Every year, thousands of Angelenos step up to participate in the Homeless Count. It’s a simple but important effort: by counting people experiencing homelessness, we collect the data we need to understand the scale of the crisis in our city and respond effectively. Without this information, it’s impossible to know where services are needed most or whether our efforts are making a difference.

In Council District 5, the Homeless Count will take place on February 18 and 20. On these evenings, volunteers across LA head out after dark to count how many people are living without shelter. Once the data is collected, LAHSA combines it with other information and releases the results in the spring.

My team and I will be joining volunteers here in CD5 because we know how important this is to addressing homelessness in our neighborhoods. If you’re able, I encourage you to sign up and get involved. It’s a small action that makes a big impact on how we serve our most vulnerable neighbors. You can register to volunteer here.

All my best,
Katy

City of Los Angeles 9-1-1 Dispatch Center
I stopped by LA’s 9-1-1 dispatch center this week to thank the dispatchers who handle emergencies with focus and professionalism every day. They’re the first people to answer emergency calls and their ability to stay calm and deploy the appropriate assistance quickly can be the difference between life and death in an emergency.

I’m grateful for their hard work and dedication, and I’ll keep pushing to make sure they have the resources and support they need to do their jobs. 9-1-1 dispatchers play a critical role in keeping our city safe, and it was helpful to hear directly from them about what’s working and where we can do better.

Tu B'Shevat Festival
Over the weekend, I joined The J Los Angeles in Mid-City for their annual Tu B’Shevat Festival, celebrating the “New Year of the Trees.” Tu B’Shevat is a Jewish holiday that marks the beginning of the season for planting trees and reflects on our connection to the environment. So many families came out to enjoy the day with activities focused on nature, sustainability, and community. Events like this are a powerful reminder of how cultural traditions can inspire us to care for the world around us.

This week, the City Council passed a motion introduced by Councilmembers Nithya Raman and Bob Blumenfield to explore a Citywide self-certification program for licensed experts aimed at expediting permits for residential, commercial, and mixed-use developments. The goal is to streamline the permitting process, making it easier and faster for projects to move forward while maintaining safety and regulatory standards.

I supported this motion with an amendment requesting a report on how similar programs have been applied in other cities and what lessons we can learn from their experiences. Cities like San Diego, Bellflower, and New York have implemented versions of self-certification, and it’s important we understand both the benefits and potential pitfalls before moving forward in Los Angeles. By studying these examples, we can craft a program that balances efficiency with accountability, ensuring our permitting process works for everyone.

Business Tax Relief for Local Businesses
The City Council’s Budget and Finance Committee advanced a motion to provide tax relief for businesses impacted by the devastating January 2025 wildfires. Many businesses—ranging from restaurants and cafes to home-based operations like gardeners and housekeepers—have been destroyed or forced to close for extended periods and/or have lost significant revenues, leaving them unable to meet their business tax obligations.

During the meeting, I raised questions about how this relief will be structured to ensure it reaches the businesses most affected by the fires. While it’s critical to provide flexibility and support for those trying to rebuild, we also need to make sure the policy is clear, fair, and workable. Given the city’s broader financial challenges, it’s essential that we get this right—balancing meaningful relief with thoughtful oversight, and clarity for the public as to whom the policy applies.

I asked the Finance Department to clarify key details, including how eligibility will be verified, how “business interruption” will be defined, and whether businesses facing indirect impacts—like supply chain disruptions or customer loss—will qualify. These are important considerations to make sure we’re providing targeted relief without creating unnecessary hurdles for businesses trying to recover. As this ordinance moves forward, I’ll continue to advocate for clear guidelines that ensure fairness and efficiency in the relief process.

February is Black History Month, and throughout the month, we’ll be highlighting Black leaders with deep ties to Council District 5 whose work has shaped our city, country, and the world. 

This week, we’re recognizing Ralph J. Bunche, a UCLA graduate and trailblazing diplomat who was the first Black person to win the Nobel Peace Prize. As a top official at the United Nations, he played a key role in peacekeeping, decolonization, and civil rights, later marching alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Selma. 

Bunche graduated as valedictorian from UCLA’s Class of 1927 before earning his master’s and doctorate at Harvard. In 2003, UCLA renamed its Center for African American Studies in his honor, recognizing his legacy in diplomacy, academia, and the fight for justice.

Los Angeles Black History Month Festival l Sunday, February 23
Join us for the Los Angeles Black History Month Festival on February 23, 2025, from 11 AM to 6 PM at Pan Pacific Park! This inspiring event, co-hosted by my office and Open Arms Food Pantry & Resource Center will feature powerful keynote speakers, community leaders, and engaging activities that celebrate Black history, culture, and resilience.