Small-business protections and a $41 million trash question

Kaho Maida · General public comment

Good morning. I'm speaking on item five. Thank you. Good morning. My name is Kaho Maida and I'm an attorney with public council here for item five. We are legal services nonprofit organization offering free legal services to low-income folks throughout LA city and LA County, many of whom are small businesses operating in this city. First, we want to thank council members Herado, Hernandez, and Hut for introducing a motion today to create an anti-harassment ordinance and urge the other council members to support this motion. Our organization serves many small businesses in LA, and we are seeing firsthand how many of them face harassment from commercial landlords, but are left without any …

Unverified speaker · General public comment

Samuel Brownasquez on general public comment. Okay, council members, I'm here today because I'm concerned about what is essentially a land grab. You have special interest groups, PETA and Last Chance for Animals, which don't even believe in owning pets, arguing that the city council should adopt a policy that bans rodeo. However, two years ago, we already litigated this issue. It was sent back to committee where it's languished and it's just been sitting there because it's not a high policy priority for the city of LA. However, this does impact us and it impacts us because we care about these animals and we come from a cultural background that values and really relies on working with the …

Unverified speaker · General public comment

Hi. Public comment. Perfect. hi everyone. My name is Ariana. I would like to I would like the arts, parks, and recck committee to agendaize the rodeo ban. And when the rodeo ban is before you, the city council, I would like you to please vote in support of the rodeo ban. PBR's biggest sponsor is US Border Patrol. And with the ICE raids, this is something for us to be aware of as we are all living beings on this earth. Pain is universal., my own culture commits animal cruelty and exploitation under the guise of tradition. And I completely denounce those actions because any injustice should not stand no matter if it's part of our society or our culture. We have used tradition to defend …

Gloria Martinez · General public comment

general public comment.

Unverified speaker · General public comment

Hi, my name is Dina. I would like to make a general public comment. Because these trainings have helped me to know my rights at the workplace. And I've also been able to advocate myself for myself since I do know my rights when my boss wasn't allowing me any sick days. because whether it were for my kids who were sick or some other sick relative, my boss told me that I could not get paid sick days. So, thank you for your coming in. your time has expired, but if I could have the interpreters make an announcement aloud to the room, please. So this goes for the last speaker and anyone else who runs out of time to speak. So if you run out of time to speak and you would like to leave additional …

Sophia Kinones · General public comment

I understand five public comment. Good morning. What

Sam Carlin · Public comment

general.

Unverified speaker · Public comment

General comment. have from Northern California. Good morning. I have a message and it's clear. Amend your ways, California. Amen. Your ways, Los Angeles, and return back to God Almighty. I'm a retired firefighter and I came up here to pray for your county. The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. Shalom. Salam. So they shall put my name on the children of Israel and I will bless them. And again, I say upon this state and upon America, amend your crooked ways and turn back to Jesus Christ of Nazareth. God bless you and may his face shine upon you.

Sykes · Public comment

Sure., good morning. My name is Sykes and I'm a seven-year partner at Starbucks. I'm here to talk about the need to pass the fast food fair work ordinance. Being able to know my schedule ahead of time and take an additional hours would give me consistency I need to maintain and plan my life. With management changing schedules constantly, I currently do not have the basic confidence that anyone requires for rest and to enjoy and to enjoy time with friends and family. Starbucks brags about its great benefits, but far too many of us don't meet the 20-hour threshold required to access these benefits. It's not because we don't want to work. It's because Starbucks manipulates our schedules. Right …

Joseph · Public comment

general comment. Hi, my name is Joseph Rondu. Speaking on behalf of people for the ethical treatment of animals. Los Angeles is known for being a forward-thinking city. We lead on issues that matter and we don't wait to do the right thing. I've seen rodeos in action. Animals wait. Animals being pushed, prodded, and forced in stressful situations and painful situations for entertainment. Rodeos rely on practices that cause fear, stress, and injury, including using spurs, flank straps, electric prods, and forceful roping techniques. We've already recognized this kind of cruelty in other industries. The use of animals in circuses once was considered acceptable. Yet today, most people agree it …

Javier · Public comment

commentary general. General comment. So, I would like that motion to be approved so that we would have the right to vote as residents of Los Angeles. I would also like to work to speak about the Tahoe law for that motion for small business to be approved for the law to be put in effect so that we do not face harassment from the owners. Good morning. What

Memphis · General public comment

I would like to speak on item five and general comment. Do I get item five? A second. Okay. Hi, my name is Memphis Perez. I'm a small business owner and a member of SAK. And we have been going to almost every community to hear the cries for help from small businesses. To see a communities beloved small businesses quietly screaming as they drown in despair. What they look into your eyes for help and you see yourself drowning as well. And even though I want to reach out to help them, I ain't got any tools to save them. I have come to this conclusion that we need better landlords because there is so few of them. I urge this body to be resable to us the community's little cornerstones because …

Unverified speaker · Public comment

Yes. Hello. I am Janet Martinez, member of community coalition volunteer. got her here when she was very little to this country. I would like to ask for your support in approving the ordinance that would give the right to undocumented people to be able to vote. for the represented leaders and also for school boards. For more than two decades, my daughter has a green card and she is now as of three years in the process of becoming a citizen. But it's expensive, you know, due to the cost increases and the lack of employment and the high cost of rent. It's very it's very difficult to to be able to obtain it. For that reason, I ask the council to fight for my interests, for the interests of the …

Unverified speaker · Public comment

Good morning. What would you like to speak to for I'm with Sage. that we are intimidated by the owners. I am asking for that for more support in the second term and I am also here to voice my support for all the rodeo participants because it's a very important part of our culture. Roarban. And I I hope that you also take into consideration this and support our communities and our culture because you saw all the all the parades that happened with the rodeo riders., and it's very nice to see all the kids participating., and from the bottom of my heart, please, I ask for your support in our cultural tradition for our family. Thank you. Good morning. What

Unverified speaker · General public comment

Good morning. I'm Naomi. I'm here for public comment. Thank you. I've spent over a decade of my life working in fast food as a Starbucks barista and I'm an organizer with Starbucks Workers United. I'm here to talk about the need to pass the fast food fair work ordinance. Passing this means that workers can receive crucial know your rights trainings. Being a barista requires far more than food safety and customer service training. Starbucks workers in LA are regularly witnessing and interacting with extreme violence, mental health crisis, drug overdoses, and more. I met with baristas last night just a few blocks from here who have witnessed two deaths while on the job since August with no …

Unverified speaker · Item 19

begins, I'd like to call up a few more names. Orasio Diaz, George Magayenzes, Dolto Dimal Luna, Roelio Martinez, Patty Shanker, and Karen Ramirez. Good morning, clowns. This morning I would like to talk about the lawyers for this meeting number 16 please. So, Miss hero says she would like to put on the lights to see the streets. But you know, we know that those lawyers interest the meeting of facts. So for the word that does not exist in Spanish, 7th of June 2026 for the meeting, So here for Bloomfield and the other flea that won by a percentage of votes. So, we got a pattern in practice on item number 19, the so-called Madrid renovations. Why do we need to have renovations at a time when …

Rosa · Public comment

Hi, good morning, LA City Council. My name is Rosa Miranda. I'm an organizer with Community Power Collective. Angeles. I'm here to support for giving people LA residents the right to vote. many of us as immigrants have to go through a long journey to be able to get through our full immigration status. And that is why we cannot use our voices and have them heard through the elections in Los Angeles. By this motion, we would have a voice and a say and be heard to be able to vote on what's happening in Los Angeles. I've been living here in this city for 27 years almost and I have contributed very much to this area. And so this motion, I have the hope of being able to use my voice in support of …

Unverified speaker · Public comment

Commentary.

Roelio · Public comment

Good morning. This will be general. And it'll be in English and a little bit in Spanish. Thank you. My name is Roelio Martinez. I'm a proud immigrant born in Mexico in the Capitol. I came here as a little boy and from 1976 to 2001, I was following the immigration process to ultimately become a naturalized citizen. So, as an immigrant of this great country, I do not believe that immigrants should have the right to vote. And I will repeat that immigrants should not have the right to vote. By doing so, it will erode how the problem needs to be fixed in their home country. And if we continue to give rights to immigrants, we'll just have more mass importation of migrations from other countries …

Unverified speaker · General public comment

to come up, please. Again, members of the public, public comment is an opportunity for people to voice their opinions and we have a lot of different views in the city. We appreciate your patience. It's expected that we're going to disagree with some opinions that are made. but please keep your applause or your booze at least until the end. I do appreciate that you did that with the last speaker. but again, we do need to get through public comment. Good morning, speaker. What

Tyrie · General public comment

yes, I'm speaking here for item number five. I'm here for public comment. My name is Tyrie Lacy. I am currently owner of two restaurants in the city of Los Angeles. I've been doing business in the city of LA for approximately 20 years., so I'm here in in full support of number five Tahoe, the motion for commercial tenant harassment. I'm a black business, small business owner in LA and urging city council to vote yes for this motion., as we know, small businesses are the backbone of our economy here in LA. we play a big part and I am currently experiencing exactly what this motion is set to prevent. I'm in litigation with my property owner for about $800,000 in back fees that do not apply …

Manuel Nasco · General public comment

I would be speaking a general public comment. Hi, good morning. My name is Manuel Nasco and I've been a Starbucks worker for over eight years. I'm here to talk about the fast food fair work ordinance specifically about the know your rights training. This is something that is very essential for food workers like myself. employers like Starbucks don't want us to know our rights so that they can exploit us and use us and force us to work through unsafe and unsanitary conditions. There's been multiple times where we've had to work and keep the business open when there's literal sewage water coming up from the drains or when there's no hot water access. and due to fear of retaliation, we don't …

Unverified speaker · General public comment

begins, I'd like to make a quick announcement. For safety purposes and the efficiency of public comment, if your name has not been called, please do not line up to the left. Thank you. Good morning. What

Reia Singh · General public comment

Good morning. General public comment for item five. Thank you. Good morning. My name is Reia Singh and I'm a staff attorney on Bet Zedek small business development team. I am here in strong support of council member Hurado's motion to create a commercial tenant anti-harassment ordinance for the city of Los Angeles. In our work at Bet Zedic, we regularly represent small business owners who face harassment and coercive conduct from landlords, including service interruptions, unwarranted lease violations, and threats of retaliation, yet have virtually no legal recourse. These businesses are often immigrant-owned and serve as vital economic and cultural anchors in their neighborhoods. The city …

Matt · General public comment

public comment, please.

Julie Van Winkle · General public comment

Hello. General public comment, please. Hi, my name is Julie Van Winkle and I'm the vice president of United Teachers Los Angeles and I'm here today to speak as a teacher and say that it's not equitable that some of my students parents can vote in their schoolboard member elections and others cannot. Parents who are not citizens are no less invested and committed to their public schools than parents who are citizens. And we should allow all the residents in LA to be able to vote in local elections. We can't truly say that LA stands with immigrants if we gatekeep them and prevent them from voting in local elections. Trump and MAGA want to limit voting. We need to fight to expand it so all of …

Unverified speaker · General public comment

Hi, good morning. I'm here to make a general public comment. I'm I'm here to use my voice and to also thank the council members as a resident of Los Angeles.

Maria De · Public comment

Hi, good morning. My name is Maria de Rosario., I have been living in Echo Park as a resident for 30 years. I am an immigrant from Mexico and I'm here to to support as a as a community member Ugoto Martinez's motion and I'm here to ask that all the other council members support it. and I'm here to ask you all to support this motion because it is incredibly beneficial to us and to the community. Thank you.

Unverified speaker · General public comment

general. In regards to banning rodeo, I want to recognize the important work of animal control officers and veterinarians. They inspect animals, monitor their health and living conditions. They ensure proper care. When issues are found, they are required to correct it. Well, those same people and professionals help oversee rodeos, enforcing regulations and ensuring animal welfare standards are being followed. Rodeos operate with oversight, accountability, and concern for the animals involved. Now, let me tell you something that's extremely funny, guys. Two years ago, ban did not go through, right? and we left the door opens for the c these counterparts to come in and work with us to see how …

Karen · General public comment

hi everyone. My name is Karen Ramirez. I am also DACA, so I'm here in support of the colleagues that are supporting DACA amendments or DACA,, demands. and I also work for SAGE and I am part of the coalition of small business alliance for equitable communities and we want to thank council member Isabel Hurado Ernnandez and Heather Hut for having introduced the C Tahoe. This is a great first step for small businesses. small businesses in different districts are being priced out by high rent increases and they cannot afford them. They're being priced out by corporations and they are not able to afford the high rent increases. So having this seat Tahoe will allow small businesses to stay in …

Amy · General public comment

item number five, general comment. Thank you. Good morning. My name is Amy Chong. I'm representing inclusive Action for the City. Inclusive Action champions working people, invest in entrepreneurs, and changes systems to build an economy that works for all of us. I want to thank council members Herado, Hernandez, and Hut for your leadership in advancing the commercial anti-harassment ordinance motion. This action brings us one step closer to ensuring small businesses have access to the basic rights and protections they deserve. Small businesses are the backbone of our neighborhoods, local economies, and commercial corridors, and they should be able to have they should be able to operate …

Unverified speaker · Public comment

Good morning. What

George Magayanes · General public comment

Good morning., general public comment. Thank you. U, my name is George Magayanes and I'm here to ask the council to allow this item of the rodeo ban to to die in committee., Council Member Blumenfeld had the opportunity to meet with us two years ago and he refused to do that., it's not about whether or not we care about treatment of animals. We all support the humane treatment of animals and existing welfare laws should be followed and enforced. However, this ordinance risks unfairly targeting cultural traditions that are important to thousands of residents who practice them responsibly and with respect. and LA, as the Olympics come, we're going to have to embrace the diversity that comes …

Larry · Public comment

This is general comment. Hi, my name is Larry Hughes. I'm a real estate and mortgage broker here in Los Angeles, California, and I am here to strongly favor in motion of the commercial tenant act anti-harassment. Please vote yes on this motion to study and implement the commercial anti-tenant harassment ordinance. For far too long, LA small businesses have been operating without any legal safety net against abusive landlords. Abusive landlords. We are seeing minority and immigrant business owners and gentrifying commercial corridors targeted with coercive retaliatory practices. Landlords are cutting off essential services, threatening immigration status, and creating intolerable building …

Tiffany Bernelli · Public comment

Hi, I'm here to speak about general comment rodeo ban. Oh, about the rodeo ban. My name is Tiffany Bernelli and I'm here today to ask the city council to please put the rodeo ban back on the agenda before it's too late. Torture is not culture. What year are we in? 2026. These innocent calves and horses, this ban would allow the these implements of torture to be banned from these rodeos. So, we're asking you to please put the rodeo ban back on the agenda. And there's no emotional peace for the calves and horses in these rodeos., some of these calves or it's violence against calves that are four to six months old. These innocent animals have no choice but to be forced to participate in these …

Geronimo · Public comment

Good morning. General comment. Yeah. Good morning everyone. My name is Geronimo Bugarin. I'm in Silar, California, and I'm here to support our culture and everything that comes behind it. You have heard everything from all the previous gentlemen and you've heard the opposition. Mr. Bob Bloomingfield had the opportunity to meet with us in person, sir. in person two years and a half we met here and we did the same thing. We wall to- wall with charros against this ban. It is time to put this and bury it once and for all. Leave us alone. We don't hurt animals. You sir and everyone else in this body has seen the praises that we put together where people enjoy culture and do things in a harmony …

Minut Lisa · General public comment

General public comment. Good morning. My name is Minut Lisa Baka. I'm with the California State Horseman's Association. equestrians contribute 11.6 billion dollars to the California general economy. We have had two years two years from the last motion in December to meet with council member Blumenthal. Never happened. City attorney write a motion never happened. The equestrian community in the San Frernando Valley is a bulk of that 11.6 billion. We are asking that this council not do an a round end to what was previously passed because of a timeout that's happening in three weeks. Pete is now saying ICE and Border Patrol are anti-rode. Well, Border Patrol has consistently funded the safety …

Unverified speaker · Public comment

Good morning. I'm here to speak about item number five. Good morning. What

Paul · Item 8

Public comment. So, first off, I want to congratulate council member Ramen for moving on to the general elections. I think he came on strong in the following in the last couple of weeks and so here you are. With that having been said, Councilwoman Ramen, I you're well aware about rape cop Gabriel Spottis who put a woman on a 5150 hold. When she got out of the hold, he raped her, had anal sex with her, and fisted her and wanted her to have sex with dogs. You've been briefed on that whole situation. I think it's time for you to speak out and demand that cop be held accountable and prosecute or at least have the DA look at it. I got to tell you, I talked to Spencer Pratt and I asked him and he …

Councilmember Tim McOsker · Item 10

Council member Park seconds. What's next? Mr. President, today is Tuesday and it's time for the All right. I'll ask everyone in the chamber to rise, face the flag, and follow along with Council Member Rodriguez. Thank you. Please stand, face the flag, right hand over your heart, ready to go. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. All right, Madame Clerk, let's run through our agenda. Thank you, Mr. President. Items 1 through eight are items for which public hearings have been held. A motion is required for item eight. Items 9 through 22 are items for which …

Councilmember Heather Hutt · Item 22

Thank you, Mr. President. Um, members, as one of the co-authors of this motion, I understand the importance of my voice and I stand here today in strong support of this action to begin important work to protect our small businesses throughout our neighborhoods and our communities. Our city is defined by its diversity and we come together and thrive and are strong because of it. My district is the tapestry of Los Angeles and that includes the thousands of entrepreneurs and small businesses that make up the 10th district. Our small business owners work hard to provide for themselves, for their staff, and for their families. They should never have to look over their shoulder or worry about …

Councilmember Adrin Nazarian · Department oversight

Thank you, Council President. I just wanted to move to adopt the recommendations of the Bureau of Sanitation. Uh as noted on today's agenda and uh um once the conversation is done, I will be asking for a urgent forth with vote as well. Right on. And look forward to making further comments at the end. Thank you. Okay. Council member Pia, I was hoping the department could come and give us a presentation and answer some questions for item eight. All right. Do we have uh department representatives here for this item there? It looks like they're coming to the table. And pardon me, Mr. Chair. Is there a second to the Nazarian motion? Seconded by Council Member Hudado. You give us a brief overview …