Council urges LAUSD analysis of Belmont site and agrees to help seek alternatives after heated public hearing

The Los Angeles City Council voted to request that the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) conduct an open analysis of alternative uses and alternative sites for the unfinished Belmont High School property and to make any future conditional‑use approvals or joint‑use agreements contingent on the district providing that analysis. The council also approved a separate motion directing city staff to work aggressively with LAUSD to identify alternative sites for Belmont students. The core package of actions passed with recorded tallies of either unanimous or near‑unanimous votes on the specific motions (final amended motion approved 12 ayes, 1 no).

Councilman Mike Hernandez framed the principal motion as a request — not a directive to build — asking the district to "consider all the facts" and promote "a fair and open public dialogue" about the Belmont site and possible alternatives. Hernandez told the council that past city reviews found the site could be mitigated and said what he sought was a factual, costed comparison between finishing Belmont and other options.

The hearing drew more than a dozen public speakers. Parents and community advocates, including Gloria Soto — identified in the hearing as the president of the Belmont High School Community Advisory Council and a vice chair of Parents for New Belmont Complex — urged the council to press the district…