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This week, the Metro Board of Directors voted to move forward with Modified Alternative 5 for the Sepulveda Transit Corridor. This is one of the most consequential transportation decisions Los Angeles has made in decades, moving forward to the final planning stage, a high-capacity transit connection between the San Fernando Valley and the Westside. The new subway would run directly through Council District Five and address one of the region’s most persistent transportation gaps. 

For this district, the positive impacts will be significant if done right. The Sepulveda corridor would link the Valley to the D and E Lines, improving access to UCLA, major job centers, and destinations across the region. Thousands of people who work or study in Council District Five travel this corridor every day. Moving even some of those trips from cars to high-capacity transit would fundamentally change daily commutes and reduce pressure on one of the most congested routes in the city. 

At the same time, parts of the alignment run beneath hillside neighborhoods in the Santa Monica Mountains. Residents have raised real concerns about tunneling, construction impacts, noise, and vibration. Those concerns deserve serious attention, especially because the selected alternative is a hybrid of options previously presented, meaning this specific alignment has not yet gone through direct community outreach and a robust and detailed engineering process. This is also going to be the most expensive Metro project to date, and there are still fundamental outstanding questions about cost, delivery model, and timeline that Metro must address. 

This vote sets direction, but we are still far from putting shovels in the ground. Significant work remains on engineering, environmental review, alignment refinement, cost savings, and funding. We’re probably four-plus years away from reviewing a Final Environmental Impact Report. Ambition and big ideas matter, but so does transparency around cost, community impacts, and the timeline. 

I voted in support of the alignment and introduced an amendment directing Metro to return with a clear, community engagement plan for areas affected by the Modified Alternative 5 alignment. Residents deserve better notice, clearer information, and real opportunities to engage as design details take shape. This project has the potential to reshape how our region moves. Reaching that goal requires careful planning, accountability, and follow-through at every step. 

All my best, 
Katy
2026 LAHSA Point in Time Count
This week, my team and I joined volunteers across the district for the 2026 Homeless Count. The data collected gives the City and County a clearer picture of where people live and what support they need, which drives funding resources, decisions, and on-the-ground response.
Country Club Heights Tree Planting Celebration
On Saturday, I joined Board of Public Works President Steve Kang, KYCC, and StreetsLA in Country Club Heights to mark the completion of a neighborhood tree planting effort, adding 51 new shade trees to the community! The event also included a small community resource fair connecting residents with City departments and local organizations.
MMRA 40th Annual Meeting
On Saturday, I joined the Miracle Mile Residents Association for its 40th Annual Meeting. I shared updates on the work we are doing around housing, the coming Purple Line Extension, the City budget and city services (including street lights), and implementation of SB 79.
Street Improvements on Pandora Avenue and Sepulveda Boulevard
This week, StreetsLA recently completed major asphalt repairs on Pandora Avenue between Holman and Kinnard, and on Sepulveda Boulevard between Constitution and Cashmere. These projects improve safety and day-to-day conditions for residents and drivers who rely on these streets. Thank you to neighbors for your patience as this work moves forward across Council District Five.
Police Hiring Update
This week, the City Council approved a revised police hiring plan following the direction given by Council in December. The action allows LAPD to continue sworn hiring this year using savings within the Department’s existing budget, addressing attrition without creating new costs in the current fiscal year. The plan also makes clear that future hiring carries an ongoing cost of roughly $25 million next year, which must be covered through real offsets or new revenue, not cuts to civilian jobs or core services.
20th Luskin School of Public Affairs Day at City Hall
This week, my office was proud to host the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs Day at City Hall for the third year in a row, marking the program’s 20th convening. I welcomed 25 Luskin fellows to the Council Chambers for conversations on public policy and careers in local government. The day highlighted the importance of investing in future public servants who want to do hands-on work for Los Angeles. As a UCLA Law alum, it’s always an honor to host the fellows.
Hate Crime and Hate Incident Reporting
Recent data shows hate crimes and hate incidents remain near historic highs across Los Angeles County, with record levels of reported hate crimes targeting African Americans, LGBTQ+ individuals, as well as the Jewish and AAPI communities. If you experience or witness a hate incident or hate crime, reporting it ensures the City can respond with support, resources, and accountability. 

Hate Crimes
A hate crime is a criminal act, such as assault or vandalism, committed because of bias against a person’s race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender, or gender identity. These incidents should be reported immediately by calling 911. 
Hate Incidents
A hate incident is a non-criminal act directed at a person or group based on actual or perceived protected characteristics. This includes slurs, hateful flyers, or graffiti. While hate incidents do not rise to the level of a crime, reporting them allows the City to track patterns and respond. You can report a hate incident to LAPD by filing an online police report at LAPD Online Reports. You should also contact my office by emailing councilmember.yaroslavsky@lacity.org. My office takes hate incidents very seriously, especially hate-related graffiti, and works quickly with City departments to address it when reported. 

Public Health Officials Reaffirm: No Modifications To Immunization Schedules Or Vaccine Availability In Los Angeles County 
Despite recent announcements from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the changes to childhood vaccine recommendations, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health reaffirms that there are no modifications to immunization schedules or vaccine availability in LA County. Los Angeles County will continue to follow the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) guidelines, which are based on decades of rigorous research and safety monitoring. Los Angeles County Public Health will continue to monitor CDPH guidance and prioritize practices that safeguard the health of children and families. For questions or information on obtaining vaccines, residents should contact their healthcare provider or visit ph.lacounty.gov/vaccines.

SAFE Bike Path Cleanup on Venice Boulevard
Join SAFE and help keep our bike paths safe and clean for everyone. This month, volunteers will be working along Venice Boulevard as part of the Clean Ride Crew’s ongoing efforts to improve street safety and accessibility.

WHEN: Saturday, February 28, 9:30 AM to 12:00 PM
Meet-up Location: Media Park, 9070 W. Venice Boulevard, Culver City, CA 90232 

Tools and snacks will be provided. Volunteers are encouraged to bring gloves, brooms, clippers, or any gear that may be helpful. Sign up here.
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

District Office
5416 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 866-1828
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Councilwoman Katy Yaroslavsky

200 N. Spring St., Los Angeles, CA 90012

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