Bass vows to house more veterans
Mayor Karen Bass announced yesterday a focused effort to permanently house more Veterans by the end of the year through her “House Our Vets” initiative.
Her announcement came during a Getty House luncheon, where Bass and Lourdes Castro Ramirez, President and CEO of the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA), honored Veterans who were housed this year through “House Our Vets.” Since launching the initiative in January 2025, HACLA reports nearly 400 Veterans have been housed with a 99% retention rate, and more property owners have answered the patriotic call to rent their housing units to Veterans.
“We have enough housing vouchers in Los Angeles to bring every homeless Vet into permanent housing, and so we need to act with urgency to bring more Vets off the streets,” said Bass. “Through ‘House Our Vets,’ we are building a partnership that brings together more property owners to rent their apartments and clears the barriers for Vets to use vouchers to come inside. Hundreds of Veterans were housed so far this year, and we will continue to do all we can to make sure no one who has served our country is sleeping on the street.”
HACLA will lead the focused effort to ensure more eligible Veterans secure a “Home for the Holidays” through the HUD-VASH program. Voucher issuance and unit placement operations have been reformed to save time and reduce burdens on Veterans and property owners alike through key actions:
- For Veterans, HACLA has improved application processes by consolidating forms and utilizing pre-fillable forms, enabling staff to issue vouchers faster.
- HACLA is actively leveraging HUD-approved waivers which Mayor Bass secured to speed up the steps from application to voucher receipt.
- For property owners, the agency has mitigated bottlenecks by introducing parallel processing. Unit inspections, rental amount determinations, and owner document collection/finalization for payment are now happening simultaneously, which cuts down the time required for unit approval.
Cerritos mayor reveals City’s connection to Star Trek
Cerritos Mayor Frank Aurelio Yokoyama, a long-time Star Trek fan, revealed in his weekly newsletter how Cerritos holds a special place in the Trekkie world.
The U.S.S. Cerritos is the name of the ship featured in the animated television series “Star Trek: Lower Decks.”
The connection, according to Yokoyama, was revealed during a special event, Nov. 3, when the mayor interviewed multitalented Dr. Dawnn Lewis inside the Cerritos Library Skyline Room. Lewis played the role of Captain Carol Freeman on “Lower Decks.”
When questioned about the connection with the City, Lewis said she wasn’t sure why Cerritos was chosen as the name of the crew’s ship. But she knew just who to ask: “Lower Decks” Creator Mike McMahan.
“The two exchanged a phone call after our event while Dr. Lewis was signing autographs,” wrote Yokoyama in his newsletter. “On speaker phone, McMahan spoke of his early days in Hollywood as a production assistant, often traveling by car to run what he described as “lower decker” errands like getting coffee.
“During those trips, he fondly recalled often hearing the Cerritos Auto Square jingle. ‘If this is going to be a show that’s kind of based on that time in my life, what better city to honor than the one I heard about every single day when I was driving around?’ said McMahan.”
“The revelation capped off an exciting evening and one that our guests will never forget,” wrote Yokoyama.
Menjivar, Umberg hold joint hearing on early CARE Court implementation
State Senators Caroline Menjivar (D–Burbank, Lang, Panorama City, Van Nuys, San Fernando Valley, WinnetkaSan Fernando Valley), Chair of the Senate Health Committee, and Thomas J. Umberg (D–South Whittier, Orange County), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, last week hosted a joint informational hearing to examine early Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Court implementation and emerging best practices across California.
CARE Court, established in 2022 through SB 1338, aims to intervene early to help prevent more restrictive conservatorships or incarceration. It connects individuals in crisis with a court-ordered CARE plan for up to 12 months, with the option to extend once.
The program provides trauma-informed, culturally responsive, community-based services, including stabilization medications, recovery supports and connections to housing and social services.
Throughout the hearing, panelists offered a deeper look at the program’s first nine months of operation, shared how the CARE Act is working in practice, and described on-the-ground experiences from family petitioners, behavioral health professionals, judges, and attorneys. Their testimony highlighted both early successes and the challenges that counties continue to confront as they expand the program statewide.
“These reviews are critical to strengthening our partnerships with counties, ensuring the legislature stays informed and engaged, and keeping accountability at the forefront of this initiative for the safety, sustainable recovery, and well-being of CARE participants,” said Menjivar. “Top points for me included expanding on data points, tracking everyone who encounters CARE Court, and simplifying the process. As Chair of Senate Health, I look forward to advancing the important work we’ve set into motion in Los Angeles County during our next legislative session and beyond.”
Burbank announces return of Winter Wine Walk
The City of Burbank announced the return of Downtown’s most festive tradition, their annual Winter Wine Walk, slated for between 12-8 pm, Saturday, November 22, on San Fernando Boulevard, featuring a lively street fair filled with vendors and entertainment, followed by the start of the Winter Wine Walk at 4 pm.
“Downtown Burbank truly comes alive during the Winter Wine Walk,” said Burbank Mayor Nikki Perez. “It’s a celebration of our local businesses, our incredible community, and the magic of the holiday season. We’re excited to welcome residents and visitors for a day that showcases the very best of Burbank.”
Tasting stations will be available at four pop-up tasting areas and inside 17 Downtown Burbank businesses, alongside a free public street fair on San Fernando Boulevard. The event also features live musical performances and a magical Snowfall from the Main Stage at San Fernando Boulevard and Olive Avenue that will be open to all. With more than 600 nearby shops and restaurants, event guests can also get a head start on the holiday shopping season.
Individuals must be 21 years of age or older with a valid ID to access the wine-tasting locations and to consume alcohol. Tickets will also be sold at the door while supplies last. Entry to the Street Fair and Main Stage portion of the event is free of charge. For more information, visit www.burbankwinterwinewalk.com.
