Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the City Tourism Appointment topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee approves Katie Chin for Los Angeles City Tourism Commission
Summary
The Trade, Travel and Tourism Committee approved the mayor’s appointment of Katie Chin to the Board of City Tourism Commissioners for a term ending June 30, 2026, after a brief discussion of her background and public safety concerns raised during public comment.
The Trade, Travel and Tourism Committee of the Los Angeles City Council voted to approve Katie Chin as a member of the Board of City Tourism Commissioners for a term ending June 30, 2026.
The appointment was moved by Councilwoman Tracy Park and approved on a 2-0 voice roll call, with Council member Rodriguez absent.
Chin told the committee she is a studio entertainment marketing professional turned chef who has lived in Los Angeles about 35 years and runs a catering business, Walk Star Catering. “It’s such an honor to be here today,” she said, describing work at Walt Disney Company, Universal Studios and catering at local venues. Chin said she aims to use food-focused programming and festivals to draw visitors to underexposed ethnic neighborhoods and to give smaller restaurateurs broader visibility.
The committee members praised Chin’s mix of production and events experience and said culinary programming could be a tourism draw as Los Angeles prepares for a string of major events, including the World Cup, Super Bowl and the upcoming Olympics and Paralympics. Councilwoman Park said food “is a great reason to travel” and Chair and Council member McCosker echoed support for bringing more neighborhood-level offerings into the city’s tourism portfolio.
Public commenters raised safety concerns in downtown Los Angeles during the same meeting, linking the city’s safety record to tourism expectations. William Good Duarte urged the committee to prioritize public safety, saying, “there’s nothing more important than safety,” and recounting an earlier midday attack on a senior in a wheelchair. Another commenter, James Wang, said recent robberies prompted concern about how visitors will perceive the city during major events. Those comments were part of a longer public-comment period before item 2 was considered.
The clerk recorded the roll: Park — yes; McCosker — yes; Rodriguez — absent. The item was approved on consent and Chin is expected to take the seat on the Board of City Tourism Commissioners for the term indicated.
The committee did not take additional action beyond the confirmation vote and did not specify committee assignments or immediate projects for Chin.
