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

Today, the Los Angeles City Council approved the Budget and Finance Committee’s recommendations for changes to the 2021-22 city budget that will restore services, programming, and investment in the Department of Recreation and Parks to levels not seen in more than a decade. Investments in this year’s budget will help disadvantaged neighborhoods throughout Los Angeles recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Continue reading

Today we commemorate the Armenian Genocide with solemn remembrance of the 1,500,000 men, women, and children who were slaughtered by Ottoman Turks in one of the worst atrocities in human history. We remember the sadistic acts of torture, the ethnic cleansing of indigenous Armenian lands, the desecration of ancient churches.  We remember the Turkish attempt to erase a culture that had been enriching the world long before Socrates was born. Continue reading

Today Los Angeles City Councilmember Paul Krekorian officially opened the Alexandria Park tiny home village in North Hollywood. Built and funded entirely by the City, the site has 103 individual shelters and200 beds, the largest of its kind in the state. Continue reading

Members of the Los Angeles City Council heralded the passage today of a landmark ordinance that prevents restaurants from providing single use utensils except when specifically requested by customers. The ordinance, which goes into effect for larger restaurants in November, reflects the City’s determination to restrict the dumping of tons of environmentally-destructive plastic waste into our oceans and waterways. Continue reading

Los Angeles would achieve a 100% clean energy grid by 2035 under a proposal by City Councilmembers Paul Krekorian and Mitch O’Farrell -- a full decade faster than state requirements. The Krekorian/O’Farrell motion, seconded by Council President Nury Martinez, instructs the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power to present a Strategic Long Term Resource Plan that sets the 100% deadline and identifies the projects that must be implemented immediately to achieve it. Continue reading