Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. Know someone who would benefit from these updates? Feel free to forward this newsletter along, as they may not be on our mailing list! Anyone can sign up to receive our newsletters here. |
 |
This week, the Budget and Finance Committee advanced a revised City budget after weeks of hearings, public testimony, and department-by-department review. As Chair of the Committee, I’ve spent the past month focused on one central question: how do we protect the services Angelenos rely on while also putting the City on firmer financial footing for the years ahead?
The budget we advanced reflects difficult decisions and careful work. Los Angeles continues to face significant fiscal uncertainty, rising costs, and serious threats to future City revenues. At the same time, residents expect basic services to work. This revised budget works to preserve those core priorities while strengthening the City’s reserves and addressing long-term liabilities.
The Committee’s recommendations increase the Reserve Fund by a full percentage point compared to last year and bring total reserves to roughly 9%, which is an important step toward improving the City’s financial stability. The budget also preserves investments in public safety hiring, homelessness services, sidewalk and street repairs, graffiti abatement, and the expansion of the Unarmed Model of Crisis Response program into additional police divisions. If we want a city that functions well, we have to plan for long-term stability while improving services in neighborhoods right now.
I’m grateful to Mayor Bass, the Chief Legislative Analyst’s Office, the City Administrative Officer, my colleagues on the Budget and Finance Committee, and the many Angelenos who participated throughout this process. The budget now moves to the full City Council for consideration this week.
All my best,
Katy |
|
|
LAFD Station 71 Pancake Breakfast
Over the weekend, my team and I stopped by Fire Station 71’s Annual Pancake Breakfast. It was great to see so many neighbors come out to meet local firefighters, connect with first responders, and spend time together. Thank you to Station 71 for hosting and to everyone who came by to support our firefighters. |
Palms Middle School Time Capsule Reveal and Burial
This weekend, I joined students, staff, elected officials, and community leaders at Palms Middle School to reopen a time capsule buried in 1976 during the U.S. Bicentennial. It was so cool to see the objects, photos, and memories students chose 50 years ago to represent their lives and community. As the country prepares to celebrate 250 years, today’s students filled a new capsule with items from 2026, giving future generations a glimpse of Palms, our community, and how students see the world today. |
|
Coffee with Katy in Palms
Over the weekend, my team and I hosted another Coffee with Katy in Palms. These gatherings are a chance for neighbors to ask questions, share concerns, and talk with our office directly about what’s happening in the community. Thank you to everyone who stopped by and supported Coffee Commissary, a local small business in Palms. Stay tuned for our next location!
South Robertson Neighborhood Council Meeting
On Thursday, I joined the South Robertson Neighborhood Council for its annual meeting to discuss the City’s FY 26-27 budget and the priorities shaping this fiscal year. We covered homelessness, mental health response, tenant protections, public safety, alternative crisis response, traffic safety, and neighborhood infrastructure. Thank you to the Neighborhood Council for hosting a thoughtful conversation.
Community Conversation with Park La Brea Residents
On Tuesday, I hosted a tenants’ rights community conversation with Park La Brea residents and our partner agencies to discuss ongoing maintenance, habitability, and repair concerns. Tenants should continue documenting issues, reporting them through the appropriate property management channels, and contacting Field Representative Michelle Flores at Michelle.Flores@lacity.org. A recording of the meeting can be found here. |
|
Business Tax and the Tourism Minimum Wage
The Council is currently negotiating potential changes to the tourism living wage ordinance, which passed last year and increases the minimum wage for people who work in hotels and airports starting July 1. After the ordinance passed, business interests qualified a November ballot measure to repeal the City’s business tax in order to gain leverage and force changes to the wage law. If voters pass the repeal, the City Administrative Officer has warned that it would blow an estimated $860 million annual hole in the City’s budget, force thousands of layoffs, and make it nearly impossible to deliver basic services. The measure’s backers have signaled they are willing to take the repeal off the ballot if some changes are made to the living wage ordinance.
Hotel and airport workers deserve a fair wage, and the City has to protect the services Angelenos count on every day. I voted no to the most recent proposal because I believe it goes too far and is unfair to workers. I remain open to further compromise and am hopeful we will get there. The Council has another opportunity this Tuesday to reach an agreement that protects workers and keeps this damaging measure off the ballot.
Strengthening Red Flag Days
On Wednesday, the City Council advanced a motion to strengthen the City’s emergency protocols, communications, and parking enforcement during Red Flag Warning Days. The action follows recent wind and wildfire emergencies that exposed gaps in public communication and enforcement in high-risk areas. The motion directs departments, including LAFD, LADOT, and the Emergency Management Department, to improve coordination, strengthen public messaging, and better enforce restricted parking during emergency conditions. City departments will now begin developing updated procedures and implementation plans to improve emergency preparedness and response moving forward. |
|
UCLA Women’s Basketball Team
On Friday, we recognized the 2026 UCLA Women’s Basketball Team at City Hall after their historic NCAA National Championship win. As a proud Bruin and former athlete, this one was especially fun. The team’s championship marks UCLA’s 126th national title, and their senior class made history with five players drafted in the first round of the WNBA Draft. Go Bruins! |
Jewish American Heritage Month
Also on Friday, I joined Councilmember Bob Blumenfield for the City’s 10th annual Jewish American Heritage Month celebration at City Hall. This year’s theme, “Playing It Forward,” brought together faith leaders, athletes, Olympians, and community members to celebrate Jewish Angelenos who have shaped sports, civic life, and community leadership. |
|
Provide Feedback on the Proposed Bus Lane Designs for the Westside
The Westside Cities Council of Governments invites you to join and provide feedback on the proposed design alternatives for the Westside Cities Bus Connection Program, a “quick build” initiative aimed at enhancing the bus rider experience along three of the Westside’s busiest and most important transit corridors.
Your input as a key community stakeholder will continue to shape final design concepts and ensure the project reflects the community's needs. Learn more about the project here.
Thursday, May 28, 2026 11:00 am - 12:30 pm
Register on Zoom!
Join Metro’s Public Budget Hearing on Thursday, May 21, at 10 AM
The Metro Board of Directors will be holding a public hearing on the Proposed Budget for Fiscal Year 2027 on Thursday, May 21, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. This is your opportunity to make your voice heard and help guide how Metro invests in services, programs, and improvements across the region. You can participate in person at the Metro Headquarters Board Room, near Union Station. The hearing will also be live-streamed on boardagendas.metro.net. For more information about the FY27 Budget and development process, visit budget.metro.net. |
|
This week, my office worked alongside the Los Angeles Police Department, Los Angeles Sanitation, and outreach teams to address encampments on the Westside of the district. Prior to any cleanup activity, our team coordinated with LAHSA and St. Joseph Center to connect individuals at these locations with housing and supportive services. Through these efforts, one individual was successfully placed at the Midvale Interim Housing site. He expressed gratitude for helping him begin this new chapter and will now have access to additional supportive services, including weekly meetings with a case manager to help him work toward long-term goals and permanent housing placement. |
|
Firefighter Story Time at Robertson Library
The Robertson Branch Library and South Robertson Neighborhood Council are hosting the 2nd Annual Firefighter Story Time and Fire Truck Tour with Captain Michael Sailhamer and firefighters from LAFD Station 58. Families are invited for storytelling, a fire truck tour, and a chance to meet local firefighters.
Tuesday, May 26
3:15 to 3:45 p.m.
Robertson Branch Library
1719 S. Robertson Blvd.
Volunteer for LA’s Kick It In The Park
This summer, Los Angeles will host World Cup watch parties across the city with live match screenings, youth soccer clinics, and family-friendly programming at Recreation and Parks sites. The City is also piloting a volunteer program at select sites from June 11 to July 19.
Volunteers will help greet attendees, provide wayfinding, and support activities. You can sign up for one shift or more. Learn more and apply here: kickit.lacity.gov/volunteer
|
|
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
|
Katy Yaroslavsky, Councilwoman 200 N. Spring St., Los Angeles, CA 90012 Unsubscribe |
|
|
|
