Bass welcomes Lucas Museum of Narrative Art to Los Angeles
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass announced yesterday that the city is proud to welcome the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art to Exposition Park.
Opening in September 2026, the museum will be a new cultural landmark celebrating storytelling, art, and community in all its forms — from classical painting and photography to comics, animation, and digital media.
“I’m proud to welcome the Lucas Museum to Los Angeles in a neighborhood rich with history and community,” said Bass. “This isn’t just another museum – it’s an investment in imagination. It’s about honoring the artists and storytellers who shape how we see ourselves and the world around us. Every neighborhood in our city deserves that kind of inspiration.”
Founded by George Lucas and Mellody Hobson, the 11-acre museum campus will include 100,000 square feet of gallery space, two theaters, a restaurant, and landscaped public areas. It will also feature works by Norman Rockwell, Diego Rivera, Jack Kirby, Kara Walker, and more — alongside the Judy Baca archive and materials from The Great Wall of Los Angeles.
Located in the heart of South Los Angeles, the Lucas Museum will be a destination for residents and visitors alike — a space where art, culture, and storytelling come together to inspire generations and expand access to world-class creative experiences across the city.
South Bay Cities Council of Governments partners with homeless services provider
The South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG) has partnered with newly-formed HERO (Housing, Empowerment, Recovery and Outreach) Community Services to deliver person-centered, field-based outreach, case management and housing retention services designed to help individuals and families experiencing or exiting homelessness achieve long-term housing stability and wellbeing.
The SBCCOG retained HERO through the South Bay’s allocation of voter-passed Measure A funds filtered through the Local Solutions Fund and the L.A. County Affordable Housing Solutions Agency (LACAHSA), which designates dollars to assist SBCCOG-member cities to implement local services for the unhoused and those at risk of become unhoused.
In total, the SBCCOG will manage more than $16 million annually through the half-cent sales tax—a 600% increase from what the SBCCOG previously received under the Measure H Homeless Services quarter-cent sales tax, which has been replaced by Measure A.
“HERO’s mission aligns with our viewpoint that a set-it and-forget it, one-size-fits-all approach to homelessness doesn’t work,” said Ronson Chu, Homeless Services program manager for the SBCCOG. “As we work toward expansion of our successful Functional Zero Street Homelessness Program to all of our South Bay cities, we continue to fine tune a by-name system, which empowers cities to coordinate strategies tailored to meet the specific needs of individuals who are experiencing homelessness.”
The (SBCCOG) is a joint powers government agency of 16 cities and the County of Los Angeles which share the goal of maximizing the quality of life and productivity of the subregion. Within this structure, cities and Los Angeles County maintain the qualities and characteristics that make them unique and independent, while also coming together collectively to address issues of common interest for a greater good of the communities through partnership, persuasion, performance, and advocacy.
For more information about the SBCCOG visit http://southbaycities.org.
Culver City Approves Film Industry Support Package
The Culver City City Council this week approved a comprehensive set of measures designed to support recovery for film and television and enhance Culver City’s competitiveness as a premier filming destination.
The actions aim to attract productions that will create local employment opportunities and support small businesses that benefit from on-location filming.
“As a 30-year film professional, I think it’s critical we find ways to reignite film production efforts in Culver City,” said Culver City Mayor Dan O’Brien. “I’m proud to see our City Council come together to support a far-reaching piece of our economy that affects every part of our community. These steps should boost production and I’m excited to see the results.”
Among the actions approved to support the industry include:
- Temporary incentives for film permit fees to attract production activity in Culver City;
- A $500,000 cap on total incentives for a 12-month period to ensure fiscal responsibility;
- Free production parking, as available, at Veterans Memorial Park, the Culver City Senior Center, and Downtown parking structures;
- Development of a film location familiarization tour in partnership with FilmLA to highlight iconic Culver City filming locations and assets;
- Creation of a film-specific business directory to connect productions with local vendors and service providers;
- Launch of a public awareness campaign showcasing Culver City’s film-friendly incentives and programs;
- Adoption of a resolution extending the suspension of business tax collection for itinerant motion picture and television producers for an additional 10 years; and
- Direction to the City Manager to implement supportive program elements and report results following the pilot period.
Friedman tours My Friend’s Place, highlighting young adult homelessness issues
U.S. Rep. Laura Friedman (D-Burbank, Glendale, West Hollywood, Hollywood) last Friday visited My Friend’s Place, a nonprofit in Hollywood that provides comprehensive services to young adults, where she met with staff and those supported by the organization.
My Friend’s Place offers access to critical resources like meals, showers, housing navigation, job-readiness programming, and mental health support. Friedman’s visit included a facility tour and conversations with staff about the increasing demand for youth services and the challenges created by recent federal policy rollbacks.
“Programs like My Friend’s Place are a lifeline. Here, young Angelenos can find the tools and support they need to break the cycle of homelessness. I’m forever grateful for their work and will continue fighting in Congress to get them the resources they need,” said Friedman.
More than 4,000 young people experience homelessness on any given night in Los Angeles County. In 2025 alone, My Friends place has already served more than 1,200 people.
