LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell provided the following statement in response to the arrest of suspect alleged to have threatened Metro crew members with violence on the Metro C Line Extension project. 

“I take the concerns of my constituents seriously, which is why I’ve organized several community events focused on the Metro C-Line, including a walking tour with residents to discuss the proposed changes directly with Metro staff and my office. While we may not all agree on every aspect of this project, we can all agree that violence, or the threat of violence, will not be tolerated. 

Metro crew members are fulfilling their duties by collecting data to address the very concerns residents have raised. As both a Metro Board Member and County Supervisor, it is my responsibility to help ensure that our residents and employees feel safe in our communities. I want to thank the Sheriff’s Department and Metro for their prompt response to the threat. My office will continue to monitor the situation and remain engaged with the project.” 

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — This week the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a motion authored by Supervisors Holly J. Mitchell and Janice Hahn to reinstate and strengthen a pilot program by June 2025 to better serve unhoused residents at LA County libraries in need of mental health support. The motion directs the LA County Department of Mental Health and the Library Department to collaborate in providing an on-site clinician and/or licensed social workers at 10 libraries with the highest reported needs for support serving unhoused residents (libraries will be selected in each of the five Supervisorial Districts).  

“This motion is in response to the homelessness and mental health crisis and the skills it requires to properly address it that are outside the expertise of our library staff,” said Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell, representing the Second District. “Over half of the incidents reported are at libraries in my district. It is our responsibility to ensure our libraries are safe for all residents and our staff.”  

Supervisor Janice Hahn, representing the Fourth District, shared, “The truth is that some people who visit our libraries are facing challenges, whether that is homelessness, mental health struggles, or addiction. Our librarians do incredible work, but they are not trained to address complex social or behavioral issues – nor should they be.  By bringing social workers into some of our libraries, we can better help people who are struggling, and our librarians can focus on their jobs.”  

84 County libraries serve over 3.4 million customers a year. From October 2018 to December 2024, over 19,000 security incidents that involved people experiencing homelessness were reported at County libraries, with over 54% happening in Los Angeles County’s Second District alone.  

“Public libraries have long been safe havens for those seeking refuge, resources, and support, especially for our unhoused neighbors,” said Skye Patrick, Library Director of LA County Library. “By bringing mental health clinicians back into those high-need spaces, we are not only providing immediate care to those who need it most but also sending a powerful message that mental health support belongs everywhere, including our libraries.” 

Today’s motion builds on steps taken by the County to make services more accessible to library patrons experiencing homelessness, including a 2018 pilot program to help de-escalate severe mental health crises at select libraries experiencing a high number of incidents. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the pilot was halted.   

This pilot iteration is the result of the 2024 motion by Supervisors Mitchell and Hahn that called for a plan from the Department of Mental Health (DMH) to enable County Libraries to Better  Serve their Unhoused Patrons. It re-establishes and expands access to on-site staff that consists of one master’s level clinician and a paraprofessional (Medical Case Workers or Community Health Workers) from the DMH Interim Housing Outreach Program. The on-site teams will have dedicated office hours that will be publicized.  

“The Department of Mental Health recognizes that public libraries serve as a refuge for many people experiencing homelessness, including those impacted by severe mental illness,” said La Tina Jackson, LCSW, Deputy Director, Countywide Engagement Division, LA County Department of Mental Health. “We look forward to our partnership with LA County libraries to connect patrons with mental health and other social service needs to the resources best suited to their unique needs.”  

Additionally, the motion calls for a quarterly update from DMH and the Library Department on program outcomes to the Board of Supervisors, including the number of patrons served, police diversion success, and potential expansion opportunities. To read the entire motion, click here. 

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell, in partnership with the Reimagine LA Coalition, Participatory Budgeting Project, and Tres Lunas Consulting, announced the winning proposals in the 2nd District Community Budget, focused on the Florence-Firestone and Ladera Heights communities. This initiative marks the first-ever participatory budgeting process in Los Angeles County, allowing residents from both areas to decide how a total of $1.7 million in funds will be allocated to help improve their communities.

“Our unincorporated communities rely on the county for essential municipal services that directly impact their quality of life. That’s why it was important to pilot our community budget program in these areas. The diverse lived experiences and needs across Florence-Firestone and Ladera Heights have shaped every step of this pilot, with direct input from residents in both communities,” said Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell, Second District. “I’m excited to see this landmark community budget program move into the implementation stage and watch these ideas turn into tangible results for our residents.”

Over 700 ideas were submitted by constituents in Florence-Firestone and Ladera Heights. An advisory committee, composed of 11 residents from both communities, helped select the top eight ideas to be voted on. The Office of Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell allocated $1 million—$500,000 each for Florence-Firestone and Ladera Heights. The Reimagine LA Coalition contributed an additional $420,000 to Florence-Firestone and $280,000 to Ladera Heights, based on population size, enabling more projects to be funded.

The final funding allocation resulted in three approved projects for Florence-Firestone and four for Ladera Heights.

Florence-Firestone Winning Proposals:

Nourishing Our Neighborhood: A Green Space Initiative ($250,000): A community initiative to plant more trees and install planters to enhance community health and quality of life through collaboration with residents and nonprofits.

Florence-Firestone is Home ($500,000): A program that will offer cash grants of $500 to support 200-600 residents facing rent increases and financial burdens, with options to renew up to three times.

Connection to Ready to Hire Jobs ($150,000): Connect residents to ready-to-hire jobs with family-sustaining wages through candidate pre-screening, soft skills training, and a potential local job fair. The program will be inclusive of all backgrounds and career stages, with a strong outreach plan for employers.

Ladera Heights Winning Proposals:

Tree & Common Area Improvement Project ($150,000 – $200,000): Beautify common spaces with community signs, climate-specific trees, and landscaping. Support underdeveloped areas by providing drought-tolerant plants, lighting, and outdoor art, requiring a strong community engagement plan.

Active Minds, Healthy Lives Initiative ($100,000-$150,000): Enhance programming at the Yvonne B. Burke Senior and Community Center by promoting digital literacy and physical activity. Digital classes will help seniors connect with family and access online resources.

Digital Literacy Empowerment ($175,000): Establish technology classes at a local community center for all ages. Includes expert-led sessions, certificates, and job placement assistance. The selected organization must ensure access for those in need and provide consistent programming for at least 12 months.

Youth Digital Workforce Development ($200,000-$300,000): Fund nonprofits for a year-long job training initiative, similar to LA County’s Youth at Work program, providing youth aged 14-24 with work experience, training, and support for paid jobs in high-growth industries.

The next phase of the 2nd District Community Budget is now underway. Community Implementation Partners are needed to help turn these community-driven projects into a reality. Organizations interested in implementing these initiatives are encouraged to apply here: https://mitchell.lacounty.gov/cb-2023/#CIPApp. The application deadline is Monday, March 10.

A virtual info session for organizations interested in becoming Community Implementation Partners will be held on Wednesday, February 19, at noon via Zoom. This session will guide organizations through the application process and address any questions. Organizations can register here: https://bit.ly/SD2-CIP-Info.

“I am incredibly excited to see the power of participatory budgeting come to life in the 2nd District. With Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell’s leadership and the Reimagine LA Coalition’s investment, we are making a historic commitment to community-driven decision-making. The Reimagine LA Coalition is proud to contribute an additional $700,000 to this effort, bringing the total to $1.7 million for the Florence-Firestone and Ladera Heights communities. This investment ensures that residents have a real say in shaping the resources and solutions that impact their daily lives. This is a major step toward equity, transparency, and true civic engagement,” said Megan Castillo, Reimagine LA Coalition.

“After years of advocating for participatory budgeting at the state and local level, Supervisor Holly Mitchell and her team, the Reimagine LA team, and the communities of Ladera Heights and Florence Firestone finally made this an implemented reality. It is a restorative gift to have $1.7 million equitably redistributed across these two communities of color,” said Diana Zúñiga of Tres Lunas Consulting & RELA. “Everyone involved should be so proud and excited to see how these seven projects bloom in the two neighborhoods.”

For more information on the 2^nd District Community Budget and the winning proposals, visit http://mitchell.lacounty.gov/cb-2023.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Today, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors (the Board) approved Supervisors Mitchell and Hahn’s motion with amendments presented by Supervisor Horvath to revise the Board’s policymaking process to allow for more public input and transparency. The approved pilot will require Board motions to be presented two weeks in advance of the Board’s Public Hearing meetings at one of the five existing County cluster meetings – that are open to the public and held on Wednesdays – starting January 21, 2025, until August 12, 2025.

“We often hear from constituents about how a motion can be placed on the Board agenda on a Friday and voted on a Tuesday, leaving little time for a thoughtful review or response from the public. With this pilot, we are aiming to use our existing cluster meetings to provide an opportunity for meaningful dialogue with our constituents and county departments that leads to better policy and outcomes for our residents,” said Supervisor Mitchell.

“Our ability to remain nimble is this Board’s greatest asset. If this pilot program serves our goal of making us more responsive to the changing needs of our ten million residents, it’ll have been worth trying it out,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn.

This is a follow-up action to the Board’s October 22, 2024, approval of Supervisors Mitchell and Barger’s motion calling for a report back on the most efficient options for utilizing the County’s existing cluster meeting structure to create a more accessible and community-driven policymaking process. Today’s vote implements scenario 1 from the Executive Office report back and calls for a written assessment of the pilot to determine the possibility of extending it.

The revised process outlined in scenario 1 maintains the Wednesday deadline for the Board to file motions. The Chair of the Board will now consult with the author(s) of the motion to determine which cluster meetings the motion should be presented at prior to the motion reaching the Public Board Meeting for a vote. The five County cluster meetings include (1) Operations, (2) Community Services, (3) Family and Social Services, (4) Health and Mental Health Services, and (5) Public Safety. For information on the County’s cluster meetings, visit https://ceo.lacounty.gov/agendas/

Motions for emergency declarations and routine administrative motions that are time-sensitive, like reward motions used to help bring justice to families, would not be required to go through the cluster process.