By Los Angeles County Politics (LACP)
Mitchell, Hahn motion launchs landmark community hiring pilot
Los Angeles County Supervisors Supervisors Holly J. Mitchell (D-Inglewood, Compton, Carson, Hawthorne, Culver City, portions of South LA) and Janice Hahn (D-Long Beach, San Pedro, Diamond Bar, Whittier, Cerritos, Downey, Torrance, Redondo Beach, Hacienda Heights) yesterday saw the full board approve theri motion directing the Los Angeles County Internal Services Department (ISD) and Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) to launch a three-year Community Hiring Pilot Program.
The pilot will be countywide and connect high-road jobs – jobs that provide family supporting pay, benefits, and growth opportunities – from five of ISD’s largest procurement contracts to residents living in zip codes with high rates of poverty.
“This pilot program links procurement, workforce development, and economic mobility into a coordinated strategy that will provide quality job opportunities for talented and qualified residents in communities that have face historical under investment and high rates of poverty,” said Mitchell. “We have an opportunity to show how equitable hiring practices tied to how we spend our money are good for business and for strengthening our efforts to end the cycle of poverty.”
“If the County is going to spend billions of dollars every year contracting out to provide our residents services, we should use these contracts as tools to invest in good jobs in the communities that need them most. That is our goal with this Community Hiring Pilot Program – to use the County’s own purchasing power to open doors for LA County residents to stable careers and to help workers build a pathway out of poverty,” said LA County Supervisor Janice Hahn.
The Board will receive a report back within 90 days with a list of the five eligible ISD contracts, community hiring goals, and a timeline for implementation. The pilot will also include targeted outreach to America’s Job Centers of California, High Road Training Partnerships, and other community partners to support referrals of qualified job seekers.
Hochman, Barger warn fire victims about unlicensed contractors
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman and Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger (R-Palmdale, Lancaster, Santa Clarita, San Marino, Pasadena, La Cañada-Flintridge, San Gabriel Valley) yesterday jointly announced felony charges against five unlicensed contractors allegedly preying on victims of the January wildfires in the Pacific Palisades and Altadena disaster zones.
“My office is cracking down on criminal contractors who prey on residents who have already lost so much and cannot afford to lose more,” said Hochman. “I urge the communities impacted by the wildfires to stay vigilant and report unlicensed contractors who are taking advantage of this disaster and putting your safety and property at risk. This is important: You are still the victim of a crime even if you knowingly hired an unlicensed contractor and should alert authorities.”
Hochman also unveiled the launch of a campaign to warn contractors that they will be prosecuted for unlicensed activity in the fire zones, including warning signs distributed in English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, and Armenian in affected neighborhoods.
Barger said rebuilding after the Eaton Fire is hard enough, and no survivor should also have to fear being exploited by unlicensed or unscrupulous contractors.
“I wholeheartedly appreciate District Attorney Hochman for his steadfast leadership in protecting our communities and sending a clear message that this criminal behavior will not be tolerated. As Altadena recovers, we will continue working together to safeguard residents’ safety and peace of mind,” Barger said.
On Dec. 4, the Consumer Protection Division filed felony charges against five unlicensed contractors illegally operating in Altadena as residents rebuild their homes after the Eaton Fire.
It is a felony to contract without a license in connection with structures damaged or destroyed by a natural disaster for which a state of emergency is proclaimed by the Governor. Each defendant was charged with one felony count of contracting without a license during a natural disaster.
The crime carries penalties of up to three years imprisonment and/or a fine of up to $10,000.
Culver City marks historic night with mayor selection
Culver City this week marked a historic moment as Council Member Freddy Puza was unanimously voted to become Culver City’s Mayor for 2026, becoming the first openly LGBTQ+ Mayor in Culver City’s 108-year history.
Puza was first elected in 2022 as a City Council Member. He will serve as Mayor for a 12-month term.
Council Member Bubba Fish was unanimously voted to become Vice Mayor, forming the City’s first openly LGBTQ+ Mayor–Vice Mayor leadership duo. Fish was first elected as a City Council Member in 2024.
The City Council also unanimously approved Odis Jones as Culver City’s next City Manager. He will succeed John Nachbar, who served the community with distinction for 15 years. Jones brings more than 30 years of executive leadership experience across complex local and state governments, including City Manager, CEO, and Executive Director in Texas, Ohio, Michigan, and New Jersey.
“This is a new day in Culver City and I’m honored to work with the new City Manager to create new opportunities and way of operating in the city,” said Puza. “The past, the present, and the future, they’re all right here, right now. Every decision made before us created the city we love today. We honor that. But we also remember what we were. We were a sundown town. That’s our history. We don’t get to forget it. We don’t get to pretend it didn’t happen. We’re not responsible for the sins of the past. But we are absolutely responsible for the future we build. And the decisions we make this year will echo for decades. To everyone who has ever lived here, worked here, invested in this city: you’re part of Culver City’s story. You matter.”
Brownley on passage of the National Defense Authorization Act
U.S. Rep. Julia Brownley (D-Westlake Village, Agoura Hills, Calabasas) this week that her vote in favor of the House passage of the final conference agreement for the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 did not reflect perfection but it was a bipartisan and commonsense bill that is essential to ensuring America’s security at home and abroad.
“I voted yes on raising pay for servicemembers, improving childcare and military housing, investing in scientific and technological advancements, protecting civilian workers from arbitrary workforce reductions, and advancing other measures that strengthen military readiness and provide the congressional oversight necessary to hold the Trump administration accountable,” said Brownley.
“In addition to restoring key international relationships through critical funding support for our allies, like Ukraine and Taiwan, the NDAA conference agreement strengthens oversight by mandating reporting on the use of military aircraft for immigration operations, requiring detailed justifications for the removal of senior military leaders, repealing the outdated 1991 and 2002 Authorizations for Use of Military Force, and requiring Secretary Hegseth to provide unredacted videos of recent lethal strikes in Latin America. These provisions will improve transparency, protect civilian and military personnel from unlawful political interference, and reinforce Congress’s constitutional role in matters of national defense.
“While I believe this bill makes necessary investments to bolster military readiness, I am disappointed that several bipartisan issues, such as expanding access to IVF and protecting collective bargaining rights for civilian personnel, were excluded from final passage.
“I will continue working across the aisle to advance these vital measures, and I remain committed to pushing back against efforts to weaken the diversity, talent, and unity of purpose that have long defined our military’s spirit and strengthened our nation.”
The Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act conference agreement passed the House by a vote of 312-112.
