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Downtown residents press council for recovery funding and tree canopy investments; items 32 and 33 approved
Summary
Multiple downtown residents urged the City Council to back investments aimed at downtown recovery and tree canopy improvements. Council approved agenda items 32 and 33 as part of a larger consent bundle (clerk announced 14–0). Speakers cited business loss, safety concerns and prior outreach letters.
Downtown residents and business advocates urged the Los Angeles City Council to approve funding and programs aimed at downtown recovery and tree canopy improvements, saying investments are needed to support businesses, public safety and neighborhood livability.
“My name is Cassie Horton and I’m here with about 20 citizens who live downtown,” said Cassie Horton, asking the council to support agenda items 32 and 33. “Los Angeles center needs investment — not just for the center but for all of Los Angeles, especially considering the amount of taxes we generate.”
Deborah Schraud, a South Park resident, told the council the downtown neighborhood needs more businesses and better safety: “One of the things we’re focusing on is lack of businesses … we need support and help so our district can prosper.” Josh Graimer, who said he has lived downtown for 22 years, urged the council to back funding for aging-in-place programs and other supports that would help downtown residents and small businesses.
Why it matters: speakers said downtown has not fully recovered since the pandemic and argued that investments in tree canopy and recovery programs could help economic vitality, public safety and tourism. At least one speaker said a recent letter sent to the council had more than 700 public comments in support.
Council action: items 32 and 33 were included in a larger group of items the council approved later in the meeting; the clerk announced a grouped vote and a tally of 14 in favor. The transcript excerpt provided does not include the item text or staff memos; the council docket and staff reports list the program details, funding amounts and department responsibilities.
Context and concerns: speakers emphasized two main priorities for downtown — supporting small businesses to survive and providing street-level improvements and public safety to encourage visitors. Several speakers requested faster, more targeted responses and that councilmembers work with downtown stakeholders to implement the measures.
Ending: Council adopted items 32 and 33 as part of the meeting’s consent actions; the official docket will have the detailed descriptions, funding sources and implementation timelines for each approved program.
