By Los Angeles County Politics (LACP)
Bass announces housing grants for AANHP households
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass yesterday announced a $1 million grant to the Little Tokyo Service Center to support housing stability for vulnerable Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) households.
The funding is part of the first round of grants from the Los Angeles County Affordable Housing Solutions Agency’s (LACAHSA) Renter Protection and Homelessness Prevention (RPHP) Program, designed to help Angelenos at risk of losing their homes. The program is funded by Measure A, the Countywide ballot measure Bass helped lead as part of her comprehensive approach to protecting renters and preventing homelessness.
Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson and Bellflower City Councilmember Victor Sanchez joined Bass in making the announcement along with representatives from the Little Tokyo Service Center and the AANHPI Collaborative, which will administer the grant locally.
“Preventing people from falling into homelessness in the first place is a cornerstone of our strategy to end homelessness across Los Angeles,” said Bass. “After so many years of increases, our work has finally reversed the trend and brought homelessness down in our city. With culturally competent emergency rental assistance and flexible financial support like this, we can help families stay together and in their homes.
“AANHPI communities can sometimes face additional challenges, such as language barriers, that make accessing support more difficult. This partnership with the Little Tokyo Service Center empowers communities and addresses urgent housing needs,” the mayor added.
Durazo celebrates $215.5 million for LA Behavioral Health Facilities
State Sen. María Elena Durazo (D-East Hollywood, East Los Angeles, Highland Park, Los Angeles, Pico Union, South Montebello, Vernon) yesterday celebrated Governor Gavin Newsom’s announcement of the latest round of Proposition 1 Bond Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program (Bond BHCIP) awards, which directs $215.5 million to six major projects serving communities throughout Los Angeles.
The investments will fund hundreds of new residential treatment beds and outpatient slots for mental health and substance use disorder care, bringing critical services closer to home for Angelenos who have gone without adequate access for far too long.
“These investments mean that individuals and families in Lincoln Heights, MacArthur Park, Pico Union, and across Los Angeles will finally have access to the mental health and recovery services they need – right here in their neighborhoods. I am proud to have championed much of this funding, and I will keep fighting to make sure every dollar reaches the people who need it most,” said Durazo.
Projects funded in Durazo’s district include $135.8 million to the St. Vincent Behavioral Health Campus, Westlake / MacArthur Park, $41.3 million to CRI Help Inc. – Lincoln Heights Recovery Campus Expansion, $20 million to St. Anne’s Family Services – Brighter Futures Center, Rampart Village, $8.8 million to the County of Los Angeles – Warm Landing Place Facility, Downtown, $6 million to Jail Guitar Doors – Brother Wayne Peer Respite House, Hollywood, and $3.6 million to Special Service for Groups – Aunt Mele’s Healing House, Pico Union.
Barger opens Southern Pacific Aero-Defense Alliance launch
Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger (R-Palmdale, Lancaster, Santa Clarita, San Marino, Pasadena, La Cañada-Flintridge, portions of the San Gabriel Valley) yesterday delivered the opening remarks at the official launch of the Southern Pacific Aero-Defense Alliance (SPADA), a new regional nonprofit dedicated to strengthening Southern California’s aerospace and defense industry through collaboration, workforce development, and innovation.
The sold-out launch event at the Santa Clarita Performing Arts Center on the campus of College of the Canyons brought leaders from industry, government, and education to support aerospace and defense companies, expand workforce development pathways, and strengthen the region’s role as a global hub for aerospace innovation.
“The future of aerospace and defense in our region will depend on innovation and a strong workforce pipeline,” said Barger in her remarks. “Through partnerships like SPADA that help cultivate alignment between education, industry, and government, we can ensure Los Angeles County remains a global leader in this critical sector.”
Aerospace and defense remain key economic drivers in Los Angeles County, supporting high-wage jobs, advanced manufacturing, and innovation across areas such as artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, satellite technology, and space exploration.
For more information about the Southern Pacific Aero-Defense Alliance, visit www.spadalliance.org.
Cisneros brings $250K to San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments
U.S. Rep. Gil Cisneros (D-El Monte, West Covina, La Puente, Baldwin Park), this week, awarded the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments (SGVCOG), a regional government planning agency representing 31 cities and the unincorporated communities in the San Gabriel Valley, $250,000 for the East San Gabriel Valley Sustainable Multimodal Improvement Project (SMIP).
In partnership with the cities of Azusa, Claremont, Covina, Glendora, La Verne, Pomona, and San Dimas, the project will deliver various active transportation, first/last mile, and bus system improvements to create a safer, more accessible, and connected transportation network in the eastern San Gabriel Valley.
This award is part of a broader federal investment in the San Gabriel Valley secured through the
support of Cisneros. In addition to the SGVCOG’s award, Cisneros successfully secured $18,292,000 for the region through 15 specific Community Project Funding requests included in the FY26 federal funding package.
Recently signed into law, these funds provide a critical boost to local infrastructure and essential services across California’s 31st District.
“Through Community Project Funding grants, our cities will finally get to see their parks and recreation centers get upgrades, bring in new technology for public safety systems, and make long overdue investments in water, transportation, and infrastructure,” said Cisneros.
“This funding will be foundational to supporting the growth and success of our community and I look forward to working with our local partners to see their projects through,” he added.
