(April 6, 2022) - The Los Angeles City Council today unanimously approved Council President Pro Tempore Mitch O’Farrell and Councilmember Paul Krekorian’s initiative to create an Electric Vehicle (EV) Master Plan, a historic step to electrifying the entire City fleet of over 10,000 vehicles and, for the first time, implement the mass deployment of publicly accessible EV infrastructure citywide. Continue reading

(March 22, 2022) – Acting on a resolution by Councilmembers Paul Krekorian, Paul Koretz, and Mitch O’Farrell, the Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously today to support a statewide ballot initiative compelling California’s recycling authority to take sweeping measures to reduce the use of single-use plastic packaging and foodware. The California Plastic Waste Reduction Regulations Initiative will appear on the general election ballot in November 2022. Continue reading

Los Angeles City Councilmembers Paul Krekorian, Mitch O’Farrell, Paul Koretz and Bob Blumenfield have called on the State Legislature and the Attorney General to take immediate action to fix the state’s broken recycling system.  The Councilmembers introduced a resolution on February 16th declaring the city’s support for groundbreaking recommendations of the California Statewide Commission on Recycling Markets & Curbside Recycling, as well as several pending bills that align with those recommendations.  Continue reading

In the wake of the accidental fatal shooting of 14-year-old Valentina Orellana-Peralta by an officer of the Los Angeles Police Department at the Burlington store in North Hollywood last month, Los Angeles City Councilmember Paul Krekorian and several of his colleagues introduced a motion that calls on the LAPD to immediately release to the public all body camera footage, 911 calls, radio transmissions and other recordings related to the incident. Continue reading

Our entire community is grieving with the family of Valentina Orellana–Peralta over this unspeakably horrendous tragedy.  As a father, I am devastated to think of the pain they are experiencing, and my deepest condolences go out to them and everyone who knew and loved Valentina. Continue reading

Today the Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously for an ordinance to prohibit the possession, purchase, sale, receipt, or transport of “ghost guns,” ie. any non-serialized unfinished firearm frame or receiver, or non-serialized firearm. The motion for the ordinance was co-presented by Los Angeles City Councilmembers Paul Koretz (CD5) and Paul Krekorian (CD2) in August 2021, following an increase in shootings, gun-related homicides and a surge in the number of “ghost guns”. Continue reading

The Los Angeles City Council today established the City’s first two Jobs and Economic Development (JEDI) Zones, creating an innovative new tool to spur economic development and jobs creation. The JEDI Zone incentive program will provide a competitive advantage for small and locally-owned businesses to thrive and stimulate recovery in the neighborhoods that need it most and pave the way for a positive economic future. Continue reading

Beginning November 15, restaurants that employ 26 or more people were required to comply with a Los Angeles City ordinance sponsored by councilmembers Paul Koretz and Paul Krekorian requiring the establishments to provide plastic utensils and other accessories only upon request. These include straws, utensils, condiments, and napkins. Continue reading

The Los Angeles City Council today approved a motion by Councilmember Paul Krekorian creating the first-ever position of Chief Heat Officer to oversee the City’s response to the devastating rise in temperatures across the region. The Chief Heat Officer will work with city departments to take immediate action on extreme heat; set city-specific goals on extreme heat; and work with community-based and nonprofit organization to increase public awareness about severe climate risk. Continue reading

The Los Angeles City Council today took the historic step of requiring that 100 percent of the city’s electricity come from clean, zero-carbon energy by 2035.  Continue reading