City honors Jody Long, outgoing SAG‑AFTRA Los Angeles local president

The Los Angeles City Council on Oct. 3 presented a resolution honoring Jody Long for her service as president of SAG‑AFTRA’s Los Angeles Local. Councilmember Katie Yaroslavsky introduced the recognition and described Long as the first female AAPI president of the local and as a leader who helped secure contract terms on issues including artificial intelligence and worker protections.

Speakers at the chamber included Julie Su (former acting U.S. Secretary of Labor) and Duncan Crabtree‑Ireland (SAG‑AFTRA chief negotiator), both of whom praised Long’s leadership during recent negotiations and strikes and her advocacy on AI protections. Julie Su said Long’s work “lifted the standards for what unions expected and demanded in contracts everywhere else,” citing AI terms as one example.

Long, an Emmy‑winning actor and longtime union official, thanked council members and city staff for partnerships to sustain filming and production in Los Angeles. She referenced recent policy work on film permitting reforms and local incentives that the city and union have discussed.

Why it matters
Council and union leaders framed Long’s presidency as both a labor achievement and a civic contribution to sustaining the entertainment economy and expanding representation for Asian American and Pacific Islander performers.

Quotes
- Julie Su: “Jody has led the largest local for SAG‑AFTRA through some challenging times and some big battles.”
- Duncan Crabtree‑Ireland: described Long’s work on unconscious bias training and her advocacy in Sacramento for AI protections.

The council presented Long with a certificate of recognition signed by the full council.