LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell, representing Los Angeles County’s Second District, in partnership with the Reimagine LA Coalition, Participatory Budgeting Project, and Tres Lunas Consulting, announced a total of $1.7 million in grants to be distributed among the following organizations: Bridge the Digital Divide, Inc., Building Futures, Inc., Inspire Together, Los Angeles Conservation Corps,  Los Angeles Trade Tech College,  St. John’s Community Health, Tree People, and UNITE-LA.

These organizations will serve as Community Implementation Partners, bringing to life the winning ideas that residents in the unincorporated communities of Florence-Firestone and Ladera Heights voted for as part of the Second District Community Participatory Budget pilot program.

“This is about putting co-governance in action and showing the power of a public budget when it reflects the values of the communities it serves. From the moment we launched this pilot with our partners, our unincorporated communities of Florence-Firestone and Ladera Heights have been engaged in deciding how $1.7 million should be invested back into their neighborhoods. Reaching the implementation phase is a significant step toward turning thoughtful ideas – ranging from job access to neighborhood beautification – into a reality. I look forward to collaborating with the trusted community organizations that have been selected to help us make a meaningful and lasting impact,” said Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell.

The Second District Community Participatory Budget is a pilot program created by Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell in partnership with Reimagine LA Coalition, Participatory Budgeting Project, and Tres Lunas Consulting. The program provides $780,000 to the Ladera Heights community and $920,000 to Florence-Firestone – a total of $1.7 million – for local residents only to decide how that money should be invested back into their communities.

“Through years of organizing and advocacy, we’ve worked to create participatory democracy models that put decision-making power directly in the hands of county residents. With Supervisor Holly Mitchell’s leadership and the vision of community members who helped guide this process, the 2nd District pilot has laid a strong foundation. Now, we enter an exciting new phase: launching projects with Community Implementation Partners who will bring these priorities to life in each unincorporated area,” said Megan Castillo, Reimagine LA Coalition. “This milestone is not an end but a beginning and will serve as proof that when communities lead, budgets can truly reflect the values and needs of the people. We look forward to continuing this partnership and expanding participatory budgeting into more neighborhoods across Los Angeles.”

Last year, more than 700 ideas were submitted across both communities. With the help of an advisory committee made up of residents from both Ladera Heights and Florence-Firestone, those ideas were narrowed down and presented for a final vote by fellow residents. Below are the winning projects that the eight Community Implementation Partners are expected to launch by 2026:

Florence-Firestone Winning Projects & Community Implementation Partners

• Florence-Firestone is Home – St. John’s Community Health

Provides cash grants of $500 to support 200-600 residents facing rent increases and financial hardship, with the option for residents to renew up to three times.

• Connection to Ready-to-Hire Jobs – Inspire Together

Prepares and connects residents of all skill levels to ready-to-hire jobs with family-sustaining wages through candidate pre-screening, soft skills training, and a local job fair.

• Nourishing Our Neighborhood: A Green Space Initiative – Tree People and Los Angeles Conservation Corps

Collaborates with residents and nonprofits to plant trees and install planters to enhance community health and overall quality of life.

Ladera Heights Winning Projects & Community Implementation Partners

• Tree & Common Area Improvement Project – Los Angeles Conservations Corps and Los Angeles Trade Tech College

Beautifies communal spaces with signage, climate-specific trees, and landscaping while improving underdeveloped areas with drought-tolerant plants, lighting, and outdoor art.

• Active Minds, Healthy Lives Initiative – Building Futures, Inc.

Enhances programming at the Yvonne B. Burke Senior and Community Center with physical activities and digital literacy classes helping seniors gain the skills to safely connect with family online and access resources.

• Digital Literacy Empowerment – Bridge the Digital Divide Inc.

Establishes technology classes at a local community center for all ages. Classes will include expert-led sessions, certification opportunities, and job placement assistance for residents most affected by the digital divide.

• Youth Digital Workforce Development – UNITE-LA

A year-long job training initiative in partnership with local non-profits that provides young people ages 14 to 24 with work experience, training, and pathways to employment in high-growth industries.

“So many community members and leaders have contributed to reigniting the spirit of participatory budgeting through Supervisor Holly Mitchell’s Community Budgeting Pilot Project. It is an honor to see a community dream realized as several community-based organizations receive funding to implement the ideas that were generated over the year long process through several community input and voting processes. Everyone involved should be so proud of themselves for prioritizing the time and energy to practice participatory budgeting. This is one model that will lead to a wide range of opportunities that will open up for the county as we heal our relationship to government resources and the processes attached to them. We can’t wait to see the projects fully implemented in the unincorporated areas and how community members will benefit from them,” said Diana Zúñiga of Tres Lunas Consulting & RELA.

For more information and to stay updated on the Second District Community Budget pilot, visit http://mitchell.lacounty.gov/cb-2023 and follow Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell on Instagram, Facebook, X, and Bluesky.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell’s motion to invest $2 million from her district Transportation Improvement Fund – which does not impact the County General Fund – to repair a damaged portion of the beloved Marvin Braude Bike Path was approved today by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.

“This is a major and long-awaited step towards repairing damages caused by winter storms to the Marvin Braude Bike Path and builds on our commitment to equitable access to our County beaches and trails. I am proud to launch this project without touching the County’s general fund and instead investing $2 million from funding specifically allocated for transportation improvements in the Second District, said Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell, Second District. “I want to thank the Department of Public Works, our community partners, and residents who have worked together to help keep this portion of the trail safe and clean. I look forward to the construction launching early next year.”

The Marvin Braude Bike Path is a scenic, 22-mile coastal trail used daily by thousands of residents and visitors for biking, running, and enjoying the outdoors. It stretches through several beach communities, including Torrance, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, El Segundo, Los Angeles, and Santa Monica.

In January 2023, powerful winter storms and high tides caused severe damage to a key segment of the path between Dockweiler Beach and Ballona Creek. While the County Department of Public Works acted quickly to secure the site and implement a detour, the damage has significantly limited access for many residents and tourists who rely on this popular route.

“I’ve cycled on this trail since I was a teenager when it first opened in the ’70s and have introduced it to my kids and so many others,” said Yolanda Davis-Overstreet, founder of the nonprofit Biking While Black. “We’re grateful for Supervisor Mitchell’s commitment to restoring this vital part of the Marvin Braude trail. For many communities that have historically faced limited access to safe spaces for cycling or simply walking in their neighborhoods due to systemic injustices, this trail represents an essential connection to the County’s coastline.”

The motion authorizes the Department of Public Works to begin the bidding process for construction, awarding up to $2 million from the Second District’s Transportation Improvement Program funds. Interested organizations can learn more about the project here and begin submitting bids starting November 18, 2025. Construction is expected to begin in February 2026 and be completed by summer 2026.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell provided the following statement on the court decision regarding the state’s receivership petition: 

“I appreciate the court’s careful consideration on the impact of receivership on the youth population in our camps and halls. The County maintaining control doesn’t negate the glaring issues with staffing, data management, and infrastructure that led us to this point.

It is important that we continue to navigate and center the needs of the youth in our care, and that means depopulating by utilizing and expanding community-based placements for safe release.

We all have a role to play to create the necessary cultural shifts for sustainably improving conditions at the halls. It is my expectation that Probation and all our County Departments that serve youth, take today’s Court decision as non-negotiable alarm on the need to work together with community partners and return with meaningful steps for improving how we show up for the youth in our care.”

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell who also serves on the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) Board of Directors, shared the following statement on the Chevron refinery fire in El Segundo: 

“Last night a fire erupted at the Chevron refinery facility in El Segundo that is now fully extinguished. LA County Fire Department and other agencies were dispatched yesterday to assist as mutual aid for a short period of time. The cause of the fire is unknown, and everyone is accounted for with no reported injuries.

Throughout this incident, I have been in contact with El Segundo Mayor Chris Pimentel who has briefed me and has also been in communication with Chevron to ensure that the fire was contained. I have also connected with the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) on the status of air quality, and it has reported that there were some elevated levels of VOC’s at both refinery fenceline and community monitors. As of 9:30 this morning, the levels at these monitors are currently at safe threshold levels. AQMD will continue to monitor the air quality and as the situation is evolving.

AQMD advises residents to remain indoors if they see or smell smoke and keep their doors and windows closed. Run a HEPA air purifier if available. For real-time air quality updates, you can visit the AQMD website here under Rule 1180 Community Air Monitoring.

For more updates on the Chevron refinery fire, check out the links below:

• City of El Segundo
• El Segundo Fire Department
• Chevron Refinement Facility

I am sincerely grateful for all the emergency personnel who responded to this incident. My office will continue to monitor the situation throughout the day for updates.”

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell provided the following statement on the LA Times article regarding allegations of fraud in LA County sex abuse settlements:

“Allegations of sexual assault are extremely serious and should be treated as such. I believe that victims of sexual abuse are entitled to and should receive all the support they need, both financial and emotional support. When the settlement came to the Board, I pushed County Counsel to do our full due diligence, to the best of our abilities, in verifying names of plaintiffs before the settlement agreement. But there is NO excuse for predatory consumer attorneys who targeted vulnerable South LA residents. It is clear that their strategy was to prey on individuals based on race and class. Something must be done to address their behavior.”

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell provided the following statement on the U.S. federal government shutdown: 

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Today, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors adopted the Supplemental Budget, marking the completion of the County’s budget process for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the passage of the largest County budget to date at $52.5 billion. Supervisor Mitchell provided the following statement:  

“We entered this budget process facing a myriad of unprecedented challenges—including nearly a billion dollars in federal funding cuts, the economic impacts of the wildfires, and the need to honor settlements for survivors harmed by County employees over several decades. These financial pressures have real consequences for our departments and, more importantly, for the residents who rely on the County as their last resort for essential services and care. 

I want to thank Fesia Davenport and the County CEO’s Budget and Legislative teams for their hard work and advocacy on behalf of the County. Early in this process, I called for regular updates on the County budget to help break down the magnitude of the challenges we face—so that we can be collectively accountable for what this means for our residents. 

While I recognize the necessity for County departments to make budget cuts to help weather these financial storms, I have consistently cautioned against blanket cuts across departments. We know the challenges we are trying to solve are not cut evenly across communities—and our solutions shouldn’t be either. 

We’re already witnessing the inequitable consequences of these cuts: select park closures on certain days, limited staffing to deliver critical services, and threats to our ability to fully implement priorities like Care First. It’s clear that one-time fixes will not be sufficient. The quality of life for our residents—and the values we uphold—demand equitable and sustained investment. 

One component of the budget I’m encouraged by is the progress on the Care First Community Investment (CFCI) process. Thanks to the Board’s support of my motion, this process now includes greater community input and oversight of unspent funds—$245 million in this budget cycle alone. I look forward to seeing these dollars reach the communities they were always meant to serve. 

I’m also pleased to see increased recognition of Public Health as a public safety priority. We must fund it accordingly—especially as federal support declines and politically motivated rollbacks threaten science-based health policy. Public health is public safety. 

The budget process is not a one-time annual event—it is a daily commitment to ensuring our motions and actions translate into real, meaningful investment. For example, while I supported the creation of the new Department of Homeless Services and Housing, its absence from this budget—due to the timing of its development—creates a gap in coordination and accountability. Moving forward, I expect stronger transparency and collaboration, which are essential for the millions of residents counting on us.” 

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell provided the following statement in response to a swastika being graffitied on a home in the Los Angeles Labrea-Hancock Park community:

“There is no place for symbols or acts of hate in our community. It is deeply disturbing that a swastika was graffitied on a home in the La Brea–Hancock Park neighborhood—especially during the Jewish Holy Days. No one should have to experience this. I urge residents to report any acts of hate at LAvsHate.org. We will continue to speak out and do all we can to end antisemitism and all forms of hate.”

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell provided the following statement regarding her support for a report back on exploring an eviction moratorium:

Eviction moratoriums must be anchored with sustainable funding because we are not erasing debt, we are only deferring payments– tenants will face an even larger bill when the rent is finally due, placing them and small and pop landlords at greater risk of losing their housing.

The attacks on our immigrant communities are devastating countless lives and livelihoods. When the report returns to the Board in the coming weeks, I expect it to include a comprehensive analysis of the impact of previous emergency tenant protections—including the eviction moratoriums enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic. We must apply the lessons learned to strengthen the County’s housing policies, with the goal of keeping people housed and supporting the small property owners who provide that housing.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell provided the following statement regarding her vote in support of establishing an emergency rent relief program for immigrant communities and preserving rent relief support for residents impacted by wildfires:  

I appreciate that the authors of the rent relief motion accepted amendments to avoid splitting the $10M commitment the Board made to our residents displaced by wildfires by keeping whole the amounts for wildfire survivors and immigrant communities. As well as adjusting the max grant caps for up to 6 months or $15,000 per household – since we heard from residents that $5,000 per household is not enough to fulfill the intent of housing stability.  

We have a responsibility and the capacity to hold multiple vulnerable communities at once. The attacks on our immigrant communities are devastating countless lives and livelihoods and require an urgent response that accounts for the lessons learned from previous rent relief programs. We know that the average amount needed per household to make up for back rent is between $17K to $27K.  

For any rent relief program to be successful it must be timely, targeted, and accessible. I will continue to urge the Dept of Consumer and Business Affairs to quickly get funding to the people who need it most, it will be 90 days for DCBA can get this program started. I will also continue to work with my colleagues on the Board to ensure we are applying the insights captured after this program once it launches to see where there is room to strengthen and expand access to these crucially needed funds.