Horvath motion produces first county safety report on Whiteman Airport
Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath (D, Western Los Angeles and San Fernando Valley, including Pacoima, Panorama City, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Calabasas, Malibu, Sylmar) won a written safety report from Los Angeles County Public Works this week outlining immediate actions to strengthen safety at Whiteman Airport — the first formal county response to the April 20 aircraft crash near the Pacoima facility.
The report, released in response to Horvath’s May 5 Board motion, details proposed safety enhancements developed in response to community concerns and recommendations from the Whiteman Airport Community Advisory Committee.
“The safety of our Pacoima community members is urgent and nonnegotiable,” Horvath said. “This report outlines immediate actions the County can take to strengthen safety, improve transparency, and continue direct engagement with residents as broader conversations about the airport’s future move forward.”
Proposed actions include quarterly pilot safety seminars focused on operational safety and local airspace conditions, runway and taxiway pavement rehabilitation and upgraded markings, expanded community outreach and airport safety communications, and consideration of a future FAA Part 150 Noise Compatibility Study to evaluate long-term operational compatibility and mitigation strategies.
The report also outlines the respective responsibilities of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), LA County Public Works, the City of Los Angeles, and other agencies responsible for aviation safety oversight and emergency response.
The NTSB and FAA continue investigating the April 20 crash and are expected to issue final findings and safety recommendations at a later date. A verbal presentation and discussion before the Board of Supervisors is anticipated in the coming weeks.
Hahn moves to protect non-English speaking families after Bengali-speaking mother wrongly lost custody
Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn (D, San Pedro, Long Beach, Compton, Carson, Lakewood, Hawaiian Gardens, Cerritos) won Board of Supervisors approval this week for a motion directing the county’s Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) to study gaps in language access for speakers of Asian and Pacific Islander languages.
The move was prompted by a case in which a Bengali-speaking woman lost custody of her child after a DCFS investigation conducted without an interpreter wrongly labeled her the perpetrator of abuse.
“Every child in LA County deserves the full protection of our safety net, and every family deserves the resources to navigate it no matter what language they speak at home,” Hahn said. “Our linguistic and cultural diversity are part of what make LA County great, and it’s time to make sure that our County family is equipped to fully support these communities, especially during some of the most sensitive and difficult moments of their lives.”
The case was brought to Hahn’s office by the South Asian Network, a nonprofit that intervened on the woman’s behalf after DCFS was dispatched to her home following a law-enforcement call. With no interpreter provided, the woman’s limited English led investigators to misunderstand her testimony — resulting in the loss of her custodial rights and a court order granting visitation to the father, despite concerns about his potential danger to the child.
A South Asian Network caseworker who spoke Bengali intervened, advocated for the mother, and ultimately secured the family’s reunification.
Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders make up 16% of LA County’s approximately 10 million residents, with more than a third speaking a language other than English at home. More than 50,000 county residents speak Punjabi, Hindi, Bengali, Tongan, or Samoan — languages that currently have no dedicated staff or resources within DCFS.
The motion directs DCFS to study those gaps and explore the feasibility of expanding services in underserved languages.
Chu wins bipartisan House passage of foster youth education bill — first voucher increase in 25 years
U.S. Rep. Judy Chu (D, Pasadena, San Gabriel Valley) won House passage this week by voice vote of legislation that would more than double the value of federal education vouchers available to foster youth — the first increase to the program since it was created 25 years ago.
The Foster Youth Postsecondary Education Access and Success Act, included in the broader Fostering the Future Act passed by the House, would increase the maximum value of Education and Training Vouchers under the federal Chafee Foster Care Program from $5,000 to $12,000. The vouchers help foster youth pursuing college degrees cover tuition, fees, and related costs.
“The ETV program is in need of some overdue updates to best serve our foster youth, and I am proud that we are one step closer to ensuring foster youth have the financial support that can make a meaningful difference in pursuing their education,” Chu said. “My bipartisan bill recognizes that when we address the barriers faced by our foster and transition-age youth, we can empower them to achieve their full potential.”
The bill, co-introduced with U.S. Rep. Nathaniel Moran (R-TX), would also improve state outreach so more eligible youth are aware of the vouchers, make applications more accessible, and provide a grace period for foster youth temporarily struggling with their academic progress — allowing them to keep their vouchers for the duration of their education rather than losing them during difficult periods.
The legislation now moves to the Senate.
McKinnor leads fight for $500 million in state public hospital funding
Assemblymember Tina McKinnor (D – Inglewood, Hawthorne, Lawndale) is leading the Los Angeles County Legislative Delegation’s push for a $500 million state budget investment to stabilize California’s 17 public hospital systems, which are facing more than $3 billion in annual losses as a result of federal cuts to healthcare services and an additional $800 million in losses from the state’s May Revise.
As Chair of the LA County Legislative Delegation, McKinnor authored a budget letter to the Assembly Budget Committee requesting the $500 million allocation — joining a broader effort by Democratic Assembly members.
“In 2005, the State withdrew its funding for the Medi-Cal match, or Non-Federal Share (NFS), for inpatient fee-for-service patients in public hospital systems, leading to a direct annual savings to the General Fund. However, this shift placed the financial burden of the NFS on public hospital systems, which now totals more than $500 million,” wrote McKinnor.
“Because of this responsibility, and in combination with low managed care rates, public hospital systems have been forced to rely on federal supplemental payments, including SDPs, which are now being capped, phased down, or further jeopardized. Investment in the 2026-27 Budget will offer a crucial first step towards stabilizing public hospital systems as we brace for the impacts of H.R. 1 and additional cuts.”
California’s public hospitals have absorbed mounting financial pressure since 2005, when the state withdrew its funding for the Medi-Cal match for inpatient fee-for-service patients — shifting more than $500 million in annual costs onto the hospitals themselves.
Federal supplemental payments have helped bridge that gap, but H.R. 1 caps and phases down those payments, compounding losses that advocates warn could strip an estimated 2 million Californians of health coverage next year.
The Gov. Newsom May Revise worsens the situation further by reducing reimbursement rates for care provided to immigrant populations by an estimated $800 million annually.
Zbur honors Out Athlete Fund as 51st District’s Nonprofit of the Year
Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur (D – Hollywood, Santa Monica, Pacific Palisades, Malibu) recognized Out Athlete Fund as the 2026 Nonprofit of the Year for California’s 51st Assembly District during the State Assembly’s annual California Nonprofits Day celebration in Sacramento — honoring an organization dedicated to supporting LGBTQ+ athletes through financial assistance, educational outreach, and advocacy.
Out Athlete Fund provides direct financial support to LGBTQ+ athletes pursuing elite competition, including training, travel, and Olympic qualification costs. The organization is also leading efforts to organize Pride House Los Angeles — West Hollywood for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, an inclusive gathering space celebrating LGBTQ+ athletes, fans, and allies from around the world.
“At a time when LGBTQ+ athletes — especially transgender athletes — continue to face discrimination and political attacks, organizations like Out Athlete Fund play a critical role in ensuring sports remain spaces of opportunity, inclusion, and community,” Zbur said. “I’m proud to recognize their work and honor them as our 2026 Nonprofit of the Year.”
Out Athlete Fund CEO Michael Ferrera and legendary Olympic figure skater and the organization’s ambassador, Randy Gardner, represented the fund at the Sacramento ceremony.
