[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6359550,"mediaKeyId","2176905-9b9e432663aaa642d6cdb47dc3a6fab7","parentId",2176905,"title","City launches push to help Angelenos claim Earned Income Tax Credit; free tax preparation offered at 19 Family Source centers","audioSeconds",1015,"startMs",3491000,"endMs",4506000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2176905-9b9e432663aaa642d6cdb47dc3a6fab7&start=3491&end=4506","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2176905-9b9e432663aaa642d6cdb47dc3a6fab7/thumbnail_3491000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6359550/Los-Angeles-City/Los-Angeles-County/California/City-launches-push-to-help-Angelenos-claim-Earned-Income-Tax-Credit-free-tax-preparation-offered-at-19-Family-Source-centers","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6359550-f73927277b190041b3ccc49fd1dbba8a/orig.mp4?Expires=1775142054&Signature=EPNlGHJbCK32gIsLKgV-nBKn1kTfrBiXnDYlooIty0p9KLIJQ8V3C8FIJSTPW3ukInkyVUvC7MQOsOqOsKN9MxStBFiU8icRbyrvP9wfYkKsS5zaBC1TX-nO27Py44UBNncLIKtPEbvPsxzUB490WXaDQLekAL9sJtAxH7Y9noZwXdqljGDveqRUAqcbJvv2Jjaok9wfWwV4hp6gVxFTpT41d5IfJzHb0h6MSFYW4Chcv0OMxHjzn4mnRg9gDAoQa9~wQGiCnrkrCqrMoxU142NC5uUtmfMKD0FZ8PkA5XcyrKGBExcZOBD4D9oUCOfcHeEhK3ZZzLQvnCtsSbLZUg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-01-31T17:42:36Z","article","Los Angeles officials on Jan. 31 promoted expanded outreach to help working families claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and child tax credits and announced free tax-preparation services at Family Source centers across the city.

Councilmember Soto Martinez introduced a resolution recognizing EITC Awareness Day and said many eligible residents do not claim credits each year, leaving billions unclaimed. “All we need to do is get it into people's pockets,” he said, urging councilmembers to connect with the Community Investment for Families Department (CIFD) to host district events and outreach.

CIFD General Manager Abigail Marquez said the city operates 19 Family Source centers and coordinates with 45 countywide locations, offering free tax-prep services to households earning under $67,000. She described a citywide outreach campaign that includes a “Super Saturday” where centers will offer services across the city, pop-up events in districts without a permanent Family Source center, multilingual staff trained by the IRS, and planned advertising on bus shelters and benches.

Marquez provided program figures: last year 17,000 Angelenos filed at 45 locations countywide with an average tax return of $2,500; over the last nine years the program has helped about 100,000 people and brought roughly $150,000,000 back into the local economy. She urged councilmembers to promote the service and connect constituents to CIFD staff.

Resident testimony

Dacia Canales, who said she has three children and uses services at a nearby New Economics for Women/Family Source site, described receiving about $5,000 in tax credits in recent years and said the payments helped her pay rent, buy food and open savings accounts for her children. “This has helped me a lot,” she said.

Why it matters: EITC and related credits are a major anti-poverty tool. City-run free tax-preparation and outreach programs aim to increase uptake of credits and put federal dollars into local households and businesses.

How to access: CIFD will run Super Saturday events and pop-ups; eligibility, languages and locations are provided by CIFD and community partners including New Economics for Women. The department said it will coordinate outreach with council offices to ensure wider awareness of the program.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Regular City Council - 1/31/25","oneSentenceSummary","Los Angeles officials on Jan. 31 promoted expanded outreach to help working families claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and child tax credits and announced free tax-preparation services at Family Source centers across the city.","taxTitle","Los Angeles City, Los Angeles County, California","taxId",4025,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6359555,"Los Angeles honors Salvadoran American leaders at Valley celebration; morning program highlights community contributions",150,2205000,2355000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2176905-9b9e432663aaa642d6cdb47dc3a6fab7&start=2205&end=2355","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2176905-9b9e432663aaa642d6cdb47dc3a6fab7/thumbnail_2205000.jpg","/articles/6359555/Los-Angeles-City/Los-Angeles-County/California/Los-Angeles-honors-Salvadoran-American-leaders-at-Valley-celebration-morning-program-highlights-community-contributions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6359555-62001002b911607d6540462443dbe7db/orig.mp4?Expires=1775142054&Signature=kLcJN47ejssR~S5pcdlOJnL4LtlqgQgCIOOBHq0uIeWyha8hO0SBeXF6YXrTk2fy7ZVsWNZySZ9yEpfy3IQtHoHRe0hHF1aB5Yf0gOE1BwqNGyJsyl7qfMamOFuIyx8SyJ27NTUwoTE~5VYnEwtkk5CtRG9XCLz~PJ50QGcXzflm6w1gxmEtFnOQbM2rsuh7v35vduQy6eTMce9rPr~Nx5ExSNJHuftqGJE99AUch7w0PURHOxFBbCHhB~WjSpf0piUv-N3SbTpIpRlDhoCpMxsyzec-~17HtXQ0UKDhRhCFpLxkSWBL8KJBK7ZnsQ2UY1mpphnJ44V3sndiMI2y2g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Councilmember Padilla opened a Jan. 31 special meeting presentation in the San Fernando Valley by welcoming Salvadoran American leaders and noting the 19th anniversary of the Los Angeles–San Salvador sister-city relationship.

Padilla said, “It is my great honor to welcome all of you today to today's presentation in celebration of Salvadorian American Heritage Day, here in the city of Los Angeles, and more specifically, the San Fernando Valley.” She introduced community leaders and organizers who described Salvadoran Angelenos’ civic, cultural and economic contributions.

Why it matters: Salvadoran Angelenos are one of the city's large Latino demographics and speakers emphasized the community’s role in health care, education, small business and public service. The recognition highlights local cultural institutions and organizations that provide services to immigrant families.

Speakers and highlights

- Carlos Vaquerano, CEO of Clinica Romero, said, “This country is a country of immigrants,” and described the clinic’s role delivering health care to immigrants regardless of ability to pay and the organization's long-standing community partnerships.

- Claudia Monterosa (identified in the program as a city staff member) spoke about her experience in grant administration and disaster recovery work, noting she had overseen substantial grant funding while serving under the Biden administration.

- Jocelyn Duarte, Executive Director of the Salvadoran American Leadership and Educational Fund (SALF), urged continued civic engagement and noted recognition for the 1.5- and second-generation Salvadoran Americans who serve in public roles.

- David Hiron, who works in the office of Council President pro tem Bob Blumenfield, recalled early workplace encounters and emphasized Salvadoran community ties to city public service.

Councilmembers from throughout the horseshoe offered remarks of solidarity and appreciation, citing the community’s labor and civic contributions and noting personal and staff connections to Salvadoran constituents. Councilmember Sotomayor Martinez highlighted the historical context that led Salvadorans to migrate and praised organizers and union leaders, saying the community “bring[s] that fighting spirit” to public service and organizing.

Community context and next steps

Padilla closed the recognition by presenting a framed recognition to representatives of the San Salvador sister-city committee and inviting attendees to a post-meeting community reception with Salvadoran food at a nearby Bridal Center. The event included acknowledgements of local Salvadoran-owned businesses, community leaders, and service providers and asked attendees to remember the organizations and staff who support civic participation and services.

Speakers at the program repeatedly framed the gathering as both a cultural celebration and a call for continued civic engagement and support for immigrant-serving organizations in Los Angeles.","Councilmember Padilla hosted a recognition ceremony in the San Fernando Valley marking Salvadoran American Heritage Day and the 19th anniversary of the Los Angeles–San Salvador sister-city relationship, featuring community leaders and remarks from clinic, nonprofit, and city staff representatives.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6359560,"Council approves wildfire relief measures and passes consent agenda; 13-0 on recorded votes",4663,1919000,6582000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2176905-9b9e432663aaa642d6cdb47dc3a6fab7&start=1919&end=6582","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2176905-9b9e432663aaa642d6cdb47dc3a6fab7/thumbnail_1919000.jpg","/articles/6359560/Los-Angeles-City/Los-Angeles-County/California/Council-approves-wildfire-relief-measures-and-passes-consent-agenda-13-0-on-recorded-votes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6359560-8446ccb4af9a4061193c14390886dc76/orig.mp4?Expires=1775142054&Signature=GZvpRLNCnn5WLLDxBo5TgVpk0v1-leffGyVB1jmizEPDheshoDYv6w6ICV9DmqJEZwUPeOgGeNqamdELS3FHwWtFnyso8JJzTscdz82-Zo~fjmKPmBI-NgnGdtwfK8dgE~6Efa3Fn6c8olNuiSOIlW5j83pvTThYqQaPjd1ZFe2mxJLuWl0xekY9HsViSQDziSnmpSl0ELgNISU6ESKjtRF5bsFA4p4XXymcZ-GEaI8caFKW24rZCTZMHIpcUd~KXasKlyzzxMi1V~gFcycS6iJ9E3vep0AJW2qzqOkhCP7i3iXQxCvbFxlQtbj~vAjNuMV4wqbjpLiJHM0avD~5tg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Los Angeles City Council on Jan. 31 adopted a package of agenda items related to wildfire recovery and routine city business and approved amendments to several measures, with all recorded roll-call votes recorded as 13 ayes and no recorded no votes.

The council approved the minutes of Jan. 29, 2025 (moved by Councilmember Hernandez; seconded by Councilmember Hutt) and agreed to combined resolutions and consent items. Items 1 and 2, which had previously held public hearings, were approved after roll-call. The council then considered items 3 through 15 and, after a public-comment period limited to items 3–15, opened recorded votes on batches of items.

Why it matters: the votes clear city action items tied to wildfire response and other administrative matters during a month of intense emergency activity in Los Angeles. Several amendments were adopted to increase council oversight of wildfire spending and to fix technical errors in planning code language.

Key voted actions and outcomes

- Approval of Jan. 29, 2025 minutes — Motion by Councilmember Hernandez; second by Councilmember Hutt; outcome: approved (recorded roll call: 13 ayes).

- Items 1 and 2 (public hearings previously held) — approved (roll call: 13 ayes).

- Items 3–7, 9–12 and 14 — approved on consent (roll call: 13 ayes). These items were taken in a single vote after public comment and included a range of administrative and program actions (docket entries did not include extended debate in the transcript).

- Item 8 — taken up after a special call for an amendment by Councilmember Jurado; Jurado explained the change was a technical correction to the planning code. The motion (amendment a, Jurado; second Hernandez) passed and the item was sent forthwith (roll call recorded as 13 ayes).

- Item 13 — Councilmember Rodriguez introduced an amendment to ensure wildfire-related expenditures are transmitted to relevant committees so the council remains informed about spending. Councilmember Park seconded the amendment; the amended measure passed (roll call: 13 ayes).

- Item 15 — a substitute motion (introduced by Council President pro tem Blumenfield in place of the original Harris-Dawson/Park motion) was approved after the council first voted to accept substitution and then voted on the substitute; both votes passed (each roll call: 13 ayes).

Council commentary and clarifications

Councilmember Rodriguez reiterated that the amendment to item 13 was intended to maintain the council’s fiduciary responsibility by ensuring committee-level visibility into wildfire relief expenditures: “This simply makes the amendment to ensure that any of the expenditures related to the wildfire relief actually get transmitted to the committees, so that we remain informed on the expenditures, retaining our fiduciary responsibility as a council.”

Procedural notes

The special meeting opened with a roll call establishing a quorum of 13 members. The clerk advised which items were eligible for immediate vote and identified items that required 10 votes. Public comment was limited to agenda items 3–15; general public comment was not taken at this special meeting. Several speakers used the allotted public-comment time to address items on the agenda before the council conducted recorded roll-call votes.

Next steps

Several of the passed items included referrals or follow-on reporting requirements to council committees. Item 13 was sent forthwith following adoption of the amendment to increase oversight of wildfire-related spending. The council also posted and referred motions introduced on the floor. No further substantive board votes were recorded in the transcript excerpt provided.","At a special Jan. 31 Los Angeles City Council meeting in the San Fernando Valley, the council approved minutes and a package of items related to wildfire relief and other city business, adopting amendments to items 8, 13 and a substitute for item 15. All recorded roll-call votes were unanimous (13 ayes).","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

City launches push to help Angelenos claim Earned Income Tax Credit; free tax preparation offered at 19 Family Source centers

Los Angeles honors Salvadoran American leaders at Valley celebration; morning program highlights community contributions

Council approves wildfire relief measures and passes consent agenda; 13-0 on recorded votes