The Los Angeles City Council unanimously approved (14-0) a policy that I authored, which will require all handgun owners in Los Angeles to store their handguns in a locked container or disable them with a trigger lock when kept in the home. The only time a handgun need not be stored or locked is when it is carried on the owner's body or within the owner's close proximity and control. Continue reading

In late July, I stood on Ventura Blvd. after a man came to a busy area, waved a gun and fired into the air. Thankfully, no one died. Our law enforcement professionals did their jobs and kept us safe. But, it easily could have ended differently. It could have been much worse. Continue reading

On July 23, the Los Angeles Police Dept. and Valley community leaders in collaboration with my office welcome athletes, law enforcement officers from around the world, and the Special Olympics Flame of Hope to the historic Campo de Cahuenga in Studio City.  Continue reading

On Wednesday, the first day of business for the new City Council, I was appointed by Council President Herb Wesson to chair a new committee tasked with crafting a comprehensive jobs plan for Los Angeles - the Ad Hoc Committee on Job Creation. Continue reading

This week I kicked off another year of the Summer Night Lights program in Valley Plaza Park to provide a our community with a safe and enriching place for young Angelenos to spend their summer days as the school year ends.   Continue reading

Earlier this week, I proudly declared June 17, 1015 "Mad Men Day" in Los Angeles in honor of Mad Men's tremendous creative achievements and its great economic impact as a local TV production. Continue reading

For more than four decades, the neighborhoods of the San Fernando Valley adjacent to the 170 Freeway have been in desperate need of sound walls to minimize interference with their homes and lives.  Continue reading

As you may know, fixing broken sidewalks in our neighborhoods has been my priority for some time. I know that a significant amount of the city's 10,000 miles of sidewalks are in need of repair. I have heard from constituents, homeowners and businesspeople about the sorry state of LA's sidewalks and, as a frequent pedestrian and cyclist myself, I know firsthand how buckled sidewalks negatively impact our neighborhoods. I also know that the status quo just won't do anymore. Continue reading

  If you look back just a few years into our city's history, you'll see that our budget situation wasn't too rosy. When I took office in 2010, the deficit project for this year was over $1 billion. Vital neighborhood services hung in the balance, layoffs loomed and some even warned of the possibility of municipal bankruptcy.  Continue reading

It's been a big week for the City of Los Angeles. In fact, I don't think I'm overstating things by saying it has been historic. Continue reading

  It was a big week for public transit, as we celebrated Bike Week and Infrastructure Week. As a City Councilman and member of the Metro Board of Directors, I used the week to promote active transit options for Angelenos and meet with U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx about the ways that our local and federal governments are working together to move transit forward. Continue reading

This week is National Travel and Tourism Week. Our Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board took the occasion to visit a City Council meeting and announce that tourism to LA is on the rise. In fact, it has reached record breaking heights. Continue reading

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the first genocide of the 20th Century when more than 1.5 million Armenians of the Ottoman Empire perished in a brutal campaign of extermination. Continue reading

Los Angeles made history last week by becoming the first city in the nation to install new easy-to-read, gridstyle parking signs. I was happy to join the Mayor to unveil the signs, which are based on a motion I introduced last fall. The signs are being tested as part of a pilot program in downtown Los Angeles. Continue reading

  I'm happy to announce that the City of Los Angeles just approved an important and historic settlement that will make sidewalks accessible to everyone. It is a win for the disabled community, for our elderly residents and anyone who has ever taken a walk in Los Angeles. Continue reading