City Council approves settlement in transit-shelter advertising lawsuits, orders rescission of 2022 code changes

The Los Angeles City Council voted Wednesday to approve a settlement in two lawsuits challenging the city's Transit Shelter Advertising Program and asked the city attorney to prepare an ordinance rescinding September 2022 amendments to Los Angeles Municipal Code sections 67.01 and 67.02. The council voted unanimously to approve the settlement, the clerk announced: "Tabulated. 15 ayes."

The settlement, recommended by the Public Works Committee, was presented to the council with three directives: approve the settlement offer, authorize the Bureau of Street Services executive director and general manager to execute the settlement, and request the city attorney to prepare and transmit the ordinance rescinding the September 2022 amendments to LAMC sections 67.01 and 67.02. The council adopted the package by roll call after public comment both in favor and opposed.

Why it matters: the dispute centered on the STAP program's expansion of digital advertising in the public right of way, privacy protections and whether the program's revenue claims and environmental impacts were adequately reviewed. Supporters said the settlement clears a path to bring shade, shelter and revenue-generating street furniture to the city; opponents said the program raises privacy and land-use concerns and that the city should complete environmental review and broader community outreach first.

Council President Marquis opened the council action and called the roll before votes. Members moved to approve the city attorney's recommendations and the council clerk announced the final tally.

Public comment during the meeting reflected the split. Wendy C. Rosen, a member of the Coalition for Beautiful Los Angeles, urged approval of the settlement and said the company involved had modified its proposal to reduce impacts: "By supporting this settlement today, you would close a loophole that would open the public right of way to unlimited advertising," Rosen said, and described changes the company made to limit light and other impacts.

Opponents raised privacy and process concerns. Casey Madren, representing Citizens for a Better Los Angeles, said the group had sued over the original STAP contract because of privacy worries but supported the negotiated settlement that they said strengthened privacy protections: "We filed suit over serious privacy concerns raised by the original STAP contract," Madren said, and added, "We support the settlement agreement before the council."

Neighborhood and transit advocates urged more outreach and environmental review. Barbara Bridal, representing the West Side Neighborhood Council, said the council's neighborhood board had filed a community impact statement opposing the interactive kiosk program in its current form and asked that the program be referred to Public Works and Planning for review: "Our Council does not believe that the interactive kiosk program belongs on the [STAP] transit shelter program... The possibility that an RFP could be released before any city public outreach to neighborhood councils is frightening," Bridal said.

What the council approved: the motion the council adopted directed (1) approval of the settlement offer in the two Superior Court cases (case numbers provided to the council), (2) authorization for the Bureau of Street Services executive director to execute the settlement, and (3) a request for the city attorney to prepare an ordinance to rescind the September 2022 amendments to LAMC sections 67.01 and 67.02. The Public Works Committee had recommended approval on June 11, 2025.

Next steps: the council's action authorizes staff to execute the settlement and requests the city attorney to prepare the rescission ordinance. At the same meeting the council also referred a related item on digital kiosks (item 33) to the Public Works Committee for further review; several public commenters had asked that item be sent to committee for more analysis before any request for proposals is released.

The vote closes litigation at the city level pending execution of the settlement, and the rescission ordinance process will move through the city attorney and return to council as required by law.