeles’ long history, we elected a woman to be our mayor. Karen Bass’ election, a record number of women serving on the City Council, and an all-women Board of Supervisors, means that Los Angeles County is being run by women. And if that doesn’t give you hope, I don’t know what does.
Last week, I joined Mayor Bass as she signed an order declaring homelessness an emergency, promising to marshal city resources to finally treat this tragedy with the urgency it demands – no different than if thousands of people were displaced from their homes due to a flood, an earthquake, or a fire. It’s a mindset I have thought has been missing for too long. As the Chair of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, I stand ready to be a partner with the new Mayor in this effort and I have put forward my own proposal to ensure that county resources can be brought to bear to match the city’s new efforts. I don’t think this emergency declaration is a silver bullet that will magically solve the homelessness crisis. I know that her goals are ambitious, but the energy and attitude Mayor Bass has brought to this fight gives me hope. This is a crisis that demands all our cooperation and resources from the city, the county, the state, and the federal government – and Mayor Bass has come in committed to linking arms rather than pointing fingers.
New Homes for Veterans in San Pedro
Lastly, I am grateful that, in the coming weeks veterans who have struggled with homelessness are moving into the new 60-room veterans interim housing site that I have been working to open in the closed Best Western hotel on 1 st and Gaffey in San Pedro. There will be round-the-clock security and all the veterans will get the supportive services they need and help getting new jobs and permanent housing.
I have been so moved by the overwhelming support we received for this project from neighbors with homes near the hotel, the neighborhood councils, and the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce. This community’s support made all the difference in getting this project done quickly. You all are the reason these veterans will have a home. That gives me hope that we can replicate this all over the county.
As many in our community celebrate Hanukkah, I think it is important we all remember the power of just a small amount of light to transform the darkness and give us all hope.
Janice Kay Hahn (born March 30, 1952) is a member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors from the 4th district since 2016 and chair of Los Angeles County since 2022. A member of the Democratic Party, she was a U.S. representative from California from 2011 to 2016, elected in the 36th congressional district until 2013 and later in the 44th congressional district. She was previously a member of the Los Angeles City Council, representing the 15th district from 2001 to 2011. From 1997 to 1999, she served as an elected representative on the Los Angeles Charter Reform Commission.