[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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",[32,75,87],{"_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":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6588387,"mediaKeyId","5664937-9ef6152cab5e44c63e1d13105fab387e","parentId",5664937,"title","Host committee asks city for $4 million for Democratic National Convention; council and public sharply divided","audioSeconds",281,"startMs",3996660,"endMs",4277960,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5664937-9ef6152cab5e44c63e1d13105fab387e&start=3996&end=4277","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5664937-9ef6152cab5e44c63e1d13105fab387e/thumbnail_3996660.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6588387/Los-Angeles-City/Los-Angeles-County/California/Host-committee-asks-city-for-4-million-for-Democratic-National-Convention-council-and-public-sharply-divided","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6588387-4f41ce0129678922eb31951af31f8e73/orig.mp4?Expires=1774808664&Signature=DcSNoJGULZApH7lst6kdnrg9LeIP1sJdPOWSWbv7oxb6ITbZMt3QHy00QbWCtH1zUZ0AZzbxJ5-WFfGoREk26CpfMY6G1rV0r3bnck3yddAMBMupRFMd6GKCaxeIfOqc9StYLyNTW0fG8w-dnhTW97hsS-azHAzEREEt3c5seSCO0GA4ePJKELA54O2tWTgfUKMDk3YabgU2ae41V9KELom~d7Fsi8J1nyfQqCQHZBK2dbxstZOv2p9Y943-cPWVFpplk1S0pYJPWF~7sXdQ7TJlmhxe3PW8cQbbUxP4j~tNxQVUG8PPjCSNrVKhsp4c0evRmAaikn4Pr3R4nzU09g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Los Angeles City","date","2025-08-22T23:10:01Z","article","Representatives of the Democratic National Convention host committee told the Los Angeles City Council the committee requires a $4 million commitment from the city to meet immediate contractual obligations, while council members and public commenters debated whether municipal funds should underwrite the event.

Noelia Rodriguez, identified in the meeting as President and CEO of LA Connect and a host-committee representative, told the council with 53 days to go that the convention will bring an estimated $135 million in economic revenue to Los Angeles and that the committee faces a $5 million payment due July 1 for construction of the Staples Center build-out and convention production. She asked the city for a $4 million grant to the host committee to help meet those obligations and said the committee is recruiting volunteers and coordinating programming that will highlight the city’s diversity.

“By including all Angelenos — not only as 5,000 volunteers, which we are happily on the way to recruiting — but also in our community events,” Rodriguez said, the host committee would present the convention as a positive economic opportunity for working families, restaurants, shops and local services.

Councilmembers and residents disagreed sharply on whether city funds should be used. Councilmember Tuttle and others argued the request represents a “bait-and-switch,” noting the original understanding was that the convention would not request a direct city subsidy beyond public services; they suggested the Democratic National Committee, private fundraising or bridge loans as alternatives. Councilmember Tuttle said public funds should not be used to “capitulate” once a private organizer seeks more money.

Public commenters were split. Several speakers urged the council to refuse the appropriation and called the request an improper use of taxpayer money; they suggested wealthy private donors and national party resources should cover the gap. Opponents raised a constitutional and legal objection in public remarks, arguing the city cannot give its credit or grant public money to a private party. Other residents urged the council to back the request, saying the convention will generate economic activity that rewards the city and arguing the city must invest now to secure longer-term returns.

Council debate also addressed process questions: staff and council members asked whether the requested funds had to be committed immediately, whether other funding sources remained, and what guarantees the city would have if it provided a grant or short-term loan. City staff said they were still collecting specifics; Controller’s Office staff told the council the controller’s office had indicated flexibility on encumbrance deadlines in at least this instance but that formal guidance and guarantees would be provided by staff.

Councilmembers asked the host committee to return with more detailed documentation, a clear accounting of the immediate $5 million obligation, and specifics on how city funds would be used and safeguarded. No formal vote on the $4 million request was recorded during the hearing; council members scheduled further questions and asked for follow-up material and legal/financial analyses before any appropriation.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Regular City Council - 06/20/00 part 2 only","oneSentenceSummary","Representatives of the Democratic National Convention host committee told the Los Angeles City Council the committee requires a $4 million commitment from the city to meet immediate contractual obligations, while council members and public commenters debated whether municipal funds should underwrite the event.","taxTitle","Los Angeles City, Los Angeles County, California","taxId",4025,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6588393,"Council approves Lakers Day parade, OKs HPOZ findings; planning study moved to committee",975,2980460,3956050,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5664937-9ef6152cab5e44c63e1d13105fab387e&start=2980&end=3956","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5664937-9ef6152cab5e44c63e1d13105fab387e/thumbnail_2980460.jpg","/articles/6588393/Los-Angeles-City/Los-Angeles-County/California/Council-approves-Lakers-Day-parade-OKs-HPOZ-findings-planning-study-moved-to-committee","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6588393-e5e4e4b6e5ad2d60c525fd84ee64bf37/orig.mp4?Expires=1774808664&Signature=A9vTJ9kFtOSeilwYfALSFR8Vx-B6InJ6B1ax~3NwSxnWlP6KWveFOIO65rV93jR8q5AnQYlN0M3pzrCnQ0fp33iu9lN2OeczrGdUvREfjWsbAX4LDz2fvUPOUINlb4UwzujHF~1Ytwey5V~d9vPU22E95C4ENmpPEEEnpEIPe2XLdtKY5fBQAuV95nlcD0d9OJa7UqErqBnYjx9C1zK59S9k1X8TCcuwvlgTdC--zOhHtZbxH1HpGdkfT19mL9A8mfqTzJc~OHzsxs-Wa6pcEG4X-dDvCT~9WdkAL7NfK2FpysmU6MTuz5iDM5eUgXrdpQB7xjyKnB755K1~~yFPjQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Los Angeles City Council unanimously approved a special-event declaration for a Lakers Day parade and accepted findings that allow the city to explore creating historic preservation overlay zones (HPOZs) in several neighborhoods, then agreed to take the HPOZ funding question to committee for detailed review.

Councilmembers closed the roll on the special-event finding for the Lakers Day parade and recorded a vote of 12 ayes. The declaration closes streets for the parade and re-schedules the council meeting calendar for the affected day.

Separately, members approved a resolution (12 ayes) to permit use of surplus planning funds to begin HPOZ work in Hancock Park, Windsor Square, Larchmont Heights and Los Feliz. Planning staff said approximately $250,000 remains in the department’s contractual-services account for community plan updates; that money would revert to the general reserve at the end of the fiscal year unless encumbered.

Councilmembers pressed planning staff for clarity on whether the money is truly surplus and whether other planning priorities might more urgently need the contractual funds. Several members said planning receives too few resources and asked that the Planning and Land Use Management (PLUM) committee review the item. The council agreed to continue the substantive HPOZ funding discussion: planning will appear before PLUM on Tuesday and the council will take the item up next Wednesday.

Votes at a glance:
- Special: Declare tomorrow “Lakers Day” and close streets for the parade — vote: 12 ayes, outcome: approved. (Introduced as a special by Councilmember Wax.)
- Special: Findings to consider HPOZs in Hancock Park, Windsor Square, Larchmont Heights and Los Feliz and to encumber planning funds — vote on findings: 12 ayes, outcome: approved; subsequent scheduling: continued to next Wednesday for PLUM review.

Councilmembers requested planning staff provide documentation at PLUM explaining the contractual account balance, the community-plan status, and how the proposed $250,000 would be used for HPOZ studies if approved. The council’s planning committee will consider the item next week before the full council takes final action on the appropriation.","The City Council approved a special event declaration for a Lakers Day parade and voted to accept findings related to possible historic preservation overlay zones (HPOZs), then continued detailed HPOZ funding discussion to the Planning and Land Use Management committee for further review.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6588397,"Council presses police, fire chiefs on crowd-control choices after Lakers celebration unrest",1903,32271,1935559,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5664937-9ef6152cab5e44c63e1d13105fab387e&start=32&end=1935","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5664937-9ef6152cab5e44c63e1d13105fab387e/thumbnail_32271.jpg","/articles/6588397/Los-Angeles-City/Los-Angeles-County/California/Council-presses-police-fire-chiefs-on-crowd-control-choices-after-Lakers-celebration-unrest","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6588397-0318f505eae34beee845095cff675295/orig.mp4?Expires=1774808664&Signature=fNRxJLXbaOWboHdsq6yJs88-w8CL4U-m3jAKADWsre2FwiscmJfsB630cHIElniltjWCLQuI8y9SirZB15oiiW~gjZx5iDbVeTHq85s6hkWT5A2VzkLobtOtzLTKj8CjbrrHf80JX7MqoCS-aRrB1tBCy-TH4Tz8hlIkEHlWuk1Fx2NZckW9sjNuIRLEvi5KzW1Emc5WyKuvBVwOuRFJIvMjSQtEgFqM51f2VuFNMCuUE7qJps~mtzzPrERmfdGDmPywZXWxunWjK5rdpb-pXbNzq6-HxdmRu6BHzXfUIZgtEQArM9j4pYU52aeO390Olkiiw~UvGe0pcQBsvbsB6A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Los Angeles City Council members questioned police and fire leaders on why officers and firefighters did not immediately intervene when vandals damaged vehicles and set fires after the Lakers’ championship, while officials said prioritizing public safety guided their response.

Council members sought explanations after widely broadcast images showed people jumping on police cars, destroying news vans and burning vehicles following last night’s game. Police and fire leaders told the council they made conscious decisions to limit direct intervention in parts of the crowd to avoid escalating danger to bystanders and responders.

“Basically, we agreed that the number one priority of the plan was the safety of 30,000 people in and around that facility,” a speaker identified in the meeting as a police representative told the council, describing decisions not to send squads into tightly packed crowds where officers could have been endangered. The official said some fires burned out on their own and that commanders used judgment to avoid actions that would have increased risk.

Chief Parks (Police Chief) said officers reacted to multiple simultaneous incidents around the Staples Center, moved crowds, and later used greater resources once threats to people and property were clear. Fire Chief Amatri (Fire Chief) described firefighters being “surrounded” in some instances while working to extinguish vehicle fires and said crews were praised for “heroism” in confronting hazardous conditions.

Several council members who said they viewed television footage pressed for more detail about pre-deployment strategy and whether a visible stationary police presence could have deterred vandals without disrupting lawful celebration. Councilmember Feuer said the pre-deployment of officers appeared to be a weak point, calling for clearer distinctions between celebratory conduct and “acts of random violence.” Councilmember Wax and others said the televised visuals did not capture other officers’ actions blocks away and that a small fraction of attendees were responsible for the vandalism.

Councilmember Goldberg asked whether officers could cite open-container violations earlier in the evening to reduce alcohol-fueled trouble. The police representative said tactical decisions weighed crowd size and safety risks and that commanding officers would add reminders about open-container enforcement to future tactics.

Councilmember Bernsen and others emphasized legal and liability trade-offs for officers and the city, warning that aggressive enforcement could produce injuries that would draw a different, sharp round of public criticism. Several council members praised the restraint exercised during interventions while urging an after-action review to refine pre-deployment and staging plans for future large events.

Council members repeatedly framed the discussion with an eye toward two imminent events: a city parade scheduled for tomorrow tied to the Lakers win and the Democratic National Convention (DNC) planned for later this summer. Police leaders said preparations for the DNC have been underway with regional and federal partners and that lessons from last night will inform convention planning.

Councilmembers asked for follow-up reporting on resource costs, pre-deployment plans and any operational changes ahead of the parade and the DNC. The police representative said cost calculations were not complete at the time of the briefing and would be provided later.

While members differed over whether the department should have acted sooner, the council directed staff to review tactics and to bring recommendations back to ensure public safety and to better protect property without risking lives.","Los Angeles City Council members questioned police and fire leaders about decisions to prioritize life over property after vandalism and fires following the Lakers’ championship celebration. Chiefs defended measured tactics, and council members called for after-action reviews and plans for upcoming events including tomorrow’s parade and the DNC.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Host committee asks city for $4 million for Democratic National Convention; council and public sharply divided

Council approves Lakers Day parade, OKs HPOZ findings; planning study moved to committee

Council presses police, fire chiefs on crowd-control choices after Lakers celebration unrest