LOS ANGELES, CA – Today, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a motion authored by Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell and co-authored by Supervisor Janice Hahn, to create a relief program to provide critical assistance to residents affected by the odor from the Dominguez Channel that has been classified as a health nuisance by the County’s Health Officer.

The relief program will retroactively go into effect as of October 4, 2021, when the first documented complaints from residents were received by Los Angeles County Public Works. Since then, multiple agencies including Los Angeles County Department of Health, Los Angeles County Fire Health Hazmat, and South Coast Air Quality Management District, have been working to address the decomposing organic materials within Dominguez Channel that are releasing hydrogen sulfide, which is causing the foul rotten egg odor.

“Communities across multiple cities have endured this odor for weeks. Many residents continue to experience serious symptoms like headaches and nausea. This motion accounts for the urgent  need for equitable access to the recommendations from County officials so all residents impacted can be supported said Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell. “This is also about providing consistent and clear communication to residents on their safety and what is being done to resolve this issue.”

Supervisor Janice Hahn said “The smell coming from the Dominguez Channel is nauseating and it has become a huge disruption for residents. The County’s Department of Public Works is working to address the problem, but in the meantime, impacted residents not only need to know that they can be reimbursed for air filters and hotel stays, they need to know they will be reimbursed quickly. We don’t want to cause more stress or headaches for residents who are already suffering.”

It’s important to note that this is an on-going investigation. Although, the Department of Public Health has determined that the current levels of hydrogen sulfide in the air are not expected to cause long term health effects, the quality of life continues to be negatively impacted for residents in Carson, West Carson, and portions of Gardena, Torrance, Redondo Beach, Wilmington, and Long Beach.  

To help limit or prevent exposure to the odor, Public Health has recommended residents use HEPA filters and filtration units with activated charcoal (carbon) for HVAC systems or if necessary, temporarily relocate.

The motion directs Public Works to collaborate with the appropriate County departments in creating an equitable relief program that accounts for economic hardships and other barriers that prohibit residents from being able to pay up front costs. It also includes the option for anyone who is affected by this incident to be reimbursed for purchasing recommended air purifiers and air filters or to be reimbursed per household, up to $182 per day for a hotel room and $66 per day for expenses caused by relocating for each person residing full time in the household.

To read the full motion click here.

LOS ANGELES, CA – We are continuing to work with LA County Public Works, Public Health and the South Coast Air Quality Management District (South Coast AQMD) to address the odor coming from the Dominguez Channel that has been impacting the Carson community and nearby neighborhoods. I could smell the scent of rotten eggs when driving on the 405 freeway and take these complaints from our residents seriously. Thank you for keeping our office alerted.

Public Health conducted air monitoring and found low levels of hydrogen sulfide in the air east of the Dominguez Channel.  These current results show no need for evacuation, but the odor has caused some residents to have headaches and feel nauseous. My office is doing all we can to support and ensure Public Works and South Coast AQMD’s investigation into the source of the odor and solutions for stopping it are executed as efficiently as possible.

Immediate actions residents can take to help prevent the odor from entering their home, is to keep their doors and windows closed as much as possible. For additional information on protective measures  you can take, please contact Public Health’s Community Line: 626-430-9821. This line is available from 7am-10pm, you will be asked to leave a message. The messages are checked hourly.

Residents should continue to report odors to South Coast AQMD’s hotline by phone: 800-288-7664 or online: www.AQMD.gov/Complaints.  This helps us ensure complaints are properly documented, routed, and investigated by the enforcement staff.

LOS ANGELES, CA – My office has been alerted of the foul odor impacting residents in the Carson community and is working with LA County Public Works to address this issue. I have heard from constituents about their health being impacted due to the smell of the air and I take these reports seriously. Currently, Public Works is investigating this and I have requested Public Works coordinate with the appropriate county and state departments to provide additional air monitoring and for the findings of their report to be shared with my office. We will continue to keep the Carson community updated as we receive more information on this evolving issue. For additional questions or concerns, please contact the LA County Public Works 24/7 hotline at 800-675-HELP (4357).

LOS ANGELES, CA – Today, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a motion led by Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell, representing the Second District,  that strengthens access to supportive services for Haitian immigrants residing in Los Angeles County. The motion directs the Office of Immigrant Affairs within the Department of Consumer Business of Affairs to develop a culturally competent outreach plan that connects Haitian immigrants to key County services including medical and mental healthcare, workforce development, and immigration legal support.

Since July of 2021, the people of Haiti have experienced a series of devastating events, starting with the assassination of their president, Jovenel Moïse, and followed by a catastrophic earthquake and tropical storm. All this has happened while the country continues to lag behind in the fight against COVID-19 with only 21 percent of Haitian residents vaccinated as of September of this year.  Haitian immigrants, like many other immigrants forced to flee their home countries, are risking their lives to journey to the United States in hope of a better and safer place to call home.  

“The horrific images that we saw of Haitian immigrants being whipped by U.S. Border Patrol agents should have enraged us all. It’s time we match that outrage with action” said Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell. “This motion builds on the Board’s commitment to ensuring LA County leads in welcoming and supporting all immigrants and sends a clear message that we will not stand for immigration policies and actions that harm and unfairly impact the wellbeing of Haitians or any group of people.”

The motion directs the Chief Executive Office Legislative Affairs and Intergovernmental Affairs branch to send a letter signed by all five Los Angeles County Supervisors to the U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken informing him that Los Angeles County will stand ready to work with the federal government in welcoming and supporting Haitian immigrants and their families.

To read the full motion click here.

LOS ANGELES, CA – Today, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a motion led by Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell, that increases the goal for local worker hires to 50 percent on capital projects related to Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, a hospital campus that serves over three million residents throughout the County.

Harbor-UCLA Medical Center (Harbor-UCLA MC) is a County-owned hospital located in West Carson, an unincorporated area in the southwestern portion of the County. It is one of only five Level 1 trauma centers in the County and has a workforce of over 4,300. The construction of the Department of Mental Health’s Outpatient Clinic Center and the replacement of the Harbor-UCLA MC – will provide hundreds of career opportunities with family-sustaining wages to the Second District.

“I am proud that the County will be working with the West Carson community and our Los Angeles /Orange Counties Construction and Building Trades to create pathways to stable careers for Second District residents” said Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell. “By increasing the local worker hire goal to 50 percent at Harbor-UCLA MC, we are helping to ensure community members who are traditionally underrepresented in the construction industry are benefiting from the County’s infrastructure investments.”

“The members of our Building Trades Unions are proud to have the opportunity to work on the Harbor UCLA Medical Center, Mental Health Outpatient Clinic and Wellness Center projects that will deliver needed and vital care to LA County residents” shared Chris Hannan, Executive Secretary, Los Angeles/Orange Counties Building and Construction Trades Council. “The Community Workforce Agreement gives us the vehicle to welcome as many County residents who want a career in construction into our Unions and on these projects as possible!”

The motion also ensures the County’s established Community Workforce Agreement requirements that expand inclusion and diversity by intentionally hiring local small businesses, disabled-veterans, and women-owned businesses are required for the development of Department of Mental Health Outpatient Clinic and Wellness Center project at Harbor-UCLA MC.

To read the full motion click here.

LOS ANGELES, CA – Today, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a motion authored by Second District Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell and co-authored by Board Chair Supervisor Hilda L. Solis, representing the First District, to establish a more transparent and sustainable process for conducting inquests for all cases involving fatal use of force by Sheriff Deputies. The motion also calls for a public investigation into the circumstances, manner and causes of death for Dana Mitchell “Malik” Young, Jr., Dijon Kizzee, and Samuel Herrera, who were shot and killed by LA County Sherriff’s deputies.

“No one is above the law. The families and communities that are left grappling with the pain of losing their loved one deserve truth and accountability. This is about providing additional oversight and transparency into the investigation of Deputy-involved fatal uses of force by establishing equitable policies and resources that will apply to all cases, not just the ones that make the news.” said Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell. “The barriers put in place by the  Sheriff’s department require action to ensure the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) can do its job and that we are upholding our commitment as a County to equity.”

“Time and time again, residents who have lost loved ones at the hands of LASD deputies have been unable to receive information about the circumstances of their deaths and are given the run around,” shared Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Hilda L. Solis, “I’ve heard these stories first-hand from many of my residents and, to that end, I feel a strong duty to support and stand beside them. Today’s action will help provide some sense of solace for those still seeking answers and hold deputies accountable through a transparent process. These policies shouldn’t be necessary, but unfortunately they are when law enforcement believes they are above the law.”

Currently, an inquest is made primarily through the approval of motions presented by the Board of Supervisors. This motion seeks to make a more accessible process for the public and families of victims to gain answers and justice by directing the Chief Medical Examiner-Coroner in collaboration with relevant County departments and community stakeholders to report back in 90 days on establishing a criteria for determining when inquests should be automatically done and  identify funding sources to ensure the Medical Examiner-Coroner is properly resourced to meet the public need for this service.  

The families of  Mr. Young, Mr. Kizzee, and Mr. Herrera are among hundreds of families that still seek answers for the death of their loved ones at the hands of Sheriff Deputies. According to a 2019 report by the OIG, the LA County Civilian Oversight Commission, 1,942 public record requests to the LA Sheriff’s Department made under the Right to Know Act (Senate Bill 1421) and California Public Records Act – which requires reports to be made public involving police shootings – were outstanding for 180 days without a response.

“Since 2000, 937 families—including Essie Justice Group member Ms. Khadijah Shabazz—have mourned the loss of a loved one because of shocking and unacceptable acts of violence by the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department. We have seen too many Black women lose their sons, daughters, partners, and loved ones due to this department’s lawlessness” shared Gina Clayton-Johnson, Founder and Executive Director of Essie Justice Group “These killings continue to impart a level of trauma and terror into the lives of residents while the LA Sheriff refuses to take the most basic steps on behalf of civil and human rights. Today’s passing of Supervisors Mitchell and Solis’s motion is necessary to provide the transparency, answers, and justice that Ms. Shabazz and all those who mourn the tragic killing of Dana Mitchell Young Jr. and countless others deserve.”

To read the full motion, click here.

LOS ANGELES, CA – Today, as a member of the LA Metro board, I voted to allow K-14 students to ride for free. This is a promising step but more must be done for our low-income riders. This is why I am proud to share that as we continue to fight for a fareless system, the Metro board unanimously voted in support of my motion to take action in making public transportation affordable for residents who rely on it the most. My motion includes the following key components to help strengthen Metro’s discount fare program: