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Public commenters press council on LAX living-wage, immigrant legal services, pantry reopening and eviction funds
Summary
Multiple members of the public used the March 26 public-comment period to press the council for action on a living-wage vote for LAX workers, expanded immigrant legal services, reopening of a neighborhood food pantry and approval of additional eviction-related funds.
During the meeting’s public-comment period speakers raised several recurring concerns: passage of a living-wage ordinance for airport workers at LAX; increased legal and outreach services for immigrants; reopening a neighborhood pantry and support for displaced restaurant employees; and additional funding for homelessness and eviction-related services.
Maria Vázquez, a worker at LAX who identified herself as a SEIU member, urged the council to approve the living-wage ordinance for airport workers. She said she works multiple jobs at LAX and that higher wages would improve health insurance and financial security for airport workers.
Armando Muñoz, who said he has worked at LAX for 15 years as a security agent, also urged quick council consideration of the living-wage ordinance, saying an increase would help airport families.
Several speakers urged the council to expand immigrant legal services and outreach. Yaritza González of CARECEN (Center for Central American Resources) called for immediate city action to provide legal services and outreach for immigrant families, citing increased federal hostility and a need to keep families together. Other speakers from community groups asked the council to withhold reallocations of LADOT funds until the agency provides transparency about station siting and benefits for South and East Los Angeles.
Community members also sought help to reopen a longstanding local food pantry and to support displaced employees of a neighborhood restaurant (a speaker identified the establishment as a historic restaurant that has been closed by its trustee). Those speakers requested city assistance and urged colleagues to engage the property owners and city staff on preservation and worker supports.
A commenter addressed agenda item 25, urging approval of an extension for additional eviction-related services and citing a dollar amount read on the public record (the speaker referenced $319,977 as the additional amount being requested for eviction/homelessness services). Other public speakers raised concerns about the distribution of city resources, reimbursement policies, and the need for more housing and prevention services rather than enforcement actions.
Several commenters also asked for transparency and accountability in LADOT and the BlueLA electric-car-share program and urged the council to prioritize clean mobility investments in South and East Los Angeles.
Ending: The public-comment period concluded after multiple speakers made brief remarks; the council recorded the public comments in the official minutes and proceeded to agenda votes. Several public commenters asked for rapid council action on living-wage measures, immigrant legal services expansions and reopening of local pantry services.
