Huntington Park council adopts resolution to formalize elected‑official access to LAUSD schools

Councilmember concerns over city‑branded outreach materials and a pending lawsuit prompted Huntington Park’s City Council to adopt a resolution formalizing how elected officials and the city coordinate engagement with the Los Angeles Unified School District.

The resolution, moved after an extended discussion and a public reading of allegations in a complaint involving former councilmember Graciel Ortiz, directs that requests to access schools be processed through the city clerk and city manager so all councilmembers are informed. Public comments included a resident saying their parents returned from a school event with a bag marked with a councilmember’s name and the city logo, which the resident said created the impression the city sponsored the event.

Supporters said the rules will prevent the appearance of political campaigning inside schools and preserve the integrity of city‑school interactions. Opponents emphasized that donations and longstanding personal relationships with schools can be legitimate and warned against unduly restricting community outreach. Councilmember Macias voted No; Councilmembers Martis and Sanabria, Vice Mayor Martinez and Mayor Flores voted Yes.

The council did not direct enforcement actions against any individual; the adopted resolution creates a process to route future requests through central staff for transparency and consistency. Staff will implement the administrative steps described in the resolution and notify council when new procedures are in place.

The council moved immediately to the study session following the vote.