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Labor Day is a time to celebrate the working people who built this country and the labor movement that continues to protect and uplift families. It’s easy to take for granted rights we now see as standard, like the five-day work week or the right to organize, but these were hard-won victories. Less than a century ago, Henry Ford introduced the 40-hour work week, and only in 1935 did the federal government enshrine the right for workers to unionize. These changes reshaped our country and remain the foundation of our middle class.
Los Angeles is a union town. From longshore workers to carpenters, nurses, teachers, writers, and teamsters, union members shape our city and ensure that working people can support their families with dignity. Like so many Angelenos, my own family’s story is rooted in this history. My mom was a charter member of UTLA, my dad served as a union steward with SEIU at Kaiser Panorama City, and my stepmom worked as a nurse for more than 20 years at Kaiser. Because of their union jobs, I grew up with stability, food on the table, and a safe place to call home. That foundation continues to guide me every day in public service.
May we carry forward the spirit of Labor Day by continuing the fight for fairness, dignity, and opportunity for every worker in Los Angeles.
All my best,
Katy |
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New District Office Grand Opening!
After months of permitting, construction, and finally moving in, I’m excited to invite you to the grand opening of our new District Office on Saturday, September 14th. We’ll be celebrating with music, food from local restaurants, kids’ activities, and community art stations, along with informal tours of the space. RSVP here!
If you ever visited our previous District Office on the 8th floor of 6380 Wilshire, you know it wasn’t the easiest place for constituents to access. From the start, I wanted to move us into a space that felt open and welcoming to the community. Our new storefront office is just a block from the future Wilshire/La Brea Metro station, with plenty of parking nearby. It’s designed to be a true community hub where residents can access city services, meet with my team, and work together on neighborhood priorities. I look forward to welcoming you into the space and putting it to work for our community. |
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Korean Consulate General Welcome Reception
On Monday, I attended the Korean Consulate General’s reception welcoming LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell. It is important to my team and me, and to Chief McDonnell that the Korean community has a strong partner in law enforcement. Many in the community are concerned about rising property crime and public safety challenges, and the Chief’s recent appointment is an opportunity to reset, refocus, and recommit to addressing these challenges head on. |
VICA Annual Officeholders Luncheon
On Thursday, I joined business and civic leaders at the Valley Industry and Commerce Association (VICA)'s Annual Officeholders Luncheon at the Skirball Cultural Center. I spoke about how Los Angeles can grow its revenue base without raising taxes, focusing on better use of City-owned assets and modernizing overburdensome, duplicative, and lengthy permitting processes for new construction and businesses.
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Streamlining Development Services
This week, the Council adopted a report from a motion Councilmember Nithya Raman and I co-authored to improve how Los Angeles manages development and permitting. The plan calls for creating a new Development Services Bureau within the Department of City Planning to better coordinate zoning administration, permitting, and other pre-entitlement work. By consolidating these functions, the Bureau will provide a single intake system for projects, clarify whether cases are discretionary or ministerial, and resolve conflicts between departments more quickly.
These changes matter because Los Angeles is in the middle of a housing crisis, and one of the reasons we’re not building enough homes is that our approval process is too complicated and slow, driving up development costs and increasing risk for builders. By streamlining the system and making it more transparent, we can remove unnecessary barriers, lower costs, and help get more housing built where it’s needed most. The public dashboards called for in the motion will also allow Angelenos to hold the City accountable for meeting these goals.
Interactive Kiosks Program
Council approved a report to explore an interactive kiosks program that could provide wayfinding, transit info, and other services while generating revenue. The report directs the City Tourism Department and Bureau of Street Services to study the program’s scope, identify which agency should manage it, and assess the regulatory and fiscal framework needed to launch. I introduced an amendment requiring community engagement before any decision is made, and a report on profit-sharing models to ensure revenues benefit the General Fund and Council District Offices for community priorities.
Supporting Safe Parking at Beit T'Shuvah
I introduced a motion to address an issue at Beit T'Shuvah’s Safe Parking LA site on National Boulevard. Earlier this year, the organization received a donated ADA-compliant restroom and shower unit to serve people living in their cars, but the Department of Building and Safety classified it as a temporary structure, which means it can only be used for 180 days. Turning away donated resources that provide hygiene and safety makes no sense in the middle of a homelessness crisis. My motion directs the City to allow the unit to remain in place so that Safe Parking clients can continue accessing these essential services without creating a financial burden for the City. This is one of hundreds of examples we see all the time where a City policy makes it hard to do the right thing. Big thanks to Beit T'Shuvah for bringing this to our attention so we could get it resolved, and for all their work on behalf of vulnerable Angelenos.
Reforming the City’s Legal Services Model
Along with Councilmember Tim McOsker, I introduced a motion to overhaul how Los Angeles delivers legal services. The City spends hundreds of millions annually on legal settlements and outside counsel, putting enormous pressure on the General Fund. Our motion directs the Chief Legislative Analyst and City Administrative Officer to bring forward recommendations for a multi-year strategy to modernize this system, including smarter use of outside counsel, a long-term staffing plan for the City Attorney’s Office, and best practices from other cities. These reforms are about improving accountability while reducing costs for taxpayers.
Honoring International Overdose Awareness Day
On Friday, I adjourned Council in honor of International Overdose Awareness Day and in memory of Tyler Shamash, a bright young man from our district whose life was cut short by a fentanyl overdose at just 19. Tyler’s mother, Juli, turned her grief into advocacy by founding the Drug Awareness Foundation and championing “Tyler’s Law,” which requires hospitals to test overdose patients for fentanyl. Their work is saving lives and bringing attention to a crisis that continues to devastate families across the country. City Hall will be lit in honor of International Overdose Awareness Day this evening. |
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Wilshire Division Carnival | September 19–21, 2025
Join the Wilshire Station Boosters and LAPD Wilshire Division for a fun-filled weekend at the annual Carnival. Enjoy rides, games, delicious food, and live entertainment for the whole family.
Location: Venice Boulevard between La Brea Avenue and Rimpau Boulevard
Date: Friday, September 19 – Sunday, September 21, 2025
Presale Tickets: Available at the Wilshire Division Police Station; same-day tickets are available as well. |
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Extended Weekend Closure to Reduce I-405 to Three Lanes in Each Direction Through the Sepulveda Pass
Caltrans has announced extended weekend lane reductions along Interstate 405 (I-405) through the Sepulveda Pass. The freeway will be reduced to three lanes in each direction, and motorists are strongly encouraged to seek alternate routes and explore public transportation options to reach their destinations. The work will take place from 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 5, through 5 a.m. Monday, Sept. 8. Sign up for notifications about the project. For more information on the project, visit the project webpage.
Call to Artists: East San Fernando Valley and G Line Stations
Metro invites visual artists in Los Angeles County to apply for 12 public art opportunities connected to transit projects serving the San Fernando Valley. Artists will create 2D artwork for the East San Fernando Valley Project and G Line Improvements. Learn more and apply at Metro Art by Monday, September 22, at 11:59 p.m. PDT. |
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If you have any need pertaining to the City of Los Angeles, please reach out:
City Hall Office
200 N. Spring Street, Suite 440
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 473-7005
(323) 866-1828
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Councilwoman Katy Yaroslavsky 200 N. Spring St., Los Angeles, CA 90012 Unsubscribe |
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