LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Supervisor Holly Mitchell provided the following statement in regard to the ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court in the case of City of Grants Pass v. Johnson:

“This morning the Supreme Court ruling on Grants Pass unfortunately opens the door to penalize people who are unhoused. The ruling came on the same day that the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) reported a slight decrease in the number of people across the Los Angeles County. LA County is leading with what works – connection to housing and services.

“In less than 12 months, through LA County’s Pathway Home program 629 people have come into housing and 390 recreational vehicles have been removed from our streets. The all-hands on deck across County teams and alignment across jurisdictions is making an impact.”

“In addition to the Pathway Home program, LA County’s Homelessness Initiative in partnership with the LA County Board offices is enhancing the encampment clean-ups. This means shorter response time for clean-ups in unincorporated area communities. Penalizing and criminalizing people for falling into homelessness is not the solution.”

“The County and all our 88 cities must not be distracted and stay aligned on what works. Focused interventions of housing, wrap-around and mental health services, and clean-ups benefit all residents.”

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Today, the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) released the results of its annual count of residents experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles County, showing a slight decline for the first time in five years of 0.27% to 75,518 in the City of Los Angeles and 5.1% to 52,365 in Los Angeles County and an 18% increase in permanent housing with 28,000 people experiencing homelessness placed in housing.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell, who authored the motion calling for a countywide assessment of RV encampments and resolution program as part of Los Angeles County’s Pathway Home Program, provided the following statement:

“This year’s point in time count showed a decline in people experiencing homelessness after many years of increases in LA County and LA City, proving that our unified efforts are working. With the addition of LA County’s Pathway Home, which focuses on people living in encampments, our capacity to bring people home humanely has increased. By providing ongoing outreach and connection to interim and permanent housing with supportive services, we are getting more people to say yes to housing that meets their needs.”

“This is the time to keep our focus on the strategic investments in outreach, mental health services, and affordable housing to make sure this decline becomes more than a slight shift and instead a continuous drop in people experiencing homelessness on our streets.”

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Los Angeles County Board Supervisor, Holly J. Mitchell, representing the Second District, will host her 4th Annual Juneteenth Celebration & Resource Fair on Friday, June 21, 2024. This year, the event will take place at Victoria Community Regional Park, located at 419 Martin Luther King Jr. St., Carson, CA 90746, in the evening, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The free event will be emceed by actor and director, William Allen Young and feature County and community resources, empowering discussions, captivating performances, and engaging activities for attendees of all ages.

“I’m thrilled to bring our 4th Annual Juneteenth Celebration and Resource Fair to the City of Carson for the first time! As we strive to grow and extend the impact of this event to reach more communities across Los Angeles County’s 2nd District, it’s critical to me that we ensure every resident can celebrate this important holiday by accessing vital resources and joyful activities. I am excited the over 50 participating organizations and County departments along with all the talented performers that have come together to make this a special event for all to enjoy.” said Supervisor Mitchell.

Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day, marks the date, June 19, 1865, when the news that the Emancipation Proclamation had been signed finally reached Galveston Texas, two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the law in 1863 abolishing slavery. As a result, over 250,000 enslaved people of African descent were freed throughout Texas. 159 years later, Juneteenth (June 19) continues to be celebrated as a pivotal moment in the ending of slavery in the United States and symbolizes the on-going fight for justice and equality. Now observed as both a County and federal holiday, Juneteenth is celebrated across the country, and is a time for reflection on the progress made toward equality, as well as a reminder of the work that remains.

Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell’s 4th Annual Juneteenth Celebration & Resource Fair is a free community event aimed at raising awareness of the historical impact of Juneteenth and serves as a platform to connect residents to vital County and community services, including tenant protections, immigration rights, mental health support, record expungement and more. The event will feature empowering discussions, captivating performances, and engaging activities for attendees of all ages.

For more information and to register for the 4th Annual Juneteenth Celebration & Resource Fair, visit https://mitchell.lacounty.gov/Juneteenth-2024.

Social Media: Facebook / X / Instagram / YouTube / Website

Assets:

• 4th Annual Juneteenth Celebration & Resource Fair Promo Video
• 4th Annual Juneteenth Celebration & Resource Fair Flyer

Participating Organizations:

• African Communities Public Health Coalition
• Alzheimer’s Association
• Black AIDS Institute
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Carson
• California African American Genealogical Society, Inc
• California Calls
• California State University, Dominguez Hills
• Carson Football Team
• Children’s Law Center’s Family Support and Advocacy Center
• Community Legal Aid SoCal
• Compton College
• Crystal Stairs, Inc.
• East LA Community Corporation
• Food Access LA
• Greener Ways Associates
• Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles
• Independent Living Systems
• Inspire
• LA Clippers
• Los Angeles County Aging & Disabilities Department
• Los Angeles County Alternate Public Defender
• Los Angeles County Beaches and Harbors
• Los Angeles County Child Support Services Department
• Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care & Control
• Los Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs
• Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity
• Los Angeles County Department of Health Services
• Los Angeles County Department of Human Resources
• Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner
• Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health
• Los Angeles County Department of Parks & Recreation
• Los Angeles County Department of Public Health
• Los Angeles County Department of Public Health – Abundant Birth Project
• Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services
• Los Angeles County Department of Public Works Environmental Defenders Program
• Los Angeles County Department of Regional Planning
• Los Angeles County Department of Youth Development
• Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office Human Resources Division
• Los Angeles County Fire Department Forestry Division
• Los Angeles County Internal Services Department Delete the Divide
• Los Angeles County Justice, Care and Opportunities Department
• Los Angeles County Library
• Los Angeles County Office of Education
• Los Angeles County Public Defender
• Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk
• Los Angeles County Treasurer and Tax Collector
• Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority
• Los Angeles Metro
• Lucas Museum of Narrative Art
• NAMI Urban Los Angeles
• Office of Congresswoman Nanette Barragán
• Office of Senator Steven Bradford
• Planned Parenthood Los Angeles
• S.P.E.A.K. OUT LOUD, INC
• Special Needs Network
• TeleHealth Van
• Tessie Cleveland Community Services
• The TransLatin@ Coaltion
• United Airlines / BEACON BRG
• Water Replenishment District

Additional Event Components:

• DJ
• Live music and dance performances
• Drum circle
• Face painting
• 360 photobooth
• Kids activities
• Food trucks to purchase food

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell provided the following statement on the death of civil rights leader, Reverend James Morris Lawson Jr.:  

“I am deeply saddened by the passing of Rev. James Lawson Jr. As a child growing up at Holman United Methodist Church, I was captivated by the resonance of Rev. Lawson’s voice.  As an adult, Rev Lawson continued to have an impact on my life, I read his teachings, participated in his non-violence training sessions, and traveled to the home and final resting place of Gandhi. I grew to both understand and embrace his concept of the evils of  “plantation Capitalism” and have been inspired by him, like countless others, to work to manifest his vision of love over violence in my everyday life.  Rev. Lawson was a civil rights icon, mentor, and friend.  In his name, we will continue to fight for justice, peace, and love for ALL.”

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — During this week’s meeting of the Metro Board of Directors, the Board approved the staff recommendation to select the Right-of-Way grade separated Hybrid Alternative to further study in the Final Environmental Impact Report for the C-line (Green) extension from Redondo Beach to Torrance. Metro Board Director Holly J. Mitchell provided the following statement:  

“While the 4.5-mile extension of the C-Line from Redondo Beach to Torrance allows us to take a substantial step towards one day taking the train between Torrance, LAX, Inglewood, Leimert Park, and other connections across the County, I am clear that it will also have a generational impact on the residents I represent in the South Bay and the entire County. This is why I postponed the initial vote on this project last year; I wanted to ensure residents were meaningfully engaged so that their voices and concerns were heard and addressed. 

My office used the extra time to bring Metro to the community to answer questions and discuss directly with hundreds of residents who shared opposing views. During our community walk of the proposed alignment options, town hall, and letters from constituents, the same concerns came up, like noise, proximity to homes, cost, and public safety. 

I support Metro’s staff recommendation to evaluate the Right-of-Way Hybrid Alternative because it currently includes potential solutions to help address the valid concerns residents raised. Further studying the environmental impact of this option will allow for thorough responses to all the questions shared by the public, additional community input, and a detailed funding plan.  

 I have joined my colleagues on the Metro Board in calling for authentic and inclusive community outreach to inform Metro’s environmental impact report and funding plan, which will detail how Metro will pay for the project and additional community improvements. 

I want to thank the Metro team and all the residents who have engaged in meaningful dialogue on the C-Line extension. The next time this project returns to the Board, it will be for final approval. This is not the end of our discussion; no options or modifications are off the table as long as we continue to work to identify the best solution for the extension. 

I look forward to a comprehensive and community informed environmental impact report and to continue working together in meeting the transportation needs of the rapidly growing South Bay.”

To learn more about the Right-of-Way Hybrid Alternative, click here. 

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Today, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors (the Board) unanimously approved the final reading of the County’s Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations (MEHKOs) ordinance. This ordinance goes into effect on November 1, 2024. It is the result of Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell’s motion that passed last year calling for a streamlined process for the over 50,000 home cooks and sidewalk vendors throughout the County to become permitted to cook safe and regulated food for the public.

“Sidewalk vendors and home cooks are part of the cultural and culinary fabric of our neighborhoods – many times being a primary source of affordable and quality food for residents while providing an opportunity for families to earn a steady income,” said Supervisor Mitchell. “Our Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations ordinance allows LA County to align with the state in creating a pathway for unregulated chefs to become permitted and builds on our efforts to provide guardrails that protect residents and brick and mortar businesses, while helping thousands of sidewalk vendors and home cooks benefit from our local economy.” 

In addition to the MEHKOs ordinance passing today, the Board approved Supervisors Mitchell and Hilda L. Solis’s motion to help remove financial barriers to applying for MEHKOs by allocating $600,000 in American Rescue Plan Act recovery funds to cover the $597 initial application fee for 1000 eligible MEHKO permittees. The motion also calls for $600,000 invested into an extensive outreach and education campaign led by the County’s Department of Economic Opportunity.

“MEHKOs represent an important economic vehicle for entrepreneurial County residents – especially women, immigrants, and communities of color – to create new opportunities in the formal economy,” said Supervisor Solis. “MEHKOs will create new financial lifelines for many residents, including undocumented residents, who may otherwise face barriers operating their own businesses.”

Dr. Barbara Ferrer, Ph.D., M.P.H., M.Ed., Director of the Los Angeles County Department of Health, whose department will be administering MEHKOs permits shared; “Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations will provide new opportunities for food entrepreneurs and aspiring chefs and create significant economic opportunities for Los Angeles County residents, including women and immigrants. I am grateful that Supervisor Mitchell and the Board of Supervisors have created a path that will provide a pathway for small business owners while ensuring public health and safety standards are maintained.”

Los Angeles County becomes the 15th jurisdiction in the state to authorize MEHKOs. According to a statewide survey by COOK Alliance, 84% of sidewalk vendors and home cooks in the informal economy are women, and 48% identify as Black, Latinx, or multi-racial. MEHKOs provide a feasible pathway for diverse populations, including first-generation immigrants, to be part of the formal economy and further legitimize their businesses. 

“This ordinance represents a pivotal moment for culinary entrepreneurs across Los Angeles County,” said Roya Bagheri, Executive Director of COOK Alliance. “MEHKOs break down barriers, allow home chefs and vendors to come out of the shadows, and empower marginalized communities to thrive in LA’s world-renowned food scene.”

To read the entire ordinance, click here.