Knock LA

Black History Month Celebration

On Friday, February 23, 2024, the City Council honored Senator Laphonza Butler for her record of service and trailblazing career as part of Black History Month celebrations. Councilmembers Heather Hutt and Curren D. Price, Jr., and Council President Pro Tempore Marqueece Harris-Dawson spoke in praise of her as “a champion for women in politics.”

Butler accepted the honor, recalling how standing at the podium brought back many memories of fighting for home care workers, hotel workers, and nursing workers, referring to how she began her career as a union organizer in California. 

“I know that today I am our country’s only Black woman in the United States Senate,” Butler said. “I know that in our country’s history, there have been 2003 senators elected and serving in that chamber. I am only the third Black woman to serve in the history of our country.”

Nuisance Building Complaint in CD 8

The meeting progressed swiftly with only a single agenda item open for public comment, most of which were not pertinent. The agenda item in question was regarding funding to secure 108 Motel at 10721 South Broadway in Council District 8, which was deemed a “nuisance” to the neighborhood in 2018. A nuisance building, as outlined in Division 89 of the City of Los Angeles’ Municipal Code, interferes with the lives of people living or working in the neighborhood, is offensive, or endangers public health or safety. If the owners fail to correct the situation when directed, the local government can take over.

In June 2023, the Council allocated $28,500 for fencing off the property but it continues to be a problem with “squatters onsite leading to 15-20 daily arrests,” according to the motion filed by Harris-Dawson and Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky.  

The council passed the motion to identify funds to transfer $11,300 to the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS) to pay for the costs. LADBS is set to notify the owner of their right to a hearing and that a lien will be placed against the property to cover costs for vacating and securing the building.

Master Lease Program in CD 5

One agenda item addressed a master lease program to expand the number of available units for individuals experiencing homelessness within Council District 5 was called Special by Yaroslavsky, who represents the district. 

Yaroslavsky asked for the council’s support to “house unsheltered neighbors faster and more cost-effectively.” She explained that master leasing is the securing of all or part of an apartment building on a long-term lease and then subleasing the units to people experiencing housing scarcity. With new state funding, LA County and the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority launched their own master leasing strategy in November 2023. The program has leased and filled 105 units in 3 months with another 530 units in the pipeline, according to Yaroslavsky. This agenda item and all other agenda items were passed unanimously.

Citywide Language Access Plan

The Los Angeles City Council also approved a motion to expand the existing Citywide Language Access Plan, now ensuring it encompasses Indigenous languages. This plan, introduced by CD 1 Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez following the leaked audio of racist remarks from city councilmembers, requires city departments to collect local data on Indigenous languages and incorporate provisions of services for Indigenous languages, among other requirements.

During the meeting, Council President Paul Krekorian also recognized 22 city employees with over 45 years of service with the “2024 Sapphire Awards.”