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This week, the Budget and Finance Committee began departmental hearings on the Mayor’s proposed 2026–27 budget. These hearings are a key part of the City’s budget process. Departments come before the Committee to explain their proposed funding, Committee members ask questions about services and spending, and the public has a chance to weigh in before the Council makes changes to the proposal.
We began with public comment, and over the course of eight hours, hundreds of Angelenos shared their priorities, concerns, and experiences with City services. After public comment, I opened the hearings by laying out where we are as a City. We are in a better position than last year, when Los Angeles faced a nearly billion-dollar shortfall and the possibility of widespread layoffs. This year, the Mayor’s proposal avoids that outcome and begins restoring funding in some areas that were cut last year.
But this budget does not solve every problem. The City continues to face serious financial risk. As Chair of the Committee, my focus is on making sure every dollar we allocate moves us closer to delivering high-quality services people can see and feel in their neighborhoods.
Over the first few days of hearings, the Committee reviewed the City’s overall financial picture, revenue projections, homelessness funding, housing, public safety, parks, transportation, planning, building and safety, as well as public works. Next, the Committee will review the budget memos requested during the hearings and give direction to the Chief Legislative Analyst to prepare a report with recommended changes to the Mayor’s proposal. In next week’s newsletter, I will go into further detail on those requested changes. The Chief Legislative Analyst’s report will come back later this month before final recommendations are sent to the full Council.
All my best,
Katy |
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Coffee with Katy
My team and I held a “Coffee with Katy” at Neighborhood on 3rd and Kilkea in Beverly Grove, and it was a success! We’re putting more of these events together as a way to highlight our small businesses, give neighbors a chance to connect, and hear directly from you in a more informal setting. It was a great opportunity to talk with folks about what’s working, what needs attention, and what you want to see from our office. We’ll be holding more “Coffee with Katy” events across the district, so stay tuned for the next location. |
CicLAvia Kickoff
Last Sunday, I joined the kickoff of CicLAvia West LA, which marked the first time the open-streets event has been held in Westwood in its 15-year history. For a few hours, streets opened up to people, with families, neighbors, and local businesses filling the Westwood Boulevard corridor from the Village down to Santa Monica Boulevard, and then west to Mar Vista. It was great to see so many people out enjoying the car-free streets and connecting with one another. Thank you to the CicLAvia team, City partners, and the Westwood Village BID, North Westwood Neighborhood Council, and West LA-Sawtelle Neighborhood Council for making this joyful day possible. |
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Earth Day Fun at Robertson Recreation Center
Last month, members of my team joined families at Robertson Recreation Center for the Spring Earth Day Fair and Kids’ Bug Hunt. Families explored booths, crafts, games, and live entertainment focused on environmental awareness. Thank you to Recreation and Parks, the South Robertson Neighborhood Council, and our community partners who helped bring this event together. |
Urban Forestry Tree Pruning
This week, Urban Forestry conducted work on Northvale Drive in Cheviot Hills to address an overgrown tree that was obstructing the public right-of-way. Please do not hesitate to reach out to your field deputy if there is a parkway tree in need of trimming. |
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Eliminating the Traffic Control Review Committee
This week, the City Council voted to repeal the Traffic Control Review Committee process, an outdated layer of review that has been delaying housing and infrastructure projects across Los Angeles. In Council District 5, for example, a 300-unit housing project has been fully built since September, but still cannot open because the building does not have power. To complete the final utility connection, LADWP needs to do work in the street, which triggered a review by the Traffic Control Review Committee and added many months of delay.
That should not happen in the middle of a housing crisis. If a building is finished and people still cannot move in, we have not solved the problem. Eliminating this committee removes a bottleneck and directs the Bureau of Engineering to develop a better coordination system for work in the public right-of-way. If Los Angeles is serious about building housing and delivering projects faster, we have to fix the processes within our control.
Oil Well Maintenance Oversight
This week, the Council voted to deny appeals from oil operators who were challenging the City’s ability to review certain oil and gas well maintenance work. The issue came up after the City was required to rescind its previous oil-drilling ban, which left uncertainty around how some oil well maintenance activities should be regulated.
This work can involve real health and environmental risks. Last year, my office learned of an acid maintenance project at the San Vicente Drill Site, near the Beverly Center and Cedars-Sinai. These projects, which have happened throughout the City, involve hazardous chemicals, yet nearby residents receive limited notice.
The Zoning Administrator’s Interpretation makes clear that this type of work necessitates proper City review. The City Planning Commission and PLUM Committee both rejected the oil operators’ appeals, and this week the Council did the same. This is the bare minimum. Until we ban oil drilling citywide again, communities deserve basic oversight when oil companies perform work that affects public health and safety.
Better Managing the City’s Brand Assets
This week, the City Council approved my motion to take a more strategic look at how Los Angeles manages its civic brand assets, including logos, slogans, trademarks, and other public-facing marks. Right now, these assets are managed separately across departments, often without shared standards or a clear structure for licensing, enforcement, or revenue tracking. That means the City is leaving money on the table while also missing opportunities to protect and manage assets it already owns.
The motion directs the City to inventory existing brand-related assets, review current and past licensing revenue, identify gaps in trademark protection, and report back on options for a coordinated marketing, licensing, and brand governance program. Other cities have treated their civic brands as public assets, using licensing and partnerships to generate significant revenue and support long-term asset management. As Los Angeles prepares to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the 2027 Super Bowl, and the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, this is the right time to understand what we own, what we should protect, and how these assets can better support the City’s needs and priorities. |
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D-Line Subway Grand Opening May 8 from 12:00 - 5:00 PM
On Friday, May 8, Metro will officially open the first phase of the D Line Extension, bringing subway service farther west with three new stations at Wilshire/La Brea, Wilshire/Fairfax, and Wilshire/La Cienega.
This is a major milestone for the Westside. The D Line Extension will give more people a reliable way to get across the region without sitting in traffic. It will connect more neighborhoods to jobs, schools, museums, medical care, and small businesses, and help build the kind of transportation network Los Angeles needs.
Metro will host a grand opening celebration on May 8 from 12:00 to 5:00 PM. This first phase is an important step, with future stations planned for Beverly Drive/Wilshire, Century City, Westwood/UCLA, and the VA Hospital. I hope you’ll come out, ride the line, and celebrate this long-awaited investment in our transit future.
Metro Heat Awareness Campaign Launched
As temperatures rise, Metro has launched its Heat Awareness Campaign and Heat Guidebook to help riders, workers, and visitors stay safe during extreme situations. Heat is a serious public health issue, and it affects people differently depending on where they live, how they travel, and how much access they have to shade, cooling, and reliable information.
My office joined Metro on Earth Day to help launch this effort and share resources with the public. You can learn more about how to stay safe while riding transit through Metro’s Heat Awareness Campaign and Heat Guidebook.
Join LA Metro for Sepulveda Transit Corridor In-Person and Virtual Community Update Meetings
Metro is hosting virtual and in-person community update meetings in April and May on the Sepulveda Transit Corridor project. These meetings are an opportunity to learn more about the Locally Preferred Alternative, ask questions, and provide feedback on one of the most important transit projects planned for the Westside and the Valley. The Westwood in-person meeting will take place on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, from 5:30 to 7:30 PM at Westwood United Methodist Church, 10497 Wilshire Boulevard. The presentation will begin at 6:00 PM. To view all meeting dates, learn how to submit public comment, and learn more about the project, visit metro.net/sepulvedacorridor |
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Free LAFD CERT Disaster Training
The Los Angeles Fire Department is offering a free Community Emergency Response Team training series at the Fire Station 82 Annex in Hollywood beginning Tuesday, May 5. This seven-week course teaches practical emergency skills, including fire suppression, light search and rescue, as well as disaster medical operations. CERT training helps residents prepare to safely assist their families, neighbors, and communities during an emergency. This is a valuable opportunity for anyone who wants to be better prepared before a disaster strikes.
When: Tuesdays, May 5 – June 16, 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM
Where: Fire Station 82 Annex, 1792 N Bronson Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90028
Registration: Click here to register on Eventbrite
Draft Zone Zero Rules Available for Comment
In response to the January 2025 wildfires, California’s Board of Forestry is developing a new regulation for building and structure fire safety called Zone 0. The regulation calls for stricter removal of combustible materials such as tree branches, mulch, and wooden fencing within 5 feet of the structure, a requirement that could affect a significant portion of Los Angeles homeowners. After several months of public feedback, a significantly revised version of the regulation was recently released. If you’d like to provide feedback on this most recent version, you may submit comments by emailing them to PublicComments@bof.ca.gov. There is currently no stated deadline for public comments, so submitting feedback soon is encouraged. |
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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
District Office
5416 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 866-1828
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Katy Yaroslavsky, Councilwoman 200 N. Spring St., Los Angeles, CA 90012 Unsubscribe |
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