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Supervisors Advance Protections to Prevent Small Businesses from Displacement in Unincorporated LA County

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Supervisors Advance Protections to Prevent Small Businesses from Displacement in Unincorporated LA County

LOS ANGELES —Today, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Sept. 1 approved a motion by Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell and Supervisor and Board Chair Hilda L. Solis to initiate the process for the county’s first Commercial Rental Property License for landlords in unincorporated Los Angeles County. The motion directs county departments to report back with a commercial licensing and reporting framework that would give the county, for the first time, a clearer picture of commercial rental conditions—including rents, vacancies and lease durations—while creating new tools to connect small businesses with assistance and hold commercial landlords accountable when violations occur.

The motion also directs county departments to develop additional protections for commercial tenants, including:

Relocation assistance for businesses displaced because of landlord violations of the county’s Commercial Tenant Anti-Harassment Ordinance;

A county commercial rent study to establish fair-market commercial rents by region and better understand the causes of small business displacement,

And greater transparency in the redevelopment process, including exploring notification requirements for affected commercial tenants.

Commercial property owners, small business owners and advocates helped inform the motion with their lived experiences.

Supervisor Mitchell emphasized during the Sept. 1 board meeting that the motion does not cap commercial rents, require landlords to provide copies of leases, or block redevelopment projects. Instead, it seeks to close gaps in existing state protections, improve the County’s ability to identify and assist vulnerable businesses, and create accountability when landlords violate existing tenant protections.

The County’s Commercial Rent Study is expected to be completed by December, this will inform the ordinance for the Commercial Rental Property License which is slated to be voted on by the Board in the beginning of 2027.

“Together We Win:” 2026 Los Angeles / Long Beach ​Labor Solidarity Parade, Rally and Picnic

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“Together We Win:” 2026 Los Angeles / Long Beach ​Labor Solidarity Parade, Rally and Picnic

 

Celebrate the 47th Anniversary of the LA/LB Labor Solidarity Parade and rally and picnic

This year’s Theme: Worker Solidarity ― Together We Win! Yesterday we organized; today we stand strong; tomorrow our tradition will continue!

The tradition began on Labor Day 1979, when several Los Angeles Harbor Area unions and labor leaders organized the first parade, followed by a rally at Banning Park in Wilmington. A few hundred union members marched in solidarity, demonstrating the strength and unity of organized labor.

That year saw numerous strikes and lockouts, as well as the beginning of the right-wing political attacks on organized labor that intensified during the Reagan administration. This Labor Day, thousands of union members, labor organizations, families, friends and community members will continue the tradition.

The Los Angeles/Long Beach Harbor Labor Coalition hosts one of the largest Labor Day parades in the United States—organized entirely by unions. The celebration will feature a trophy for the best-decorated float, marching bands, live music and free hot dogs.

Parade Participants

School Marching Bands: San Pedro High School; Banning High School; Harry Bridges Middle School; Port of Los Angeles High School; Garfield High School; Entertainment: The Brown Boys, classic rock ’n’ roll

Leadership from many of the LA area unions and the LA County Federation of Labor will speak.

Participating Unions and Labor Organizations:
ILWU Locals 13, 63, 94, 26 and 56; United Association of Fitters Locals 250 and 345; Sailors Union of the Pacific; Marine Firemen’s Union; United Steelworkers Local 675; Machinists Union Local 1484; Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters; Plumbers Local Unions 78 and 761; Los Angeles/Orange Counties Building and Construction Trades Council; IBEW Locals 11 and 18; Operating Engineers Locals 12 and 501; Los Angeles Port Pilots Association; Southern California Pipe Trades Council No. 16; Teamsters Locals 396, 848, 952 and 572; Los Angeles County Federation of Labor; Laborers’ International Union of North America Locals 1309 and 300; International Union of Elevator Constructors Local 18; United Teachers Los Angeles; UFCW Local 770; Heat & Frost Insulators Workers Local 5; Ironworkers Local 433; United Firefighters of Los Angeles City Local 112; Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO; and Masters, Mates & Pilots.

Time: 10 a.m., Sept. 7

Location: Broad Avenue and East “E” St., Wilmington

Supervisors Crack Down on Contractor Fraud Targeting Wildfire Survivors

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Supervisors Crack Down on Contractor Fraud Targeting Wildfire Survivors

An aerial view of homes being rebuilt in Altadena following the Eaton Fire. (Photo credit: Brian Feinzimer/Los Angeles County)

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Sept. 2 unanimously approved a motion to strengthen protections for wildfire survivors facing contractor fraud and other rebuilding-related scams. The action calls for a more coordinated county response, enhanced consumer education, and expanded outreach to help residents protect themselves and their recovery dollars as rebuilding accelerates.

The motion directs several Los Angeles County departments, in consultation with the Contractors State License Board, to develop a coordinated approach to address contractor fraud and other scams targeting wildfire survivors, including stronger collaboration among consumer protection agencies and law enforcement partners. It also calls for county resources and enforcement tools to be better aligned so emerging complaints and potentially fraudulent activity can be identified and addressed.

A major focus of the motion is preventing fraud before it occurs. Survivors will receive expanded guidance on how to verify a contractor’s license, understand the terms of a contract, recognize common warning signs of fraud, and report suspected scams.

Consumer protection and fraud prevention resources will also be integrated into the Altadena and Calabasas one-stop permitting centers, reaching homeowners as they actively move through the permitting and rebuilding process. Information will additionally be centralized through the Recovery LA website, recovery.lacounty.gov.

The motion also calls for targeted outreach to populations that may be particularly vulnerable or difficult to reach, including older adults, individuals with limited English proficiency, and displaced households. Outreach efforts will include partnerships with trusted community and legal service organizations, along with expanded public awareness efforts in fire-impacted communities.

Westside Regional Center Celebrates Grand Opening of New El Segundo Facility

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Westside Regional Center Celebrates Grand Opening of New El Segundo Facility

New location offers greater space, access and comfort for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families

EL SEGUNDO — Westside Regional Center or WRC celebrated the grand opening of its new El Segundo facility on Aug. 30, welcoming clients, families, community leaders and special guests to its new home after 38 years in Culver City.

The celebration at 777 S. Aviation Blvd. in El Segundo, featured tours of the new facility, entertainment, games, refreshments and a special book signing with actress and author Sofia Sanchez, known for The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes and Monster High. Subodh Garg, best known for Netflix’s Love on the Spectrum, also joined the celebration.

Local civic leaders attending the event included Lawndale Mayor Pro Tem Sirley Cuevas, El Segundo Councilmember Drew Boyles, Hawthorne Councilmember Paulette Francis, and Peter Cervinka, Director, Department of Developmental Services.

The new facility represents a significant upgrade for WRC, providing greater space, access and comfort for the individuals and families it serves. The three-floor location includes a family resource center, where parents can more easily access resources and support while children have space to play and families can connect with one another.

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“I am so excited to see so many of our clients and friends come to see the new building,” said Almarietha Mathews, president of the WRC board of directors. “We’re just beginning, and there’s a whole lot more coming. The Family Resource Center gives parents easy access to the services and support they need, while giving children a wonderful space to play. It’s a tremendous improvement over what we had before.”

Westside Regional Center supports individuals with developmental disabilities and their families throughout their lives, connecting them with services and resources that can help them attend school, build friendships, pursue employment and participate fully in their communities.

“Westside Regional Center’s goal is to help each individual with a developmental disability live their best life – to maximize their hopes, dreams and wishes, just like anyone else,” Mathews added. “By being closer to where people live, we’re giving our clients and their families easier access to the support and services they need, and hopefully that will improve their lives, which is what our goal is.”

Details: https://westsiderc.org/ And to locate a regional center in your area, visit the Department of Development Services at https://www.dds.ca.gov/

Senators Announce $150M for LA Metro Vermont BRT Project

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Senators Announce $150M for LA Metro Vermont BRT Project

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff (both D-Calif.) Sept. 1 applauded the U.S. Department of Transportation’s or DOT announcement that it is providing nearly $150 million in federal funds for the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Vermont Transit Corridor Bus Rapid Transit or BRT project. The federal funding was provided by the Federal Transit Administration or FTA and is the maximum amount permitted under the Capital Investment Grant’s small starts program.

The Vermont Avenue BRT project will include 12.4 miles of all-day dedicated side-running bus lanes. The project will also provide 26 enhanced bus stations along the route with upgraded lighting to improve public safety, as well as installing safety-focused crosswalks. The Vermont Avenue BRT project is a key component of LA Metro’s transportation plan for the 2028 Olympics and is expected to significantly reduce travel time on major transit corridors across Metro’s service area during the games.

Detention Facility Transparency Act Passes Legislature, Heads to Governor’s Desk

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Detention Facility Transparency Act Passes Legislature, Heads to Governor’s Desk

 

SACRAMENTO — Sen. Lena Gonzalez’s (D-Long Beach) Senate Bill (SB) 423, the Detention Facility Transparency Act, Aug. 31 passed the Legislature and now heads to the Governor’s desk for a signature.

SB 423 responds to longstanding – and worsening – concerns about the lack of transparency surrounding conditions inside privately operated immigration detention facilities. Reports of medical neglect, violence, and dangerous conditions have continued to grow as the population detained in these facilities increases. Earlier this year, the California Attorney General documented worsening overcrowding, strained resources, and challenges accessing medical care at immigration detention facilities. Between September 2025 and March 2026, six people died at two private detention facilities in California.

Despite serious concerns about how these facilities operate, public agencies have at times refused to release records of emergency calls when requested through the California Public Records Act. When a recent CalMatters investigation found a rise in reports of rape and other sexual violence at the Otay Mesa detention facility in San Diego County, the Sheriff’s department refused to release multiple records requested by reporters. The Sherrif’s department stated that the records were exempt as they were part of a law enforcement investigation, despite having an agreement with the private detention facility that the sheriff would not investigate incidents at the facility.

Records of emergency calls can provide journalists, advocates, families, state and local officials, and the public with critical information about incidents that would otherwise remain hidden. SB 423 would amend the California Public Records Act to require local agencies, upon request, to disclose audio recordings and related records concerning 911 calls and other calls for emergency services originating from privately-run detention facilities. It maintains important privacy protections – such as redacting identifying information about crime victims and allowing agencies to withhold information when disclosure would substantially interfere with an active investigation, while ensuring that illegitimate claims of confidentiality cannot be used to shield these facilities from public scrutiny.

SB 423 is co-sponsored by Immigrant Defense Advocates and the First Amendment Coalition and is supported by immigrant rights advocates, civil liberties groups, and a coalition of press freedom and journalism organizations. It passed the Legislature on August 31, 2026 and is now headed to Governor Newsom’s desk. Governor Newsom has until Sept. 30, 2026 to sign legislation.

Details: bit.ly/SB423_FactSheet

 

Los Serenos de Point Vicente Open House, Sept 2

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Los Serenos de Point Vicente Open House, Sept 2

 

On Sept. 2, Los Serenos de Point Vicente is hosting an open house to introduce community members to how they can become and participate as volunteer docents. Los Serenos de Point Vicente is in search of adults who are eager to learn about the local geology, flora and fauna, and history, and share their knowledge with museum visitors.

The Open House will be held at the Point Vicente Interpretive Center at 7pm.

Membership is open to those interested in learning about the nature and history of the local area and sharing this knowledge by conducting tours of the Point Vicente Interpretive Center and various Trails scattered on the Palos Verdes Peninsula.

~ A full description of docent duties and responsibilities is available here: www.losserenosrpv.org/become-a-docent

The 501(c)(3) non-profit organization Los Serenos de Point Vicente has assisted and supported the City of Rancho Palos Verdes’ objectives for the Point Vicente Interpretive Center since 1984. It operates various educational programs for children between 2 and 18 years of age. It also provides learning opportunities for the general public through Monthly Docent Guided Nature Walks which are held at Abalone Cove Shoreline Park, Forrestal Nature Preserve/Ladera Linda Community Center, the Trails at Ocean Trails Nature Reserve and Alta Vicente Nature Reserve. Los Serenos de Point Vicente docents and volunteers provide interpretive and educational services to the community regarding the unique features and natural and cultural history of the Palos Verdes Peninsula, and the migrating Gray whales that could be easily viewed from the Center’s outstanding vantage point by the Center’s many visitors.

Los Angeles County Sues State Farm for Unfair Business Practices in Handling 2025 Wildfire Claims

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Los Angeles County Sues State Farm for Unfair Business Practices in Handling 2025 Wildfire Claims

LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles County has sued State Farm, alleging unfair business practices in the company’s handling of insurance claims filed by policyholders affected by the January 2025 Eaton and Palisades Fires.

The lawsuit follows county counsel’s investigation of State Farm’s alleged violations of California’s Unfair Competition Law relating to delays, underpayments, and denials of wildfire claims from its policyholders impacted by the 2025 wildfires. The lawsuit alleges that State Farm subjected policyholders to:

False advertising inducing them to purchase and rely on State Farm insurance;

Unreasonable delays in investigation and processing of claims;

Systematic underpayments of claims even where the rightful amount of the claim was clear;

Frequent and improper reassignment of individual claim adjusters;

Systematic barriers to policyholders’ ability to contact and communicate with adjusters;

Refusal to provide due compensation for Additional Living Expenses (ALE);

Misrepresentations during the claims process to discourage pursuit of claims; and

Illegal suppression of smoke damage claims.

County counsel’s investigation of State Farm’s handling of policyholder claims included reviewing information from community-based organizations including Every Fire Survivors Network (EFSN), Department of Angels, and Eaton Fire Residents United, as well as reviewing hundreds of complaints and documents from State Farm policyholders. State Farm failed to substantially comply with county counsel’s requests for documents and information made during the investigation.

County counsel is empowered by statute to investigate, and to civilly prosecute violations of the Unfair Competition Law and False Advertising Law on behalf of the People of the State of California. The lawsuit seeks restitution to impacted State Farm policyholders, injunctive relief, and civil penalties of up to $2,500 per violation.

Details: Find the lawsuit here: State Farm Complaint

Hahn Urges Newsom to Stop Catalina Deer Eradication

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Hahn Urges Newsom to Stop Catalina Deer Eradication

 

LOS ANGELES — With the Catalina Island Conservancy authorized to begin killing thousands of mule deer as soon as tomorrow, Sept. 1, Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn is making a last-ditch appeal to Gov. Gavin Newsom to suspend or revoke the state permit.

“Tomorrow, these deer could begin to be killed, and once they are gone, they are gone forever. Gov. Newsom can still stop this, and I am asking him to act,” said Supervisor Hahn.

Hahn has long opposed the eradication, warning that eliminating the deer could have serious unintended consequences—including increasing wildfire risk. Los Angeles County Fire Chief Tony Marrone, who oversees fire operations on Catalina, has warned Hahn that the deer consume vegetation that would otherwise become wildfire fuel.

Hahn pointed to Santa Rosa Island, where the deer population was eliminated years ago and where a wildfire burned more than 18,000 acres earlier this year.

“Santa Rosa Island is unpopulated, but Catalina is home to nearly 4,000 people, with thousands more visitors. We should not ignore our own Fire Chief’s warning that removing the deer could increase wildfire danger,” Hahn said.

Hahn also argues that alternatives to total eradication—including maintaining and responsibly managing a smaller herd—deserve consideration. She has spoken with former Catalina Island Conservancy leaders who believe the island could sustain a managed herd of approximately 200 deer.

“I share the goal of protecting Catalina’s unique ecosystem, but protecting Catalina does not have to mean killing every deer. There are alternatives, and we should exhaust them before making an irreversible decision,” Hahn said.

A coalition opposed to the eradication has filed a lawsuit challenging the plan, with a hearing scheduled for tomorrow, Sept. 1.

Details: READ THE FULL LETTER HERE

Port of Long Beach Sponsorship Call Open Sept. 1-30

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Port of Long Beach Sponsorship Call Open Sept. 1-30

Nonprofit organizations are invited to apply for the Port of Long Beach Community Sponsorship Program, which funds community events and activities that help inform residents about the port. The events center on the arts, environment, education, social justice and historic preservation.

Community groups may submit sponsorship applications online starting Sept. 1, through 5 p.m. Sept. 30. Due to the application review process, applicants are advised to plan well in advance. Events in this sponsorship call must take place at least 60 days after the end of the call; this allows time for the review, consideration and recommendation process prior to the decision by the Board of Harbor Commissioners.

Applications are judged on how effectively the proposed events and activities can help the port inform the community of its critical role as an environmental steward, economic engine and job creator. Events chosen must include promotional, marketing and community outreach opportunities for the port. The sponsored events and programs help spread awareness about the port’s operations, initiatives and community investment.

Details: For more information and how to apply, go to www.polb.com/sponsorships.

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