Good morning and welcome to Records LA – City Hall newsletter. Here’s what’s happening in local government, with insights from David Zahniser and Noah Goldberg.

Several members of the Los Angeles City Council wrapped up their final meeting before a three-week summer break, exchanging some final remarks before the hiatus.

During this last session, held on a Tuesday, the council tackled a packed agenda. The earlier focus on Trump’s immigration policies didn’t lead to much excitement this time around.

Afterward, Councilmember Traci Park seemed visibly annoyed as she rolled her eyes at Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martínez while he spoke, prompting a sharp exchange between them and Councilmember Monica Rodriguez.

To understand the background, let’s rewind a bit.

Back in May, the council approved a new ordinance raising the minimum wage for hotel and airport workers to $30 an hour, which exceeds the city’s standard minimum wage. Councilmember John Lee opposed this move.

Soto-Martínez, previously an organizer for the Hotel and Restaurant Workers Union, has been a strong advocate for the wage increase and spearheaded efforts at City Hall.

Park, however, voted against the ordinance, arguing it overlooked financial realities and could potentially cost jobs in those sectors. Interestingly, she faced a tough opponent, Erindarling, in the recent Westside Council elections.

Following the wage hike, a business coalition called the LA Alliance for Tourism, Jobs and Progress initiated a campaign to overturn it, aiming for a June 2026 vote through a signature collection drive.

The situation got pretty heated. The coalition’s lawyer sent a letter to the LA County District Attorney alleging that their petition was misrepresenting the campaign to the public and attacking activists.

In a related incident, a petitioner claimed to have been assaulted while gathering signatures outside a Food 4 Less in Inglewood. She took her concerns to the police, resulting in a temporary restraining order against certain board members of the coalition.

Enter Soto-Martínez and Park.

Soto-Martínez drafted a complaint that urged the LAPD to investigate potential fraud and misconduct surrounding the petition campaign.

When Soto-Martínez brought his allegations to the City Council’s Economic Development and Employment Committee, Park criticized his approach, suggesting that he was employing similar tactics he was accusing others of using.

She referenced a text messaging campaign that got a lot of attention from her members, which seemed to echo her involvement in the ordinance’s opposition. “The new complaint alleges manipulative tactics being used to collect signatures,” she said, emphasizing a request from supporters of the wage increase urging her to act against alleged misrepresentation.

Park firmly stated, “I have nothing to do with it. No one ever consulted me about it.” When the committee approved Soto-Martínez’s allegations, she voted against it, feeling both sides should be examined in the investigation. The matter appeared before the full council during the recent meeting.

She reiterated her earlier concern and proposed that the LAPD look into both sides of the ongoing petition dispute. “I know misleading tactics aren’t unique to one group,” she observed, highlighting her personal experiences with similar smear campaigns.

Soto-Martínez defended himself against claims that he fueled the negativity. “There’s been a lot said about me, but I kept that out of this room,” he argued, differentiating between the accusations directed at Park and the physical attacks reported during the Unite campaign.

In the end, he expressed support for Park’s revision.

During the council meeting, video footage captured Park rolling her eyes as Soto-Martínez spoke.

Kurt Petersen, co-president of Unite, characterized Park’s remarks as “incredibly narcissistic,” arguing she was misplacing the focus by voicing her grievances instead of addressing the assaults faced by workers during wage campaigning. “This self-involvement in the face of injustice shapes the perception of her among workers,” he added.

Park responded, pointing out that Petersen’s group is, in her view, responsible for job losses and economic struggles. “You can see the effects, with iconic eateries closing and airport work being automated,” she remarked.

Councilmember Rodriguez sought to discipline both Park and Soto-Martínez, indicating that placing blame on one side oversimplifies a complex issue. “Performance politics is the trend these days. Everyone needs to pull together,” she urged.

The state of play

– Sanctuary suit: The Justice Department filed a lawsuit against Los Angeles regarding its Sanctuary Ordinance, stating it is illegal and discriminatory. They claim the city’s refusal to cooperate with federal immigration agents has led to chaos and violence. In response, Mayor Karen Bass criticized these allegations as attacks on LA.

– Homelessness Drop: A recent RAND survey reported a 15% drop in homelessness across three areas in Los Angeles, with Hollywood seeing a 49% decrease since 2023, attributed to safety operations in the area.

– CEQA Exemption: As part of the state budget, California’s legislature approved bills exempting most urban housing projects from the California Environmental Quality Act. This change aims to ease the path for construction amidst longstanding legal challenges.

– Mansion Tax Funding: LA City Council approved spending around $425 million raised from a “mansion tax” on property transactions, aimed at funding affordable housing and homelessness prevention programs, despite criticism from real estate circles.

– Frozen Funds: The Trump administration pulled $811 million from California, initially intended to support English learners and immigrant families. The administration stated its focus is on aligning spending with the president’s priorities.

Quick Hits

• Mayor’s Program: The mayor’s signature homeless initiative returned to businesses in Echo Park, Watts, and South LA this week.
• County Appointment: The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors is set to vote next week on appointing Saramahin as the executive director for the new homeless services and housing program.

Let’s stay in touch

That wraps up this week! Feel free to reach out with your questions, comments, or gossip. If someone forwarded this email to you, you can subscribe to receive it every Saturday morning.