What Happened
The council met on June 24, 2025, with 11-14 members present. Continuing its practice of hearing district-level impact reports on federal immigration enforcement, the council heard from Jose Escada of the Asian-American Drug Abuse Program's youth and family programs in South LA and Greg Bettz of Alliance Burton Tech High School's community schools division in Council District 8. Escada said community events had seen attendance drop by more than half, with the organization reverting to pandemic-style virtual counseling and food delivery because residents are afraid to leave their homes. Bettz described a student who saw enforcement activity near a bus stop and subsequently dropped out of school to help support his family out of fear rather than continuing his education.
Most items passed without debate. The council adopted the 51st Program Year Housing and Community Development Consolidated Plan, as amended by Council Members Hugo Soto-Martinez and Imelda Padilla (Item 36, CF 25-0525). Council Member Katy Yaroslavsky asked that Item 43, which carries a significant budget impact, be referred to the Budget and Finance Committee rather than voted on that day. Council Member Curren Price recused himself from Items 18, 26, 44, and 48 due to potential conflicts as a landlord or through his wife's employer.
Contested Votes
The council adopted, 12-1-2, a legal services agreement with Meyers Nave APC for litigation involving Council District 1 (Item 18, CF 24-1488). Council Member Adrin Nazarian, who called the item for a separate vote, cast the lone no vote without offering floor comments.
The council adopted, 12-2-1, a continued motion from Council Members Katy Yaroslavsky and John Lee instructing that funding for automated license plate readers in the Cheviot Hills neighborhood of Council District 5 be agendized for the July 1, 2025 council meeting (Item 50, CF 24-1524). Council Members Eunisses Hernandez and Hugo Soto-Martinez voted no without floor comment.
The council adopted, 11-3-1, a City Administrative Officer report providing a second preliminary estimate of the city's response costs to the June 2025 ICE protests (Item 59, CF 25-0666). Council Members Eunisses Hernandez, Ysabel Jurado, and Hugo Soto-Martinez voted no; the roll call required reconsideration after confusion over the initial tally, with Hurado and Soto-Martinez both asking to be recorded as no votes before the final count was confirmed.
Public Comment
Public comment included continued testimony on the impact of ICE enforcement on immigrant communities and expressions of support for transgender residents. Other public comment was largely supportive in tone toward council members' handling of the ICE response.