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Little Tokyo split over proposed property-based business improvement district; council closes hearing, postpones ballot tabulation
Summary
The Los Angeles City Council heard extensive, mixed public comment on June 17 about a proposal to convert Little Tokyo’s merchant-based improvement district to a property-based Business Improvement District (agenda item 6).
The Los Angeles City Council heard extensive, mixed public comment on June 17 about a proposal to convert Little Tokyo’s merchant-based improvement district to a property-based Business Improvement District (agenda item 6). Supporters said a property-based district would provide stable funding for security, graffiti-removal and marketing; opponents said the conversion would impose an unfair cost on small property owners and lacked sufficient community outreach.
"La pandemia... nos ha abierto los ojos de qué tan vulnerables somos," said David Ikigami, identified as president of the Little Tokyo Business Association, arguing for city support and a formal district. Brian Quito, identified as president of Little Tokyo Public Safety, described recent violence against employees and said he supported the proposal to boost safety patrols.
Opponents raised affordability and transparency concerns. One speaker said, "Estoy en contra de esta conversión por 2 razones. ... Es especialmente para personas con ingresos fijos, no podemos poner más problemas" and another said outreach had been insufficient, noting that many residents and owners said they had not received voting materials.
Council staff and the clerk announced that the public hearing on item 6 was closed for today’s meeting and that ballot tabulation would take place later. The clerk said the tabulation would occur in Room 223 of City Hall and that an announcement of the tabulation results would be posted online; the clerk’s announcement scheduled the tabulation results posting for Tuesday, July 21, 2025.
Speakers on both sides urged additional transparency and more outreach to residents and small property owners. Several speakers representing long-standing businesses and elderly residents said they feared losing housing or paying new assessments; others said that without a stable funding stream Little Tokyo’s small businesses and public spaces would continue to decline.
The council did not complete on-the-record ballot tabulation at the June 17 meeting; the hearing was closed and the clerk set a later date for tabulation and result reporting.
Notes: This article summarizes public testimony to Council about agenda item 6 (Little Tokyo BID conversion) during the June 17 meeting.
