City council hears testimony from Santee Alley vendors after ICE activity unsettles businesses

Los Angeles City Council members heard emotional testimony about the impact of recent ICE enforcement on small businesses in the Fashion District on Friday. Councilmember Julieta Jurado introduced testimony from residents and vendors saying raids left people “shaken, afraid to open their storefronts, afraid to go to work, afraid to walk down the streets.”

Jose Hernandez, who said he represents Somos Los Callejones, told the council the raids caused a steep drop in customer traffic and revenue: “Since the raids, our sales have gone down 60 to 70%. Yesterday in sales, I made $8,” he said, urging the council to consider economic relief for affected families and vendors. Hernandez asked for expedited access to small relief funds and improved responses to 311 requests so cleanups and customer-recovery efforts can proceed.

Jurado framed the testimony as part of a broader pattern of enforcement that has left immigrant small-business communities fearful. She said her office had received multiple reports of ICE activity near Santee Alley and asked that the council and city staff consider what steps the city could take to support affected workers and small businesses.

City staff and councilmembers noted that some responses are limited by federal jurisdiction. Jurado directed residents to call the Los Angeles Rapid Response Network and repeated the number announced in chambers for people who encounter enforcement actions. Councilmembers also discussed staff coordination: Councilmember Hernandez (chairing Public Works) invited colleagues to a special joint meeting on February 3 to discuss 311 improvements and other operational fixes that could help residents report problems and get faster service.

The council did not adopt a specific relief program during the meeting; members discussed options and next steps and asked staff for follow-up.