As the Los Angeles City Council prepared for its summer recess, a heated session unveiled tensions among councilmembers amid an ongoing debate over a controversial minimum wage ordinance.
The council, meeting for the final time before the three-week pause, dove into a complex agenda that had recently been dominated by discussions around President Donald Trump’s immigration policies.
However, it was Councilmember Traci Park’s eye-rolling at Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martínez during his speech that set the stage for a spirited exchange, culminating in sharp exchanges from Councilmember Monica Rodriguez directed at both individuals.
The friction stems from a May ordinance which raised the minimum wage for hotel and airport workers to $30 per hour, surpassing the city’s established minimum wage.
Councilmembers Park, Rodriguez, and John Lee voted against this ordinance, while Soto-Martínez, a former organizer with the hotel and restaurant union Unite Here Local 11, championed the measure at City Hall.
Park justified her opposition by expressing concerns that the increase might lead to job losses for hotel and airport staff, a point made all the more poignant given that she faced a Unite Here-backed challenger in her closely contested 2022 council election.
Following the passage of the wage hike, a coalition of businesses known as the L.A. Alliance for Tourism, Jobs and Progress sprang into action to gather signatures in hopes of placing a repeal measure on the June 2026 ballot, seeking to pause the ordinance’s implementation.
Tensions heightened as allegations emerged regarding the tactics employed by petition circulators related to both sides of the wage debate.
A Unite Here attorney asserted that petition circulators for the business coalition had misrepresented their campaign and claimed assaults took place against activists.
In a contrasting incident, a petition circulator alleged she faced assault outside a Food 4 Less in Inglewood and subsequently filed a police report, prompting a judge to issue a temporary restraining order against the alleged assailant.
Soto-Martínez responded to the escalating situation by proposing a motion asking the LAPD to investigate the alleged misconduct of the business coalition’s petition circulators.
When he introduced this motion at the Economic Development and Jobs Committee, Park countered with her own criticisms. She labeled it hypocritical for Unite Here to complain about deceitful tactics, noting it engaged in similar activities to target her.
Citing a concerned text message campaign that her constituents had forwarded to her, Park highlighted the duplicity of the allegations brought forth by Unite Here, stating, “I have nothing to do with it. No one ever consulted me about it. No one ever asked my opinion about it.”
After the committee approved Soto-Martínez’s motion last month, Park voted against it, insisting that an investigation should scrutinize both sides involved in the wage debate.
When the motion came before the full council, Park reiterated her concerns, advocating for an amendment that would expand the LAPD’s investigation to encompass both the pro- and anti-minimum wage factions.
“We know that engaging in misleading tactics are not unique to one group or one organization,” Park said, shedding light on her own experiences of being targeted by smear campaigns.
In response, Soto-Martínez defended his stance, indicating that while he had faced misleading allegations, he preferred to keep personal grievances out of council discussions.
Notably, he acknowledged the physical threats against Unite Here campaigners as a serious matter, ultimately expressing support for Park’s amendment.
However, a recording from the council meeting captured Park rolling her eyes as Soto-Martínez spoke, a moment that sparked further commentary on their contentious dynamic.
Unite Here co-President Kurt Petersen expressed skepticism towards Park’s remarks, calling them “unbelievably narcissistic” given the serious nature of the allegations against his union’s members.
In a statement, Petersen posited that while workers were seeking Park’s help following alleged assaults, she was instead deflecting the conversation towards her own political narrative.
In a rebuttal, Park accused Petersen of destroying jobs and harming the local economy, attributing the closure of iconic restaurants and the reduction of job opportunities directly to the union’s divisive tactics.
Councilmember Rodriguez entered the fray, suggesting both Park and Soto-Martínez needed to adopt a more mature approach.
She stated, “I think this idea that’s trying to assign blame to one side or another is kind of futile, given the demands of what we need LAPD to be focused on, but I think performative politics is the name of the game these days. Everyone needs to grow the hell up.”
In other news, the Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the city of Los Angeles concerning its sanctuary ordinance, arguing it discriminates against Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The lawsuit contends that Los Angeles’ non-cooperation with federal immigration authorities has resulted in increased lawlessness. Mayor Karen Bass interpreted this legal action as part of an “all-out assault on Los Angeles” by President Donald Trump.
Simultaneously, immigrant rights organizations launched their own legal battle against the Trump administration, hoping to halt its perceived flouting of constitutional protections during immigration operations in the city.
On a different front, a new Rand report indicated a 15% overall decline in homelessness across three regions of Los Angeles in 2024, with Hollywood experiencing a remarkable 49% reduction attributed to a series of Inside Safe operations this year.
Venice saw a 22% decrease in its homeless population, while Skid Row experienced a 9% increase, indicating a mixed outcome in the city’s efforts to combat homelessness.
Additionally, the California State Legislature passed significant reforms with Assembly Bill 130 and Senate Bill 131, which exempt most urban housing projects from the California Environmental Quality Act, a move aimed at boosting construction efforts.
Governor Gavin Newsom pushed these regulations through despite concerns from progressive lawmakers and environmentalists who fear such exemptions could undermine environmental protections.
The L.A. City Council also approved a plan to allocate nearly $425 million collected from the city’s “mansion” tax on properties sold for over $5 million. Backers argue this tax, criticized for hindering property sales, is vital for funding affordable housing and homelessness prevention initiatives.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration announced plans to withhold $811 million in funding from California, designated for students from migrant families and English learners, citing adherence to presidential policies.
In homeless outreach efforts, Mayor Bass’ Inside Safe program returned to former locations of earlier operations this week, specifically targeting areas in Echo Park, Watts, and South Los Angeles.
Looking ahead, next week the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors will consider the appointment of Sarah Mahin as the inaugural executive director of the county’s newly established Department of Homeless Services and Housing.
image source from：latimes
