Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Business Improvement Districts topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Public hearing closes on Little Tokyo BID conversion; ballot tabulation to be livestreamed July 1
Summary
After more than two hours of public testimony for and against converting Little Tokyo's merchant-based business improvement district to a property-based assessment, the council closed the hearing and the City Clerk scheduled a public tabulation of ballots in Room 223 on July 1, 2025.
The Los Angeles City Council exhausted public comment on item 6, a proposal to convert the Little Tokyo Business Improvement District (LTBID) from a merchant-based to a property-based assessment. Stakeholders for and against the change gave one-minute statements during an extended public-comment period.
Supporters—including David Ikigami, president of the Little Tokyo Business Association (LTBA), and property and business owners—said the current, merchant-funded BID is underfunded and cannot sustainably provide security, cleanup and marketing. Brian Kito, president of Little Tokyo Public Safety and a property owner, said recent incidents and vandalism underscore the need for a better-funded program.
Opponents raised concerns about transparency, outreach and the assessment's impact on residents and small property owners. Rosalyn Kawahira, a Little Tokyo homeowner and resident, said a new property assessment would impose an “additional assessment onto residents” during a time of inflation and financial strain. Community organizers warned that property-based BIDs can accelerate displacement if not governed with strong community safeguards.
The council did not vote on the conversion during this meeting. The City Clerk announced that the public hearing was closed, and that the tabulation of ballots would occur in Room 223 of City Hall immediately following the hearing and would be publicly livestreamed; the public announcement of the tabulation is scheduled for July 1, 2025. The clerk directed members of the public to clerk.lacity.org/bids for livestream access and details.
Why it matters: Converting to a property-based BID would change who pays assessments (shifting more cost to property owners) and could increase the district's budget for security, maintenance and marketing. Supporters say the change will ensure consistent funding; opponents say outreach and governance gaps risk burdening residents and accelerating displacement.
Next steps: Ballots will be counted at a publicly announced tabulation; the transcript does not record the ballot result or a council vote on adopting the conversion at this meeting.
