Council approves conversion of Little Tokyo Business Improvement District to property‑based assessment

The Los Angeles City Council on April 23 approved the establishment of a property‑based Little Tokyo Property and Business Improvement District (PBID), moving the district from a merchant‑based model to assessments on real property.

The item was continued from the April 22 agenda for reconsideration and drew public comment from merchants, property owners and community volunteers who urged the council to approve the conversion so the neighborhood can fund security, street cleaning, graffiti removal and promotion.

Jan Fukuhara and Irene Sakata Simonian, among other callers, spoke in favor of the conversion. "We are faced daily with incidents of violence and vandalism, and we would feel much safer ... to have more police presence," one resident said during public comment. A representative of the Little Tokyo Business Improvement District said property owners have stepped up and supported the conversion proposal.

The clerk recorded 15 ayes on the reconsideration and later on the ordinance of intention and recorded that the item would go forthwith. The council also noted that an amending motion (53A) had been posted and circulated earlier in the meeting and that the desk was clear.

Why it matters: advocates said the property‑based model will produce steadier revenue for consistent security and cleaning services in Little Tokyo, a historic neighborhood and commercial corridor that merchants say has seen rising visitors and needs additional maintenance and public‑safety services.

Implementation: with the ordinance of intention passed, assessment procedures will proceed under the city’s PBID process; property owners and affected parties will receive notices and the city clerk will carry out the steps required under the ordinance of intention and the PBID law.