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Council authorizes Chinatown Business Improvement District after mixed public testimony
Summary
After a public hearing with both opponents and supporters, the City Council approved creation of a Chinatown Business Improvement District, with council recording a unanimous vote in favor of the ordinance establishing the BID.
The Los Angeles City Council approved an ordinance establishing a Chinatown Business Improvement District (BID) after a public hearing that included both opponents and supporters. The council recorded a unanimous vote in favor of the item (13 ayes) and approved the item "forthwith."
Opponents at the hearing argued the proposed BID budget was excessive and that leadership and representation on the steering committee did not reflect Chinatown business and property owners. Pete Kim, who registered opposition, said the proposed budget was $1,200,000 for cleanup and security of a half-mile radius and argued the costs and governance were out of proportion for the community. He raised concerns that some steering-committee members did not live or do business in Chinatown and questioned governance and hardship provisions.
Proponents, including Marshall Liu (trustee of First Chinese Baptist Church), Patrick Li (chairperson of the Chinatown Business Council), Joseph Wong (longtime property owner), and Deborah Chang (executive director, Chinatown Service Center), urged council approval. Patrick Li said a private fund of about $200,000 had already been raised for cleanup and security but that private resources were running out and that the proposed BID's hardship program would assist property owners who truly could not afford assessments. Marshall Liu said his church shifted to supporting the BID after reconsideration.
Councilmember Hernandez discharged the item and called the roll; the vote was recorded as "13 ayes" and the council approved the BID forthwith. The council did not include a record in the hearing transcript indicating substantive changes to the BID budget or assessment structure.
Supporters said the BID would help revitalize Chinatown and create jobs; opponents warned about governance, transparency and the scale of assessments. The council record shows final approval that authorizes formation of the BID under the city's ordinance process.
