By Los Angeles County Politics (LACP)
Barger, Solis cut ribbon on Dr. Beatriz Solis Memorial Park
Los Angeles County Supervisors Kathryn Barger and Hilda L. Solis joined the City of South Pasadena this week in celebrating the ribbon-cutting of Dr. Beatriz Solis Memorial Park, 2006 Berkshire Avenue, a new community space honoring the life and legacy of a longtime South Pasadena resident and nationally respected advocate for education, equity, and inclusion.
“This beautiful new park is a lasting tribute to Dr. Beatriz Solis and the remarkable impact she had on this community and beyond,” said Barger. “Her advocacy for parks and open space helped make this project possible, and I commend the City of South Pasadena for investing in a space that will serve residents for generations. This partnership reflects what can be achieved when local and County governments work together to improve quality of life.”
The City of South Pasadena supported the project by allocating $275,000 in Measure A funds from the Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District, demonstrating a strong commitment to expanding accessible, high-quality public spaces.
Solis reflected on the park’s significance and her sister’s enduring legacy.
“My sister, Dr. Beatriz Solis, devoted her life to ensuring that communities too often left behind had a voice and the resources to thrive,” said Solis. “She believed public spaces, like public health, should uplift people and bring them together. The Dr. Beatriz Solis Memorial Park reflects those values—offering a place for healing, wellness, and community connection. I am deeply honored to see her legacy live on in a space that will serve families for generations, and I thank the City of South Pasadena for helping make this meaningful tribute a reality.”
The Danes make Long Beach Olympic home
The National Olympic Committee of Denmark has selected Long Beach as its preferred base of operation for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games with the establishment of the official House of Denmark, including a High-Performance location in Downtown Long Beach.
In addition, Denmark expects to bring its historic Danish training ship, the DANMARK, to Long Beach during the Olympic Games, subject to final approvals and permits. The ship is envisioned as a cultural and educational platform highlighting Denmark’s maritime heritage and longstanding ties with the United States.
“The arrival of Denmark’s historic sailing ship would be a powerful reminder of how the Olympic Games bring the world together, and we look forward to experiencing their one-of-a-kind cultural events right here in our city.” said Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson. “Long Beach continues to be a sought-after destination for countries around the world to activate unique spaces and celebrate our shared values of sport, culture and global friendship.”
House of Denmark, located at The Westin Long Beach, will serve as the central hub for the Danish Olympic Committee during the Olympic Games, providing space for athlete support, official meetings and international engagement. The facility will also function as a high-performance base for Danish Olympic athletes competing in Long Beach and surrounding venues.
The training ship DANMARK, built in 1933, has served for decades as Denmark’s nautical ambassador and maritime education platform. Manned by professional crew and maritime cadets, the ship symbolizes leadership, seamanship and international cooperation. All activities related to the ship and associated cultural programming will be finalized pending applicable permits and approvals.
“It is an honor to welcome the Danish Olympic Committee, the training ship DANMARK and VisitDenmark to Downtown Long Beach for the 2028 Olympic Games,” said Long Beach First District Councilwoman Mary Zendejas. “Their anticipated special events and activities will not only bring a once-in-a-lifetime moment to our community but will also boost our Downtown waterfront and tourism economy. We look forward to celebrating Denmark’s rich heritage, culture and presence during the 2028 Games.”
Torrance launches Breakfast with the Mayor series
The City of Torrance yesterday launched the first in a “Breakfast with the Mayor” series that will continue into the new year, designed to bring together community leaders for focused, solutions-oriented conversations on key issues facing the Torrance area.
The December breakfast centered on the theme “Building Housing Partnerships for the South Bay Workforce,” addressing housing needs for educators, healthcare professionals, essential workers, and military service members.
Hosted by Mayor George K. Chen and City staff, the event brought together developers, property owners, employers, educators, workforce partners, and representatives from the U.S. Air Force Base. This first meeting was intended to create a forum for discussing challenges, to foster collaboration, and to position the City as a bridge between housing providers and the institutions that depend on housing stability to sustain their workforces and talent pipelines.
During breakfast, Economic Development Manager Fran Fulton welcomed everyone, with Community Development Director Michelle Ramirez providing updates on the City’s housing landscape, including current and planned housing developments, and the Housing Corridor Initiative, which aims to encourage thoughtful housing growth near employment centers and transit.
The key discussion focused on identifying workforce housing gaps and the challenges major employers face in attracting and retaining talent. Representatives from the Los Angeles Air Force Base, several other large employers, and workforce partners discussed housing needs for both military and civilian personnel, highlighting shared pressures across sectors.
The conversation also explored how the City can play a facilitative role in encouraging redevelopment opportunities and partnerships between developers and major employers.
Future Breakfast with the Mayor gatherings will continue to address key topics and industries through focused engagement in such sectors as Aerospace and Advanced Manufacturing; Sports and Training; Innovation and Technology; and Bioscience and Biotech, reinforcing Torrance’s proactive approach to, economic development and community sustainability.
To learn more, visit the City’s Office of Economic Development.
Sherman, Schultz tag team for year-end telephone town hall
U.S Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Sherman Oaks, Encino, Studio City, Valley Village) and his guest, Assemblymember Nick Schultz (D-Glendale, Burbank, Hollywood Hills, Los Feliz, Silver Lake), tag-teamed on a live Telephone Town Hall this week, in which 4,000 constituents dialed in.
Sherman, who holds regular telephone town halls, reviewed the House battles fought over the past year and outlined the priorities and challenges facing Congress in the year ahead.
“I’m grateful that thousands of residents continue to join these town halls,” said Sherman. “This was my final town hall of the year, and I’ve held many town halls throughout the year to keep constituents informed during a chaotic and consequential time in Washington. We’ve pushed back against reckless policies that raise costs and threaten basic protections, but there is more work ahead — and staying connected with constituents is essential to that fight.”
In his opening remarks, Sherman described how President Trump’s reckless policies — including actions that have driven up everyday costs, threatened the affordability of health care, and weakened federal protections. He warned that Republican inaction in Congress is setting the stage for sharp increases in health insurance premiums next year, and emphasized the need to protect families from higher out-of-pocket costs.
Sherman also discussed what he described as reckless actions by the Trump administration on the world stage, including the recent Venezuelan boat strikes. As a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Sherman emphasized the dangers of unilateral military actions without transparency or accountability, warning that such decisions risk broader instability and unintended consequences.
The Congressman also addressed the recent antisemitic terror attack in Bondi Beach, Australia, placing it within the broader context of a rising tide of antisemitism around the globe. Sherman reiterated that combating antisemitism has been a central focus of his career and stressed the importance of strong international cooperation and moral clarity in confronting antisemitism, hate and political violence wherever and whenever it occurs.
Schultz discussed priorities in the State Legislature, including efforts to address affordability, protect access to health care, and ensure coordination between state and federal leaders to support communities during a period of economic and political uncertainty.
