Councilmember Mike Bonin

The appointment of LA's new police chief should be a chance to have a big discussion about the LAPD and the nature of policing. But the discussion has been weirdly silent on some of the biggest issues.

I break down the questions we need to be asking in my latest Substack (link in the comments).

My team and I did one last big thing to end my time in office, and it has been decades in the making. Today, we formally opened the long-awaited George Wolfberg Park at Potrero Canyon in Pacific Palisades!

The 46 acre passive park includes hiking trails, a grass meadow, a riparian habitat that will be home to diverse wildlife, and thousands of trees, shrubs, and plants. It connects the Palisades Recreation Center and Palisades neighborhoods with the PCH overlook near the beach with an ADA-accessible pathway. With funding from the state and the federal government, the next phase well add a pedestrian bridge to the beach and a trail along PCH to Temescal Canyon.

The park is named after George Wolfberg. George was a civic leader, an environmentalist, an athlete, and patriarch to a wonderful family. As chair of the Pacific Palisades Community Council, head of the Potrero Canyon Community Advisory Committee, president of the Santa Monica Canyon Civic Association, a top administrative analyst for the City of LA, as even as a local AYSO referee, George was always giving back to his community.

This project was first discussed in the 1960s, and has been hobbled by landslides, funding issues, and soil contamination. The project was pushed forward in various stages by Councilmembers Marvin Braude, Cindy Miscikowski (who was in attendance today), Bill Rosendahl, and me. Literally generations of city staff (council, LA Parks City of Los Angeles Bureau of Engineering and more) worked on the project. Without the dogged determination of George and the other members of the Potrero Canyon Community Advisory Committee -such as David M. Card, Gil Dembo, and Rob Weber - this dream never would’ve been realized.

𝗪𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗮𝘁 𝗠𝗶𝗸𝗲’𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹. 𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝘄𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗱𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟭𝟭𝘁𝗵 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁.

Mike has been a 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁t, securing additional resources for his neighborhoods, resolving long-standing conflicts, reviving long-stalled projects, and making neighborhood improvements.

Mike 𝗯𝗿𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝘀 𝗟𝗼𝘀 𝗔𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝗶𝗿𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗱𝘀 in Westchester and Playa del Rey. He forced LAX to downsize a development plan and create a community-backed project that will provide 𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱𝘀, 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗻𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹 in the LAX Northside.

Mike pushed forward the 𝗚𝗲𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗹𝗳𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗴 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗮𝘁 𝗣𝗼𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗿𝗼 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝘆𝗼𝗻, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗮 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗸𝗶𝗱𝘀 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝘁 𝗩𝗶𝗮 𝗗𝗼𝗹𝗰𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗸, 𝗮 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝘁𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗮 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗸, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗱𝗼𝗴 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗮𝘁 𝗕𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗥𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗵𝗹 𝗗𝗲𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝘆 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗸. He secured funds for a series of improvements at neighborhood parks, including Westchester Park, Del Rey Lagoon Park, Culver-Slauson Park, Stoner Park, Penmar Park, and Venice Beach. He also secured funds for the repair and restoration of the Venice Pier and for the renovation of the Vera Davis Youth & Family Center, while opening a closed senior center as a home for 12-step meetings.

Mike launched an ambitious #𝗪𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗙𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗙𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 initiative to create alternatives to traffic gridlock. The effort brought 𝗼𝗻-𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗻𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝘀𝗵𝘂𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀, such as LA NOW and Metro Micro, to Mar Vista, Venice, Del Rey, Palms and Playa Vista, and to Westchester and Playa del Rey, and Brentwood. He delivered new technology to 𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘂𝗻𝘀𝗲𝘁/𝟰𝟬𝟱 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁 and created a “Sunset Standard,” which forces any development on Sunset Boulevard to actually reduce its traffic impacts. He has improved traffic flow through installation of 𝗹𝗲𝗳𝘁-𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗲𝗱𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁, 𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀.

Mike 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗟𝗼𝘀 𝗔𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁, 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗱𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗮𝗺𝗯𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀, 𝗯𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗩𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗟𝗔𝗫, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗣𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰 𝗣𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗱𝗲𝘀. 𝗛𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗻 𝗟𝗔𝗙𝗗 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗼𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝘆𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟭𝟭𝘁𝗵 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁. 𝗠𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁, 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝗻-𝘃𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘀.

Mike fought for sensible development for the Westside, 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴. He negotiated a record amount of affordable housing in a transit-friendly project next to the Metro Expo Line, and stopped an oversized luxury development in Playa del Rey that violated coastal development rules. To make sure the community gets to shape development decisions, he secured funds for the update of community plans throughout the Westside.

Mike worked to recognize and celebrate the diversity of the 11th District, creating the official “Sawtelle Japantown” designation for part of West LA, installing a Black Lives Matter mural in Venice, setting aside funds for a mural celebrating the Westside’s Oaxacan community, and supporting a Mexican-American Traqueros monument and a memorial marker on Lincoln Boulevard for Japanese-Americans who were interned during World War II. Mike fought for low-income and undocumented residents, particularly in the Mar Vista Gardens Housing community.

Mike worked to recognize and celebrate the diversity of the 11th District, creating the official “Sawtelle Japantown” designation for part of West LA, installing a Black Lives Matter mural in Venice, setting aside funds for a mural celebrating the Westside’s Oaxacan community, and supporting a Mexican-American Traqueros monument and a memorial marker on Lincoln Boulevard for Japanese-Americans who were interned during World War II. Mike fought for low-income and undocumented residents, particularly in the Mar Vista Gardens Housing community.

𝗪𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗮𝘁 𝗠𝗶𝗸𝗲’𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹. 𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝘄𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆.

Mike has been a strong and thoughtful voice on public safety, pushing LAPD reforms to enhance neighborhood safety for everyone, and leading the charge for 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗼𝘀 𝗔𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲.

In 2017, Mike called for increasing public safety by s𝘀𝗵𝘂𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗻𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗹𝘀, netting hundreds of more officers for crime prevention and faster 911 response. In 2022, during calls to reimagine public safety, Mike supported efforts to 𝗿𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲 to an array of issues, allowing officers to focus on violent crimes and theft. Mike pushed for LA to hire trained, unarmed professionals to handle calls about homelessness, mental health, and neighborhood disputes.

Mike led efforts to reimagine public safety on LA Metro, resulting in significant investments in new, proactive safety strategies, including the hiring of unarmed transit ambassadors and robust new investments in homelessness services, mental health outreach, and passenger safety. Mike has 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆-𝗯𝗶𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗽𝘀, and is co-author of proposals to remove armed law enforcement from traffic enforcement. He has been the 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹’𝘀 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗽𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝘃𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲.

Mike is a champion of firefighting and emergency management resources, and led the successful effort to revitalize the LAFD after budget cuts during the Great Recession. 𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝘀, 𝗮𝗱𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗺𝗯𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗼𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘂𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁. He also fought and won expanded resources for the Emergency Management Department.

𝗪𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗮𝘁 𝗠𝗶𝗸𝗲’𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹. 𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝘄𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗼𝗻 𝗲𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲.

An ardent environmentalist, Mike knew the climate crisis to be a threat to our families and to the neighborhoods he represents. He led the charge for LADWP to 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮 𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗱𝗺𝗮𝗽 𝘁𝗼 𝟭𝟬𝟬% 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 𝗯𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟯𝟱, and successfully pushed to get the City of Los Angeles to commit to 𝘀𝗵𝘂𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗴𝗮𝘀-𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗮𝘀𝘁.

Mike successfully fought to 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆’𝘀 𝗯𝘂𝘀 𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗯𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟴, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗔 𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗼 𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗯𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟯𝟬. He has called for the 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗼 𝗖𝗮𝗹 𝗚𝗮𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗮 𝗱𝗲𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝘆, and has pushed LAX to reduce its carbon footprint. Mike led a fight to ban fracking in the City of Los Angeles – and joined with activists and organizers to expand the scope of the proposal, leading to the recent City Council vote to 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗯 𝗳𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗹 𝗳𝘂𝗲𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆 – a major win for environmental justice efforts. Mike was the lone vote against approval of a Port of Los Angeles project environmentalists warned would do tremendous damage to the environment, especially in low-income communities.

Mike pushed the City to 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘆𝗰𝗹𝗲 𝟭𝟬𝟬 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝘄𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟯𝟱 as part of an effort to reduce the city’s dependence on imported water, and has overseen completion of Prop O water quality projects in his district. Mike has also been a 𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘂𝗿𝗯𝗮𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁, winning more resources for additional trees, toughening the City’s protected tree ordinance, and securing stiff penalties for offenders.

At the City and at LA Metro, Mike has partnered with grassroots environmental organizations, and has hosted meetings of the youth-led Sunrise Movement in his home. Mike’s work has been acknowledged with the first-ever recipient of the “𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗼𝗻” 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗶𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗮 𝗖𝗹𝘂𝗯, the nation’s oldest and largest environmental organization; the Renewable Energy Leaders Award from the Los Angeles Business Council, and the 𝗦𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗵-𝗪𝗲𝗶𝘀𝘀 𝗘𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 from the Los Angeles League of Conservation Voters.

𝗪𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗮𝘁 𝗠𝗶𝗸𝗲’𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹. 𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝘄𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆.

Mike has been one of Los Angeles’ 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱, 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱-𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀, 𝗳𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲, 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲. As chair of the City Council’s Transportation Committee, as a member of Board of Directors of LA Metro, and as the councilmember representing Los Angeles International Airport, Mike has shaped nearly every major transportation decision in Los Angeles for the past decade.

Mike’s key accomplishments include: enhancing bus service and creating bus rapid transit lanes; providing 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁 for students; launching LA’s first 𝗺𝗶𝗰𝗿𝗼-𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝘀; winning approval of 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗟𝗔’𝘀 𝗯𝘂𝘀 𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗲𝘁; approving the long-sought 𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁; and pushing LA Metro to start work on the game-changing 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘂𝗹𝘃𝗲𝗱𝗮 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗼𝗿 project. On his watch, LA Metro opened the 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗼 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗲 and the 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗮𝘄 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗲, with stations in his district, and continued work to connect the Wilshire heavy rail line to the Westside.

One of Mike’s most significant accomplishments was brokering an end to decades of battles over the future of Los Angeles International Airport. His leadership resulted in legal settlements that 𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗟𝗔𝗫 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝗽𝗼𝗽𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗟𝗔𝗫 𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. The revised plans jumpstarted a multi-billion dollar public works project that will 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝟭𝟬𝟬,𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗷𝗼𝗯𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝗟𝗔𝗫 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗮 “𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗯𝗼𝗿.” The LAX Modernization includes airfield safety enhancements, new terminals and terminal improvements, 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝘂𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿, or elevated tram, making it much easier for passengers to use the airport.

A strong advocate for safe streets, Mike secured resources to implement 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗭𝗲𝗿𝗼 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀, 𝘄𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱-𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆𝘄𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝘂𝘀 𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗶𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁. As chair of the council’s Transportation Committee, he shepherded policies to save the struggling taxi industry, authorize and regulate dockless bikes and scooters, and create a Universal Basic Mobility program, offering a variety of zero-emissions mobility options in low income communities for free or at little cost. He successfully fought to 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺, restore the popular speed hump program, and fund 𝗻𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀.

On the Metro Board, Mike was the 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝘀 𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀, calling for more frequent service and bus speed improvements on major corridors. He formed a new partnership between Metro and LA’s Department of Transportation, which will deliver 20 lane miles of new bus lanes by the end of 2022. Mike has been one of the region’s 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁, arguing that it would be one of the biggest social justice and civil rights initiatives in Los Angeles history, providing significant economic relief to Metro passengers, who are overwhelmingly low-income and disproportionately Latino and Black. 𝗠𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗽𝘂𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗞-𝟭𝟮 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀, 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗹𝗼𝘄-𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗯𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿𝘀.

𝗪𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗮𝘁 𝗠𝗶𝗸𝗲’𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹. 𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝘄𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗳 𝗼𝗳 𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴.

Mike has led on efforts to 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲, 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 -- and to provide it in his district.

As the pandemic hit in 2020, Mike knew Angelenos would be facing an unprecedented crisis, and he fought to make local government respond differently than it ever had before. He moved quickly to propose 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀, 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗿𝘀, 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻. While his colleagues balked at his proposal for a blanket moratorium on evictions during the pandemic, Mike proposed and won approval for e𝗲𝗻𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝘀, 𝗮 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘇𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.

Mike jump-started a long-stalled process to 𝘁𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝘇𝗼𝗻𝗲, and has sought to curb state laws that permit demolition of affordable units and cause neighborhood gentrification. Mike proposed using federal relief funds to 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀, and to finance purchase or construction of publicly-owned, mixed income housing. Mike negotiated a record percentage of 𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 in a project near the Metro Expo Line, and is creating hundreds of units of affordable housing at his office at the West LA Civic Center.

Mike has embraced and fought for big, outside-the-box solutions to address the affordable crisis, including 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝘃𝗮𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝘁𝗮𝘅 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲, 𝗺𝗶𝘅𝗲𝗱-𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝗴𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝘆 and managed by cooperatives, land trusts, or nonprofits. He was the 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗟𝗔, or ULA, which will fund 𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗳, 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴, and more. Mike is also the c𝗰𝗼-𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗮 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗱 “𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲” 𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲, prohibiting the screening of tenants based on eviction history, credit history, or criminal history. The legislation seeks to 𝗰𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 and speed up efforts to house people experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity.

𝗪𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗮𝘁 𝗠𝗶𝗸𝗲’𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹. 𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝘄𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘀:

Mike has been a prescient and passionate voice on homelessness, warning of a humanitarian crisis and advocating new solutions 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 before others even acknowledged there was a problem. He has advocated for a broad menu of solutions to homelessness - from 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴-𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘀 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀.

Mike has been fighting since 2015 for 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗸, 𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 such as 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴, which the City is now finally beginning to explore. Mike was the earliest advocate for 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 programs that other officials are now adopting. Mike was the first elected official in LA to push for solutions faster and less expensive than permanent supportive housing, and was chastised for his then-unorthodox position, which most of LA now embraces.

Mike has won admiration for 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘃𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁, standing strong against legal and political challenges. On Mike’s watch, the Westside has seen the opening or approval of 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝟭𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴, has purchased motels for use as homeless housing, and has opened sites for “safe parking.” He also pioneered the City’s use of “shared housing” as a response to homelessness.

Especially during his second term, Mike 𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀. During the summer of 2021, Mike launched an effort to showcase a “𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗰𝘂𝗳𝗳𝘀” approach. Working with St Joseph Center and Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, 𝗠𝗶𝗸𝗲’𝘀 𝗩𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗘𝗻𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 𝗯𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟬 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻 𝟲 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆’𝘀 𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲. A few months later, working with GrassRoots Neighbors and PATH, he repeated the program at Westchester Park, bringing nearly 100 people indoors.

Mike has proposed, approved or opened projects throughout his district, including in Westchester, Mar Vista, West LA, Del Rey, Venice, and Brentwood. He was instrumental in securing funds to help provide both 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴-𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘃𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀 at the VA campus in his district. He opened the 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘂𝗻𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵, in Venice.

Mike’s work has won him local and national recognition. The LA Times lauded him for his 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. He has been honored with the Local Legislator of the Year Award from the The National Homelessness Law Center, a Lifetime Achievement Award from Safe Place for Youth , the Founder’s Award for Community Service from the St. Joseph Center, and honors from the National Lawyers Guild of Los Angeles.

The George Wolfberg Park at Potrero Canyon will have its Grand Opening on Saturday, December 10 from 10AM - 12PM!

Join the celebrations at Palisades Recreation Center (851 Alma Real Drive Los Angeles, CA 90272). The event is FREE to the public and you can RSVP by visiting bit.ly/3EVdLuB.

Wishing you all a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with gratitude, inspiration and love.

The George Wolfberg Park at Potrero Canyon will have its Grand Opening on Saturday, December 3rd from 10AM - 12PM!

Join the celebrations at Palisades Recreation Center (851 Alma Real Drive Los Angeles, CA 90272). The event is FREE to the public and you can RSVP by visiting bit.ly/3EVdLuB.